Better
by The Screaming Jets
Difficulty Profile
Skill LevelOverall
IntermediateRhythm
IntermediateLead
AdvancedBass
IntermediateWhy "Better" Works Harmonically
Beyond standard guitar tabs and chord charts, discover the exact music theory mechanics, modal interchange, and voice leading choices that give The Screaming Jets's classic its unforgettable emotional power.
The Aeolian Four-Chord Powerhouse with a Dorian IV Chord Lift
"Better" is built on the unstoppable natural minor powerhouse progression: i - ♭III - ♭VI - ♭VII (Em - G - C - D). What elevates the song above standard 90s hard rock is the surprise appearance of a bright major IV chord (A major) in the bridge, which temporarily shifts the tonal center from dark Aeolian into swaggering Dorian before plunging back into the furious singalong chorus.
Harmonic Progression (Roman Numerals)
i - ♭III - ♭VI - ♭VII (Verse/Chorus) | IV - ♭VI - ♭VII - i (Bridge)Step-by-Step Movement
- •Em (i): Crushing minor tonic establishing the heavy Newcastle pub-rock grit.
- •G (♭III): Relative major providing an explosive momentary burst of light.
- •C (♭VI): Submediant chord adding poignant emotional weight and urgency.
- •D (♭VII): Subtonic chord providing powerful modal drive and clean turnaround back to Em.
- •A (IV): Dorian major subdominant introducing unexpected swagger and brightness in the bridge.
Voice Leading & Counterpoint
- ›The bass notes descend and ascend in powerful whole and half steps (E → G → C → D) locking with aggressive kick drum accents.
- ›The unison guitar bends at frets 12 and 15 exploit the natural harmonic tension between the minor 3rd and major 2nd.
- ›Palm-muting the low E string while letting the fifths and octaves ring gives the riff immense low-end weight without muddiness.
Fretboard Mechanics
Lock your palm muting right against the bridge saddles for a tight, percussive chug. On the chorus, lift your palm and hit full open power chords with aggressive downward pick strokes.
The i - ♭III - ♭VI - ♭VII progression is an infallible vehicle for raw rock emotion. To keep it fresh, introduce a borrowed major IV chord in your bridge to shock the listener's ear with modal brightness.
The foundational minor scale supplying all four core chords.
The driving scale for the intro riffs and searing wah-wah solo.
The dark, dramatic natural minor mode of the verse and chorus.
The source of the major IV (A major) chord lift in the bridge.
Root-5th power chord grips providing high-gain crunch and clarity.
The dark Em tonic anchoring the track.
Musical Analysis
🎹 Key & Tonality
⏱️ Song Structure
💡 Understanding E minor:
E minor has a darker, more introspective character. The Gritty Newcastle hard-rock Aeolian aggression charged with high-octane pub-rock anthemic hooks mode creates tension and emotion. This key is perfect for expressing melancholy or aggressive themes in rock music.
Shapes the dark, heavy four-chord foundation (i - bIII - bVI - bVII) of the verses and chorus
Powers Jimi Hocking and Grant Walmsley's searing unison bends and iconic intro riff
The harmonic character shaping E minor
Understand minor chord construction and voicings
Primary Chords Used
Scale Patterns in E minor
E natural minor (Aeolian)
Notes: E - F# - G - A - B - C - D - E
Application: Shapes the dark, heavy four-chord foundation (i - bIII - bVI - bVII) of the verses and chorus
Interactive Fretboard Map
Chord Progressions & Movement
Main Progression
The quintessential minor-key rock anthem progression: grounding the tonic in Em, lifting through G and C, before hammering the D dominant substitute back home.
💡 Theory Insight:
These borrowed chords from the parallel minor key add darker, more dramatic colors to the progression. This modal interchange gives rock and metal its signature swagger.
Chord Shapes In This Section:
Em
G
C
D
Harmonic Functions & Roles:
- Em (i)Heavy minor tonic anchoring the dark, rebellious rock attitude
- G (♭III)Relative major chord providing an explosive momentary burst of light
- C (♭VI)Submediant chord adding poignant emotional weight to the progression
- D (♭VII)Subtonic chord providing powerful modal drive and resolution back to Em
Key Techniques
Palm-Muted Heavy Power Chording & Unison Bends
IntermediateTight right-hand palm muting on the lower strings contrasted with wide screaming unison bends at frets 12 and 15
Uses chords:
Progression:
Em - G - C - D
Technique Tips:
- •Keep high gain tight by pulling back the amp bass slightly and pushing midrange to 7
- •Support your ring finger with middle and index fingers when pushing unison bends
- •Hit the crash cymbal hits in unison with the drummer on beat 1
Crybaby Wah Pedal Sweeps & Searing Unison Bends
AdvancedAggressive vocal-like wah-wah filter sweeps paired with high-gain whole-step unison bends and rapid pentatonic blues bursts
Uses chords:
Progression:
Em - G - C - D
Technique Tips:
- •Keep your heel grounded and rock from the ankle to avoid losing rhythm balance
- •Push the amp's midrange to prevent the wah from disappearing into the drum crash cymbals
- •Mute adjacent unplayed strings with your fret-hand index finger to prevent unwanted squeals
Practice Exercises
Scale and technique exercises in the key of E minor. Switch instrument sounds (Acoustic Steel, Nylon, Clean Electric, Piano) and practice at your own tempo.
Intro Crushing Power Riff
Intro Heavy Power Chords
Screaming opening guitar riff and chugging power chords that define 90s Australian pub rock.
- •Heavy palm-muting on the low E pedal note with aggressive downstrokes
- •Punch the G5 and C5 accents with authoritative downstroke attack
- •Let the D chord ring before cycling back into the main riff
Verse 1 Palm-Muted Chug
Verse Rhythm Chug
Dave Gleeson begins the narrative ('I am the king of the castle...') over locked-in eighth-note chugs with tight heel muting.
- •Clean eighth-note palm muting across the lower strings
- •Keep the pick close to the strings for minimal wasted motion and maximum punch
- •Follow the bass drum kicks for an immovable pocket
Pre-Chorus Dorian Ascent
Pre-Chorus Dorian Lift
The song breaks from the Aeolian chug with a bold A major (IV) chord lift, injecting swagger and building tension toward the chorus.
- •Switch from palm muting to open ringing power chords
- •Emphasize the C# note in the A major chord for the characteristic Dorian color
- •Crescendo on the D power chord to propel the band into the chorus
Chorus Stadium Hook
Chorus Stadium Chords
Huge singalong chorus on 'Better, better than you!' with wide-open power chords and aggressive vocal harmonizing.
- •Lift all muting and hit full open power chords across all strings
- •Strike with aggressive downstrokes on beats 1, 2, 3, and 4
- •Let the ringing top strings fill out the sonic space
Blistering Wah-Wah Guitar Solo
Blistering Wah Guitar Solo
Jimi Hocking / Grant Walmsley's blistering, wah-drenched guitar solo. Features aggressive Crybaby sweeps, whole-step unison bends at the 14th/15th frets, rapid 12th-fret pentatonic blues runs, and screaming 17th-fret climax bends.
- •Engage the wah pedal with an aggressive forward sweep into the 12th-fret high E note
- •Execute a screaming whole-step bend on the 14th fret G string and 15th fret B string
- •Rip through the 12th-position E minor pentatonic box with fast alternate picking
Outro Power Jam & Climax
Outro Power Jam & Feedback
The band enters full arena overdrive, with ad-lib screams from Dave Gleeson and howling feedback, ending on a final sustained Em power chord crash.
- •Keep the rhythm driving with maximum energy and downstroke punch
- •Toss in 15th-to-19th fret bends and wild pick slides over the repeating cycle
- •Conclude with a thunderous hit on the open Em chord and let the valve feedback howl
Equipment & Tone Setup
🎸 Guitar
Recommended Model:
Pickup Type:
Bridge humbucker for cutting crunch and sustain
⚡ Amplifier & Settings
Recommended Amp:
Tone Stack Dial-In:
Gain: 7.0
Treble: 6.0
Middle: 7.0
Bass: 5.0
Presence: 7.0
🎛️ Effects Pedals
Overdrive / Distortion:
ProCo Rat or Boss SD-1 Overdrive tightening the front end
Reverb / Delay:
Subtle room reverb
Modulation / Other:
Dunlop Cry Baby Wah for the lead solo sections
Recommended Learning Path
Open Chords & Steady Strumming
⏱️ 3-5 days
- •Learn open Em, G, C, and D chords
- •Practice transitions between the four chords at 90 BPM
- •Memorize the i - ♭III - ♭VI - ♭VII progression
Palm Muting & Power Chord Speed
⏱️ 1-2 weeks
- •Shift to root-5 and root-6 power chords (E5, G5, C5, D5)
- •Master the tight palm-muted chug at 124 BPM using our Metronome
- •Practice shifting cleanly between frets 0, 3, 5, and 7
Lead Solo & Unison Bending
⏱️ 2 weeks
- •Learn the soaring unison bends at frets 12 and 15
- •Transcribe the high-energy pentatonic wah-wah solo
- •Incorporate pinched harmonics on the low strings
Practice Notes & Routine
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- •Pressing too hard with the palm on the bridge saddles, causing the pitch to go sharp
- •Rushing the transition from C5 to D5 in the chorus
- •Using too much amplifier bass which creates muddiness when chugging at high volume
⏱️Targeted Practice Routine
0/3 Completed (0%)Check off each segment during your session to track your practice progress:
- Warm up with 3 minutes of palm-muted 16th-note alternate picking on the low E string
- Practice the intro riff at 100, 115, and 124 BPM
- Play along with the recording focusing on lock-step kick drum synchronization
🎯 Key Focus Areas
- •Consistent right-hand palm muting pressure
- •Fast, authoritative power chord shifts up and down the neck
- •Intonation accuracy on 2nd and 3rd string unison bends
⏱️ Metronome Drills
- •Set click to 105 BPM and practice palm-muted downstroke chugging
- •Use our Metronome Speed Trainer (+3 BPM every 4 bars) up to 124 BPM
- •Test accuracy by muting audio click for 2 bars and coming back on beat 1