Home > Rock & Pop > Slayer >
Bitter Peace Guitar Tablature
 SLAYER 
                              BITTER PEACE 
                From their '98 album 'Diabolus in Musica' 
 
Tabbed by:  Steven Rodriguez
            [email protected]
 
This song has one of the most unusual structures for a Slayer song. 
If you try to play along with the CD, I guarantee that bar of 9/8 will 
ruin your timing.  Very odd transition. 
 
Comments: 
 
I will only show the bottom three strings throughout this tab. 
 
Notation explanation: 
     /=3= 
  |---------| 
  |--0-0-0--|  Triplets.  Play 3 notes where you would normally play 2. 
  |---------| 
 
  |9:-| |2:-| 
  |8:-| |4:-|  Time signature changes.  All bars are 4/4 otherwise. 
  |---| |---| 
 
  |---3-/5--|  Pick the 3rd fret, slide to the 5th and pick it as well.   
  |---------| 
  |---3//5--|  Pick the 3rd fret and slide to the 5th. 
 
Generally one dash is a sixteenth note in length.  So ---- is one beat. 
Sometimes there's a lot of double digit fret positions or notation  
symbols so I have to stretch it out more.  When that happens I'll use 
8 dashes one beat. 
 
Guitars are drop-Db tuned, which means tune to Eb but drop the sixth 
string to Db.  Hanneman is the LeftGtr and King the RightGtr. 
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 
Tempo: 80 bpm 
 
Riff A1 
Db  |--LeftGtr-----------------------| 
Ab  |0---2---1---0---2---1-2-5-5-4---| 
Db  |0---2---1---0---2---1-2-5-5-4---| 
P.M |.   .   .   .   .   .           | 
    |                                | 
Db  |--RightGtr----------------------| 
Ab  |----------------------2-5-5-4---| 
Db  |----------------------2-5-5-4---| 
 
Play Riff A1 4x 
 
Then play: 
Db  |--LeftGtr-----------------------| 
Ab  |0---2---1---0---2---1---5-5-4---| 
Db  |0---2---1---0---2---1-025-5-4---| 
P.M |.   .   .   .   .   .           | 
    |                                | 
Db  |--RightGtr----------------------| 
Ab  |------------------------5-5-4---| 
Db  |----------------------025-5-4---| 
 
Riff A2 
Db  |--------------------------------| 
Ab  |0---2---1---0---2---1h2-5-5-4---| 
Db  |0---2---1---0---2---1h2-5-5-4---| 
 
Both Gtrs Play Riff A2 4x 
 
Then play: 
    /=== repeat 3x ================= 
Db||*--------------------------------*||--------------------------------| 
Ab||*-3---6---5---3---6---5---4--1--*||3---6---5--1---------32-------| 
Db||--3---6---5---3---6---5---4--1---||3---6---5--1---3-5-6-----5-4-1-| 
 
Riff A3 
Db  |--------------------------------| 
Ab  |0---2---1---0---2---1///5---4---| 
Db  |0---2---1---0---2---1///5---4---| 
 
Play Riff A3 3x 
 
Then play: 
Db |---------------------------------|--------------------3-----------| 
Ab |-3---6---5---3---6---5---4--1---|3---6---5--1---2-3---2-1-------| 
Db |-3---6---5---3---6---5---4--1---|3---6---5--1-------------5-4-1-| 
 
Play Riff A2 4x, followed by 
 
Db|0---------------|   After this there is 8 bars of bass and drums 
Ab|0-----let-ring--|   The drums sort of just peter out, after that 
Db|0---------------|   there is about 3 beats silence and.. 
 
Tempo change to 200 bpm 
 
Riff B1 
Db |--LeftGtr-------5---3-------0-1-|--------------------------------| 
Ab |0---------------5---3-------0-1-|--let-ring----------------------| 
Db |0---0-0-0-0-0-0-------------0-1-|--------------------------------| 
P.M|    . . . . . .                 |                                | 
   |                                |                                | 
Db |---RightGtr-----------------0-1-|--------------------------------| 
Ab |0---------------------------0-1-|--let-ring----------------------| 
Db |0---------------------------0-1-|--------------------------------| 
 
Play Riff B1 3x 
 
Play: 
Db |--LGtr----------|----------------|----------------|--------0-1-----| 
Ab |0-------6-5~----|0-------8-6~----|0-------6-5~----|3-5-----0-1-----| 
Db |00000000--------|00000000--------|00000000--------|--------0-1-----| 
P.M|........        |........        |........        |                | 
   |                |                |                |                | 
Db |--RGtr----------|----------------|----------------|--------0-1-----| 
Ab |0---------------|----------------|----------------|--------0-1-----| 
Db |0---------------|----------------|----------------|--------0-1-----| 
 
Riff B2 
Db |--LGtr----------|----------------|----------------|--------0-1-----| 
Ab |0-------6-5~----|0-------8-6~----|0-------6-5~----|3-5-----0-1-----| 
Db |00000000--------|00000000--------|00000000--------|--------0-1-----| 
P.M|........        |........        |........        |                | 
   |                |                |                |                | 
Db |--RGtr----------|----------------|----------------|--------0-1-----| 
Ab |0-------6-5-----|--------8-6-----|--------6-5-----|3-5-----0-1-----| 
Db |0-------8-7-----|--------108-----|--------8-7-----|5-7-----0-1-----| 
 
Play Riff B2 
 
Riff C 
Db ||*-/=3=-/=3=-/=3=-/=3=-|/=3=-/=3=-/=3=-/=3=-|-- 
Ab ||*-------------4-----------|------------6-----------|-- 
Db ||--0-0-0-0-0-0---0-0-0-0-0-|0-0-0-0-0-0---0-0-0-0-0-|-- 
P.M    . . . . . .   . . . . .  . . . . . .   . . . . . 
 
                              /=== 1,3 ================ 
Db  --|/=3=-/=3=-/=3=-/=3=-|/=3=-/=3=-/=3=-/=3=-*||-- 
Ab  --|------------4-----------|------------------------*||-- 
Db  --|0-0-0-0-0-0---0-0-0-0-0-|3-3-3-3-3-3-3-1-1-1-1-1--||-- 
P.M    . . . . . .   . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . 
 
       /=== 2 ==========/=== 4 ============== 
Db   --|--------0-1----*||------------0-1-----| 
Ab   --|3-5-----0-1----*||------------0-1-----| 
Db   --|5-7-----0-1-----||3-3-3-3-3-3-0-1-----| 
P.M                       . . . . . . 
 
Play Riff C with lyrics: 
 
  Initiate blood purge                        Coalition in massacre 
  Mechanized high tech                   Whole sale death in effect 
  Mutually assured                           Destruction will occur 
  Genocide revised                   Same pain through diverse eyes 
 
Then play:        Can't stop the warring factions! 
                    /=== 1 ==========/=== 2 ==========/=== 3 ========== 
Db||*---------------|---------------*||---------------*||----------------| 
Ab||*---------------|--------2-1-0--*||--------3-2-1--*||--------4-3-2---| 
Db||3-2-0-2-3-2-0-2-|3-2-0-2-------2-||3-2-0-2-------2-||3-2-0-2-------2-| 
P.M . . . . . . . .  . . . .       .   . . . .       .   . . . .       . 
 
Play: 
    /===== repeat 3x ================================ 
Db ||*-/=3=-/=3=-5-3-----|8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-*||--  Hostile from 
Ab ||*-------------5-3---5-|6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-*||--    the start 
Db ||--0-0-0-0-0-0---------|-------------------------||-- 
P.M    . . . . . .          =3=/ =3=/ =3=/ =3=/     Always war 
                                                             always 
Db   --|------------------|2:-/=3=-/=3=-| 
Ab   --|3--------3--------|4:-2-----------|     Ending bitter peace 
Db   --|3-3-33-3-3-3-33-3-|---2-2-2-2-2-2-| 
P.M       . .. .   . .. .       . . . . . 
 
Then play Riff C, only playing endings 1 & 2, with lyrics: 
 
  Not the last third war                  Blood spills for evermore 
  Patriot hard time                  Lay seige till the end of time 
 
Now play this half-time section, with lyrics: (tempo: 100 bpm) 
Db|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| 
Ab|0-----------00--|------------31--|------------00--|----31------01--| 
Db|00000000000001--|00000000000031--|00000000000001--|000031--000001--| 
P.M ...........     ............     ............     ....    .... 
 
No longer kill your brother              Just slaughter one another 
Watch for the deadly other                 This sibling is a fucker 
 
Back to double-time (200 bpm) 
Play:        Can't stop the warring factions! 
                    /=== 1 ==========/=== 2 ========== 
Db||*---------------|---------------*||----------------| 
Ab||*---------------|--------2-1-0--*||--------3-2-1---| 
Db||3-2-0-2-3-2-0-2-|3-2-0-2-------2-||3-2-0-2-------2-| 
P.M . . . . . . . .  . . . .       .   . . . .       . 
 
Riff D 
Db|2-------3-------|0-------2-------|3-------7-------|6-------1-------| 
Ab|2-------3-------|0-------2-------|3-------7-------|6-------1-------| 
Db|2-------3-------|0-------2-------|3-------7-------|6-------1-------| 
 
Play Riff D with lyrics: 
 
  Global tension starts aggression 
  Peace breaks out then breeds contempt, unrest 
 
Play Riff B2, but change the last bar to 9/8.  This is a very subtle 
transition, be careful not to get caught off the beat. 
 
Then RightGtr plays the following while LeftGtr solos: 
                      /=== 1,3 =========/=== 2,4 ========= 
Db ||*----------------|----------------*||----------------*||-- 
Ab ||*--------1-------|----------------*||----------------*||-- 
Db ||-22222222--222222|2222222233333333-||3333333366666666-||-- 
 
Db   --|----------------|2:---------| 
Ab   --|--------0-2-----|4:-0-2-----| 
Db   --|222222220-2-----|---0-2-----| 
 
Then RightGtr plays the following while LeftGtr solos: 
                      /=== 1,3 =========/=== 2,4 ========= 
Db ||*----------------|----------------*||----------------*||-- 
Ab ||*--------2-------|----------------*||----------------*||-- 
Db ||-33333333--333333|3333333344444444-||4444444477777777-||-- 
 
Db   --|----------------|----------------| 
Ab   --|--------0-2-----|0-3-----0-2-----| 
Db   --|333333330-2-----|0-3-----0-2-----| 
 
Then play: 
Db |--LGtr----------|----------------|---------------slight-|2:-1------| 
Ab |0-------6-5~----|0-------8-6~----|0-------6-5~----|bend-|4:-1------| 
Db |00000000--------|00000000--------|00000000--------|-----|---1------| 
P.M|........        |........        |........        |     |          | 
Db |--RGtr----------|----------------|----------------|-----|2:-1------| 
Ab |----------------|----------------|----------------|-----|4:-1------| 
Db |----------------|----------------|----------------|-----|---1------| 
 
Riff E                                 /=== 1,2,3 ========= 
Db ||*----------------|--------4-3-2---|----------------|-- 
Ab ||*----------------|--------------3-|----------------|-- 
Db ||-00000-0-00000-0-|00000-0---------|00000-0-00000-0-|-- 
P.M   ..... . ..... .  ..... .          ..... . ..... . 
 
    ===================/=== 4 =========================== 
Db  --|----------------||----------------|--------0-1-----| 
Ab  --|--------4-------||----------------|--------0-1-----| 
Db  --|00000-0-4-------||00000-0-00000-0-|00000-0-0-1-----| 
P.M    ..... .           ..... . ..... .  ..... . 
 
Play Riff E with lyrics: 
 
  Without a reason to fight                             A time to kill 
  Sick lust for skeletal flesh                   A taste for all decay 
  Enter the soldier blind                   Stalking the faceless hunt 
  There is no conscience in this world   That can be reached for peace 
 
Then play: 
Db|----------------|----------------|----------------| 
Ab|----------------|--------3-------|7-------6-------| 
Db|3-2-0-2-3-2-0-2-|3-2-0-2-3-------|7-------6-------| 
P.M. . . . . . . .  . . . . 
 
Play Riff E with lyrics: 
 
  Why face the human question                         The need to hate 
  Dead stare through cynical eyes                 A trust in only pain 
  Murder within the skin                        Engrave the art of war 
  Become death's vile parade        March on, embrace the violent mind 
 
Then play:        Can't stop the warring factions! 
Db|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| 
Ab|----------------|----------1-0---|----------------|--------3-2-1---| 
Db|3-2-0-2-3-2-0-2-|3-2-0-2-3-----2-|3-2-0-2-3-2-0-2-|3-2-0-2---------| 
P.M. . . . . . . .  . . . . .     .  . . . . . . . .  . . . . 
 
Play Riff D with lyrics: 
 
  Global tension starts aggression 
  Peace breaks out then breeds contempt, unrest 
 
End with: 
   /========== repeat 3x ============================================ 
Db||*---LeftGtr-------5---3---------1-|----------------------------*||-- 
Ab||*-0---------------5---3---------1-|--let-ring------------------*||-- 
Db||--0---0-0-0-0-0-0-------------0-1-|-----------------------------||-- 
P.M|      . . . . . .             .   |                             || 
  ||                                  |                             || 
Db||*---RightGtr--------------------1-|----------------------------*||-- 
Ab||*-------------------------------1-|--let-ring------------------*||-- 
Db||--------------------------------1-|-----------------------------||-- 
 
      One     cryptic          reason           for life murder 
Db --|----------------|----------------|----------------|--------------|| 
Ab --|0-------6-5-----|--------8-6-----|--------6-5-----|5-6-----------|| 
Db --|0-------8-7-----|--------108-----|--------8-7-----|7-8-----------|| 
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 
Listen closely to the picking rhythms Hanneman plays while King solos. 
Damn, I wish I could play that tight. 
  E-mail me with any concerns, questions, requests, corrections... 
      [email protected]
Previous guitar tablature in Slayer :: Next guitar tablature in Slayer