Learning how to play "Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)" by the Deftones requires nailing down Stephen Carpenter's unconventional chord voicings and specific low-end tuning. Released on their 1997 breakthrough album Around the Fur, the track relies on a hypnotic, soaring melody built over heavy, atmospheric guitar work that defines alternative metal.
This guide breaks down the exact tuning, equipment considerations, rhythmic phrasing, and chord structures needed to master the song without getting lost in inaccurate tablature.
Setting Up Your Gear and Guitar Tuning
Before looking at any tab, you must get your instrument into the correct tuning. "Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)" is played in C# standard tuning (or Drop C# depending on how you view the lowest string context, written commonly as Db Ab Db Gb Bb Eb).
- 6th String: Db (Down a minor third from E)
- 5th String: Ab (Down a minor third from A)
- 4th String: Db (Down a minor third from D)
- 3rd String: Gb (Down a minor third from G)
- 2nd String: Bb (Down a minor third from B)
- 1st String: Eb (Down a minor third from E)
If you use standard E-standard tuning, the song's signature shapes will not line up, and you will lack the open-string drone notes that give the main riff its massive wall-of-sound resonance. Use heavy-gauge strings (like 11-50 or 12-56 sets) to keep the low Db string from feeling loose or buzzing against the frets.
Decoding the Iconic Opening Riff
The opening riff is instantly recognizable. It relies on a high-register pedal point combined with moving melodies on the lower strings. Many beginners struggle here because they try to play it with standard bar chords, missing the floating, shimmering quality of the open strings.
Here is how the mechanical layout works across the fretboard for the main phrase:
- The Anchor: Keep your index finger or specific fingerings locked to let the high strings ring out cleanly.
- The Movement: The riff shifts between a low root note pedal on the Db string and melodic octave shapes higher up.
- Picking Dynamics: Use a firm down-picking attack for the heavy strikes, but lighten your touch during the transitioning hammer-ons and pull-offs.
Instead of rushing through the tab notes mechanically, listen to Abe Cunningham's drum groove. The guitar syncopation locks directly into the snare hits. If you drag or rush the timing, the signature bounce of the track disappears.
Mastering the Verse and Chorus Chords
Stephen Carpenter is known for using extended chords that create lush, melancholic textures rather than straightforward power chords.
The Verse Chords
During the verse, the arrangement cleans up slightly—though still driven by subtle overdrive or chorus pedals. You are playing suspended chord voicings that utilize adjacent string groupings.
- Keep your fretting hand relaxed. Letting notes ring into each other is intentional here; it creates that characteristic wash of noise.
- Avoid heavy palm-muting unless specified by the live album versions. The studio recording relies on natural sustain and ambient room sound.
The Chorus Explosion
When the chorus hits ("This is grey, our new place"), the distortion kicks into high gear.
- The chord structures widen out. You will move across the bottom three strings to build massive walls of sound.
- Make sure your gain staging isn't overly saturated. Too much distortion turns Carpenter's complex chord voicing into mud. Dial back the gain just enough to maintain string separation when strumming all six strings.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Players often run into recurring roadblocks when learning this track. Watch out for these pitfalls:
- Playing in E Standard: Trying to transpose this song into standard tuning ruins the open string resonance. Do yourself a favor and tune down first.
- Over-Muting the Intro: The opening riff needs air. Let the open strings sustain across the bar lines rather than chopping them short with aggressive palm muting.
- Ignoring Right-Hand Dynamics: The contrast between the quiet, moody verses and the explosive choruses depends entirely on your picking hand intensity. Don't play everything at the exact same volume.
Frequently Asked Questions
What guitar did Stephen Carpenter use on Around the Fur?
During this era, Carpenter heavily favored ESP custom shop Horizon and telecaster-style baritone or standard electric guitars equipped with humbucking pickups, often running through Marshall or ADA preamps to achieve his distinct mid-90s tone.
Is Be Quiet and Drive hard to play for beginners?
The song is intermediate. While the individual shapes aren't overly complex physically, maintaining clean timing in drop-tuning while switching between ambient clean tones and heavy distortion requires solid gear control and rhythm tightness.
Can I play this song on a standard 6-string guitar?
Yes, absolutely. You just need to tune all six strings down to C# standard. You do not need a 7-string or baritone guitar, though heavier strings help manage the lower string tension.
What pedal effects are used in the intro?
Carpenter relies on subtle chorus and delay effects combined with a slightly pushed tube amplifier channel to give the clean-sounding intro its wide, dreamy spatial texture.
