Hoobastank Style

Hello friends of GMC! In this lesson we will analyze the style of the band Hoobastank!

Hoobastank was formed in the Los Angeles County suburbs Agoura Hills in 1994. According to drummer Chris Hesse, vocalist Doug Robb had known guitarist Dan Estrin for some time before competing against him in a high school battle of the bands competition and subsequently, they decided to form a band! Very cool idea! Jajaja.

Hoobastank started playing gigs at the local venue Cobalt Cafe along with Linkin Park, Incubus, Avenged Sevenfold and others. They recorded their first full-length self-released album in 1998 called They Sure Don't Make Basketball Shorts Like They Used To! They sold enough discs in the places where they were acting, but the success of the band owed to his diffusion in Internet, especially in countries as England, Israel, Russia or Brazil.

Their second album The Reason was released in December 2003.It showcased a harder-edged vocal performance from Robb. The single "Same Direction" was made available for download on the band's website. Doug Robb says on the band's website: "A lot of it is about asking questions or questioning all that people see. It's not all about religion. "Out of Control" is about that and about opening your eyes after being blinded by being devoted to anything."

Albums & EPs
- They Sure Don't Make Basketball Shorts Like They Used To - 1998
- Hoobastank - 2001
- The Reason - 2003
- Every Man for Himself - 2006



This lesson is based on the song "Just one". It is one of my favorite songs since it is the most complete for the study of Hoobastank style. In the lesson we can listen to powerful guitars playing this chord progression: C#minor, E, A, F#minor, C#minor, E, B and D. Two very powerful riffs are the leit motiv. The study of this style is very important to create your own songs. We'll use some techniques as Alternate picking, Vibrato, Slides and Palm muting in this lesson.


Audio Settings: to record this lesson I have used the POD X3 live.
Analog Chorus: Depth 66% Mix: 35%
Analog Delay with modulation: 375ms Mix: 29%
Scale: C# minor.
Tuning: 440
Tempo: 160.

Nothing is impossible! Feel the music and God bless you!