Dylan Mattheisen transforms Bruce Springsteen’s Born To Run into a two-hand tapping, altered-tuning midwest emo masterpiece
The Tiny Moving Parts frontman blows minds in this Guitar World exclusive
Electric guitar-toting Tiny Moving Parts frontman Dylan Mattheisen last graced GuitarWorld.com with his hooky tapping techniques on a playthrough of monster single Medicine, but when he swung by the GW New York studio, he had something a little different in mind… a midwest emo version of Bruce Springsteen’s Born To Run.
This radical reinvention uses Mattheisen’s trademark tuning (D A E A C# E) and a capo on the 7th fret to wring a rich vocabulary of extended chords from his Fender ’72 Telecaster Thinline reissue - as well as employing a variety of techniques, including some slick hammer-ons and two-hand tapping.
Mattheisen goes on to detail his playing style, and how you can borrow a few of his tricks for your own playing.
For more info, pay a visit to Tiny Moving Parts.
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!
Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and over a decade's experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.

“The experience of our work with Jimmy in a vibrant, electric, mystical, and powerful perspective”: Unreleased Jimmy Page/Rich Robinson composition set to feature in upcoming deluxe version of Jimmy Page & the Black Crowes: Live at the Greek

“The king of modern blues getting down and dirty (musically) with a former Van Halen singer”: January 2025 Guitar World Editors’ Picks