How to Dial In "The Show Must Go On" by Queen - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "The Show Must Go On"
Original Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
These numbers are for an AC30. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
Written largely by Brian May for Freddie Mercury near the end of his life, and May's guitar is deliberately restrained compared with his usual layered approach — he understood the song needed room for the vocal, so the parts are chordal and supporting rather than a display. May questioned whether Mercury could physically manage the vocal; Mercury reportedly told him he would do it, and did, in one session. May also played the Yamaha DX7 on the track. Standard tuning. The chain is unchanged — Red Special, treble booster, AC30 wide open — but keep the playing sparse. The lesson here is restraint: the temptation is to fill, and the record's power is in what May does not play.
Common Questions About the "The Show Must Go On" Tone
What guitar did Queen use on "The Show Must Go On"?
Queen recorded "The Show Must Go On" (released 1991) before the Brian May Guitars Red Special came out; it is named above as a modern equivalent. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "The Show Must Go On" need?
On an AC30: Gain 6, Bass 5.5, Mid 7, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 7. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "The Show Must Go On" without an AC30?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "The Show Must Go On" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
What pedals are on "The Show Must Go On"?
The original signal chain for "The Show Must Go On" runs through Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster. Whether you own those exact units or close substitutes, ToneMirror maps the pedal voicings onto the pedalboard you actually have.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "The Show Must Go On" by Queen are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.