Song Information
Title: The Struggle Within
Artist: Metallica
Album: Metallica
Bassist: Jason Newsted
Difficulty: Intermediate
Tuning: Standard Tuning
Key: C Major
Tempo: 195
Get the Official Sheet Music
👉Download on Sheet Music Direct
👉 Download on Sheet Music Plus
👉 Stream on Sheet Music Direct
👉 Stream on MuseScore
Affiliate Note: This page may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. For full details on affiliate links, please see the Affiliate Link Policy.
Bass Diary Entry
“The Struggle Within” often feels like a bit of a sleeper track on The Black Album, but hearing it live during the Black Album celebration tour in 2012 completely changed how I viewed it. On that tour, Metallica played the album back to front, meaning this thrashy closer suddenly became the song that kicked off the album section of the set — and it absolutely ripped.
Starting that section of the show with “The Struggle Within” instantly shifted the energy up a gear. It’s faster, more aggressive, and leans much more into Metallica’s thrash roots compared to much of the rest of the album. The bassline locks tightly with the guitars, driving the song forward with a relentless pulse that makes it a seriously fun one to play.
Hearing it in that context really highlighted how much bite this track has. It might sit at the end of the record, but live — especially when used as an opener — it proves it’s got more than enough firepower to stand alongside the band’s heavier, faster material.
Why Our Bass Tabs?
- Highly researched to ensure play-accurate parts
- Correct rhythms, note lengths & performance detail
- Clear layouts designed for real-world practise
- Mobile-friendly PDFs for easy reading anywhere
Our goal:
Reliable, musician-friendly bass notation that players can trust.
Explore More Bass Tabs
Mastered The Struggle Within and want to learn more?
👉 More from Metallica
👉More from The Bass Diaries Officially Licensed Sheet Music Collection
Request The Next Metallica Song
Got a favourite Metallica track you want to learn?
Join our Discord to:
- Request new bass sheet music
- Vote on upcoming releases
- Hang out with fellow bassists
➡️ Join HERE
