Learn the techniques that make heavy metal fast, brutal and even... melodic. No spikey guitar necessary.
If you're into thrash metal, death metal, or any other form of heavy metal and want to learn the essential guitar techniques used in all the metal sub-genres, this is the place.
Power Chords
Power chords are...not chords! They are diads (two notes played together) used religiously in rock and heavy metal. They work well under high gain/distortion, so turn your amp's settings up and learn how to improve your riff accuracy and speed with these power chord exercises.
Metal Guitar Chords
Modify and add to those basic root-5th powerchords to create more intricate harmonies in your metal. Metal chords are more cut down than standard chords for more definition under high gain/distortion.
Metal Strumming
Learn the basics of strumming in heavy metal, with drum tracks to try out your own riffs over. We start with basic downstrumming patterns before moving on to more complex down-up strumming in part 2. An essential primer in metal rhythm guitar.
Part 1: Down strumming patterns Part 2: Alternate Strumming Patterns
Palm Mute Guitar
Palm mute guitar is a technique used in all forms of heavy metal, providing a more percussive edge to distorted/high gain guitar. Use this lesson series for the basics, moving onto some more advanced tips and techniques in the 2nd and 3rd parts.
Part 1: Palm Mute Guitar Basics Part 2: More Advanced Palm Muting Part 3: Fast Palm Muting
Fast Guitar Picking
This lesson covers tremolo picking - an alternate picking technique used most commonly in thrash metal. Machine gun picking methods. Great excercise... for your hand anyway.
Metal Lead Technique
Watch the video below for a great introduction to metal lead techniques, including hammer-ons, pull-offs, trills, bends, pinch harmonics and more...
Metal Guitar Scales
A bit of focus on lead guitar and the scales commonly used in heavy metal to support its harsh, aggressive style. We look at the modes and more exotic scales used in metal, and there are backing tracks for you to try them out over... don't say I never give you anything.
How to Play Death Metal Guitar
The basics of playing death metal guitar.
Part 1 introduces the "death scale" and some alternate picking, palm muting techniques to use with the slower, lumbering side of death metal.
Part 2 looks at complementing blast beats using tremolo picking and riffing at speed. Plus, we finish by fusing together the elements we've learned to create progressive riffs.
Thrash Metal Guitar Lesson
Know what the secret is to that satisfying rhythmic chaos in thrash metal? Pick groupings - This lesson gives you some more technical picking exercises to make your thrash playing more dynamic, working with the percussion. Plus, we look at general tremolo picking and some other essential thrash metal styles. Enjoy!
Metal Rhythm Guitar
This lesson focuses on working with the percussion, looking at rhythmic structure. Includes drum tracks to try out your own riffs. We also get introduced to the "groove" element of heavy metal.
Phil Weatley has produced a fantastic course that covers all aspects of playing metal guitar. The best thing about it is that everything is laid out in a logical step-by-step process, taking you from beginner (or intermediate) to advanced playing. Take a look at his course here.
