# Guitar/Metal

*This article uses musical notation called tablature. If you are
inexperienced in reading tablature, you might want to visit this
page*

!Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath. Black Sabbath are recognised as one of
the earliest Metal
bands.

Metal is a genre of music that stemmed from rock in the late 70\'s.
Today, there are many sub-genres of heavy metal that share similarities
and differences. Guitars in heavy metal are almost always distorted and
are often downtuned.

## Techniques

These are some techniques that are mostly unique to metal or hard rock.

### Power Chords

A major element of heavy metal is the use of power chords. Standard
tuning of a guitar is (from the thickest string to the thinnest)
**E,A,D,G,b,e** Power chords in this tuning can be performed as follows:

`  e|----------------| A power chord consists of a root note, its higher octave, and the lower note's fifth.`\
`  b|----------------|`\
`  G|----------------|`\
`  D|2-5-7---2-5-7---| <-----`**`Octave`**\
`  A|2-5-7---2-5-7---| <-----`**`Fifth`**\
`  E|0-3-5---0-3-5---| <-----`**`Root`**

Not always, however, does a power chord have to have an octave. It may
be simply the root and fifth.

### Drop D and Drop Tunings

In dropped tunings, such as dropped D (**D,A,D,G,b,e**), power chords
are more easily played by lowering the bottom (thickest) string two
semi-tones. In dropped D, this note is a D. The same riff, transposed
and played in dropped D follows:

`  e|----------------|`\
`  b|----------------|`\
`  G|----------------|`\
`  D|2-5-7---2-5-7---| <-----`**`Octave`**\
`  A|2-5-7---2-5-7---| <-----`**`Fifth`**\
`  D|2-5-7---2-5-7---| <-----`**`Root`**

Playing in this tuning makes it possible to use only one finger to fret
all three strings, allowing faster and more complex riffing.

### Palm Muting

Also, in metal, palm muting plays a large role, although it is also used
in other genres. Palm muting is placing the side of your palm, while
playing, close to or on the bridge, and lightly muting the strings.
This, combined with heavy distortion, creates a thick, \"chug\" sound.
Just one example of this occurs in DevilDriver\'s \"I Dreamed I Died.\"

`  X's are placed on the line underneath notes which are to be muted.`\
`  `\
`  C#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|`\
`   A|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|`\
`   E|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|`\
`   B|0--------------00-0-0-3=========|0--------------00-0-0-6=========|`\
`  F#|0--------------00-0-0-3=========|0--------------00-0-0-6=========|`\
`   B|0--------------00-0-0-3=========|0--------------00-0-0-6=========|`\
`                    xx x x                           xx x x `

### Pinch Harmonics

Used in lots of kinds of metal, but more in death metal or extreme
metal, pinch harmonics create a \"screaming\" or \"squealing\" sound.
They are sometimes referred to as \"Squealies,\" and mostly are played
on the higher strings of the guitar. To perform a pinch harmonic usually
requires the use of a plectrum, or pick. The technique involves holding
the pick between the thumb and index, lower on the thumb than normal. By
doing this, the bottom of the thumb is closer to the strings, and when a
note is hit, the thumb should barely touch the vibrating string.

`  e|----------------|`\
`  b|----------------|`\
`  G|----------------|`\
`  D|3-2-3-2-3-2-3*--| Often, pinch harmonics are shown by placing an asterisk next to the note that is a harmonic.`\
`  A|3-2-3-2-3-2-----|`\
`  D|3-2-3-2-3-2-----|`

## Exercises

Here are some tabs that will help you train and condition your fingers.

### Power Chords

Here\'s a basic power chord sequence, no palm muting.

`  e|----------------------------------------------------------------|`\
`  B|----------------------------------------------------------------|`\
`  G|----------------------------------------------------------------|`\
`  D|0-3-2-1-0-1-2-3-0-3-2-1-0-3-6-3-0-5-3-6-0-5-3-6-0-5-3-6-0-6-9-5-|`\
`  A|0-3-2-1-0-1-2-3-0-3-2-1-0-3-6-3-0-5-3-6-0-5-3-6-0-5-3-6-0-6-9-5-|`\
`  D|0-3-2-1-0-1-2-3-0-3-2-1-0-3-6-3-0-5-3-6-0-5-3-6-0-5-3-6-0-6-9-5-|`

Here\'s a similar riff, a little harder.

`  e|------------------------------------------------------------------|`\
`  B|------------------------------------------------------------------|`\
`  G|------------------------------------------------------------------|`\
`  D|0-3-2-1-0-1-2-3-0-3-2-1-0-3-6-3-0-5-3-6-0-3-5-6-0-5-3-6-0-10-12-13| <-\`\
`  A|0-3-2-1-0-1-2-3-0-3-2-1-0-3-6-3-0-5-3-6-0-3-5-6-0-5-3-6-0-10-12-13| <-Understand this is "10", "12", 13"`\
`  D|0-3-2-1-0-1-2-3-0-3-2-1-0-3-6-3-0-5-3-6-0-3-5-6-0-5-3-6-0-10-12-13| <-/`

An even tougher riff, using palm muting.

`  e|----------------------------------------------------------------|`\
`  B|----------------------------------------------------------------|`\
`  G|----------------------------4-------------5-7-8-----------5-7-8-|`\
`  D|003-2-1-001-2-3-003-2-1-003-4-3-003-6-3-005-7-8-0-5-3-6-0-5-7-8-|`\
`  A|003-2-1-001-2-3-003-2-1-003-2-3-003-6-3-003-5-6-0-5-3-6-0-3-5-6-| `\
`  D|003-2-1-001-2-3-003-2-1-003---3-003-6-3-00------0-5-3-6-0-------|`\
`    xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      x       x`

A riff that requires clever use of fingers:

`   B|----------------|`\
`  F#|----------------|`\
`   D|--------------7-|`\
`   A|----------------|`\
`   E|223-5-3-6-3-225-|`\
`   A|223-5-3-6-3-22--|`\
`     xx          xx`

### Fast Riffing

`  e|--------------------------------| Remember to start slowly and build up speed once you understand the riff.`\
`  B|--------------------------------|`\
`  G|--------------------------------|`\
`  D|--------------------------------|`\
`  A|----------5-----------5-0-3/6---|`\
`  D|0-3-6-0-6---0-3-6-0-6---0-3/6---|`\
`    x x   x x   x x   x x   x     `

`  e|--------------------------------|`\
`  b|--------------------------------|`\
`  G|--------------------------------|`\
`  D|0-0-0-3/6-0-0-0-----0-1/3-0-1---| Note: You may find it easier to slide from 3 to 6 with your middle finger`\
`  A|0-0-0-3/6-0-0-0-----0-1/3-0-1---| rather than your index.`\
`  D|0-0-0-3/6-0-0-0-3/6-0-1/3-0-1---|`\
`    x x x     x x x     x        ^^^`\
`                                 Hold note`

This riff does not only involve power chords:

`  e|--------------------------------|`\
`  b|--------------------------------|`\
`  G|--------------------------------|`\
`  D|--------------------------------|`\
`  A|----2---1---2-----------5-2-2-3-|`\
`  D|2-2---2---2---2-2-2-2-2-5-2-2-3-|(x2)`\
`    x x   x   x   x x x x x   x x `\
`  `\
`  `\
`  e|--------------------------------|`\
`  b|--------------------------------|`\
`  G|--------------------------------|`\
`  D|----0-------0-------------------|`\
`  A|----0---4---0-----------3-0-0-1-|`\
`  D|0-0---0-6-0---0-0-0-0-0-3-0-0-1-|(x2)`\
`    x x   x   x   x x x x x   x x`

### Pinch Harmonics

## Metal Styles

This section should explain some differences between many genres of
metal and provide example riffs in the style of each.

### Progressive Metal

Progressive metal tends to use long, dramatic song structures as well as
unusual time signatures. Typically progressive metal draws influence
from both metal and progressive rock. There is no defining progressive
metal sound, and many progressive metal bands also fit within other
genres. Some examples include Neurosis, Fates Warning, Dream Theater and
Opeth.

### Death Metal

Death metal evolved out of thrash metal. Death metal tends to use a lot
of dramatic tempo and key changes as well as atonal chromatic riffing.
The genre is famous for its distinct vocal style; called the \"death
grunt\" which is a low, growling form of singing that often make lyrics
very hard to make out. Some examples include Origin, Necrophagist,
Cannibal Corpse, Suffocation, Deicide, Behemoth and Death. Another
variant of Death Metal is melodic Death Metal. Some examples include
Amon Amarth, In Flames, The Black Dahlia Murder and Dethklok.

`B|--------------------------------|`\
`G|--------------------------------|`\
`D|--------------------------------|`\
`A|--------------------------------|`\
`E|----4---3-----------4---3-------|`\
`B|2-3---3---2-0-1-2-3---3---2-0-1-|`

### Doom Metal

Doom metal focuses on very slow tempos and atmospheric riffs, with the
purpose of creating an eerie and depressive sound. This is probably the
metal subgenre with less palm muting and \"chug\" riffs. Some examples
include Candlemass, Cathedral, Funeral, Paradise Lost and Solitude
Aeternus.

### Black Metal

Black metal is death metal\'s faster, grimmer sounding cousin. Instead
of focusing on being as heavy as possible black metal tends to focus on
atmospheric riffs. Some black metal uses keyboards to add a symphonic
sound. Some examples of black metal include: Mayhem, Darkthrone, Burzum,
Emperor, Gorgoroth, Cradle Of Filth and Celtic Frost.

### Grindcore

!Mitch Harris of Napalm Death at Hammerfest
2010
Grindcore is not (by common misconception) a form of metal. It is a punk
sub-genre before all else, although it has had a great influence on the
more extreme sub-genres of metal, most notably Brutal Death Metal It is
characterized by blisteringly fast and abrasive riffs and downtuned
guitars, usually detuned to Drop-C. The band that pioneered this
sub-genre of punk was Napalm Death with their album \"Scum\".

### Speed Metal

Speed metal, as the name indicates, focuses greatly on speed. Speed
metal is generally considered the precursor to thrash metal (as seen
with the first Megadeth and Metallica albums), focusing more on
NWOBHM-style riffs at an increased than general thickness of guitar
tone. Still, speed metal is an ill-defined genre and is usually paired
with power metal. Despite insistence from some metal fans, DragonForce
and acts that focus on shredding are not speed metal.

### Thrash Metal

Thrash metal started as a hybrid of speed metal and thrash, an offshoot
of hardcore punk. Thrash metal tends to employ fast, gallop picked
rhythms and complex, technical parts. Some examples of thrash metal are
Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax, Metallica, early Sepultura and Metal Church.
Some examples of thrash/thrashcore/crossover thrash are Dirty Rotten
Imbeciles, Stormtroopers of Death, Municipal Waste and Charles Bronson.

!Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield of Metallica at The O2 Arena, London,
England

### Alternative/Groove Metal

Groove metal/post-thrash evolved out of thrash metal. Groove metal bands
tend to include slow, chunky riffs alongside more thrash oriented riffs.
Groove metal was rather successful during the mid-90s and spawned
nu-metal. Some examples of groove metal are Pantera, DevilDriver, later
Sepultura and Lamb of God.

### Metalcore

Metalcore is hardcore punk with metal influences. Metalcore evolved in
New York. As New York Hardcore bands added beatdown parts and gradually
added more and more metal influences the common \'tough guy\' sound
became more and more heavy. Some metalcore bands are Shai Hulud, Botch,
Killswitch Engage and Throwdown.

