How can I learn to play heavy metal guitar?

Question

This style of music seems pretty well guarded. I can't find anyone who teaches it in my area. I've heard learn scales so many times my eyes pop but that dosent tell me a thing. Where can I really find how to do this all learning scales does is teach me scales...how can I fully learn this style of guitar from start to finish?

Answer 1

yea....sorry to sound like a parrot, but scales are the key. Also listen to the old Bach, Beethoven and Mozart quartets and fugues for good stuff to play at mach speed for metal.

Why not work on the other side of the equation; the gear?

You can get good metal tones from Hughes and Kettner amps,  Mesa Boogie (double and triple rectifieds) Peavey Valveking, Peavey 5150/6505, Egnater, Diezel....and the ubiquitous Marshall JCM 2000.

If you don't want to...say...spend 1000-4000 dollars, buy yourself a Line 6 POD and a cheap solid state amp. Every metal tone can be found on one of these wonderful little devices.

As far as guitars, Jackson, Dean, Ibanez, ESP, or any other "metal looking" guitar with humbucking pickups will do. A "fast"(thin) neck would be preferable.

Answer 2

learn scales... ha just kidding. what kinda of heavy metal? if you want to learn stuff like black sabbath and deep purple, yeah any guitar teacher can show you. if you mean like the newer stuff like black dahlia murder, its a bit more complicated

Answer 3

practice

Answer 4

I would look on youtube at some videos on there.

Answer 5

First learn the basic elements of metal playing, then find and practice guitar tabs to various metal songs until you can keep up with the song without being sloppy.

The basic elements for the rhythm include:

* palm muting (for accenting the rhythm)

* pinch harmonics (for a stylistic squeal)

* power chords (the staple of metal)

* inverted power chords (good for doomy sound)

* two-string intervals like minor 3rd, major 3rd, perfect 4th, augmented 4th, perfect 5th (2 string power chord).

* alternate picking to do fast runs and complex single-note patterns on the low notes. Also skipping strings.

The basic elements for lead include:

* Scales, as you know

* Arpeggios

* Sweep picking

* Skipping strings

* Note tapping

* Alternate picking

* Hammer-ons and Pull-offs

* Note bending, vibrato

* Whammy bar if you have one

* Palm muting, pinch harmonics

* Trill

* Slides

As for getting the metal "sound" -- use humbucker pickups not single coils, don't scoop the mids, turn up the gain 3/4ths of the way, use thicker strings (Ernie Ball Heavy-Top Skinny Bottom, or Beefy Slinky), tune all your strings down lower by a note or two (unless you're playing to some recorded song, then match its tuning).  

For affordable practice amps that don't sound like c**p, I recommend the Roland Cube or Vox Valvetronix amps. It is more fun to learn and practice when you have an enjoyable sound.

Answer 6

learn how to play an E barre chord. once you can play it all you have to do is slide your hand to different frets on the neck and the chord is different. then you can look up the chords in a song online and your good to go