So, you’re drawn to the powerful riffs and heavy tones of metal music and wondering how guitarists achieve that iconic sound? Perhaps you’re just starting your guitar journey and curious if playing metal is even within reach. The good news is, transforming your guitar into a metal machine is absolutely attainable, even for beginners. It’s less about magic and more about understanding the right techniques and equipment.
Dexterity and Drop D Tuning: Your Starting Blocks
Worried about nimble fingers? Like any skill, guitar dexterity comes with practice. Don’t let perceived clumsiness discourage you. A great starting point for metal is exploring drop tunings, especially Drop D. This tuning simplifies power chords, a cornerstone of metal rhythm, requiring just one finger. While some might argue against drop tunings for scale learning initially, it’s a fantastic way to quickly access that heavy metal sound and build confidence. You can always expand to standard tuning later, but Drop D provides an accessible entry point.
Electric vs. Acoustic: Choosing the Right Guitar
While acoustic guitars are versatile, achieving a genuine metal sound on one is incredibly challenging. Heavy distortion, a key element in metal, simply doesn’t translate well on acoustics. Think of acoustic guitars for softer intros or clean passages within metal songs, but for the core heavy sound, an electric guitar is essential.
Even within the realm of electric guitars, some are more suited for metal than others. Certain brands and models have become synonymous with the genre. ESP, Ibanez, and Gibson (particularly Les Paul and Flying V models) are renowned for their metal-focused designs. Furthermore, the type of pickups significantly impacts your guitar’s metal capabilities. Humbuckers and active pickups are favored in metal for their high output and ability to handle distortion without unwanted noise. Active pickups, like EMG’s, often found in ESP guitars, are particularly known for their aggressive tone, making techniques like pinch harmonics and fast scales easier to execute.
Essential Gear: Guitar, Amp, and More
Getting started with metal doesn’t require breaking the bank. A used Epiphone Les Paul can be a budget-friendly and excellent entry-level electric guitar for metal. For picks, heavier gauges like Dunlop Jazz III are often preferred by metal players for their precision and speed.
The amplifier is just as crucial as the guitar in shaping your metal sound. While high-end tube amps are prized, solid-state amps can be incredibly effective for metal, especially for beginners. Look for amps with “high gain” controls, or consider brands like Peavey or Line 6, which offer models with built-in distortion specifically designed for metal and other heavy genres. You don’t need to spend a fortune to get a powerful metal tone.
Skills and Techniques: Building Your Metal Arsenal
While raw energy is important, developing specific skills and techniques will elevate your metal playing. Music theory and understanding scales are invaluable. Harmonic minor scales are a favorite among metal musicians, and exploring minor and exotic scales will broaden your sonic palette. Scales like half-tone, diminished, melodic, and chromatic scales are also commonly used in metal to create its distinct sound. Developing an “ear” for metal comes with time and immersion in the genre – the more you listen, the more intuitively you’ll grasp its nuances.
Techniques like palm muting, staccato picking, tremolo picking, pinch harmonics, tapping, chromatic runs, and key shifts are frequently employed in metal. Expanding your repertoire of these techniques will significantly enhance your ability to play and create metal music.
Can Beginners Play Metal? Absolutely!
Don’t feel intimidated if you’re just starting. Metal is accessible to beginners, especially subgenres like doom metal, which often features slower tempos and simpler structures compared to more technically demanding styles like technical death metal.
To enhance your practice and keep things engaging, consider using a drum machine or software like Fruity Loops. Playing along with drum beats, whether pre-made or created yourself, will improve your timing, keep you motivated, and spark riff ideas as you progress on your metal guitar journey.
Conclusion: Embrace the Journey
Making your guitar sound metal is a journey that combines the right equipment, dedicated practice, and a passion for the genre. Start with accessible tunings like Drop D, equip yourself with an electric guitar and a suitable amp, and gradually explore metal-specific techniques and scales. Don’t be afraid to start simple, even with heavier styles like doom metal. With time, dedication, and the right approach, you’ll be unleashing thunderous metal riffs in no time.
