• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Becoming a metalhead

I've been getting into guitar playing lately. I'm not trying to be a local guitarist or be in a band or anything, I just want to do it for my own enjoyment. I've always enjoyed good metal style playing- the riffs, intensity, and the speed. I know that speed and cool licks don't make a good player, but they are fun and I wouldn't mind having some at my disposal. So what I'm asking is where can I look for developing some metal guitar skills (bands, sites, videos, whatever).
 
I've been doing guitar for a year myself, nothing satisfies more than ripping out a perfectly executed riff. My favorite bands to jam along with on the cd player:
Marilyn Manson: there's some 1 finger flogging in there, easy to play
Metallica: They know how to rock

Had trouble with:
System of a Down
and
Fear Factory
Both use either 7-strings or insanely low tunings. Floppy strings aren't my thing.
 
Start with some AC/DC. It's not so metal as you'd probably prefer, but it's tight. It's TIGHT. Just see the live DVDs. The other good part about AC/DC, guitarwise, is that they don't use much overdrive - you hear your mistakes, so you have to develope a good technique.

After that, move to Sabbath :cool:
 
Eskimo said:
I've been getting into guitar playing lately. I'm not trying to be a local guitarist or be in a band or anything, I just want to do it for my own enjoyment. I've always enjoyed good metal style playing- the riffs, intensity, and the speed. I know that speed and cool licks don't make a good player, but they are fun and I wouldn't mind having some at my disposal. So what I'm asking is where can I look for developing some metal guitar skills (bands, sites, videos, whatever).
Try slipknot, metallica, budgie, korn, and all those metal bands.. ooo black sabbath, AC/DC. ya know, the proper metal bands! :bassist:
 
Back in my metal days, I read Guitar World Magazine cover-to-cover every month. You will find riffs there and many "lessons" by top metal guitarists. Plus, the interviews with top metal guitarists are very informative. Additionally, there are transcriptions in both tab and standard notation of popular metal songs. These transcriptions also include bass lines, so they are very helpful. Back in the day, there were five transcriptions, but their web site is showing six for this month. Cool!

I just checked their web site and it looks as if Guitar World continues in much the same manner, offering valuable advice and instruction to metal enthusiasts.

Guitar magazine also has useful information and has more "snob appeal", but their main emphasis is not metal, but more jazz and other styles of guitar music. You will learn a lot in that magazine, too, but I believe you'll get more bang for your buck with Guitar World because you state you want help in becoming a metalhead. Guitar World did more for me in that regard than any other video or magazine or instruction book.

Check their web site for starters:

http://www.guitarworld.com

Disclaimer: I don't work for this magazine. I realize my comments sound like an advertisement, but I am sincere when I say the magazine was very helpful to me.
 
Metallica
Iron Maiden
Megadeth
Black Sabbath
Death (listen to the instrumental 'Voice of the Soul'. My God it's amazing. So emotional and stuff.)
Pantera

That should keep you busy for some time. Enjoy! :)

Peace,
Graeme :bassist: