The Internet is a great boon for almost everyone, including metal guitar buffs! With the improvement of online technology, metal lovers can get avail of essential information on the subject easily. There are several free heavy metal guitar lessons available online that you can use to improve your skills in guitar playing.
Purchase an apt electric guitar
To be a professional metal guitarist you need to invest in a proper electric guitar. So, the first thing that you will learn from these online lessons is how to buy an effective guitar for playing metal. Remember that heavy metal is all about playing faster and aggressively. So, with time these tutorials will assist you to play with speed. The guitars that are suitable for playing heavy metal generally have a firmer grip and a thicker neck. They also have more frets, are light in weight and have killer styles and color combinations.
Locrian scale
This is one of the most frequently used scales by any metal band. This scale is a hot favorite due to its fifth intervals and flattened second, that can create a dark and mysterious sound effect that will surely lure the audience. Locrian scale is used in different genre of metals which include black metal, death metal and so on. In this interval of the guitar scales, the music that is created is overwhelming and mellow.
String Exercises
The online tutorials will also teach you certain fingers exercises that will assist in making your finger muscles flexible to a large extent to achieve difficult movements with ease. Several of these guitar warm up exercises not only serve as finger dexterity training but also for strength training.
Alternate Picking
If you really want to be a successful metal guitarist then it is mandatory for you to master this technique. Alternate Picking is used for Lead Guitar and Rhythm guitar. In alternate guitar picking, the notes of a string are struck in a down and up motion. This is as opposed to strumming the guitar in only one direction. With the help of effect video clippings, you will be able to master this important guitar technique in time.
So, from the above discussion it is quite evident that online tutorial sites are quite helpful for learning the tricks and styles of heavy metal music. These free metal guitar lessons can enhance your knowledge and skills in heavy metal greatly.
Check Out Heavy Metal Guitar Lessons Today. You Can Learn Learn Heavy Metal Guitar At GuitarPlayerWorld.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Benfort
Saturday 20 February 2010
Thursday 18 February 2010
Heavy Metal Guitar Riff Facts
If you are a fan of heavy metal music, you know how largely it depends on guitar riffs and solos for its existence. Guitar remains the central instrument of heavy metal music and cool guitar riffs are probably the most admired part of a performance. Here are some interesting facts about heavy metal guitar riffs which might help you to appreciate them even more.
For many years now heavy metal music has been critically vilified as an over simplistic and aggressive genre of music. The on stage violence and the showiness of the metal bands have added to the censure. However, there is no denying the fact that the guttural and the primal sounds of the metal guitar remain a popular form of protest against the consumerism and conformity of pop music. The metal guitar riffs are not meant to please, they are meant to express the anguish that results from our modern life style.
Many critics, without knowing the true facts about metal bands, dismiss all metal guitarists as gimmicky. They think that it is all about riffing involving three chords. However, it is a far cry from the truth. Metal guitarists have been leading innovators of many complicated guitar techniques. A good metal guitarist should also be technically sound and should be able to play at a great speed.
Much of the appeal of the heavy metal music depends upon the amplified distortion of the guitar licks. The very genre of the heavy metal music came to be distinguished by its powerful solos and speedy and powerful guitar riffs. In the 1960s, when the metal genre was coming slowly in to the forefront, it heavily depended upon the blues and the psychedelic versions of rock music. But what gradually distinguished it from the others, was the coming of age of the powerful guitar licks.
Therefore, the importance of the heavy metal guitar riffs cannot be undermined in the general growth and development of the metal music. If you really want to play them on your own, you should first work on your basic guitar techniques. Learning to play guitar licks and riffs like a pro will also require the knowledge of musical theory and guitar scales. There is quite a bit of hard work involved in attaining the status of a good metal guitar player. However, once you can manage to master them, there is nothing like the pleasure of playing a guitar like Kirk Hammett or Randy Rhoads.
Check Out Heavy Metal Guitar Riffs Today. Get Your Metal Method Coupon Code At GuitarPlayerWorld.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Benfort_Harrison
For many years now heavy metal music has been critically vilified as an over simplistic and aggressive genre of music. The on stage violence and the showiness of the metal bands have added to the censure. However, there is no denying the fact that the guttural and the primal sounds of the metal guitar remain a popular form of protest against the consumerism and conformity of pop music. The metal guitar riffs are not meant to please, they are meant to express the anguish that results from our modern life style.
Many critics, without knowing the true facts about metal bands, dismiss all metal guitarists as gimmicky. They think that it is all about riffing involving three chords. However, it is a far cry from the truth. Metal guitarists have been leading innovators of many complicated guitar techniques. A good metal guitarist should also be technically sound and should be able to play at a great speed.
Much of the appeal of the heavy metal music depends upon the amplified distortion of the guitar licks. The very genre of the heavy metal music came to be distinguished by its powerful solos and speedy and powerful guitar riffs. In the 1960s, when the metal genre was coming slowly in to the forefront, it heavily depended upon the blues and the psychedelic versions of rock music. But what gradually distinguished it from the others, was the coming of age of the powerful guitar licks.
Therefore, the importance of the heavy metal guitar riffs cannot be undermined in the general growth and development of the metal music. If you really want to play them on your own, you should first work on your basic guitar techniques. Learning to play guitar licks and riffs like a pro will also require the knowledge of musical theory and guitar scales. There is quite a bit of hard work involved in attaining the status of a good metal guitar player. However, once you can manage to master them, there is nothing like the pleasure of playing a guitar like Kirk Hammett or Randy Rhoads.
Check Out Heavy Metal Guitar Riffs Today. Get Your Metal Method Coupon Code At GuitarPlayerWorld.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Benfort_Harrison
Tuesday 16 February 2010
Guitar Lessons - Hammer-on, Pull-offs
One of the primary legato techniques all guitarists must learn is the hammer-on, pull-off. This technique is important because it allows for nuances in tone and expression, and it allows the picking hand a "break" since it does not have to pick the notes on the hammer-on or the pull-off. This results in a faster progression of notes, sometimes called licks.
The hammer-on is accomplished when you pick a note and then using another finger hammer down on the same string. The sound of the hammered note is less pronounced than the picked note. For example place your first finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd string, and the hammer down your third finger on the 7th fret of the 3rd string. Don't use your just quickly strike the second fret position with the tip of your 3rd finger. This would be described in guitar tab as 5h7 or 5 hammer 7. Keep your first finger on the 5th fret because you are going to pull-off of the 7th fret in the next example.
The pull-off results when you release a plucked note with enough force such that the second fretted note rings. This may require a slight side way motion to create enough friction to cause the string to ring out. The sound of the pulled-off note is less pronounced since you aren't using your pick to create it. This would be illustrated in guitar tab 7p5 or 7 pull 5.
If you combine these techniques you can create very fast note runs or licks. Imagine how this sequence of hammer-on, pull-off's would sound when played very quickly 5h7p5h7p5. In deed the hammer-on, pull-off technique is the cornerstone for legato and most speed playing techniques.
It takes time to perfect the technique but it is worth the effort.
Bill McRea is the publisher of http://www.guitarwarehouse.com and their blog at
Also http://www.kansasfans.com and http://diabetes-at-home.blogspot.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_McRea
The hammer-on is accomplished when you pick a note and then using another finger hammer down on the same string. The sound of the hammered note is less pronounced than the picked note. For example place your first finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd string, and the hammer down your third finger on the 7th fret of the 3rd string. Don't use your just quickly strike the second fret position with the tip of your 3rd finger. This would be described in guitar tab as 5h7 or 5 hammer 7. Keep your first finger on the 5th fret because you are going to pull-off of the 7th fret in the next example.
The pull-off results when you release a plucked note with enough force such that the second fretted note rings. This may require a slight side way motion to create enough friction to cause the string to ring out. The sound of the pulled-off note is less pronounced since you aren't using your pick to create it. This would be illustrated in guitar tab 7p5 or 7 pull 5.
If you combine these techniques you can create very fast note runs or licks. Imagine how this sequence of hammer-on, pull-off's would sound when played very quickly 5h7p5h7p5. In deed the hammer-on, pull-off technique is the cornerstone for legato and most speed playing techniques.
It takes time to perfect the technique but it is worth the effort.
Bill McRea is the publisher of http://www.guitarwarehouse.com and their blog at
Also http://www.kansasfans.com and http://diabetes-at-home.blogspot.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_McRea
How to Play Fast Part 1 - A Lesson From John Petrucci
When John Petrucci starts learning to play fast he was emulating Steve Morse and Al de Meola. He picks every note when practicing like Steve and Al and then he switches gears into a legato mode. Legato means playing all the notes with only his left hand fingers and his right hand doing nothing. When he was younger he saw those guys playing and it looks like cheating but its not and it sounds really smooth and fast. Playing fast is not about cheating but it involves technique. When you have enough technique you can play fast at your desired speed and you can take your speed to the next level. To give you an example, try this pattern in figure 1 shown below in tablature form.
e---------------------------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------------------------
G-------7----4----5----7--------------------------------
D--------------------------------------------------------
A--------------------------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------------------
Figure 1
Play it repeatedly with picking each note. Start slowly then gradually increase your speed. Now in figure 2, play it with legato by picking only the first note then pull off and hammer on the remaining notes.
e---------------------------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------------------------
G------7-----5----4----5-----7-------------------------
D--------------------------------------------------------
A--------------------------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------------------
Figure 2
Then after that, try to play the combination of the two picking each note and then the legato.
Taking that licks further and makes more licks out of it. The next example in figure 3 below is picking the first note which is the G in D string in 5th fret instead of the G string. Picking the first four notes and pull off the next two notes which is the C# and D in G string. Then end up by picking the G note in D string in 5th fret.
e---------------------------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------------------------
G------------2----4----5-----4------2------------------
D-------5-------------------------------------5---------
A--------------------------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------------------
Figure 3
In the case of this licks it uses fingers 1, 3 and 4 which is a bit difficult and you need dexterity between fingers 3 and 4 which is really difficult to do. But you can do exercises to practice your weak points. You can do hammer on and pull off exercises that you can thrill those two fingers. It might be easier to do that licks if you use fingers 1, 2 and 4 rather than 1, 3 and 4. You must try to concentrate on your weak points to do the combination of these licks. Start practicing and apply it.
Watch out for the second part of this lesson from John Petrucci.
Learn more about improving your guitar playing Visit GuitarMusicLessons. Reynato Basister is a guitarist in a band for more than 15 years and willing to help you to develop your own guitar playing.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Reynato_Basister
e---------------------------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------------------------
G-------7----4----5----7--------------------------------
D--------------------------------------------------------
A--------------------------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------------------
Figure 1
Play it repeatedly with picking each note. Start slowly then gradually increase your speed. Now in figure 2, play it with legato by picking only the first note then pull off and hammer on the remaining notes.
e---------------------------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------------------------
G------7-----5----4----5-----7-------------------------
D--------------------------------------------------------
A--------------------------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------------------
Figure 2
Then after that, try to play the combination of the two picking each note and then the legato.
Taking that licks further and makes more licks out of it. The next example in figure 3 below is picking the first note which is the G in D string in 5th fret instead of the G string. Picking the first four notes and pull off the next two notes which is the C# and D in G string. Then end up by picking the G note in D string in 5th fret.
e---------------------------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------------------------
G------------2----4----5-----4------2------------------
D-------5-------------------------------------5---------
A--------------------------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------------------
Figure 3
In the case of this licks it uses fingers 1, 3 and 4 which is a bit difficult and you need dexterity between fingers 3 and 4 which is really difficult to do. But you can do exercises to practice your weak points. You can do hammer on and pull off exercises that you can thrill those two fingers. It might be easier to do that licks if you use fingers 1, 2 and 4 rather than 1, 3 and 4. You must try to concentrate on your weak points to do the combination of these licks. Start practicing and apply it.
Watch out for the second part of this lesson from John Petrucci.
Learn more about improving your guitar playing Visit GuitarMusicLessons. Reynato Basister is a guitarist in a band for more than 15 years and willing to help you to develop your own guitar playing.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Reynato_Basister
Monday 15 February 2010
Guitar and Metronome Speed Training - Tremelo Picking
One of the best weapons a guitarist has in the the battle to improve their playing speed is the Metronome. This small machine keeps perfect time with a series of beeps that can be configured for several purposes.
In this article I will explain the 2 most crucial settings to use on the metronome and their relationship to developing lethal shredding speed!
A Major factor to becoming truly fast is mastering tremelo picking. And guess what! Yep, our buddy the metronome is going to help us to do it.
Temelo picking is just alternate picking - down,up,down,up etc. - on one note so lets set the metronome up and get started!
Set the Metronome to 8th note triplets and adjust the tempo to a nice easy speed. Your starting tempo should be something you can play easily with no error for an extended time period. You should hear
a steady pulse of clicks (Da,da,da - Da,da.da - Da,da,da, - Da,da,da) with a staggering feel.
Now start alternate picking in time with the clicks on the 5th fret of the large E string(note A). The clicks come in a series of 3 so I want you to play the 1st click of each group of 3 slightly louder than the other 2. This is your pulse click which needs to be in perfect time.
If your metronome has a pendulum arm or a horizontal LED display you should play the pulse note whenever the arm reaches the extreme left or right. In the case of an LED display this is the extreme
left or right LED light. It is common for metronomes to play the pulse note louder as well.
You should realize that when you hear a guitar player playing fast tremelo picking that the notes are a series of small bundles - in this case they are 3 note bundles - tied together to form a larger musical pattern. The pulse note will become familiar to you so if you solo over a song with a fast 4/4 tempo you can simply count off the pulse notes in time with the beat. A bar of tremelo picking using the above setting produces 12 notes per bar. By recognising you pulse note you only have to count from 1 to 4 to keep effective time using tremelo picking.
So now that you have a few ideas about how and why to do things you can increase the tempo speed. I like to jump up in 10bpm lots but you can use smaller amounts. The main thing to remember is not to increase the tempo by large amounts too quickly. Lets say you started at 80bpm and you executed your tremelo picking with no mistakes using relaxed alternate picking technique and economy of movement(small controlled movements). Now, bump it up to 90bpm and listen to clicks before you play anything.
Before you start you should realise that there is no difference between playing slow and fast. Its common for students to hear a faster tempo and immediately say to themselves "That's too fast I'll never do that". And guess what? Their mind makes it true. Your mind is so powerful that it will make statements like this a reality. You should instead clear your mind of all thought and simply play.
Lets continue. Using the correct mindset above you tremelo pick perfectly at 90bpm so you would bump the tempo up to 100bpm make your mind calm and clear of distraction then go for it!
If you find that you were not able to make the jump to 90bpm then stay on 80bpm for a day or two or even a week. If you are new to tremelo picking then you have to condition your muscles to perform the work. Training your muscles should be done at a slow tempo from 40 - 60bpm. Once this is done then attempt to increase your speed again and you will see a huge improvement.
I mentioned 2 crucial settings earlier. The 2nd is 16th notes. Set your metronome to this setting and listen to the clicks. This time you will hear bundles of 4 clicks(Da,da,da,da - Da,da,da,da - Da,da,da,da - Da,da,da,da). Lets start with a nice easy tempo say 60bpm. As before, start alternate picking on the 5th fret of the big E string(Note A). Play the pulse note slightly louder than the other 3.
The process for improving speed is the same for 16th notes as 8th note triplets.
I hope you found this Article helpful and informative. My next Article will be about choosing the right pick or plectrum to get the job done and how to use it.
James Erceg teaches guitar lessons in Auckland New Zealand
If you are interested in more information on my guitar teaching methods I do have an ebook available with MP3's titled Shred Lords - Neoclassical Guitar at http://www.jameserceg.com
You can also view video and audio of my guitar playing at my website. Thanks :P
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Erceg
In this article I will explain the 2 most crucial settings to use on the metronome and their relationship to developing lethal shredding speed!
A Major factor to becoming truly fast is mastering tremelo picking. And guess what! Yep, our buddy the metronome is going to help us to do it.
Temelo picking is just alternate picking - down,up,down,up etc. - on one note so lets set the metronome up and get started!
Set the Metronome to 8th note triplets and adjust the tempo to a nice easy speed. Your starting tempo should be something you can play easily with no error for an extended time period. You should hear
a steady pulse of clicks (Da,da,da - Da,da.da - Da,da,da, - Da,da,da) with a staggering feel.
Now start alternate picking in time with the clicks on the 5th fret of the large E string(note A). The clicks come in a series of 3 so I want you to play the 1st click of each group of 3 slightly louder than the other 2. This is your pulse click which needs to be in perfect time.
If your metronome has a pendulum arm or a horizontal LED display you should play the pulse note whenever the arm reaches the extreme left or right. In the case of an LED display this is the extreme
left or right LED light. It is common for metronomes to play the pulse note louder as well.
You should realize that when you hear a guitar player playing fast tremelo picking that the notes are a series of small bundles - in this case they are 3 note bundles - tied together to form a larger musical pattern. The pulse note will become familiar to you so if you solo over a song with a fast 4/4 tempo you can simply count off the pulse notes in time with the beat. A bar of tremelo picking using the above setting produces 12 notes per bar. By recognising you pulse note you only have to count from 1 to 4 to keep effective time using tremelo picking.
So now that you have a few ideas about how and why to do things you can increase the tempo speed. I like to jump up in 10bpm lots but you can use smaller amounts. The main thing to remember is not to increase the tempo by large amounts too quickly. Lets say you started at 80bpm and you executed your tremelo picking with no mistakes using relaxed alternate picking technique and economy of movement(small controlled movements). Now, bump it up to 90bpm and listen to clicks before you play anything.
Before you start you should realise that there is no difference between playing slow and fast. Its common for students to hear a faster tempo and immediately say to themselves "That's too fast I'll never do that". And guess what? Their mind makes it true. Your mind is so powerful that it will make statements like this a reality. You should instead clear your mind of all thought and simply play.
Lets continue. Using the correct mindset above you tremelo pick perfectly at 90bpm so you would bump the tempo up to 100bpm make your mind calm and clear of distraction then go for it!
If you find that you were not able to make the jump to 90bpm then stay on 80bpm for a day or two or even a week. If you are new to tremelo picking then you have to condition your muscles to perform the work. Training your muscles should be done at a slow tempo from 40 - 60bpm. Once this is done then attempt to increase your speed again and you will see a huge improvement.
I mentioned 2 crucial settings earlier. The 2nd is 16th notes. Set your metronome to this setting and listen to the clicks. This time you will hear bundles of 4 clicks(Da,da,da,da - Da,da,da,da - Da,da,da,da - Da,da,da,da). Lets start with a nice easy tempo say 60bpm. As before, start alternate picking on the 5th fret of the big E string(Note A). Play the pulse note slightly louder than the other 3.
The process for improving speed is the same for 16th notes as 8th note triplets.
I hope you found this Article helpful and informative. My next Article will be about choosing the right pick or plectrum to get the job done and how to use it.
James Erceg teaches guitar lessons in Auckland New Zealand
If you are interested in more information on my guitar teaching methods I do have an ebook available with MP3's titled Shred Lords - Neoclassical Guitar at http://www.jameserceg.com
You can also view video and audio of my guitar playing at my website. Thanks :P
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Erceg
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