Does anyone know how to play Neo Classical/Melodic Death Metal.

[Darren Liaho]

Hey everyone!

Eh, I was wondering if any of you dudes and dudests could help me!! Does anyone know what kinda of scale or anything that'll get me playing like Children of Bodom, In Flames, Dimmu Borgir etec.

Thanks!!

Darren.

[sambob]

Natural, harmonic, and melodic minor scales primarily. Although you'll also hear a little less common ones, hungarian minor, double harmonic minor, etc in some settings.

[aiwass]

Depends which end of the spectrum you're going for here, but for the Malmsteen "vibe", learn how to sweep. Minor arpeggios are very useful here. Also, pedal-tone licks and layered lead harmonies add to the neoclassical vibe.

[TheWizard]

the diminished stuff comes in handy

-----------------------10-13-------
------------------9-12-----------
-------------7-10--------------
---------6-9----------------------
-----5-8----------------------
-4-7----------------------------

[TheWizard]

can anyone explain what a natural scale is

[Trent J Liberty]

I'm assuming it's just a simple natural minor scale.
With intervals of W H W W H W W

So for A (for simplicity) would be A B C D E F G and end on A

Lots of the time you would play a Harmonic Minor (sharp the 7th) or Melodic Minor (sharp the 6th and 7th) ascending the scale, then the natural minor descending the scale.

Now I could be totally wrong, I'm only learning theory and sucheries, so this is what I've gathered from it, any more tips would be helpful to me aswell as Wizard from others *hint* *hint*

[chris mood]

Melodic Death Metal!?!? -Lol-....isn't that what they call an oxymoron.

[aiwass]

LOL. Actually, it's a legit genre. Also known as "the Gothenburg style". In Flames, Dark Tranguility, At the Gates, etc. all mix death/black vocals with catchy melodies and twin guitar harmonies. Children of Bodom use various power metal and classical themes, and Dimmu Borgir have their own thing going, with a fusion of black metal and symphonic classical orchestrations and choral arrangements reminescent of a Satanic John Williams (you know, the dude who made the Star Wars score).

Now here's a REAL oxymoron for ya: Rap music. :D

[DreamRyche2112]

It is also known was Scandanavian Metal.... In Flames... Dimmu Bprgir... at some points Opeth. Stuff like that.

[Ryan-of-Flames]

geeehehehe an oxymoron, hehe your awesome (sighs at your intelligent geeky stupidity)

melodic metal is all harmonizing so always go with phrygian over lydian and such good grooves like that, if your going neo-classical, its not primitive to know how to sweep (i dont and i do just fine) just know that when your going into those "exotic" scales your going to have totally new scale fragments on your finger tips and they are used in an incredibly different way then the other scales. harmonic minor fragments should get you to a nice start. i saw Children of Bodom on their american tour on december 3rd amazing show, pity they only played 6 songs, dimmu borgir can suck my cock(my opinion)

[aiwass]

You're not making a good first impression here. (My opinion)

Oh, and Dimmu Borgir owns Children of Bodom (also my opinion).

[TheWizard]

geeehehehe an oxymoron, hehe your awesome (sighs at your intelligent geeky stupidity)

first of all why would u describe someones comment as intelligent and stupid, that doesn't make any sense

second in what way was the comment stupid and geeky

third death metal sucks (my opinion)

[aiwass]

There's no such thing as a sh*tty genre. Only sh*tty bands.

[Andrew Sa]

I find that a melodic minor has a very cool classical sound, but I dunno wether it would sound as good in a metal context.

[Marauder]

No melodic death metal isn't an oxymoron. Just listen to it soemtime. Yeah a lot of it is hard and powerful and often it will go into incredible melodies. Listen to Emperor, Dimmu Borgir, Hecate Enthroned, Opeth, Cradle, Nevermore, Children of Bodom, and lots of other bands. THese guys know what they're doing when it comes to melody. Very much classically influenced...and I don't know how much more melodic you can get thsan that...

[aiwass]

Well... apart from Children of Bodom, none of those bands are in the melodic death metal genre. Hecate Enthroned I don't know, but the other ones are definitely not. Opeth could be, in the literal sense (it's melodic, and has death metal elements), but is more progressive, and has a lot of other stylistic elements. Cradle, Emperor & Dimmu are all black metal (symphonic black metal, to some extent - especially Dimmu), and Nevermore are just a good old metal band.

Typical melodic death metal (a.k.a. the Gothenburg style) would be:

Dark Tranquility
In Flames (older stuff)
Children of Bodom (albeit with a LOT of power metal influence, and black metal-like vocals)
At the Gates
Arch Enemy

[ketsueki15]

Children of the Bodom's vocalist kills my ears...so does arch enemy but their guitarist (Michael and Chris Ammot) are the only reason i keep on listening
learn melodic minor and phyrigian scales to get that exotic scale or even some asian scales..
just mess around with a bunch of different scales..sooner or later you will find the right ones

[Autark]

Make a difference between Death Metal and Black Metal. Melodic Death Metal bands:
At The Gates
Casketgarden
Dark Trinquility
In Flames
etc.

Brutal (Tehnical) Death Metal bands:
Cryptopsy
Krisiun
Deeds Of Flesh
Nile
Cannibal Corpse
Monstruosity
Broken Hope
etc.

Black Metal:
Mayhem
Darkthrone
Immortal
Burzum
etc.

New Wave of European Melodic Metal:
Children Of Bodom
Emperor
Dimmu Borgir
Cradle Of Filth
Nightwish
Blind Guardian
Sonata Artica
Stratovarius
etc

[aiwass]

Dude, Dimmu Borgir and Cradle of Filth are black metal no matter how "symphonic" they may be. The vocals are black metal, the drumming is black metal, the lyrics are black metal, i.e. the music is black metal.

This genre is becoming way too elitist. Not EVERY black metal band has to sound like it was recorded in a Polish outhouse with an 8-track!!! Grave robbery and church arson aren't prerequisites for being a good BM band! They sure help (:D), but come on, it's the music that counts, not being "tr00".

[Autark]

I don't agree. I am not saying that Dimmu Borgir or Cradle of Filth are ****ty bands (although I really don't like them), I am just saying that Black Metal IS about true, necro and grim; it IS about ****ty production; it IS about satanism and paganism...

If a band doesn't sound like Black Metal it ISN'T Black Metal!!! Remember that!

P.S. Grave robbery and church arson is connected to inner Circle (i.e. Mayhem, Burzum...). It is not connected with other Black Metal Bands!

P.P.S. I am new to this forum, and I chcked out your exercises. They are great! Keep up the good work!

SLAVA

[aiwass]

Well, my point is that all the nitpicking about genres just becomes silly. Do bands have to sound IDENTICAL to be in the same genre? Seems to me like metal is the only genre that creates a new subgenre every time a new band comes around. Dimmu sound more like black metal than they do death metal, so why not call them black metal? After all, take away the orchestra, and that's what you get. Besides, their older stuff most definitely is black metal. Cradle of Filth even more so.

All I'm saying is that I think there is room for several sides of the spectrum without having to put experimental bands in new genres. There should be room for both the grim and the commercial bands.

[Autark]

There should be room for every band! But commertial bands are NOT Black Metal bands! Old Dimmu Borgir stuff is great (For All Tid, Devil's Path, Enthrone.., Stormblast...)!!!

Limbonic Art, for example, uses a lot of symphonic elements, and still they are Black Metal, so...

Anyway, this is totaly off the topic, and I am here to make friends, not enemies :) , so nevermind...

[Darren Liaho]

Damn right man!! It doesn't matter what kind of style it is as long as it influences us to keep on shredding f*** outta our guitars!! Metal will never die!!

Darren

[The Ace]

Originally posted by Andrew Sa
I find that a melodic minor has a very cool classical sound, but I dunno wether it would sound as good in a metal context.

Throw on som distortion, and whip it up in a true metal fashion...... if you like it keep it... if you dont throw it out