Metal and education in jazz and classical guitar

I was surprised with how many metal guitarists took up jazz, harmony and classical guitar lessons. I like this approach, because once you figure out what harmony and composition is about, your music does not sound like scale/speed excercises. In addition, there's less propability of your song sounding like a cliché that other ten thousand bands play :-)

Are there some guys here who play metal/rock and educate themselves in harmony, jazz or classical music? Do you benefit by the education?

Yeah I play metal/rock and educate myself on theory. It makes a very big difference.

I play whatever, and know a thing or two about music theory.

I also learned some jazz and classical chords and scales, I combined It with metal...the result was a nice Fussion and Neo Classical sound.

Originally Posted by: heartbeatnumber I like this approach, because once you figure out what harmony and composition is about, your music does not sound like scale/speed excercises. In addition, there's less propability of your song sounding like a cliché that other ten thousand bands play.

You are absolutily right. Understading music in its esense will help a guitarrist to break up from cliches.
I`m a huge Petrucci`s fan, because He has a solid knowladge of harmony, theory, and classical music.
I have a book where he shows you how to play Chopin`s Piano Concerto in A minor, Opus No. 2; arrenged for guitar. Lots of chromatic passages there.

I play metal and I will be taking a guitar class next semester covering folk and classical styles.

Knowing music theory will help you so much ho matter what style you specialize in, after all, EVERYTHING is music and follows those principles. My band is very metal and I am currently trying to add classical influence to my playing for a more classic heavy metal sound ( think Randy Rhoads or Jake e. Lee ) and I love it.

Tony Iommi plays in Dorian mode alot and Dorian produces a jazz feel for most peaces. Black Sabboth is for from Jazz.