Metal Lessons Course

This style tutorial takes a look at seven styles of metal, and how the rhythm guitar approaches those styles using example riffs: Sabbath, Thrash, Drop-D tuning ala Pantera, Hair, Death, the "Gallop", and 7-string.

In these 15 lessons, we will further build on what we learned in the two previous tutorials. Be aware, this tutorial features riffs that require a lot more from your fretting hand!

In this tutorial, just like the one before, I will start with the simplest examples, gradually increasing the difficulty level. At the end, let's mix it up and create some real life music.

A solid rhythm guitar is key to any song, and this tutorial will give you 9 very good exercises to develop your metal rhythm playing. We will play four 8th note rhythms, and then move up in difficulty as we switch to 16th note rhythms at the same tempo. Your picking hand will have to work hard here!

In this ten lesson tutorial, we'll expand on what we learned in Metal for Beginners I. Here I will recap the first tutorial in this series, then I'll talk about alternate picking and give examples, quick switching between palm muting and not muting, look at hammer-ons and pull-offs (it's hammertime!), metal with a clean sound, and an epic intro!

If you haven't been playing the guitar for very long, the thought of getting into metal might seem overwhelming. But you can come a long way by learning the basics, which is what this tutorial is all about! I'll get you started on power chords and palm muting, scales, and getting an evil sound, all with examples.

In these lessons I will leave standard power chords behind and show you four types of chords that are just as useful, that you may not have seen before. In the first two examples, I will take you through inversions. After that we'll take a look at using thirds, and last but not least, the progressive metal power chord.

Here you learn some essentials off metal guitar. Such as playing with phrygian and phrygian nat. 3 scales, tremolo picking, sound motion with wah wah and some cool licks in these exotic scales.

Just like the first tutorial in this series, this one is packed with really good examples of patterns and techniques used by some of the fastest players in the world. We will cover tapping, legato, and alternate picking.

In the following seven lessons I will show you some of the most common patterns used in the shred guitar style. There's the diatonic scalar approach, a few pentatonic patterns and the classically inspired pedal notes.

In the following 12 lessons, I will show you an example solo, packed with useful ideas that you can adapt and use in your own playing.

In this tutorial you'll find some examples of melodic metal soloing played over simple metal/rock progressions to give you ideas for your own solo compositions!

Megadeth's legendary sound is built on the foundation of Dave Mustaine's rhythm riffing and various lead guitar players that have worked with the band. Combined they were the completely over the top metal sound of Megadeth tunes! These playing styles were firmly grounding in the early hard rock of the late 60s & 70s like Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath & the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Megadeth brought those heavy riffing traditions to the present and expanded on them into the future!

This tutorial will teach you some of the elements of the Iron Maiden style. Instructor Mike Olekshy examines their use of rhythms, their single note lines, their "two guitar attack", some of the types of progressions they use, and how they achieve their tone. You can play along with a Maiden-esque backing track to top it all off!

In these nine guitar lessons, Ry Kihn will tune you in to some of the elements of the Metallica style. Ry will give an overview to the metal band's approach, then get into the gear and tones. Next up is using palm muting and power chords in a riff, then some galloping rhythm examples. You'll then learn some scales and patterns to apply to your "Metallica" style soloing.

Rhoads was most famous for his role as guitarist with Ozzy Osbourne after Ozzy left Black Sabbath to start a solo career. Ozzy's first two solo albums were immediately metal classics largely due to the larger than life playing and sound of the young guitarist trying to make a name for himself. Rhoads's playing was influenced by earlier hard rock and metal players of the 60s and 70s, but he added a layer of complexity and neo-classical influence that was totally his own and very innovative.

First I will explain to you what CAD tuning is, and why it can be useful. After that I will teach you a short little metal song I wrote just for this tutorial. At the end of the tutorial, as a bonus, I will also show you how you can take this tuning one step further, and tune to CADGCEb.

In this tutorial, we'll introduce you to drop C tuning. This tuning is used by many metal artists, as it is a full two whole steps down from the standard tuning and gives a powerful, deep sound to your guitar. We'll look at how to tune this way, some chords and shapes you can use, and play an example progression.

In this series of song lessons, Lee Wanner will teach you "Prayer", by Disturbed. Lee will briefly go over the song elements and the tines and tuning, then plunge into the intro riff. That is followed by the verse riff; the pre-chorus and chorus parts are up next. There's a post-chorus that Lee will break down; then an alt chorus with a simple lead, and the bridge. We close with the play along performance, and a jam along.

In this series, we'll walk through the basic elements of this Megadeth tune: the verse hooks, pre-chorus, chorus, power chords, and solo, and then put it together in a playalong. Oh yes, and we'll crush the solo, too. Get ready.

In this song tutorial you'll be learning "Walk", as made famous by Pantera. Lee will talk about the tuning and the tone, then teach the intro and chorus riff to the song. Then he'll dive into the verse and pre-chorus, followed by the solo. You'll play along in a final full performance.

In this song tutorial, Lee Wanner will teach "Heading Out to the Highway", as made famous by Judas Priest. Lee will talk about the song and the gear and tones, then teach the intro riff. The verse, chorus, and bridge parts all follow that; then you'll learn the rhythm under the solo and the harmonized solo. The final verse leads are next, then we'll end with a play along, a single guitar performance, and the jam along.

In these 20 lessons, Michael Elsner will dig up all the details for the prog rock song "Pull Me Under", recorded and performed by Dream Theater. Michael will talk about the chords you need to know, the three verse variations, the various pre-chorus and chorus elements, the progression under the keyboard solo, the guitar solo, the extra parts in the song, the song outro, then some final thoughts. Then it's time to play it through!

In this series of lessons, Lee Wanner will teach you "Cowboys From Hell", by Pantera. Lee will introduce the song, then talk a bit about the gear and tones; then launch into the intro riffing. The we'll look at the chorus, the verse, and the pre-chorus. Next up is the rhythm under the solo, followed by the solo itself. Then Lee will break down the bridge before we do a play along, a single guitar performance, and a jam along.

"Living After Midnight" is a metal classic from the early 80's that is considered, along with many tracks off of the same record, to be the beginning of heavy metal. In this tutorial, we are going to break down how to play this metal classic into a series of video lessons including the rhythms and power chords, the progressions, and the guitar solo.

“Holy Diver” as made famous by Ronnie James Dio is a mid-tempo arena rocker with power chord fueled rhythm guitar riffs and a killer solo loaded with speedy licks, pinch harmonics, string bends, and double stops.

In these eight lessons, Lee Wanner will be digging into the elements in the song "Laid To Rest", by Lamb Of God. Lee will talk first about the tones and dropped D tuning. Then he'll dissect the verses, choruses, and bridge, consisting of single note lines, chromaticisms, pinch harmonics, and octaves. We'll look at the intro last (as it functions as an interlude), then tie it all up in a final play-along performance.

In this set of metal song lessons, Lee Wanner will teach you "Wait and Bleed", as made famous by Slipknot. Lee will give you an overview of the song, then talk about the gear and tones. The first breakdown will be on the chorus, which also acts as the intro. The Lee will get into the verse riffs, followed by the bridge riffs. Then it's time for a play along performance, and we'll take it out with a jam along to the backing track.

In this tutorial I will teach you "Bat Country", by Avenged Sevenfold. After the introduction, we will take a look at gear and tone before diving into the intro riffs. We will learn all the great riffs that make up the verses and the choruses, as well as the crazy guitar solo and the harmonized guitar duel. In between, a clean/acoustic interlude lets you breathe for a bit. The outro features even more harmonized riffs to keep things new and interesting all the way to the end.

In this tutorial we are going to take a look at how to play "Unholy Confessions" as made famous by Avenged Sevenfold. This modern metal song features a ton of great rhythm guitar playing along with lots of cool stuff you can play with another guitar player. We'll look at the chord movement, the great rhythm playing and breaks, the use of octaves, and the riffing and licks. The track is a little tricky to play so make sure you are plenty warmed up before you get going, and pay special close attention to some of the cool guitar harmonies that take place.

In these lessons, Lee Wanner will teach "Electric Eye", made famous by Judas Priest. After the song introduction and gear and tones, Lee will break down the intro riff. Next are the riffs for the verse, pre-chorus, and chorus before we look at the solo rhythm. Then you'll learn the bridge and the song outro; next is the guitar solo in 2 parts. We'll do full and single guitar performances, then you'll take over in the jam along.

In this set of 16 lessons, Ben Lindholm guides you through all the parts to the metal song "How The Story Ends", as made famous by Megadeth. Ben talks about the gear and tone, and then guides you through the numerous riffs that make up this complicated song. Ben will break down the incredibly advanced guitar solo in three parts. He'll also take a look at the acoustic classical guitar part in the song, and break down the bridge of the tune too. The story will end with a full performance play-along.

In this tutorial you will learn a metal classic, "You've Got Another Thing Coming" made famous by Judas Priest. We'll boost your chops with the minor pentatonic scale, hot rod your power chords, kick things up a notch with the riff behind the anthem and the metal rhythms. Then get ready to rock with a full play along!

Mike will show you the 2 guitar layers in this song. Guitar 1 uses a distorted, effected tone and plays unison bends, heavy octaves, dropped D power chords, and other textural parts. Guitar 2 uses a clean but still effected tone to play quieter, washed out, chorusey chords and diads.

In this set of lessons, Lee Wanner will be teaching you "I'm Broken", by Pantera. Lee will get you started with an overview and the gear, tones, and tuning. Then it's off to the similar intro and chorus riffs, and the time signature twists in the verse. Lee will then break down the pre-chorus and bridge sections, then get into Dime's solo. We'll end with a full performance play along, then mute the guitars so you can jam along.

In this series we'll take a look at "Ace of Spades", as made famous by Motorhead. We're going to look at the main riff in this thrashing, driving number, along with some right hand techniques, tuning down a half-step, the solo, and the rhythm parts. Then we'll put it all together in a play-along performance.

In this tutorial we are going to take a look at how to play the metal tune "Breaking the Law" by Judas Priest. This song includes some great rhythm guitar techniques along with cool effects that are equally heavy and easy to play. We will break down how to play all the parts of the song, as well as how to capture some of the cool production techniques that you hear. At the end we'll play along with the backing track, then you'll jam along on your own!

There is 1 acoustic and 1 electric guitar in this song. Guitar 1 is an acoustic guitar that plays a fast arpeggiated riff using a different tuning. Guitar 2 is a high gain crunch electric guitar using dropped D tuning to dig into some massive riffs. This song uses arpeggiation, dropped D power chords, octaves, and palm muting.