I want to be a metal god

[SpecialEd123]

I wanna be a metal god, what things should I master, IE; Arpeggios, etc. to be the best. I want to play heavy/thrash metal, and Im pretty good but I want SPECIFIC things I should focus on to be the greatest.

P.S, if this is the wrong section move it please.

[GuitarMonky55]

practice practice practice, and oh yea, practice more.

[SpecialEd123]

Specifically practice what? What things are most important to perfect when it comes to playing metal?

[Mettra]

Well, the most important thing you need to practice is songwriting. You need to look at and learn some really good metal songs and understand how they were put together. After you study all of that, try to put some of your own songs together. Start with something simple (not the song necessarily, I mean start writing a song around something simple, like a riff) and work your way around adding chords/filler/lead to it in your style.

Assemble some songs out of the stuff you've added, rinse, and repeat. You must become good at songwriting for your technique to mean anything. Songwriting develops with use just like anything else. Always be looking for inspiration for a phrase or a lick or anything.

Some techniques/general things you should definitely stress to be a virtuoso metal guitarist:

.Advanced Theory
.Shred, in general
.Rapid string skipping
.Sweep picking
.Modes/scales galore
.Exotic scales
.Musicality in your song-writing (tempo changes, strange/varying time sigs, crescendo/decrescendo, rubato, etc.)
.Economy picking
.Economy picking
.Economy picking
.Practical use of harmonics (all types)
.Know the fretboard note for note
.Know intervals by ear (perfect pitch doesn't hurt either)
.Tricks of any kind help
.Don't count out playing on clean

That's all I can really think of right now, I'm sure I missed several important things.

[SpecialEd123]

Thanks man, any other ideas?

[ibleedmarshall]

I think you gotta find something that makes you stand out in a crowd, like Zakk Wylde and his pinch harmonics, Dime and his whammy harmonics, EVH and his tapping, etc...

[SpecialEd123]

Any ideas on things that are commonly perfected that I could master in?

[Mettra]

Originally posted by SpecialEd123
Any ideas on things that are commonly perfected that I could master in?

Master hammer-ons and pullofs and tapping and play without picking.

[ibleedmarshall]

Originally posted by Mettra
Master hammer-ons and pullofs and tapping and play without picking.

man, if someone did that, it would be awesome!!! That would be so crazy!

[SpecialEd123]

I meant that aren't commonly perfected. Sorry if there was any confusion, would mastering hammers/pull-offs/tapping be useful for thrashing metal? I know theyd be useful for solos

[fizz]

The various picking techniques:

Gallop Picking, Tremolo picking, picking using triplets, etc. Palm Muting, Stagatto picking. Everything is important in metal. Playing Cleanly, evenly, and in time.

[Mettra]

Originally posted by ibleedmarshall
man, if someone did that, it would be awesome!!! That would be so crazy!

Working on it :).

WATCH OUT STEVE VAI!

[ibleedmarshall]

well, best of luck on that, Mettra

[SpecialEd123]

gallop picking? ill def, work on the hammer-ons/pullofs like u said, id like to have something original that i perfected about my sound. thanks, keep em coming!

[fizz]

Gallop picking. Iron Maiden use it a lot. As do Megadeth, the opening riff of Motorbreath on Kill 'Em All is done using Gallop Picking.

[SpecialEd123]

Can ya send me a link to somewhere on how to learn it, examples, etc. Anyone else got any input?

[fizz]

I don't know of a link, but I could try and explain it.

D - Down pick
U - Upstroke

This is a simple example of gallop picking on an open E.

D-DUD-DUD-DUD-DUD-DUD-DUD-DUD-DUD-DUD-DUD-DUD-DUD-DUD

[psychorudeboy]

so gallop picking is just playing triplets really fast?

[Wolfgang]

Listen to Iron Maidens "Trooper" or "Powerslave"

[SpecialEd123]

For the next couple of months I wanna get my speed up to par, wat things inparticular should I focus on to learn to shred, or to be on my way to shredding. Any thoughts?

[popmusic_sux]

Run through your pentatonic scales, work on your speed with a metronome, practice some right hand tapping as well.

[BassTallica]

i AM a metal god :D

srry i really dont have anythign postive to add to this thread

-

[_revel]

First of all: M e t r o n o m e

If youre gonna play thrash and fast metal, you must be in perfect time. Think of a metronome as a drummer that only uses the one drum to keep the beat (i.e, a boring one). Practicing doesnt hurt, and listen to LOTS of different music not just metal and the stuff you mainlky listen to.

For shredding learn to:

alternate pick cleanly and in time
palm mute
sweep pick, arpeggios
stay relaxed no matter how fast you go in order not to make your hand hurt a lot
string skip


Thats about all that comes to top of my mind after reading other posts.

[Griffin_Page]

Hey man, this is my specialty!

Go to http://www.musicianforums.com

Go the "Guitar" Forum, then "Lessons and Articles". You'll see two threads entitled "Thrash of the Titans". Go to both of them, they're the first two lessons of mine in thrash metal. Right now its all about rythym and riffing creativity, but soon i'll get into soloing and stuff.

[Black Star]

my advice is to get off your computer and practice six hours a day. It works, trust me, i know.

If you want to be proficient at your instrument, it takes all the time and dedication you have in my opinion. And also, it takes sacrifices.

[Marz_guitarz]

Ok folks the practice, practice advice is excellent but, if we look at some of the true Metal Gods like, DAVE MUSTAINE and JAMES HETFIELD it’s not just about being the next Jason Becker I mean where is Marty Freedman now that he left Megadeth?

Folks my advice is spend as much time writing as you spend on becoming a better soloer, and as far as practicing 6 hours a day Marty Freedman said himself its not the quantity of practice time its the quality of it. Don't waste time playing what you can do practice what you can not do.

I practice about 2 or 3 hours most days and write about 4 hours a day. Try skipping a couple days now and then to let your mind Defrag itself and to let your batteries recharge.

For the original question use lots of diminished stuff for metal.

Cheers
Marz

[ibleedmarshall]

Originally posted by Marz_guitarz
Ok folks the practice, practice advice is excellent but, if we look at some of the true Metal Gods like, DAVE MUSTAINE and JAMES HETFIELD it’s not just about being the next Jason Becker I mean where is Marty Freedman now that he left Megadeth?

Folks my advice is spend as much time writing as you spend on becoming a better soloer, and as far as practicing 6 hours a day Marty Freedman said himself its not the quantity of practice time its the quality of it. Don't waste time playing what you can do practice what you can not do.

I practice about 2 or 3 hours most days and write about 4 hours a day. Try skipping a couple days now and then to let your mind Defrag itself and to let your batteries recharge.

For the original question use lots of diminished stuff for metal.

Cheers
Marz

Marz, you may want to clarify what diminished means, you're on a higher technical level than the majority here!

[Marz_guitarz]

Sorry sometimes I assume things that I should not.


DIMINISHED


Most of my Diminished licks are based on this pattern.

A Dim
E:---------------------------------11--14-----
B:-------------------------10--13------------
G:-------------------8--11-------------------
D:-------------7--10-------------------------
A:--------6--9------------------------------
E:---5--8-----------------------------------

Also check out the excellent information right here on Diminished scales.

http://www.cyberfret.com/scales/reference/hw-diminished.php


Cheers
MARZ

[SpecialEd123]

Thanks man that helped. Any other tips?

[Marz_guitarz]

You are welcome friend.

Here is a very useful triplet diminished pattern.

Practice slow as usual then work it up very fast.

The last note of the Ascending on the B string 10th fret is the same note as the first note in the Descending pattern. I included it in case you want to play these scales separately. Try to join them without stopping . count like so.. and one two three, one two three, one two three, and so on, just make sure you start with “and” for the first note. Jason Becker used lots of this pattern on “Perpetual Burn”.


Ascending A Diminished
Part 1
E:-------------------------------------------------
B:-------------------------------------------------
G:-------------------------------------------------
D:-------------------------------------7-----7-----
A:----------------6------6--9--6--9-----9--------
E:--5--8--5--8------8----------------------------
Part 2
E:------------------------------------------
B:--------------------------------------10-
G:--------------8------8--11--8--11------
D:-10--7--10-----10----------------------
A:------------------------------------------
E:------------------------------------------

Descending A Diminished
Part 1
E:-------------------------------------------------
B:-10---------------------------------------------
G:-----11--8--11--8--------8--------------------
D:----------------------10------10--7--10--7---
A:-----------------------------------------------9-
E:-------------------------------------------------
Part 2 Descending
E:------------------------------------------------
B:------------------------------------------------
G:------------------------------------------------
D:-7---------------------------------------------
A:----9--6--9--6------6-------------------------
E:------------------8------8--5------------------


Cheers
Marz

[wyldevaughan]

Listen to Zakk Wylde play. That guy will tear it up so fast and so heavy its rediculous. Go and buy the Ozzy Osbourne Live at the Budukon Cd. Listen to track 13 (Paranoid) Complete insanity. Also listen to his band Black Label Society. Lots of insperation. Try out this tuning also BADGBE. Wail on the top 3 and youll hear what I mean.

[crashdownintome]

metal gods are not wanna be's remember that and try not to be one but just be what ever the hell u can be. i am drunk a bit and a bit pissed too so i might not make sense but still, being a metal god should not be someone's aim. it just happens.

[fizz]

Yea guys, just try and be like me :cool:

[popmusic_sux]

If I ever turn out like you, fizz, I will have no choice but to destroy myself. Then have somebody bring me back to life just so I can destroy myself again.

[fizz]

Well, we can't ALL hack being metal gods ;)

[BassTallica]

Originally posted by fizz
Well, we can't ALL hack being metal gods ;)

I CAN I CAN!!

-

[fizz]

You can be the Metal princess :D

[iDogcow]

being a metal god should not be someone's aim. it just happens.
Whoa....really? It just happens? I could wake up one morning and be a metal god??



SCHWEET!!!!!:D

[popmusic_sux]

Originally posted by fizz
You can be the Metal princess :D

You're a little more like a metal peasant.

[BassTallica]

Originally posted by popmusic_sux
You're a little more like a metal peasant.

oo pop tring to rip out the jokes... well no matter what i am im one stepbetter then you.. ALWAYS :D

-

[popmusic_sux]

I was referring to our good friend fizz.

But I heard you think there's nothing wrong with the American educational system. But the person reading this to you isn't quite so sure there, FBT

[fizz]

Well well, looks like Mr Emo has found a dictionary after all those years..

[popmusic_sux]

Are you trying to make fun of me fizz?

I'm sorry for being a learned individual. All these big words and correct grammar must be quite intimidating :p

[fizz]

*No comment*

[BassTallica]

Originally posted by popmusic_sux
I was referring to our good friend fizz.

But I heard you think there's nothing wrong with the American educational system. But the person reading this to you isn't quite so sure there, FBT

lol i aint say the US educationaly system was good at all... i mean come now you made it into college there has to be a flaw some place :D

-

[Storm]

Originally posted by iDogcow
Whoa....really? It just happens? I could wake up one morning and be a metal god??



SCHWEET!!!!!:D

I'm looking forward to that morning!!!!

Ciao ...

[SpecialEd123]

Thanks for destroying my thread priks.

[GuitarMonky55]

I can FEEL the love!

[Storm]

Originally posted by SpecialEd123
Thanks for destroying my thread priks.

Your welcome,

Thread Wreckers Pty Ltd ACN 2047189.

Ciao ...

[BenBray]

and dont forget people like the guitarist of RATM, with those really weird pedals and stuff that makes his guitar sound like it's shooting beams of sound out of it...

[xxjohnboy]

listen to music when you go to sleep. listen to music or play it constantly. if you dont have a guitar at a time when you are not listening to music then whistle or sing.

[ecthelion]

Here's how you become a metal god: Don't try to be one. Just focus on making good music, doing a good show, satisfying your listeners, and take advantage of opportunites. You might just find yourself a metal god if you do all those things.

[BassTallica]

Originally posted by ecthelion
...doing a good show, satisfying your listeners, and take advantage of opportunites. ...

thats odd cause metallica does all those things and people hate their guts now-a-days

-

[popmusic_sux]

But back in the day that's probably how they got such a hardcore underground fan base.

[ecthelion]

Originally posted by BassTallica
thats odd cause metallica does all those things and people hate their guts now-a-days

-
I'd hardly call St. Anger "satisfying your listeners".

[BassTallica]

Originally posted by ecthelion
I'd hardly call St. Anger "satisfying your listeners".

well... to be honest 80 percent of these kids now a days are nu metal fans.. unlike us.. and they all buy the nu metal crap... so for tallica to keep up with companies and other bands they have to make magority of the people happy and kinda convert to that 80 percent

-

[IsThisSuitable]

Study up on different forms of Metal. Just sit back and listen and take it all in. then get to your guitar and practice til your fingers bleed. Here if you need some new inspiration try a band from my home town here's there website link: Lunacy Driven (http://www.lunacydriven.tk) . They are a progessive metal band that I enjoy and they inspire me so much. hope I helped.

-Amber

[satch]

Originally posted by Mettra
Master hammer-ons and pullofs and tapping and play without picking.

Thats one of my strongest abilities but also throw in the tap slide and return ala george lynch.
I can really get attention with that one.

[MadMattUK]

Originally posted by SpecialEd123
I wanna be a metal god

me too! :cool: