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metalcore501

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Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 11:03 pm

Ok now most of my music has comsisted of ONLY power chords, and i see other bands with there fingers moving like lightning! I wanna know the tricks and stuff on how to do this, and what notes and other chords to play for a better metal sound.
As for tunings I know of drop D, but I don't really like it too much so I play all of my stuff in standard. So is there any other tunings for a good metal sound?

Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 8:14 pm

One alternate tuning that's sometimes cool is all down a whole step, but you'll need medium gauge strings at least to pull it off.

A cool thing to get into for metal playing is seventh chords. They will offer tension, and you can then use power chords for release.... it's a complicated bit, but if you played:

e---------0
B---------4
G--------X

it would totally sound off, like there's something that note Needs to do.
then play:

e-------0
B-------5
G-------x

And you'll notice that the note resolves. Seventh chords are built around some of this structure and you'll find they offer a lot more tonal versatility.

hylianhero27
Crew

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DomoGluey

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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 12:22 pm

Play in minor scales.

Minor Pentatonic, Natural Minor and Harmonic minor are probably the most commonly used in metal.

As for playing fast..there isn't really any tricks. Just practice, start off slow and gradually build up in speed. And ALWAYS use a metronome.

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 5:09 pm

probably the best thing to do when starting out is learning songs note for note and understanding the theory behind them, so you know how different melodic devices are used. after a while and a lot of practice these things will assimilate into your playing. but i mean after a WHILE. there's no such thing as a "omgz learn sick guitar in 2 hours!". that's bullshit

TheDreadPirateJack

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Shredder44

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Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 9:48 pm

mix chords with scales, like play an f power chord then mix with some minor scale,

here are a few I use (the are all in the key of a, just move them up and down the fretboard to change the note)

e I-------------------------I
B I-------------------------I
G I-------------------------I
D I-----7------------------I
A I-----7------------------I
E I-----5------------------I

e I-------------------------I
B I-------------------------I
G I-------------------------I
D I-----------------------I
A I-----5------------------I
E I-----5------------------I

e I-------------------------I
B I-------------------------I
G I-------------------------I
D I-----------------------I
A I-----4------------------I
E I-----5------------------I

e I-------------------------I
B I-------------------------I
G I-------------------------I
D I-----------------------I
A I-----3------------------I
E I-----5------------------I

these are few, so experiment with scales and chords, minor scales are the ones for metal, but you can also use major scales.

Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 4:31 pm

hylianhero27

One alternate tuning that's sometimes cool is all down a whole step, but you'll need medium gauge strings at least to pull it off.

A cool thing to get into for metal playing is seventh chords. They will offer tension, and you can then use power chords for release.... it's a complicated bit, but if you played:

e---------0
B---------4
G--------X

it would totally sound off, like there's something that note Needs to do.
then play:

e-------0
B-------5
G-------x

And you'll notice that the note resolves. Seventh chords are built around some of this structure and you'll find they offer a lot more tonal versatility.

Unless the bass is playing an E I'd say that's more a minor 2nd chord. Just plain dissonance! Very good for metal music. Say the bass was playing a D# instead, try playing that little riff and then doing a solo in D# Phrygian (D#, E, F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D#). That mode is quite commonly used in Metal music (not always D# of course).

joe-dude667

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hylianhero27
Crew

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Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 3:10 am

joe-dude667

hylianhero27

One alternate tuning that's sometimes cool is all down a whole step, but you'll need medium gauge strings at least to pull it off.

A cool thing to get into for metal playing is seventh chords. They will offer tension, and you can then use power chords for release.... it's a complicated bit, but if you played:

e---------0
B---------4
G--------X

it would totally sound off, like there's something that note Needs to do.
then play:

e-------0
B-------5
G-------x

And you'll notice that the note resolves. Seventh chords are built around some of this structure and you'll find they offer a lot more tonal versatility.

Unless the bass is playing an E I'd say that's more a minor 2nd chord. Just plain dissonance! Very good for metal music. Say the bass was playing a D# instead, try playing that little riff and then doing a solo in D# Phrygian (D#, E, F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D#). That mode is quite commonly used in Metal music (not always D# of course).

I'm just explaining tension and resolution and what has more tension than a minor 2nd? I used an interval that was so gross that there's this huge relief when you resolve it.

I'm not disputing the fact that in some keys it wouldn't fit; it was more just a simple example of how it sounds.

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 12:16 pm

Yeah I get ya. wink Flat fifths are also amazing for a good bit o' dissonance.

joe-dude667

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Mastodon is Metalcore

Floppy Puppy

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Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 5:34 pm

Shredder44

mix chords with scales, like play an f power chord then mix with some minor scale,

here are a few I use (the are all in the key of a, just move them up and down the fretboard to change the note)

e I-------------------------I
B I-------------------------I
G I-------------------------I
D I-----7------------------I
A I-----7------------------I
E I-----5------------------I

e I-------------------------I
B I-------------------------I
G I-------------------------I
D I-----------------------I
A I-----5------------------I
E I-----5------------------I

e I-------------------------I
B I-------------------------I
G I-------------------------I
D I-----------------------I
A I-----4------------------I
E I-----5------------------I

e I-------------------------I
B I-------------------------I
G I-------------------------I
D I-----------------------I
A I-----3------------------I
E I-----5------------------I

these are few, so experiment with scales and chords, minor scales are the ones for metal, but you can also use major scales.

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Deconstructing their hold...

the advice was good, but all you listed were minor diads and one full root-fifth-fifth power chord.

Our vengeance will be tenfold
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It's okay.

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 2:23 am

My favorite tunning is CGCFAD. Or one step down from DADGBE. You can't get much of a metal sound from standard- not to say that there aren't exceptions. And I use the same strings for all my tunnings; EADGBE, DADGBE, DGCFAD, CGCFAD, and what ever else I may try. But then I'm usually found with Dimebag DR Strings on my axe.

But if you want a really metal tunning, go Slipknot; B F# B E G# C#
Or even A# F A#D G C if you want to over do it.

analog_warrior

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MAKQ

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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 11:00 am

learn what sounds evil on the guitar and mess with that . Like chords or what chord progresstions work out better .

just mess around and use your ears . Plus learn from the masters them selfs !!!

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 9:29 pm

One thing I like to do when I'm just sitting around shredding is mix scales around. I'll be playing the Natural Minor scale, but every now and then I'll throw in somet Major, Lydian, Pentatonic or Phrygian scales. If you can do it right it sounds aweosme.

l_Shamrock_l

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