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For this first heavy metal guitar lesson, you will learn some challenging guitar riffs!

When playing heavy metal guitar, the important thing to remember is ATTITUDE!
Whether you are playing a slamming power chord riff or dreamy, ringing arpeggios,
GET IN THE MOOD TO PLAY HEAVY METAL GUITAR!

PICK ANGLE PICTURE

 

Combines single notes, 2-note chords, and palm muting to make a dark, driving rhythm.

• THE STRUM - Use a lot of wrist to get the maximum chunk.
• PALM MUTES - These should be very muted. Move the palm a bit farther from the bridge.
• THE PICK - Angle the pick slightly so that more of the pick hits the guitar string (SEE PICTURE)

HEAVY METAL GUITAR RIFF 2 (HEAR IT! )

combines single notes with alternating picking, and palm muting to make a classic heavy metal guitar riff.

• ALTERNATING PICKING - Use a light touch for a machine - like sound.
• THE PICK - Angle the pick slightly so that more of the pick hits the guitar string (SEE PICTURE)
• THE VIBRATO - Start the vibrato slightly after you attack the note

• Practice these Heavy Metal Riffs with the metronome set to somewhere between 40 and 100
• Practice these Heavy Metal Riffs with the slow, medium, and fast practice tracks
• Record the riffs to see how you're doing
• Now try to change one of the riffs slightly - Add a bend, don't palm mute, change some notes, etc..