Accelerate Your Guitar Learning With Metal Techniques

• Review of power chord construction
• Inverted power chord shapes

Utilize moveable power chord shapes in the key of E Minor.

This video includes:

• 6th string E Minor scale
• 5th string E Minor Scale
• Incorporating inverted power chords in E Minor

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 9)

Switching from one string group to another can lead to string noise. Here's how to avoid the unwanted sound from different strings.

This video contains:

• Pick control
• Left hand control

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 9)

As we know, power chords are comprised of the root and fifth of a scale. Moving the fifth to different degrees in the scale can add more variety to your riffs.

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 9)

When playing a power chord, besides just playing the root and the fifth, you can add the octave. For a more melodic sound you can leave the fifth out of the chord completely and just play the root and octave.

This video covers:

• Octave chord shapes on all string groups
• How to play an octave chord without hitting undesirable strings

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 9)

Sliding produces a smooth transition between different chords.

This video covers:

• Sliding power chords
• Sliding octaves
• Keeping finger formation while sliding
• Finger pressure

Various sliding examples. Make sure you practice until your slides are smooth and really tie the notes together.

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 9)

We're going to cover a lot of ground in this section, so make sure you are comfortable with the content and terminology in the previous sections.

Instead of having chords ring out or being palm muted, you can play them staccato, meaning short, abrupt and punchy.

This videos covers:

• Left hand finger pressure technique
• Right hand muting technique
• Accenting power chords

Fully muting the strings by blanketing the strings with the right hand creates a percussive sound.

Practice combining this technique with palm muting and sliding.

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 16)

Legato techniques such as hammer-ons, pull-offs and trills are a great way to smoothly tie notes together (think opposite of staccato). This is used heavily in solos but in riffs as well.

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 16)

Hammer-on and pull-off exercises to help you get comfortable with these techniques.

Try this with every different finger group to help develop each finger.

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 16)

This video covers:

• Using the flat fifth in a chord to create a more dissonant sound
• Flat fifth chord shapes
• Major and minor triads
• Diatonic and chromatic movement
• Parallel movement of thirds

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 16)

Intervals between notes are what make scales unique and can produce a wide variety of melody and emotion. The major scale, for example, tends to sound happy while the minor tends to sound more serious.

This video covers:

• Whole steps and half steps
• The twelve intervals within an octave
• Melodic intervals
• The tritone

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 16)

A short recap of diatonic and chromatic movement.

The A minor pentatonic scale is very useful in songwriting and improvisation. This is typically the first scale beginners learn because of it's memorable pattern.

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 22)

The A blues scale is similar to the pentatonic but adds an extra "blue note".

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 22)

The A minor pentatonic scale contained only five degrees of a scale. Adding the two remaining notes creates the A natural minor scale.

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 22)

This video covers:

• 4/4 time signature
• Eighth notes in 4/4 time
• Tied 8th note syncopation
• Tied notes across the bar line

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 22)

There are many time signatures besides 4/4. Compound time signatures divide the beat into groups of three.

This video covers:

• 3/4 time
• 6/8/ time
• 12/8 time
• How to count

Triplets are a group of three evenly spaced notes within the space of a beat.

This video covers triplet timing in relation to quarter, 8th and 16th notes.

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 22)

Using notes on open strings combined with pull-offs anchors riffs to a tone and is a common technique used by bands such as AC/DC and Iron Maiden.

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 22)

We've discussed hammer-ons and pull-offs where notes are sounded without picking them. Tapping is a similar technique but utilizes the right hand.

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 22)

• Quick recap of power chord construction
• Major and minor triads
• Diminished triad
• Augmented triad
• Bar and open position chord construction

Always be aware of the degrees in the chords you are playing to identify compatible scales.

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 31)

Vibrato is the art of taking a note and oscillating it to add accent. This is a very common technique in guitar solos.

This video covers:

• Finger and wrist movement
• Thumb position
• Vibrato with bar
• Chord vibrato

Building on the vibrato technique, bending is a great way to add style to your playing.

This video covers:

• Hand positioning
• Types of bends
• Pitch awareness
• Half and whole step bends
• Bending without releasing
• Pre-bending
• Unison bend

Harmonics are naturally occurring pitches on the string related to the string length. These sound very unique and are played without fully fretting a note.

This video covers:

• 12th fret harmonics
• other fret locations for harmonics
• Utilizing harmonics in riffs
• Combining harmonics

Dissonance refers to unpleasant or conflicting sounds. This is a creative tool used in metal to sound ugly and intentionally unpleasant.

This video covers:

• Pleasant and unpleasant intervals
• Tritones
• Major 7th dissonance

Arpeggios are similar to chords but the notes are played separately.

This video covers:

• Minor arpeggio shapes
• Finger rolling
• Major arpeggio shapes

Metal is notorious for utilizing non-standard tuning. Drop D tuning is one of the more common tunings that gives a deeper sound and allows for one finger power chords.

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 36)

Intermediate level tapping technique, theory and examples:

• Pentatonic tapping (demonstrated in Amin)
• Hammer-ons from nowhere
• String skipping
• How to get a clean, smooth tapping sound
• Building tapping finger strength
• Reasons to use tapping
• Expanding riff, lick and solo opportunities through tapping
• A natural minor tapping example
• Scalar tapping patterns

Intermediate Syncopation - using rests, tied-notes and dotted notes to create more complex rhythms:

• Note duration
• Dotted notes and note groupings
• Breaking away from even rhythms
• Crossing the barline
• Intermediate syncopation example
• Use of triplets
• Using syncopation in a compound meter

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 39)

A deeper look at using non-linear motion within a scale:

• String skipping examples
• Pentatonic skipping
• Utilizing movement away from the adjacent string
• Right hand independence
• String skipping exercise in B minor
• Incorporating tapping and legato

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 39)

An introduction to the Chromatic scale:

• Chromatic scale from C
• Fingering positions
• Passing tones
• Theory, application and examples

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 39)

Advanced sweep picking technique & examples:

• Right hand control
• Muted sweeping
• Sweeping various groups of strings
• Left hand finger separation & syncing
• Major & Minor sweep arpeggio examples

Diminished triad theory & intervals:

• Best practices and examples
• Whole half & half whole scales
• Riffing & solo melodies

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 43)

A few new scales introduced:

• Harmonic minor scale - notes and fingering
• Application in Metal - modes & scale relationships
• Phrygian dominant scale
• Shifting scale positions
• Chord progression examples

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 43)

Expanding your rhythms beyond common time:

• Application in Progressive Metal
• Common odd time signatures
• Importance of note grouping & subdivision
• Examples in 5/4, 5/8, 7/8 time

Diatomic harmony - theory & examples:

• Chord construction
• Triads in the key of C major
• Harmonic chord formula for all Major keys

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 46)

Exploring Minor key harmonization:

• Minor key chord analysis
• Breaking down minor scale triads
• Harmonic formula for minor keys
• Common chord progressions

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 46)

Rules are made to be broken!

Theory isn't everything - don't be afraid to venture outside the lines.

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 46)

7-string fundamentals:

• Adaptation from 6-strings
• New chord possibilities
• Translating scales & arpeggios

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 46)

Digging deeper into theory

• Understanding tonality
• Positions of modes (demonstrated in F Major): (F) Ionian (1st position), (G) Dorian, (A) Phrygian, (Bb) Lydian, (C) Mixolydian, (D) Aeolian, (E) Locrian, (F) Ionian (13th position)
• Modes of F Major exercise (ascending and descending)
• Major and Minor families

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 51)

A lesson in chord compatibility - mode selection and coloring the harmonic backdrop.

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 51)

An exercise in the modes of F Harmonic Minor.

*make sure to download the tab/example sheet under resources for the first lecture in this section (lecture 51)