Heavy metal is a loud, fast, and aggressive style of music with often draws in new aspiring guitar players with its raw power.
Whether you prefer power, thrash , progressive , death, or any other type of metal, the same basic usually apply.
The following topics are essential for creating a strong foundation in the heavy metal style.
Tuning The tuning on the guitar is slightly different in metal.
The tuning which is usually used in metal today is drop D tuning.
Drop tuning the guitar is a popular way to get deeper and heavier sound from the guitar.
Sound A distortion sound or something like that is required to play heavy metal.
For this, guitar players often use a distortion pedal, or an overdrive pedal, or something similar.
In heavy metal it's really important that the distortion sound is top notch.
Power Chords The power chord is one of the most essential skill a metal guitarist has to master.
These chords are used in all types of metal and in all different tunings.
Practicing power chords is easy and fun.
Their simplicity makes learning power chords a breeze.
Palm Muting Last on the list is palm muting.
By pressing the palm of your hand against the guitars bridge while picking the strings you will create a kind of "damped" sounds.
This technique is used a lot in heavy metal, especially in combination with open E.
Try finding some guitar tabs for your favorite metal songs and starting practicing those palm muted, drop tuned, and distortion sounding power chords.
Keep practicing those basic methods and build a solid metal foundation.
When the time comes you will be ready to move one to more complex heavy metal methods.