The majority of non-metal fans really have no idea how difficult it is to play extreme metal, especially Black Metal. To the untrained ear, it sounds like "noise". But I always tell people who hear extreme metal for the first time to listen at a medium-low volume, close their eyes and really concentrate because when they do, they can hear everything clearly and separately. Rhythm guitar, lead guitar, bass, keyboards (if equipped), and of course, drums. There is a level of genius behind creating extreme metal and these musicians don't get the respect that they deserve.
It's also because most of the first wave Norwegian bands couldn't afford proper recording gear/studio time, the bands after that just seemed to carry on with that sound. I'm not super into Black Metal but it's pretty interesting, I've always been more into Death Metal and it's dry, distorted, and disgusting approach to extreme metal.
Very helpful, very clear. To the point. Practical help to begin playing. No messy bedroom in the back round, dogs barking, phones ringing, time wasting back story, poorly aimed camera. Thank you.
That's good. Chattering conversation that isn't related directly to the lesson, but to the teacher's experiences. i.e., "I started using these picks in 1994 when I was big into Darkthrone, but in 2000 I was in the front row at an Immortal concert and Abbath threw his pick right at me. I took that home and tried it on my Les Paul Standard, the one I got in 1998, that was stolen............ :P
About a year ago, when I started by black metal project, this was one of the most inspirational and useful videos I watched. I still come back to it regularly. If it wasn't for you, Simon Smith, I might not even be doing black metal. Thank You! \m/
I also now have a full album out, if you're still interested. Released it just 3 days ago. P.S. Couldn't have done it without Simon's advice, you are like a god to me, mr Smith!
I watch this video regularly too but unlike you, I couldnt't finish my project :D Just listened to your album btw. I'ts really good, it sets a pretty good winter atmosphere. Nicely done!
I've came back to this lesson several times, and continue to find it valuable. You are one of two guitar teachers on youtube that actually understand the musical theory and essence of black metal composition. Everyone else gets it wrong; just taking the most superficial window dressing (single string tremolo picked melody lines ) of dimmu borgir style black metal. the way you explain strumming across barr chords and different chord voicings was extremely valuable to me.
This is the mostly genuinely helpful, information-dense 9 minutes I could imagine. As someone who's just started incorporating black metal elements into my dark ambient project I feel like this gave me an enormous head start. Thank you!
Funny how the licks at around 6:30 remind me of Slint, could be why I liked Spiderland so much, their early math rock had a lot of black metal elements to it
+Mind Spray I don't know if you could call dissonance an element exclusive to black metal. Dissonance existed so long before Slint, first signs of it in the Romantic era, and even in Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath in their first album. And how in the world is Slint math rock? They were early pioneers of post rock.
+Reynold Adamson They're considered pioneers of both of those genres. They used a significant amount of odd time signatures, which in essence is the only thing that defines math rock (at least objectively).
Wayde McDonnell Are you saying odd time signatures in rock music was never used before Slint? Have you forgotten prog rock throughout the 70s and 80s? Pink Floyd? Kansas? The Moody Blues?
Reynold Adamson No, I guess the difference is the"angular" feeling to the music in combination with the odd time signatures. I don't know, although Slint certainly inspired a lot of bands, there really isn't anyone who has sounded like them since.
Wayde McDonnell I get what you mean, Slint really is one of a kind. There's no question that they inspired countless alternative bands. However, elements such as odd time signatures, dissonance, and dynamics are not new. What Slint did was use these elements in a way that the music world had never seen before.
I am ashamed to admit I do not follow as many online teachers as I should, but my friend you have most certainly just taught me a thing or two and inspired me big time. Thanks a lot !
I'm not actually into metal, but I do admire the guitarists in metal, so I wanted to know what is it that makes guitars in metal music sound so epic, Ik it's more than just some techniques, but this is just a small part of my research, so wish me luck metalheads xD
I d like to point out ,the Marduk riff. The alternate picking is "Inside" the strings between the A and D strings .This requires slight motion mechanics ,of a downward angle and an upward angle . Down slant for Down picking and ,an Upward Slant for up picking .Like a Violin Bow . Troy Grady has a lot posted on this type of thing ,analyzing all the greatest pickers of all time ,and showing how they all use these "Motion Mechanics" If you are a Drummer ,there are even more motion mechanics involved . You are using every limb of your body
Listening to Leviathan makes you wonder how something can sound so terrifying. A lot of black metal I don't find that terrifying but Varg Vikernes, Jef Whitehead, Damian Igielski and Richard Lederer's tone and techniques are a few examples of Guitar that will haunt you and also creative.
Thank you so much for making this video. I'm not sure how many times a day you are told this, but you changed my view on guitar and, aided by your instruction in this particular video, I have quickly become adept at speed picking. By practicing trem picking as you described and by watching you play, I've become significantly more skilled in playing faster varieties of metal. I don't know what it is about this video, but the instructions stuck to me unlike any other teachers' on RU-vid; better than Chris Zoupa, Mike Gross, all of the big names. Thank you so much man, I'm not kidding, you are the fucking best.
I learn a lot from Sir Simon Smith about black metal guitar technique and I still practice until today 65% on my guitars rhythm I use 2:28 Tremolo Picking Over 2 Strings. Easy explained tutorial with many examples. Thank you Simon Smith you is my guitar teacher !
I looked into them and from reviews they are pretty good. Do you think its possible if I can do 1 pickup with the Nazgul and the other the black winter pickup? Don't know much about pickups unfortunately.
Sikspak Haha neither do I friend. Theoretically I think it would. I would guess you should look into the tech behind pickups and learn if that. Tell me if you find anything. From my perspective, maybe you can put one on the bridge and the other on the neck and select on on the other?
As you hold the mediator, you do not play without a cake, with an unnamed finger, do the emphasis under the sensor and then you will play the tremolo smoothly
I resumed practicing after several years of not playing. What I like about Black Metal is it's REALLY noob friendly! You can write epic evil sounding riffs with some tremolo picked power chords and minor chords and then some chugged power chords and you'd end up using maybe 2 or 3 easy finger positions in total across a whole song and it'd still sound trve kvlt. Especially if you're playing on your shitty first electric guitar from several years ago that has a noisy humbucker on the bridge and use literally ANY high gain amp sim on your laptop or ANY heavily distorted practice amp.
And when you play bass root notes on a really heavy midi synth (one that sounds like the intro to Clockwork Orange) underneath the chords, lower the amp gain a bit and increase the guitar production quality, and then replace the vocals with crystal clean singing that's got a lot of resonance and add reverb on the voice, you just created Gothic Metal out of Black Metal. The lyrics don't even need to change.
First time it didn’t appeal to me but when I listened to Osiris i slowly liked it and trying to learn Black metal, I have a way higher liking and understanding of it
Thank you for all these man, I'm trying to teach myself the black metal style as I love it's sound + tone. I find it kind of tricky lol. But I've been coming here to your vids for help in learning it more and more....Please keep more of these kind of videos coming, peace man. ✌️
I always thought tremolo picking in black metal was about making the attacks blur together, so it just sounds like a continuous sustain. You know a lot more about this than I do, that's just an observation. It's also possible what I hear is a product of all of the reverb used on many black metal releases.
Great lesson! Does anybody else here know any songs or bands that use the two string tremolo picking technique? I think it's a very ambient sounding, and just suits my style.
+conor mcguire Many BM bands use this style, but not on each of their tracks. Try early albums of Burzum, Gorgoroth, Satyricon, or german band Zorn. Especially Burzum to me has that dark, eerie ambient sound. Have fun.
Beautiful indeed! I only know how to listen to music, and it´s funny how each of these examples bring many songs in mind, and it´s like: "That sounds exactly like, what was it...?" Brain gymnastics!
That was a very comprehensive guide to Black Metal. I am quite proud to say that there was no new information in there, I figured out all of it on my own by now but now I now what these are called and am glad it is a thing.
My hands hurt damn it why of all genres I loved extreme metal, I could have loved something else and lived a happy life with people preaching about my music, why did I bring myself into this whyyyyyy😭
Well, Northern Thones doesn't really use an Aug 5th. That's a minor 6th. and considering it uses a lowered 2nd scale degree in the third and fourth chord, I'd assume it's in phrygian.
