Why Is Metallica's Fade To Black the GOAT? 

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The line "I was me but now he's gone" is one of the most simple and effective lyrics I've ever heard. Impactful, heartbreaking, and a perfect description of what this kind of heavy depression does to people.

There's just something about the Ride The Lightning album . All the tracks kicked ass from start to finish and had some very interesting music theory and concepts behind them,

Fade to Black was the song that made me pick up the guitar, so it'll always be one of my favorites.

Fade to black was the first song I truly learned from beginning to end, when I was around maybe 13 and it's still my favorite song to play and perform acousticly.

Consider their ages. They're were between 20-22 years old writing a powerful ballad about a powerful subject in an era where they were supposed to be reaching higher speeds. You didn't really get that many songs about suicide from the first person perspective at the time which made it so chilling. As far as songwriting goes: I often tell my mates, Fade to Black, Sanitarium, and One are masterpieces because the music is absolutely beautifully composed, the harmonies are incredibly written, haunting leads, and then the lyrics are just about living in an absolute nightmare. Forget Satan, Gore, and guts. Depression/suicide, mental illness, and being brain dead have been horrible realities for a lot people. Rest in peace to all of them. Metallica had maturity in their writing, that's why they could ease up on the thrash.

To me, this song gets better with the realization that it’s about his favorite amp, which was stolen.

My husband was a metal head when I met him and I had never listened to it. He introduced me to Metallica through this song and I've been a total fan girl ever since. I love their early albums, but I also love the way James' voice matures and changes over time. He was just a kid when he started and you could hear it in his voice. I wouldn't expect a man in his 50s at this point to still sing like that. I think the sign of a good band is one that can evolve and mature.

FTB was my gateway to metal. I had heard a number of Metallica songs prior to, but they were all post black album (load/reload, Garage Inc.). It wasn’t until hearing FTB that I started diving into their early stuff and developed a taste for metal. So this song always has a special place in my heart, and it’s one that I never get tired of hearing.

This song and "Nothing Else Matters" are one my favorite power ballads. True masterpieces that a lot of people, not just metalheads, can relate with.

One thing to point out is how they modulate from B minor to A minor in the intro. The acoustic guitar plays F6, Fb5#7 and lastly E7 to land more smoothly to A minor. I just think it was very clever how they did it.

The acoustic James is playing has a 12 string effect with it so you are correct on it sounding like a 12 string

Yes, it is their greatest song. Except from James and Lars' contributions in the composition of the song, Kirk and Cliff have their significant contributions in the song. A haunting song!

The Ride The Lightning album is just perfect. 80s era Metallica was just unreal

Shred, your "B stands for" etc gag is my favorite pls don't stop doing it

I was at this show with my best friend! We were in the front row against the rail and James pointed at me because I had an original kill em all tour shirt. We were on the screen during “One” and I Got James pic he flicked. That was my peak moment. If you watch the live show you can see my on the rail during memory remains and some other songs

The instrumental back half of this song is absolute melodic metal perfection.

Thank you so much for reawakening my guitar ability. My family is so proud of me again. We just laid my grandma to rest today and you are such a huge part in my revamped guitar life. I can’t ever thank you personally but just know you touched me.

Every time I hear it I think of my stepdad passing from cancer in 1993. I listened to it a lot and would see his shadow in the hallway on the wall as he moved around in his hospital bed in our house.

Key of B minor (technically Bb minor) Intro chord progression is Bm-A-D Repetition & development (same concept in different ways) Solo over the verse chord progression Guitar orchestration Complimentary parts that outline the chord structures Modulation Pedal tones ------ Pichardy third (a piece in minor key ending with a major chord)

One of the crazy things about this song is that I never realized that the harmonized riff under the final solo is actually a semi-reprise of the intro riff. Never realized until it was pointed out to me

I still love the older Metallica stuff. For one I always like the dynamics of slow and melodic, mixed with heavy groove. Plus, their mellow stuff in the early days had more of a classical sense to it.

I'm 49 and The Whiplash EP import(Cause it was $5 at Licorice Pizza)was my intro to Metallica(I can hear "Boomer" right now which is wrong, born in 72' is Generation X). I bought Ride The Lightning next week. Epic stuff. Buzz was at the time a new LP was in the works without Mustane's writing. Next year Master Of Puppets came out. The rest is history. Ride The Lightning & Whiplash import will always has a special place for me. Thanks for this Fade To Black breakdown. I appreciate it. EDIT: For Whom The Bells Toll was the first song I learned from Metallica. On an 80s Gibson Firebird routed with full sized Humbuckers Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB & SH-2 Jazz neck. Then EMG 81-85's and finally a Brushed Gold EMG Het-set. I also play a PRS ONE SE(basicalliy PRS's version of the LP) w with a Fishman Fluence Greg Koch bridge pickup. Back then I was lucky enough to have a Mesa Boogie 2C++ head. Hard as hell to dial in that Metallica tone, "California Smile" but I did do it. I'm happy with my Recto 50 watt solo head 2 but would be nice to land a Boogie 2++ but they're so hard too find. Thanks again for the tutorial. I dig your humor along with theory knowledge.

Fade to black was indeed the song that introduced me to Metal! I was a big fan of 70s rock and had a huge guard against shredding and super heavy/fast songs. But man, this song changed everything. I owe it to them for all the join that I get by listening to Opeth, TOOL, Dream theater, Soen, Porcupine tree, Sabbath, Riverside, etc. And god knows simplicity is the key, that what makes Metallica the Mozart of Metal.

I still remember the first time I heard Fade to Black, and I’ve never been the same since. It’s one of my favourite songs all time by any band.

This is the one song I wanted to learn on guitar more than any other. The song is such a variety of different and interesting parts. It's like it has so much in one song

The intro gets your attention right away …the solo just adds to the feel ..then the chords after the solo just makes u say wow…u can relate and feel those lyrics and the harmony after James says goodbye is fucken incredible ..then again u get hit with that perfect solo at the end and it just screams out masterpiece

Without a doubt the greatest song ever written. I listen to it no less than 5 times a day for many years and I love it more every time and each time I cry. I cant imagine it will ever be topped.

I used to teach in high school. I only know how much even today's generation school kids loves to play Metallica. As an Asian kid, I too grew up with lots of Metallica stuff and My heart pounders with joy everytime I see my kids play Metallica. even after all these 30_40 years, Metallica are being played so alive as if their song were just released just a week ago. And that's the reason I hope Metallica stands biggest metal band of our planet.

Obviously I love this song, early intro to Metallica in the late 80s. I had this Master of Puppets and Harvester of Sorrow (a criminally underated song) on a loop. While I likely can't put my top 8 or 9 Metallica songs in order, I am always curious how No Leaf Clover is left out of almost every discussion of great songs, and how minus human is left off most "heaviest Metallica riffs" list. Is it really only because they came out in 1999 after the Load albums?

Speaking of Maiden, Metallica does a fairly decent cover of REMEMBER TOMORROW by them.

Fade to black was the song that inspired me to try guitar for the first time. It also was the first time I really saw the beauty that was possible in metal.

That fast descending run in the riff inside the modulation to Em, in the bridge, it's just mean. Badass. James is such a complex and yet straightforward composer. Not pretentious, just genius. And the leads in this song, are seminal to modern guitar leads IMHO

Why? Cliff. Talk more about Cliff. He had so much to do with composing this song. The bass part is what really holds this. There are even live versions where the band is out of time, but Cliff just owns and keeps it together.

I literally just got into Metallica this week at the tender age of 31. N as a black guy this shit has been a whirlwind to dive into. Shred has been A-1 introducing me to the Genre…& he funny as hell.

i think everyone loves fade to black so much is because it is all is a great song beautiful acoustic intro into a awesome melodic solo straight into the riffs and epic voice of James and the whole band just kicking absolute ass for 7 minutes and 2 badass solos to end the song. just the best song tot rock to and drive with the windows down

“I can’t stand this hell I feel” geez this jam always hits in the feels

I'd love for you to do four horsemen and/or blackened!

The song that got me into metallica and metal in general. The song that made me get into guitar playing. The song that began my journey to self improvement and really finding myself. The song that made me absolutely down during aftershock last year. This song truly is the GOAT

This song, and the album saved my life. R.I.P. Cliff I still miss you every god-damned day!! 💔🤘🍻

From what I watched I think Kirk nailed the solo perfectly in a video of fade to black live 1985

I was there. & this song has deep meaning to me & it's my final song to get right! I won't stop until I can play this song. I"M learning kurts part! kirk! A minor riff to die for!

One of my favorites,but i also love the re harmonization from the Alex Scolnick trio,the bassist play big acustic bass!!!!!

Because it has James coming out of a cool intro playing a classical guitar everyone’s tone is amazing it stands out on the album. Made it a fan favorite forever.

i still get chills to this song my fav song ever listened to in 43 years.

When i listen fade to black, i remember my friends, remember many thinks, think about my future Еvery time I listen to this song, I discover something new, I feel that it is something dear, I feel that it can console me, I believe it "the unknown scares me, knocks me down, but I keep going with fade to black"

Never underestimate Lars' ability to f up a song live.

This album came out when I was a junior in high school. It was an epiphany. It made me play guitar, which opened up a whole other world. This song was great but not the one that grabbed me by the boo boo and didn’t let go. That was the instrumental Call of Ktulu. That is the heaviest track ever recorded in my humble opinion. Not a spoken word in it but it spoke louder than any song I have ever heard prior or since. Great breakdown of this from a musical point. Liked and subbed

It was awesome meeting you earlier today

6:31 I almost spit my drink out laughing so hard here..."Give it to me, Lars!" That belch had its own pedal effect on that one.

i enjoy the versitility and room for your own spin on the bass. The song takes you on a jouney, and im partial to cliff being a filthy fourstringer myself, shed is spot on with the same riff in diffderent voicings, its different everytime, yet still familiar and friendly.

I completely agree with you adding different variations on chords is super important and keeps things fresh and interesting while also keeping a consistency and familiarity, it's an awesome way to spice things up.

One > Welcome Home (Sanitarium) > The Unforgiven > Fade To Black

Metallica may not have been my gateway to metal, but they rank at the top of list. Ride the lightning came out the year I was born, 84. Fade to Black, belongs on the mantle above the heavy metal fireplace!!! Absolute classic!!

12:53 This picture.. "I still can't believe I am in this band".

I’m really blown away that you did not mention the fact that Kirk was playing Peter Green’s legendary Gibson Les Paul.

The first solo(s) I learned. Fade To Black will always be special to me! Love Kirk!

A lot of their early stuff was driven by Cliff and his knowledge of classical music, hence the awkward chords and strange progressions ,like playing in one key during solo, but solo isn’t in same key, like playing a G while soloing in an A , and he explains how this is a major classical influence, Cliff…he was top shelf all the way,and why they had to change after Cliff, and why they changed after Jason, everyone is different

The riff that plays at about the 3:57 mark of the song is my favorite riff of all time

So said I had to miss this show. I'm from Lincoln but was living in Montana where nobody ever plays. Now I'm back and they probably will never return :(. I did get to see them in Omaha at the start of the Death Magnetic tour and got one of Kirk's pics so I cant complain too much.

the load and reload album highlights the complementary guitar playing of james and kirk.. many people think those songs are easy to play but when you look down into it, its hard.

The one with Jason Newsted's last performance of Fade to Black is still my fav live performance of this. Mainly it felt the most emotional. But that's just me.

It is a six string, it's the way his sound-man loops it through James's equipment. Don't ask me what, because it's beyond my level of comprehension of mixing equipment. But there's a video where said sound-man explains James's rig rundown, and how they get that 12string effect. I'll try to find it and come back and share the link. R.I.P. Cliff I still miss you every god-damned day!!! And yeah, I say that after any Metallica video I comment on. Losing Cliff impacted me greatly. I had a hard time accepting that news as I had seen him live on the Damage Inc. tour when they opened for OZZY'S Ultimate Sin tour. That was July 25th 1986, in Louisville KY. he was taken from us just two months later on September 27th.

Great to see 'Greenie ' being used by Kirk 🎵🎸🎶

You should really listen to the live versions from the VH1 music awards in 2001, and what was played at most shows from 1992-1994. Seriously Lars was a good drummer at one point (mainly when it came to feel), and the little ending bit after the final solo always hit hard!

my porsche 911 also has a flat six. sounds great!!

There is just something about this song that makes it the best, but not sure what it is. It's just beautiful

fan and subscriber. Love the breaking down of the songs and the focus on the Metal genre in general, especially your focus on music theory is great. I play Metal guitar since i was 13 haha but did not learn music theory well so i am doing that now. For me, Metallica is the greatest Metal band ever.

Kirk's lead is so heart-wrenching and soulful.

A friend of mine brought this over during Christmas break in 84. I was stunned.

*Im 48 and Fade To Black is one of those songs that I still remember the day and the feeling I got the first time I ever heard it*

10:03-10:23 actually sounds the part really well that acoustic riff you tried to harmonise. Pleasant to the ear. 👏🏼

I learned music theory in orchestra as a kid. I have played this song on the street in San Francisco probably a few hundred times. When I go from the rhythm lead to the chorus, I kick the heavy distortion button, I can see people realize that it is a heavy song. 🤘🏿🤘🏿🤷🏿

Good to see you are staying hydrated Shred! Gotta love that magnificent WAP juice.

I think it would be awesome if you did a video breaking down the song Orion. Keep up the great work bud!

Shred deserves more subs

What always amazes me is the fact they were in their early twenties.

Just finished my fade to black practice session

0:34 i love how you showed the wah 😂

I agree with your thoughts on bringing new fans into metal... I think: crazy train, fear of the dark, the number of the beast, 22 acacia avenue, fade to black, mr crowley, are all metal songs that are also palatable for the general public. There’s lots of others, but those are the ones you often hear playing on the jukebox at a pub full of normies... oh and WAP or course

My favorite song is dyers eve but this this song is best ...way better than all ...even dyers eve and everything this song put me through tough times...

In my opinion, the best live version of this song is from Seattle 89. That is because Kirk played the solo closer to the original solo in that show combined with Lars' early double bass which made me shed into tears and headbang at the same time.

guitar tuned Eb :) C# finish to A open string :)

Dude,,,,you didn't even mention the genius cheeky modulation DOWN from the B-( intro) to the A- (verse ),this is an epic move, cud u even explain how they did it? I guess not, Who can walk us through it? 🤔

You forgot the A minor triad in the slide up in the verse tabs.

I truly looooove Fade to Black, except the live version. I believe Kirk just ruins the solo by using the wah. It just makes me think "DUDE!!! It's a great solo all by itself! Just leave it alone!!!" Although this concert wasn't so bad

Another request for good mourning black friday by Megadeth please

The recorded studio solo is one of the best ever written

One of the first solos I ever learned... but I would listen to the "Live Shit: Binge & Purge" version and add all the extra doodles to it!

Is it just me or did Shred also improve a ton? I remember watching some videos where it took him sometimes 2-3 sec to figure out what notes they were playing but now he does it instantly as if he had perfect pitch. Do you have perfect pitch, Shred, do you just remember pitches?

Fade to black is an incredible composition. Thank the rock gods for Metallica. I think you can also hear a lot of these techniques in bleeding me which for me is the GOAT Metallica song. 🤘😈

6:32 very informative 😮

Every time Shred stresses developing similar ideas in a song and not totally different ideas pieced together... I just keep picturing Daron Malakian laughing maniacally 🤣🤘🏼

In my opinion One is the Metallica's best song, it's a really inspired composition with some over the top elements such as arrangements, melodies, harmonies, rhytm, solo, lyrics... and it's the kind of song where Metallica excelled: mid tempos that grow into a faster, epic section. I can get why lots of people consider Fade to black their best song but I consider that One pushes all those elements and made them slightly better.

For whom the bell tolls or Fade to black are the tracks that i would show someone who doesnt even like rock let alone metal, and they’ll probably will fuck with it alot ( like/love the song) ik because it happened to me and i grew up a heavy hip hop head !

Awesome, I was at that show. Fade is favorite Metallica song until I hear Master is my favorite until I hear Creep is my favorite until I hear Sad But True is my favorite until I hear Fade

Definitely my favorite Metallica Album!🤘🏻🔥✨

Great show ! And yes this song is the filet ! And the cream are the riffs ! The drum sounds like firework ! Super cool !

5:12 is shred trying to tell us something by specifically subtitling those few lines?

Kirk was really going crazy here damn