Is James Hetfield The best Rhythm guitar player ever?

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  • Опубліковано 7 гру 2023
  • Is James Hetfield the best rhythm guitar player ever? Watch this video to find out why many people believe he is. Prepare to be blown away by James' isolated rhythm tracks and witness his impressive skills firsthand. Don't miss out on this mind-blowing display of talent - subscribe now to discover the true power of James Hetfield's guitar playing!
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 621

  • @mikelawson6456
    @mikelawson6456 5 місяців тому +57

    Is this a joke?

  • @guitarjero552
    @guitarjero552 5 місяців тому +146

    James is one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century. I see him in a list with great artists like Lennon, Mccarthy, Hendrix, Miles Davis and Elton John

    • @xkmmx2132
      @xkmmx2132 5 місяців тому +3

      You and everyone else that just picked up their first Squier strat with the Master of Puppets tab book. In 5 years they will play actual difficult songs and start to disagree though lol.

    • @SunnyHF-nf4bc
      @SunnyHF-nf4bc 5 місяців тому +3

      @@xkmmx2132 You don’t need to have the greatest chops to be a great musician.

    • @kmcarchive8288
      @kmcarchive8288 5 місяців тому +5

      ​@@xkmmx2132 Well, I've been playing for almost 30 years; my favourite guitarists are people like Tommy Emmanuel, Jerry Reed, Paco De Lucia, etc... I still think Hetfield is a rhythm guitar icon.

    • @ezekielbrockmann114
      @ezekielbrockmann114 5 місяців тому

      Totally.

  • @lucasjankowski7117
    @lucasjankowski7117 5 місяців тому +169

    Kirk does this rhytm parts also during live performances. They are not impossible to play. What impresses me more is singing on top of many of that parts by James, as they are often rhytmically complex (I am referring especially to rhytm parts from RTL to AJFA).

    • @ali965
      @ali965 5 місяців тому +23

      If you think what James does is hard, you should check out Dave Mustaine. It’s almost impossible what he can do

    • @apocalypse3485
      @apocalypse3485 5 місяців тому +18

      ​@@ali965Muhammed Suiçmez

    • @VARVIS_
      @VARVIS_  5 місяців тому

      I mentioned that

    • @pinkled4429
      @pinkled4429 5 місяців тому +2

      ​@@ali965Mustaine is the goat

    • @brunofreitas9314
      @brunofreitas9314 5 місяців тому +19

      ​@@ali965but Mustaine doesnt sing, so that means nothing. And James is much tighter and cleaner than Dave

  • @sobaydrummer666
    @sobaydrummer666 5 місяців тому +371

    James Hetfield is and should be recognized as one of the greatest musicians ever. period. Song writing, vocals, rhythm playing, innovation, trend setter and he has maintained a successful professional relationship with LARS?! Hands down, in the same breath as Beethoven, Lennon, McCartney, etc. The fact he isnt widely talked about and revered like a McCartney or Jagger or something is due to the post black album buffoonery the band has become. The Lars not practicing, Kirk flubbing Fade to Black live, the When Doves Cry shitshow, Some Kind of Monster and Bob Rock having an audible stroke on St Anger's mix....and yet still, he is undeniably carrying that band and has by himself pretty much since 83. Unbelievable.

    • @marioalexanderski9598
      @marioalexanderski9598 5 місяців тому +14

      And not the mention the chaos that is Lulu

    • @jyejye1077
      @jyejye1077 5 місяців тому +22

      I think Load and Reload are amazing albums, and when Kirk started recording his rhythms it really gave the band a more diverse sound, Metallica is the best band in the World and James is the best front man ever.

    • @dawnkeyy
      @dawnkeyy 5 місяців тому +13

      Nobel peace prize worthy stuff maintaining a professional relationship with Lars 🤣

    • @dawnkeyy
      @dawnkeyy 5 місяців тому +3

      Nobel peace prize worthy stuff maintaining a professional relationship with Lars 🤣

    • @8BEATER1
      @8BEATER1 5 місяців тому +4

      Nobel peace prize worthy stuff maintaining a professional relationship with Lars 🤣

  • @usaflagraybans
    @usaflagraybans 5 місяців тому +19

    The short answer is yes.
    The long answer is yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.

    • @TheDeadTheories
      @TheDeadTheories 5 місяців тому +7

      You mean the answer is “yeah-eah!”

    • @JPR17
      @JPR17 5 місяців тому

      And the looooooooonher answer is Eddie fuc****n Van Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaalen and Dimebag Darrel! Oh and Mustaine and Mile Petrozza from Kreator. Oh and forgot, Jeff Hanneman and Scott Ian. Oh and Pat O Brien, the guy is a freaking machine
      .

    • @pinkled4429
      @pinkled4429 5 місяців тому

      ​@@JPR17don't forget Tony Iommi.

    • @JPR17
      @JPR17 5 місяців тому

      @@pinkled4429 yeah. I think no one can beat Tony, the real riff master. Nothing would even exist without him the way we know it 🤟

    • @pinkled4429
      @pinkled4429 5 місяців тому +1

      @@JPR17 Imagine listening to Into the void in 1971

  • @phillipcapshaw8761
    @phillipcapshaw8761 5 місяців тому +19

    Not only is he a great rhythm guitarist but he's also an underrated song writer.

    • @huntrrr99
      @huntrrr99 5 місяців тому +1

      EVH is a better Rhythm player by far.

    • @troysmithfr
      @troysmithfr 5 місяців тому +3

      @@huntrrr99 Almost needless to argue because it's not like anybody can shake the entire legacy that EVH left behind

    • @JOHNNYRIFFS
      @JOHNNYRIFFS 5 місяців тому +1

      I love Metallica and James. But ”underated”? He play and write songs in the biggest metal band of all time? 😂

  • @scorchedearthdj
    @scorchedearthdj 5 місяців тому +4

    James was the reason I started playing guitar in the first place and is why I wanted to focus on rhythm for so many years. He is definitely one of the best ever.

  • @picklesandwich5949
    @picklesandwich5949 5 місяців тому +101

    I think he's top 3. I like Dave Mustaine's rhythm stuff more as a guitar player because of its technicality but nobody is as tight as James. Absolute machine.

    • @Malaneth
      @Malaneth 5 місяців тому +2

      Ever listened to litearlly any metal other than the most basic average shit?

    • @pinkled4429
      @pinkled4429 5 місяців тому +28

      ​@@Malaneth Megadeth is anything but "basic" lmfaooo

    • @picklesandwich5949
      @picklesandwich5949 5 місяців тому +10

      @@Malaneth Yes I have actually. I don't care how popular the band is the most memorable riffs for me are Mustaine's.
      You can argue this for so many people. This is just subjective.

    • @Malaneth
      @Malaneth 5 місяців тому +2

      @@pinkled4429 Megadeth is much more technical than most mainstream metal, however I do not understand why you bring them up?

    • @Malaneth
      @Malaneth 5 місяців тому

      @@picklesandwich5949 It's only most memorable because it's so basic and mainstrea. Explore more metal

  • @marcinmcula99
    @marcinmcula99 5 місяців тому +45

    For rock/metal rhythm guitarists Hetfield, Scott Ian, Malcolm Young and EVH. Hetfield and Ian have incredible precision and tightness to their playing while Malcolm and Eddie played with unreal groove that's impossible to replicate perfectly, just try playing I'm the one. I also think SRV is one of the best rhythm players ever but that's a different discussion

    • @maticdrgan8610
      @maticdrgan8610 5 місяців тому

      Gary Holt?

    • @danielk301
      @danielk301 5 місяців тому +3

      Don't forget Dave Mustaine. In his prime Dave's skill as a rhythm guitarist was on par with James imo.

    • @JPR17
      @JPR17 5 місяців тому +1

      What about Pat O Brien?

    • @pinkled4429
      @pinkled4429 5 місяців тому +2

      ​@@danielk301 dude Dave is still a beast.
      Also he's better than Het.
      Chugging an E isn't that hard when you can play the instrument well.
      Playing and singing Megadeth requires some serious skills.
      Not to mention Dave wrote Rust in peace.

    • @metallaholic
      @metallaholic 5 місяців тому +1

      scott ian is so insanely good.

  • @michaelolvera7490
    @michaelolvera7490 5 місяців тому +21

    Scott ian is really good also

  • @OroTheEnlightened
    @OroTheEnlightened 5 місяців тому +11

    It's his sheer precision that I find amazing. And then here's his downpicking. Toronto 86, nuff said.

  • @Camthefatmann
    @Camthefatmann 5 місяців тому +13

    A lot of people don’t recognize the struggle of playing fast songs like Creeping Death and trying to sing the lyrics, I’ve tried it and either ended up singing the lyrics clearly and being sloppy with my guitar playing or being good at my guitar but mumbling words. Not only that but when you look at things like Battery that is 205 bpm and it has galloping that takes skill man

    • @Neon_Ghost1
      @Neon_Ghost1 5 місяців тому +1

      It is so crazy hard especially for creeping death

  • @ali965
    @ali965 5 місяців тому +9

    Truly an inspiration. I credit James for making me a better guitar player in general

  • @Kenjames10
    @Kenjames10 5 місяців тому +7

    Just watch "That Was Just Your Life" live performance to realize he is the goat. No one can sing fast and play such a technical riff so well at the same time. Papa Het writes some of the catchiest and memorable riffs in metal. 72 Seasons also proves he hasn't lost it.

  • @joaopereira2096
    @joaopereira2096 4 дні тому

    I'm so glad James is getting the respect I always felt he deserved after so many years trying to play like him

  • @jacobfurst4266
    @jacobfurst4266 5 місяців тому +1

    I love videos like this so much just talking about how acrusllt amazinf james is. My brother has been a rhythm guitarist as long as I can remember and I had him to show me the ropes and introduce me to new thinfs when I finally started playing guitar a few years ago, so I’ve always known how cracked James is but still wow

  • @duncansalyer2999
    @duncansalyer2999 5 місяців тому +9

    James breaks your right hand, Dave breaks your left. Couldn’t really say who’s objectively better but I personally like Dave more. Dave always has me like “how the fuck do you come with that?”

  • @supaschwamal
    @supaschwamal 5 місяців тому +35

    And please don't forget his solos. They are my favorite Metallica solos. Melodies you can sing along to.

  • @codycoyote7046
    @codycoyote7046 5 місяців тому +19

    Eddie’s rhythm is unmatched. Look to “I’m the one” as an example.

    • @JPR17
      @JPR17 5 місяців тому +3

      Agree, that's a good example of rhythm playing perfection.

    • @UchihaZoSo
      @UchihaZoSo 5 місяців тому +3

      True that, he's so recognized for how crazy his leads were that his rhythm playing gets overlooked most of the time. In my opinion, Eddie's rhythm playing was the foundation of what made him great. He could go from these wild, creative, all over the place leads and drop straight into the tightest swing rhythm. That's some tough shit to pull off how he did it

    • @codycoyote7046
      @codycoyote7046 5 місяців тому

      @@UchihaZoSo based

    • @Itelkner
      @Itelkner 5 місяців тому +1

      Playing a totally relaxed, open swing feel at high speed with perfect precision broken up with wild, dazzling leads then immediately back in the pocket.

    • @InuranusBrokoff
      @InuranusBrokoff 5 місяців тому +1

      House of Pain and Panama are two of my favorite from Ed.

  • @johnwoolveridge699
    @johnwoolveridge699 5 місяців тому +2

    Its the fact that he plays those riffs whilst singing at the same time

  • @fndjufri
    @fndjufri 5 місяців тому +9

    He's great at rhythms but his solos are damn good too.

  • @phewiss3066
    @phewiss3066 5 місяців тому +8

    To me, James is the greatest rhythm player ever. Adam Jones is also tight as hell.

    • @Gorre022
      @Gorre022 5 місяців тому

      Jones made a few flubs when I saw him live in October 😖💙

  • @iamgribs
    @iamgribs 5 місяців тому +31

    He is a walking metronome, his timing is spot on. The band follows him live. Which is uncommon.
    People here keep bringing up the new guys who are monsters.
    Is he on the same level as guys doing tech death, or dino, or jeff waters...no. Look, he has been surpassed since the 90s. We get it. But the big 4 paved the way for them all. James pioneered the style you hear in this video, everyone today carries the torch. Just like how Acdc or Scorpions paved the way for Hetfield.
    As for Mustaine he is the more well rounded guy for sure and has better command of the fretboard. But for right hand technique in the 80s, Hetfield was the gold standard.

    • @johnp82
      @johnp82 4 місяці тому

      It's like the Jimi Hendrix vs modern guitarists argument.

    • @iamgribs
      @iamgribs 4 місяці тому

      @@johnp82 Exactly. Kill em All came out 40y ago. No use in comparing him with Meshuggah Suffocation etc

  • @WinstonWolfe21
    @WinstonWolfe21 5 місяців тому +3

    James is an awesome musician and a cool cat. Def one of the best

  • @adriancole9681
    @adriancole9681 5 місяців тому +2

    Scott Ian has an amazing right hand too. Dudes super underrated.

  • @mattdad8429
    @mattdad8429 5 місяців тому +19

    I was gonna write a big long dissertation on why James is the best, but I'll just curtail it to say yes. Yes he is.

    • @JPR17
      @JPR17 5 місяців тому +1

      I think you may write it down cause a lot of us are wondering why the hell you think that?

    • @mattdad8429
      @mattdad8429 5 місяців тому +1

      @@JPR17 lol perhaps. Basically I was initially going to say for his genre, there are players on par with James, but no one exceeded his abilities. There are thousands of jazz players that know every chord in the book and can run up and down the neck that are technically better than James, but in terms of sheer precision, stamina, and consistency you'd be hard-pressed to find a rock/metal rhythm guitarist that checks more boxes than Hetfield. Just listen to isolated rhythm tracks of your top picks and compare them to James' and you'll find the answer that you seek. I think Van Halen could very well be on the shortlist, Chuck Schuldinar, Dimebag, Mustaine; there's tons of guitarists that smash it in the rhythm department, so I'm certainly not saying James is on some other planet. I just think for what he does, there's virtually no one I've heard that wowed me as much as him.

    • @JPR17
      @JPR17 5 місяців тому

      @@mattdad8429 l was just messing around mate 😂 no need to write all of that down, what a waste of your time.

    • @mattdad8429
      @mattdad8429 5 місяців тому

      @@JPR17 Ah.

    • @SIRebrum
      @SIRebrum 5 місяців тому +1

      @@mattdad8429 You call this a Big Long Dissertation ❔

  • @meowmoooink4225
    @meowmoooink4225 5 місяців тому +12

    Muhammed Suiçmez from Necrophagist. Also a vocalist while perfectly playing complex technical death metal riffs and solos.

    • @VARVIS_
      @VARVIS_  5 місяців тому +2

      Yes, he is absolutely up there too. Plan on doing a video on him shortly

    • @Malaneth
      @Malaneth 5 місяців тому

      Finally someone with a brain

  • @youdontneedtoknow5868
    @youdontneedtoknow5868 5 місяців тому

    The show in the back is 1993 Basel Switzerland, specifically Disposable Heroes if anyone is interested, great show

  • @Neon_Ghost1
    @Neon_Ghost1 5 місяців тому +3

    As someone who grew up listening to Metallica learning to play guitar and then trying to learn how to sing and play at the same time? For us normal mortals our brains tend to want to synchronize our hand movements to our mouths and often times James Hetfield will play something that is completely different tempo or rhythm to what he is singing so his mind can literally focus on two complex tasks at once and that is nothing short of godly

    • @VARVIS_
      @VARVIS_  4 місяці тому +1

      Absolutely man. To me THAT exactly what you said is what sets him over the rest. Thanks for commenting

  • @BucNasT
    @BucNasT 5 місяців тому +1

    He is the reason I started playing guitar.

  • @bjoern_thun_dersteel
    @bjoern_thun_dersteel 5 місяців тому +3

    John Schaffer,Hetfield,Mustaine,Holt and Ian are the goats

  • @xytras6451
    @xytras6451 5 місяців тому +20

    Who the fuck overlooks Hetfield? lol

    • @JPR17
      @JPR17 5 місяців тому +5

      A lot of guitar players can play like Hetfield and even faster. Just try listening to other bands 😉 search Pat O Brien, there, I gave you the answer.

  • @luisbranko.
    @luisbranko. 2 місяці тому +1

    James lives in Olympus.
    The rest of the guitar players live on earth.

  • @tekservices8699
    @tekservices8699 5 місяців тому

    Yes

  • @jnsaudio81
    @jnsaudio81 5 місяців тому

    Yep

  • @adamdam
    @adamdam 5 місяців тому

    James is a god, always has been strong as an individual whilst always keeping his cards close to his chest, i think their is an example of an amazing human being and musician.
    To be honest, i rarely listen to Metallics these days, Ive moved on from alot of there stuff though still class ...And Justice For All as one of the best albums of all time!

  • @fredlaroche6969
    @fredlaroche6969 5 місяців тому +1

    James Hetfield's playing was my gateway to thrash. He was also my gateway to appreciating what being ''tight'' means for a musician. And finally, he was the one I'd compare anyone to in terms of rhythm guitar quality... He's the benchmark. confirmed GOAT

  • @toddwilliams8128
    @toddwilliams8128 4 місяці тому +2

    Exibit A: Listening to Rick Beato alternate-picking "Creeping Death"
    I rest my case.

  • @nedlerswedlers19
    @nedlerswedlers19 5 місяців тому +3

    The only person I'd ever put over james would have to be dimebag not even mustaine could touch dime. Dime was gods gift to guitar RIP

    • @lalolanda3996
      @lalolanda3996 5 місяців тому

      Dime's solos were awesome yes but his rhythm parts goddamit only he could come up with them
      He and Chuck are the best in my books

  • @brunofreitas9314
    @brunofreitas9314 5 місяців тому +5

    It's my favourite, he's for sure one of the most clean and tight players out there, the best voice for what metal should be (never liked guys that have opera singing voices or just screams and for some reasin, metal frontman that doesnt play guitar or bass, it's not the same) and he is, the most charismatical one. So with all that, yeah. He's the one.

  • @WaffleDaBomb
    @WaffleDaBomb 5 місяців тому +1

    James and Chuck Schuldiner are my idols in the guitar world

  • @HellaKwik
    @HellaKwik 5 місяців тому

    I've met James several times. Back before they blew up, and once years after they were huge.
    He was always gracious and engaged.
    I went to a small show before they did the Ozzy tour that put them on the map. It was in a ball room at an amusement park in June of '86, I was 15.
    I had lost my ticket to the show at a house party. Me and 3 friends snuck into the park by climbing a fence and eventually ran into Lars. I told him the entire story. I had literally walked 10 miles round trip to buy my ticket at a ticket Master location in a JC Penny store. He was blown away by that. They weren't even famous yet.
    Lars got all of us in and gave us a table next to the stage. After the show, when my friends left, all of them hung out with us who were still around. I met Cliff, who was particularly unfriendly, but James kept me near him and gave me beers. We talked for over an hour. Years later, I saw him on 8th and Market Street outside the hotel Whitcomb in San Francisco, 3 blocks from my apartment around 2007.
    No shit, dude remembered me. I think my commitment to see them back then stuck with him.
    There was a deep mutual respect. Not only was he a pioneer Musically, he was always a solid dude.

  • @danmenez
    @danmenez 5 місяців тому +1

    Yes. Next question please.

  • @JawsVader1970
    @JawsVader1970 5 місяців тому

    I say yes because he's never ending making new riffs once you think you heard them all something you never heard comes out fast or slow

  • @AyBi_Studio
    @AyBi_Studio 5 місяців тому

    There is one thing which is writing those riffs, then recording them to a perfect degree, then adding the lyrics and to sum up, playing it live.
    When you combine all together, I think that it's pretty clear that he is the GOAT. Never seen anyone plays that accurate, precise and powerful.
    It's like he was made in a lab. Kirk said in an interview lately that he can play this songs in his sleep..
    If I can compare anyone to his ability it must be Dimebag and Criss Oliva, and they also written all the lead parts.

  • @faustomadebr
    @faustomadebr 5 місяців тому

    Yes.

  • @brothersnippy1373
    @brothersnippy1373 5 місяців тому +2

    I and anyone into heavy guitar have known for over 30 years that James Hetfield is the best rhythm guitar player on the planet. He has not been overlooked or under appreciated, he is the God of Riffs... and yes lead players and rhythm players should be judged separately. Of course then you also have rare talents like Randy Rhodes, Jerry Cantrell, and Dimebag who are equally amazing at both.

  • @little-ol-me
    @little-ol-me 5 місяців тому +4

    Great right hand.

  • @sleevelessace
    @sleevelessace 5 місяців тому

    Yeah the fight fire with fire riff is insane

  • @eattheheat1919
    @eattheheat1919 5 місяців тому +6

    If he isn’t, I am left wondering who would be. His down picking is pretty much unrivalled

    • @JPR17
      @JPR17 5 місяців тому +6

      Search and you'll find plenty of dowstroking players in Metal 🤷 Hetfield is just the popular one

    • @mikerauter1859
      @mikerauter1859 5 місяців тому

      exavtly, the band is huge he gets all attention. Jon Shaeffer is faster and tighter too.@@JPR17

    • @cdsmetalhead99
      @cdsmetalhead99 5 місяців тому

      Terrance Hobbs' down picking makes James' stuff look like Smoke on the Water

    • @eattheheat1919
      @eattheheat1919 5 місяців тому +1

      @@cdsmetalhead99 ahh damn! I will check Hobbs out 🤘

    • @iamgribs
      @iamgribs 5 місяців тому +1

      I mean his main claim to fame is he pioneered this style of playing. Obviously people have surpassed him, like Hobbs, sure, but Hetfield brought that percussive style of playing to the game. There were other great players too with a style similar to his such as Peterson, Ian. Then you had Mustaine, Jeff Waters, Gary Holt who are great rhythm players but also great lead players as well, super well rounded.

  • @gregkunst8199
    @gregkunst8199 5 місяців тому

    R.I.P. Kevin Geordie Walker, was one of the greatest rythem guitar 🎸 players ever to walk the earth yet remains virtually unknown along with Killing Joke

  • @lipexplode5090
    @lipexplode5090 5 місяців тому +3

    are they playing disposable heroes on the background?

    • @VARVIS_
      @VARVIS_  5 місяців тому +2

      Good wye
      Yes they are

  • @dimitrispapadopoulos9245
    @dimitrispapadopoulos9245 5 місяців тому

    Forget the guitar only... while singing at this level he is a monster at this age!! Dont forrget..back, knees, wrists, joints...damaged and his vocal ability and especially those downstrokes. He made metal look cool and great!!

  • @Admiral_Bongo
    @Admiral_Bongo 5 місяців тому +1

    Try Terrance Hobbs of Suffocation and Luc Lemay of Gorguts.

  • @RGK93
    @RGK93 4 місяці тому +1

    He is not only a great rythm guitar player, he still is a great singer (so now you can stop using the age excuse for Axl Rose). On a recent Rick Beato interview Kirk admitted it's hard to keep up with James playing.

  • @lightningmonky7674
    @lightningmonky7674 5 місяців тому +2

    Maybe kirk uses the wah petal cause it sounds badass? I never saw anything wrong with it and the way he uses it only adds to the music, im tired of people belittling his style

  • @mavisser3211
    @mavisser3211 5 місяців тому +1

    Yes. Without a doubt.

  • @emartinezr
    @emartinezr 5 місяців тому

    James is for sure god-tier rhythm guitar player. His riffs are not extremely complicated from a purely technical pt of view. But his attack, the time signatures, the seemingly simple straightforward nature of his riffs makes many of them absolutely memorable. It's only when you try to play them that their difficulty appears; even if they're not musicianship showcase parts. And on top of that he has to sing over it...
    A+ frontman for sure.
    I'm on the Megadeth bandwagon though. It's just a different flavour of God.

  • @roberthabljak3435
    @roberthabljak3435 5 місяців тому +3

    That' no brainer. Jaymz is The G.O.A.T. Also in song writing.

    • @pinkled4429
      @pinkled4429 5 місяців тому +2

      "I'm the table yea yea yea"

  • @kingtaco4064
    @kingtaco4064 5 місяців тому +2

    Something people don’t talk about is that James Alternate picks like lots of riffs, you cannot tell me or ever convince me that a human can downpick fight fire with fire, not even with an 8 ball of coke

    • @knightfall9394
      @knightfall9394 5 місяців тому

      i dont think anyone is gonna tell you that he’s down picking fight fire with fire, its pretty obvious when he’s alternate picking certain riffs. I know there’s that gary holt quote about james downpicking stuff a lot of people wouldnt, but he’s not downpicking everything

    • @kingtaco4064
      @kingtaco4064 5 місяців тому

      @@knightfall9394 and you’re the very first person I’ve seen that’s ever said anything about it besides me lol

  • @lalolanda3996
    @lalolanda3996 5 місяців тому

    He should solo more often. I like his leads

  • @rocketpigrecords3719
    @rocketpigrecords3719 5 місяців тому +6

    If you like EMGs, ESPs, high gain & scooped mids, you owe James a debt.
    "Nice jazz pickups!" t. Kerry King upon seeing EMGs in James's white Explorer.
    To say nothing of his playing!

    • @dasistthomsen9
      @dasistthomsen9 5 місяців тому

      Metallica does not scoop mids

    • @rocketpigrecords3719
      @rocketpigrecords3719 5 місяців тому +1

      @@dasistthomsen9 yes they do lol you're redacted

    • @dasistthomsen9
      @dasistthomsen9 5 місяців тому

      @@rocketpigrecords3719 No , they dont

    • @rocketpigrecords3719
      @rocketpigrecords3719 5 місяців тому

      @@dasistthomsen9 hey, reject?
      No one fucking cares about how they did shit on St. Anger.
      Go be special somewhere else, don't forget your helmet.

    • @bored7772
      @bored7772 5 місяців тому +1

      ​​@@dasistthomsen9they would scoop the mids on the amp and then have a EQ pedal to scoop the midds even more they used to scoop hella mids they don't so much anymore

  • @joshfancher3244
    @joshfancher3244 5 місяців тому +3

    GOAT

  • @brando851
    @brando851 5 місяців тому +1

    In his prime he absolutely was the best rhythm guitarist on the planet (like 1984-1989 ish). You could say you think other guitarists had more groove or had tastier licks and riffs but honestly pound for pound it has to be James. People dismissing him by saying they can play stuff like battery and fight fire with fire pretty easily, and yeah you can probably play what passes as a really good attempt at it,I am sorry but you’re not getting it to the level of James at his booze fueled peak, he was a freak. Yeah it may be like a 10 percent difference, but that 10 percent IS the difference maker on those records. (RTL, MOP, AJFA). PERFECT timing on all the tracks. He was an absolute studio BEAST and would back it up and then some live. All while being a phenomenal songwriter and formidable singer with an insanely unique voice. Post 1991 though ehhhh

  • @namanmhta
    @namanmhta 5 місяців тому +1

    Chuck schuldiner, Alexi laiho, muhammed suicmez they all play complex riff with vocals and also Solos.

    • @VARVIS_
      @VARVIS_  5 місяців тому

      Those guys are all up there in my opinion, good comment

  • @Banana_Split_Cream_Buns
    @Banana_Split_Cream_Buns 5 місяців тому +2

    James Hetfield is the GOAT *Metal* rhythm guitarist.
    Malcolm Young was the GOAT *Hard Rock & Rock n' Roll* rhythm guitarist.
    Runners up: Dave Mustaine, Hanneman/King.
    And I'm only counting specifically rhythm-dominant guitarists of a 2 guitar rock band, so am not including Hendrix, Clapton, Page, Iommi, EVH, Randy Rhoads, Dimebag or anyone else who was a single guitarist in a band.
    Nor am I counting anyone like Slash who was the lead guitarist but created a lot of his band's riffs.
    Similarly, I am not counting anyone like Jerry Cantrell who was mostly the sole guitarist of his band but often tracked both separate lead and rhythm parts.

  • @MrCool-sh4mx
    @MrCool-sh4mx 5 місяців тому +2

    james hetfield is the best rhythm guitarist of all time. arguably one of the best musicians of all time as well.

  • @jimmyboy131
    @jimmyboy131 5 місяців тому

    James is a great rhythm guitarist, for sure, and I haven't paid enough attention to his playing. I'd say my choice for greatest rhythm player is Eddie Van Halen. It was his rhythm playing that really set him apart.

  • @shadilamesbutr8239
    @shadilamesbutr8239 5 місяців тому +2

    I vote for Dino Cazares of Fear Factory.

  • @elkbro
    @elkbro 5 місяців тому +1

    My top 3 rythm guitar players are Jon Schaffer, Dave Mustaine and James Hetfield. Those three can be put on any order

  • @Tysandifer
    @Tysandifer 5 місяців тому +11

    Yea he is, no questions asked

    • @dcmastermindfirst9418
      @dcmastermindfirst9418 5 місяців тому +1

      Wrong. Malcolm Young is far more consistent

    • @tallycahamuhlhetru26
      @tallycahamuhlhetru26 5 місяців тому +2

      ​@@dcmastermindfirst9418 Oh, c'mon now.... Hetfield inconsistent?😂

    • @pinkled4429
      @pinkled4429 5 місяців тому

      ​@@tallycahamuhlhetru26chugging E isn't exactly an accomplishment

    • @MrGul
      @MrGul 5 місяців тому

      @@pinkled4429 Actually, it is! Being able to play something "easy" completely perfect is harder than playing something "difficult" half-assed. Both James and Malcolm are experts when it comes to playing easy things perfectly. Ask any touring modern rock and/or metal guitar player if they know anyone with better rhythm timing than James or Malcolm. It's not about playing complicated stuff, it's about doing a perfect performance.

  • @Sammael757
    @Sammael757 5 місяців тому

    I see a lot of threads going back and forth over Mustaine and Hetfield's skill. I personally have always seen Mustaine as the 2nd lead in a 2-lead band. He plays, on average, close to 50% of solos over the course of their catalogue (in fairness, I haven't listened to a ton of their newer stuff/much past 13, so this could have changed).
    While I am a huge Metallica fan, and Hetfield specifically is my favorite guitarist and primary influence for rhythm technique, I would toss 2 other names into the ring as very good rhythm players from the same general genre and age of metal.
    Eric Peterson of Testament has always reminded me of a combination of Mustaine's rhythm complexity and James's heavy-handed approach to riffing. I personally like his playing a lot as well. Then there's Scott Ian of Anthrax, whose down-picking skill is quite possibly as good as James' (both being heavily influenced by oldschool punk). He has always defined the tone of Anthrax's guitars in the album mix (imo, ymmv), with them maintaining a pretty consistent sound even while cycling through various lead guitar players.
    I'm not saying they're better, but they may be better comparrisons as specifically rhythm guitarists. I do get that both Dave and James are the singers/frontmen for their respective bands, and that comparing them in that light makes a lot of sense. However the video seemed to be specifically about rhythm guitar playing, so I thought I'd toss a couple of other really good players (imo) out there for the heck of it 😁

  • @bimbobaggypants4820
    @bimbobaggypants4820 5 місяців тому +1

    What's crazy is singing at the same time as playing these riffs.

  • @robertthorn8233
    @robertthorn8233 3 місяці тому

    Hatfield is God when it comes to rhythm,lead,vocals,lyrics,….13 out of 10….X

  • @metaldams78
    @metaldams78 4 місяці тому

    My MT Rushmore is Hetfield, Mustaine, Malcolm and Iommi

  • @nicolaemadalinboboc6704
    @nicolaemadalinboboc6704 5 місяців тому +1

    Not the most technical by any means, but like with Jimmi Hendrix and the question of who is the best guitarist, is he the most important+skilled rythm guitar player in rock? I think there is a good argument for this. While guitarist before him were more influential, they weren't as focused on precision, speed and power, and while rythm guitarist after Hetfield were more technical, they probably weren't as influential. Before Metallica, what mattered in rock music was the lead guitar or simple catchy riffs that repeated themselves over the course of a song. Take Meshuggah for example. More technical than Metallica, and lauded for their playing, but would Meshuggah's focus on precision and rythmic complexity over melody in modern metal exist without Hetfield putting a stronger emphasis on rythmical precision, machine-gun speed, percussive power and more complex compositions compared to the heavy-metal that existed before? When it comes to lead guitar, there are many other styles of music that can compared or could be seen as better than metal, but I don't think any genre of rock music has the impressive rythm guitar playing found in metal; wether it's thrash, death-metal, djent, progressive, and all those styles with impressive rythm guitarists, all those styles were influenced by Hetfield's take on playing rythm guitar.

  • @r4m_safetycar1
    @r4m_safetycar1 5 місяців тому +5

    James isn’t just one of the best rhythm guitarists in the world, he’s one of the best musicians in the world, his guitar playing, his vocals, his stage presence, his song writing they’re all amazing

    • @nicolaemadalinboboc6704
      @nicolaemadalinboboc6704 5 місяців тому

      Hetfield himself said Metallica are so and so as musicians, but they work magic in how they come together. I definitely think he was modest, but as far as musicianship goes, Hetfield is an example who is very good at what he does, but also limited. He doesn't play solos (except a few), and his sense of melody sounds very simply. He only excelss at playing riffs. A guitarist who can play both complex rythms and complex melodies would be a much better guitarist. And yeah, Dave Mustaine would be a better guitarists overall, however I think the argument is wether or not Hetfield can be considered the most important rythm guitarist instead, since his style of playing metal influenced everything that puts a heavy emphasis on technical precission, speed and power, from thrash to death-metal, djent etc., wether he is a direct or indirect influence on those musicians, but ofc Mustaine could always claim he influenced Hetfield's playing style.

  • @penguin82875
    @penguin82875 5 місяців тому +2

    I don’t think he is the best rhythm guitarist ever. However I do believe he is the best frontman ever

  • @N8oRMusic
    @N8oRMusic 5 місяців тому

    The G.O.A.T. is the tape recorder that was sped up for the guitar parts.

  • @MegaAndyGG
    @MegaAndyGG 5 місяців тому +1

    Simple answer: YES!

  • @isaacqn3s
    @isaacqn3s 5 місяців тому

    Short answer yes

  • @luissosa320
    @luissosa320 5 місяців тому +1

    He was probably drunk as fuck while doing this as Well, which makes It even more impressive!

    • @VARVIS_
      @VARVIS_  5 місяців тому

      Hahahah true

  • @gregmeir
    @gregmeir 5 місяців тому +2

    Oh fuck yeah het is the man Dave Mustaine admitted that as well

  • @ibanezmaestro5630
    @ibanezmaestro5630 5 місяців тому

    He very well may be. Hetfield is definitely my biggest influence as a guitarist, next to Zakk Wylde.

  • @shamusteakiawa
    @shamusteakiawa 5 місяців тому

    He is pretty impressive

  • @chrispetritsch1291
    @chrispetritsch1291 5 місяців тому

    It's not easy to argue against that, really.

  • @Mickocarbomb
    @Mickocarbomb 5 місяців тому

    It's not even the fact of recording fight fire multi tracked precisely it's playing it fucking live and singing it all of that included accurately. That's what's fucking insane.

  • @jeffhrycuna3349
    @jeffhrycuna3349 5 місяців тому +2

    Malcom young hands down

  • @sebastienfayemendie2514
    @sebastienfayemendie2514 5 місяців тому +1

    One of the best...the best means nothing! He is definitely a beast, we all know that...people can say what they want about Metallica...James is a beast

  • @SusaVile
    @SusaVile 5 місяців тому

    Yes. Next question.

  • @nameless798
    @nameless798 5 місяців тому

    He has a touch for riffs

  • @Catman_123
    @Catman_123 5 місяців тому

    one of the best. top 3. man what about Jeff from slayer..

    • @MrGul
      @MrGul 5 місяців тому +1

      Extremely good riff writer, but not as tight as James when it comes to actual performance on recordings. Have you listened to the isolated guitar tracks from Raining Blood, for example? They are NOT completely synchronized the same way as James' are.

  • @carpenoctem775
    @carpenoctem775 5 місяців тому +1

    Among the best. I’d also add Johnny Ramone, Malcolm Young, Noodles from the Offspring, and Fletcher from Pennywise. Just my opinion.

    • @Itelkner
      @Itelkner 5 місяців тому +1

      Steve Jones

  • @Omar_E11
    @Omar_E11 5 місяців тому

    Long live Hetfield. Forever the GOAT 🐐

  • @samuelaquino3372
    @samuelaquino3372 5 місяців тому

    Malcolm Young, Dave Mustaine, Rufolf Schenker

  • @syntezjaofficial4240
    @syntezjaofficial4240 5 місяців тому

    He's great guitaist. But for me his songwriting skills are even better, this riffs are not only speed and energetic but also very interesting to listen and play. Just listen Master of Puppets intro riff, you just recognize it after first notes and remember whole thing.

  • @victorherrero4790
    @victorherrero4790 5 місяців тому +1

    For Rythm guitar my top picks:
    1. Jon Schaffer ( Iced Earth): amazing guy, check him out. As good as Papa Het but with more complex riffs.
    2 Papa Het: great riffs, tight playing and sings too.
    3 Iommi: He started all, kick ass riffs.
    4 Mustaine: Amazing comolex riffs, not as tight.

    • @davesiddons8921
      @davesiddons8921 5 місяців тому +2

      Jon from iced earth, he’s the guy, his rhythm playing is unrivalled if you ask me. The endurance and tightness on the early stuff is insane

    • @victorherrero4790
      @victorherrero4790 5 місяців тому +1

      @@davesiddons8921 thats my Top pick man...agree with you

    • @davesiddons8921
      @davesiddons8921 5 місяців тому

      @@victorherrero4790 not enough people give iced earth the time of day, but it’s super fun stuff to play and helps build endurance to end

    • @victorherrero4790
      @victorherrero4790 5 місяців тому +1

      @@davesiddons8921 Iced Earth are as good as MetallicA, Iron Maiden, Helloween or Megadeth...sadly they never hit it big.
      Still love the band...and Schaffer is the real deal.

    • @Heisenbinks
      @Heisenbinks 5 місяців тому +1

      That instrumental iced earth album is amazing! Proper great story telling! It's like lord of the rings, but music!

  • @curlyb
    @curlyb 4 місяці тому

    Yes he is.

  • @elguitarTom
    @elguitarTom 5 місяців тому

    try and find some of his demo tapes from the master of puppets era = his palm mutes on the disposable riff sounds like almost like a Fast Tracer 2 computer guitar riff.
    if it was made today I would think he was cheating haha

  • @bigj5401
    @bigj5401 4 місяці тому

    Top 4 greatest rhythm guitarist of all time (no particular order):
    James Hetfield, Malcom Young, Dave Mustaine, Rudolf Schenker.