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!
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 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 !
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.
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 UA-cam; 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 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.
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?
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!
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. ✌️
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.
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
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
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.
ok, cool techniques. i play guitar by myself as u can see on my channel, although i dont go deep into techniques, more like having fun while playing stuff i came up with :)
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.
Black Metal Techniques
0:11 Tremolo Picking
1:01 Triplet Picking
2:28 Tremelo Picking Over 2 Strings
3:42 Tremlo Picked Chords
5:20 Diminished 5th/Perfect 5th/Augmented 5th
6:54 1 4 1 Power Chord (Inverted 5th)
7:49 Minor Chords With Open Strings
Hey Bro nice and Gothic Metal? And Symphonic metal?
Thank you
TREMOLO picking not tremelo roflmao
What type of tuning is used for black metal
Joseph Duffy most of the bands use E standard
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.
Agreed. But play three chords on an acoustic, and sing about love and everyone thinks you're a genius
There’s an art to it. Truly evil.
@@SimonSmithGuitar *cough*edsheeran *cough*
Black Metal is rather easy tbh, jazz is easily the hardest
@@landronics definitely agree about jazz, talk about crazy time signatures!
My God, black metal is beautiful. It's like pure, atmospheric emotion.
+FRATER NERON My favourite sort of metal by far
I just wish they used better recording equipment
Michael Borg That's the point. The rawness of the recording, aesthetics, and vocals work to contrast the beauty of the music.
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.
I think you mean "my Satan" :p
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.
backstories? wtf? I've yet to see that
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
@@blackmetalgran7279 Yo that straight up sucks
^ this guy knows his stuff!
Wha? ...ain't you dead?
Black metal is the most beautiful music ever.
Yep
Yup! I agree
It's strange how ugly and beautiful it is at the same time. It's just pure, unadulterated emotion and atmosphere.
@dazzerstar Oh thanks.\m/
Why? All these harmonies are used in various otter types of music.
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/
Dreadrealm IM INTERESTED!!! are you on Bandcamp?
Indeed I have two songs on bandcamp and three songs here on my YT channel. Thanks for your interest!
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!
Too
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!
This is one of the best lesson videos I've seen. Clear, to to the point and without padding or disturbances. Thanks a lot, Simon.
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.
+Timothy White please let me know who is the other channel to follow, because wisdom on black metal is scarce unfortunately
@@paliccolo Dev Gohil is awesome too.
I'm 35, just got into black metal and really enjoyed this video it's been proper helpful and fucking sick!
This really made me thirsty for some blast beats and screaming vocals.
Good!!!
I think it's cool you did a guitar lesson on black metal.
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!
Pleasure!
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
Renée Lucero :3 give metal a chance and you will love it. It really grows on you man. Good luck!
Technique. Minor keys. Harmony. Tone. Power. Feeling.
True dat, I've heard the minor key thing a lot, makes sense since it gives a much darker sound to songs.
xD I'll try, maybe just black metal tho
How's the research, mate?
Hail Simon Smith
\m/
+Simon Smith ??
He's just playing the exercise, not any particular song
Nocturnal Terror - fuck the system Not a song, just an example
Great lesson. Very essential black metal techniques.
MORTIFICER Thanks
Bloody priceless lesson. Thanks man \m/
+BAK87 No probs
no bullshit no nonsense, just really great tips. thanks man!
No worries mate
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 !
This is what i call a FUCKING HEAVY guitar sound, not a lot of gain but heavy as fuck, i would Kill for this sound
calm down dude wtf
BEST UA-cam COMMENTER OK DUDE I'M COOL
BEST UA-cam COMMENTER filithy casual. black metal is for the warriors.
Daniel Souza varg did
Ullr the glorious one HOW DID I GET THIS TONE? LETS FIND OUT! (pulls out knife)
Tremolo picking chords sound amazing, thank you very much man, that was awesome!
+Michael Weikath No probs man
Thank you for that view it just opened up a new world of stuff to practice, i never thought about to play some of those ways
This is a pretty fantastic lesson, dude. Well-explained, good pace, and really good examples from black metal songs.
+Heavy Metal Weatherman 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.
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 UA-cam; 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 may have left this video on the wrong black metal video of yours that I learned so much from, but I'm sure you understand all the same.
+Shane Miller Thank you Shane. Comments like this are the main reason I do this stuff!! Glad I've helped you my friend.
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 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
Triplet picking while changing strings has been fucking with me for years
Try this ua-cam.com/video/IYJ3ApB0_cY/v-deo.html
The only tutorial you need to get into bm! Thanks a lot!
Very good. Thank you. Would look forward to more of these with some Leviathan and Krohm examples.
Badass, I'm learning to play metal during this winter. Great video!
Stumbled across your videos today and man these are great. I feel confident to try this stuff out and compose some grim tunes of my own.
Your lessons, perhaps the best of all here.Before guitar I could play except in hockey. Now for me it's a musical instrument thanks to you
Юрий Гари That's awesome! :-)
I cheered when you demonstrated Emperor. Didn't realise so much was going on in that one riff!
Kodanshi Helcarver Ihsahn way of picking is always interesting to see, it's very unique style.
Such beautifulness on those riffs!!
3:54 Tremolo picking of chords in this way is something I never even thought of trying... sounds incredible!
That dark throne riff is wild
This channel is the best for learning all, good job!!
Beautifully, hauntingly simple. And it works. Works better than atonality, chugging and other extremes of death metal.
BLACK METAL IS ACTUALLY MORE EMOTIONAL THAN SAD PIANO MUSIC
This looks so cool ... I am a beginner who just got a guitar home with a heavy metal pedal laying around and guess this will help me out 😊😊
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.
Of course you forget the #1 thing to black metal guitar technique. Its having those black winter pickups for the true black metal experience!
Sikspak Nazgul are nice aswell
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?
Wow cool man this is helpful for a newbie like me. The melodies here are moving..I need to dig into black metal a bit more ..
+rangerram1 Black metal is the best
+Simon Smith Thrash Metal and other Styles of Metal is good to.
+Ginters Petrovs but black metal is the best one
Best guitar chanel on youtube , your tutorials are the best
Thanks for this really helpful video and fuck yeah for the nargaroth riff
No probs
Thank you Simon, you are helping me A LOT!
Confidence grows when your vocal sends you this to learn guitar technics
Does Santanism count as a technique?
If you can prove how to use it
Yes
ho ho ho yes
I don't play guitar but I ocassionally like me some fine black metal. Nice to see how that lovely guitar riffs are produced.
i dont play guitar, but if i did, i'd learn from you. good stuff, great examples
Thanks mate
Simon, your playing is awesome. Thanks for the lesson.
Happy days guitar riffs are my personal favourite
lovely guitar Simon
Thanks
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!
Fucking amazing lessons this man makes...always bang your head for black metal
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. ✌️
Thanks Graham mate. Glad you're finding the video's useful...
Excellent Lesson!!! Thanks, Simon!
brilliantly made video, thank you so much for sharing!
nice tutorial, i think so far its some layer of guitar if they blast picking, but its just blast picking with 2 snares .
Simon, you and Gemini guitar have the best guitar tech/lessons on youtube , Doom on
Thanks buddy!!
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.
:)
4:20 that's what i'm talking about!!!
+Rafal Oi It's a beast of a riff isn't it!
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
Fantastic primer, thanks!
Best lesson on the subject I have ever seen. Thank you. Any follow up lessons planned?
+666FrankBooth666 Thanks mate. I'm sure there will be :0)
Awesome! Look forward to it
Excellent essentials lesson. Well done.
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
10 out of 10 for the instruction
Example BM songs for tremolo picking: ...All of them
I don't listen to black metal, but this video is great!
thanks mate
Good enough for mentioning some cool black metal tunes and few hcaracteristic basic though, guitar elements regards to black metal.
Really good video, very helpful and informative. Gonna write a black metal album now!
Nargaroth!!!
thanks to you and the video. it will help me out to branch out mkre on my guitar playing. cheers!
My pleasure
Simon Smith What Drop is?
Fantastic video man 🤘🏻
This is fantastic, thank you
4:15 goes down hard
Very nice techniques! Thanks a lot dude!
No worries
Im not too much of a BM fan, but shit like Nargaroth is great. Not exactly DSBM but still kind of post-rock like.
Thats a thick ass pick!
It certainly is!
really like ur tutorials, they r to the point, i jus wish there wud'v been more shots of that left hand fretting
Vaudeyre Thanks :0)
Most helpful videos, thank you very much
thank you ! now i am trve !
Statan bless you, it's the content we deserved
Wow Simon you must be rich Vigier are EXPENSIVE guitars! Great video. Black metal is cool.
I wish the camera was on your fretting hand. but these are beautiful tutorials
Thanks buddy
50 Shades of tremolo picking.
By the way, this has been super helpful!
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.
ok, cool techniques. i play guitar by myself as u can see on my channel, although i dont go deep into techniques, more like having fun while playing stuff i came up with :)
Hey Simon, would you be willing to do a lesson for One By One from Immortal?
Luve it mate! Keep it going
Hail the mighty Emperor, best BM band imo
Really digging your videos. \,,/ Hail from America.
Great lesson dude !! Useful !
Thanks SCALP
Thanks man \m/
\m/
Lots of great info here thanks man!
+Chuggsbigman My pleasure man!!
Very good video. Thumbs up!
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.
Der Hammermann Thanks a lot, man. I'll go check them out!
shoegaze black metal
+conor mcguire try blut aus nord, especially memoria vetusta II, they use 2-3 string tremolo constantly
Thank you! :) I'll be sure to check them out, they're awesome from what I've heard of them so far!
Gracias maestro del blacke metala.
Thank you for this great video
Cheers ...