Meshuggah Metal Riff Lesson Part 1

[@DrownedTornAsunder]

" I just improvise til it sounds cool. " Best creative advice ever. Seriously.

[@Freezaen]

"Line 6, the tube." "I just improvise until it sounds cool, on the album. Live, I just improvise." -Fredrik, speaking his wisdom

[@djentmaster33]

He says "line 6 vetta 2"

[@andreya3950]

Fredrik is so djent, even his voice is noise gated.

[@DrXaOs]

+Andrey Andonov hahahhahahahahahahau nailed it bro! also he is stoned as usual! :D

[@thebucketlovers9146]

this is starting to get old

[@Abrahamhamham]

Yeah, but the comment is 1 year old.

[@ezassegai4793]

L M A O

[@nihilanth_mudrarakshas]

This comment deserves a fucking Nobel Prize xD

[@Salomon_G]

Marten and Fredrik = The Penn & Teller of metal.

[@AlejoViard98]

They remind me to Loki and Skisgwaar from Metalocalypse.

[@bangasou12]

lol waiting for morten to say SHUT THE FUCK UP

[@nipulkradmsinatagras8293]

More like the *Lennon & Harrison* of Metal.

[@germanugo7788]

@@nipulkradmsinatagras8293 and McCartney?

[@jasmeg2844]

"This is the E string, but I use it as a crash".

[@theosarissky2129]

Oh maaaaaan😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 i love this😂😂😂😂😂 This made my day. Tomas the best.

[@DoomShine117]

i love how fredrick doesn't really talk, yet he is the master mind behind meshuggah

[@jyoutube1233]

Tbf I'd say there isn't one mastermind behind Meshuggah as the writing is split fairly evenly between a number of the members, and it kinda depends on the album. Also necrobump haha!

[@DoubleH92]

That's a common misconception.

[@OHBJJ9634]

Fredrick writes most the music except on the new one where dick wrote the majority. Tomas has rythmic(i cant spell) ideas that he programs guitars on. Lyrics are usually done by tomas. Sometimes mårten on his own songs does his own lyrics (ivory tower, demiurge, nebulous). But fredrick is pretty much the brain music wise. And lyrics are usually tomas

[@Fitz1993]

I find it interesting that Jens just turns up to bust out some sick vocals and thats it. It makes sense but fuck what a sweet gig to have.

[@drumkidstu]

@@OHBJJ9634 That's actually a very common misconception. For their first and second records (contradictions collapse and dei) he did quite a lot of the writing and he often would split the writing duties with Jens, but every record since they've split it fairly evenly between him and Mårten. Tomas usually writes at least song per record as well. Tomas writes all the lyrics. Jens just comes in and him and tomas piece the lyrics together. On the latest record, fred did no writing at all. Dick and tomas came together and co wrote 6 tunes together. Mårten came in and wrote 4 of them.

[@joeylo3543]

This video is literally gold. Can’t believe this was uploaded 11 years ago. Time flies!

[@choronzon69]

"There's nothing intricate about it as far as the bars and like the time signature goes (4/4) - it's the polyrhythmic stuff, how it moves...and how it doesn't always come to the same place every time it moves over." The genius of this approach is that they're dividing their notes which in sum total are multiples of 4/4 into odd-groups that phase in and out of the underlying 4/4 pulse. Polymeter is actually the precise term theory wise since their notes spill over the bars and don't align on the 1 for multiple measures whereas polyrhythms tend to resolve within the bars. Only Dick in the band is theory trained however so using the terms interchangeably really isn't a big deal since they're quite similar concepts and something they don't really calculate (they do however analyse it on the computer when it comes to arranging everything). Tomas prefers to call it odd-note groupings or odd-time cycles, however he's always listening to the 4/4 beneath and not so much the syncopating notes cycling around it. I love how humble they are because while yeah the math is fairly straightforward, writing it all creatively, making it musical and executing it tightly are very difficult, and much harder than just chop and changing odd time-sigs here and there like other progressive bands. Heck even Tool started incorporating Meshuggah's polymetric approach in some of their more recent songs.

[@Schlippan]

When Fredrik said "This is actually a bass string", I just gained 10 kilos of heavyness

[@vincecarpenter661]

Probably the only video we can hear fredrik speaking english

[@Godless-Being]

Timestamp?

[@bsatyam]

8:30 Fredrik is NOT human!

[@fromthesky1050]

it improvise

[@Bret66]

2:32 best solo every written!!!

[@Shane-zo4mg]

2:20 very important words about how they get their sound

[@6Pagan6hate6]

Probably already mentioned but "guitarists Fredrik Thordendal and Marten Hagstrom (above left and right, respectively)"... but Fredrik is on the rigth in the video...

[@mertallica96]

Tomas Fornem You are a psychopath!

[@6Pagan6hate6]

?

[@cloneboy42]

Can't be. If it were flipped, the guitars would look left handed.

[@rockrenegade]

Great stuff. I met Marten but I'm pissed that I lost my Obzen tour shirt because I had to go to hospital after an injury and it was cut off.

[@XMetalChefX]

......Explain......

[@MichelSchallenberg]

+Fragmenta Official Keep in mind, these guys do the same (cool) shit since they were teens. I think they used to practice a lot back in the days.

[@rockrenegade]

+Michel Schallenberg I wasn't really serious about that, I just admire that they can play what they create in the studio, I think every band should be able to do that.

[@rockrenegade]

+XMetalChefX I was wearing it while I was attacked in a home invasion.

[@czr7j9]

been listening to their new ablum lately it is unbelievable how they create those sound using guitar and drums

[@continuum288]

In my my stupid ass opinion, Meshuggah always entertains me. Even if there was no real "lesson" here it's cool to hear about different aspects of their music etc.

[@100PercentJoseph]

7:16 DAYUM

[@russelblacker2562]

Oh my

[@bangasou12]

okay okay okay

[@dizzod123]

This is revolutionary

[@JarodRebuck]

1:31 Marten realizing Fredrik just talked

[@Chronic_meshuggah_face]

"Guys why did nobody tell me he can do that..?"

[@mathprodigy]

"I just improvise 'til it sounds cool, on the albums. And live, I just improvise." Lmao. I fucking love Meshuggah.

[@killeroforce]

Yeah, Meshuggah's sound is like distorted bass guitar, which is badass.

[@ClosedEyeVisual]

this is actually a bass string

[@roland3285]

Was searching for just that comment.

[@zlayer4514]

Which bass string?

[@rvega8038]

the best part was ''yeh it is''

[@Iheartdgd]

_B W O N G_ (F)

[@Iheartdgd]

@@rvega8038 lmao

[@uriahuriah3792]

Meshuggah and Ministry Tour? Must've been incredible!!

[@bmarrero]

To all musicians, fans of Meshuggah I just want to tell that they have said times and times that they do not think their music in terms of time signatures and polyrhythms ... They have just been practicing a personnal, challenging music taste for more than 20 years starting at, say, a medium level, and this is what we get today. It's a will to surprise and not be too predictable among other things. A strong identity that evolved over 20 years.

[@horseradish4046]

70 gauge 8th string tuned down half a step. So essentially Meshuggah has 3 bass players

[@christophergrimmacy6644]

If I remember, originally, that was Jens's idea, for Meshuggah. |m|

[@thunderheads4103]

Next, Meshuggah will play concert on city street...with guitars from telephone poles and cables, not strings

[@SHREDDER222X]

two of the most beautiful 8 strings i've ever seen!! D:

[@PaddyShadowMusic]

That was a great line: "I just improvise it until it sounds cool on the albums. And live I just improvise." :D

[@grizzlywhisker]

i have been a drummer for 25ish years, i have picked up bass and guitar a few times over the years and never cared to really stick with it to any major degree... but if my guitar/bass sounded anything like theirs, i would sit there all day dorking around with it.

[@YouTubricant]

I learned so many great riffs from watching this video.

[@chriscoooley]

@Marshallfan567 the thing is, since they use a 30 inch scale, it stretches the strings a lot more than a regular 25.5 or 27.5 scale length, so it probably feels a lot tighter than you think

[@brunobliss]

i'm glad to know they sufffered the same suffering i do while learning bleed

[@guir0]

where is the "dat 240p" comment?

[@racemachine.1558]

Above yours actually 😂

[@dizzod123]

Above yours lol

[@ZaphodBeeblebrox65]

@iancidplaysguitar The scale length on their guitars is about 4 inches longer than standard strat style guitars, the tension on those strings will be much MUCH higher than it would using the same strings and tuning on any other guitar.

[@Skyecracker]

This is old...Saw them this year and Fredrik was playing through a Digitech RP1000...Sounded soooo sic...

[@k5elevencinc0]

Fredrik has a Iceman 8 string..damn thats beastly!!

[@Deevonee]

frederik is a Wizard, he even talks like a wizard. "Seventy"

[@kovenant777]

major props on the celtic frost hoodie!!

[@SteelSkin667]

They use Veta IIs, which are modelling amps. So they can basically have any tone they want directly from the head. They don't use cabs either, the Vettas are directly connected to the PA. Their setup is as clean as it can be.

[@Massivecarcrash]

guitars with long necks, usually baritones, 7 and 8 strings. What brand it is doesn't matter. You can play metal on a stratocaster if you like. Don't be a tool and pick something everyone else use, find your own tone. Best way to do that is to go to a guitar shop and play every single guitar until you find something you like. But for this tone? Custom ibanez 8 string baritone with Lundgren M7 pickups.

[@VladlenSergiyenko1979]

I think Meshuggah is one of the most quality death-trash metal bands on this plant since their first album.

[@kupotaro164]

"Unfortunately... *rollseyes* I have NO idea what kind of wood selection..." I lol'd.

[@MushFX1337]

I've got an Ibanez RG2228 and I'm in 74 for the F# (in standard tuning), and in 64 for the B, so I assume they are running something like 54 or 62 for the low B. But as they probably said, there 8 strings guitars have a 29.4" scale, which is huge (RG2228 has 27" scale), so a 70 gauge is not the same for them than for us, even if they mostly play in F (standard tuning 1/2 step down). Rawk on!

[@holygroove2]

At 4:00 - THAT is the sound I was trying to find out about. He says it's not really chugging... I thought that was some kind of chord, but it's more of a sound. It really comes out in Electric Red, Lethargica, and a few other tunes on Obzen. It rules! I actually want speakers that make that low rumble jump out.

[@htool11462]

@SnoodNoodler True .... they are very much a band that has polyrythmic beats to the extreme ..... Being a drummer, I am inspired and blown away by Thomas Haake.

[@metalhead2theEnd]

man i love that guitar tone!!!

[@CameronSummerson]

Dear God, that tone. That. Tone.

[@shinymetalrods_]

loving marten's celtic frost longsleeve

[@Greendevilpaintworks]

This is actually a bass string. yeah it is... I love these guys

[@YUFUSLAM]

I saw them four days ago, Damn, shit was awesome, such a bass rumble with every single instrument

[@Jamble187]

With locking tuners, restringing an 8 string is actually a little faster than restringing a 6 string.

[@lobo537]

Dude Fredrick’s iceman 🫣

[@nipulkradmsinatagras8293]

*F (super damn low)* *A# (low)* *D# (low)* *G#* *C#* *F#* *A#* *D# (high)*

[@84SRVSTRAT]

the grandpas geetars

[@mtbthiccness3605]

that gave me a giggle

[@brosephthomas3764]

They totally remind me of that band/show (in a good way)

[@Iheartdgd]

Idk why but I just imagined Marten as a frail 90 year old man showing his grandson his OG 8 string. When our generation is our Grandparent’s age.. that’s going to be pretty difficult to explain lol.

[@chriscoooley]

no, they switched to using the fractal audio axeFX, which is a rack preamp

[@kharnael]

I just saw on different forums that he has two different tunings : 5 strings : Bb3 Eb3 Ab3 Db3 Gb3 4 strings : Standard tuning , up half on each strings

[@johnathantrevino346]

These were the first 8 strings I saw when I was 15 and thought it was crazy....and now there's nine

[@michaelborg4771]

Johnathan Trevino Legator recently came out with a 10 string.

[@bangasou12]

theres always been multiple string guitars

[@talloccasion1562]

you ever heard of a guy named Jared Dines?

[@2121pooper]

I am no musician. What does he mean by notes in the vocals??? at 1:46

[@MAR.COmusic]

in the early mushuggah stuff there was still a melody going on in the vocals, now it's just screaming :)

[@leandertilstedkrist]

that is a question only a metal fan would ask.

[@2121pooper]

It is true

[@yoman1268]

Matt Nelson it means half step down from standard tuning on a guitar

[@Villainiz3d]

"Poor bastard...." "He likes it"

[@Consural]

8:34 That chuckle.

[@Blackbird5150]

@swedisheinherjer that's not a Floyd Rose it's an Edge fixed bridge that looks like a tremolo, it's standard on all 8 string Ibanez guitars..

[@holygroove2]

I just improvise until it sounds cool. Yes Frederik. Yes.

[@JonCruzGames]

I love Meshuggah. Pure fucking geniuses who have created their own sound and their own style that no one should EVER try to duplicate. Meshuggah is meshuggah is what it is and it's forever what it is.

[@AlexDysphoria]

@th1nkman Not true, dear Sir. Pickups are Lundgren M8=) Guitarz are maple neck-through with ebony fingerboard and alder wings.

[@AlexDysphoria]

Actually Meshuggah uses Line6 Vetta II heads. Still I saw information that Meshuggah also had started to use Fractal Audio AxeFX Ultra processors.

[@BlakeBagnell]

Fredrik really needs to hop his D onto a new Special defects album.

[@SlitSys]

Frederiks guitar looks like the United States

[@6slayer6sam62]

I believe epiphone had a guitar that was USA shaped lol

[@illlanoize23]

Those iceman shapes always did haha

[@ShuBerg]

I think that he means that, if you tune a regular 6 string down to, lets say Drop B, you lose alot of the tension, the strings can get really floppy. But with an 8 string, you can have a low tuning and still have alot of tension. I think thats what they are saying at least :P

[@JoshFieldhouse3]

Gods.

[@killswitchhabib]

i love how marten is like "the poor bastard" and fredrik says "he likes it" in that voice. no idea why but it made me laugh so hard.

[@Hamtime117]

even when Fredrick is just sitting he has to still practise, thats why hes so insane

[@SuckaFreeSoliloquy]

How do such white Swedes truly understand the ancient simple complexity of poly-rhythm? Intelligent dudes. They get it. If everyone got it, the world would be a much more epic place. Poly rhythm carries over to waaaay more than just music, but music is the perfect medium to communicate the concept. Ask Ghana.

[@Loki_Highlock]

@Theseventhknight Scale length changes the tension considerably.

[@eliten0Ob]

@ibanezbloke Because a baritone-style 6 would limit soloing and high notes altogether. They do utilize high notes once in a hundred years.

[@EclipseAtDusk]

@fingerboy18 Well, for this whole they were not using their normal gear. They simply had their guitars running into the Amps that Guitar World has sitting in their office for lessons like this. Otherwise, they run their guitars into Line 6POD X3 Rack units, then Line 6 Vetta II amp heads. After that, I know Fredrick runs the signal to whatever the PA is where they are playing, and i believe that Marten uses Line 6 cabs Not positive, though.

[@lilfili123]

@Haddockxyz300 i think the bass is tuned Bb Eb Ab Db Gb it would be pointless to have a love F string because it would just be a rumble

[@Justinzorn907]

@Xiphos707fx yeah fredriks on the right its backwards on the description

[@mrbullseye]

Actually it's not Martin, but Mårten. (pronounciation wise, think morten, almost like mark mortons last name.) Common mistake :)

[@thehairygull]

How it grooves but doesn’t always hit on 4 - yea long syncopated non repeating groove that has very intentional accents and dark spoken word over all of it with jazzy ass saxophone style solos - It takes time to understand Meshuggah but god damn when it clicks there isn’t another band that does it like these guys

[@eschaton]

Actually they don't rehearse together much; they haven't since DEI. They live quite far away from each other nowadays so it's impractical to get together very often aside from rehearsing for tours.

[@zachhartwell]

im sure im not the first to say this, but Marten in on the left, Fredrik is on the right. respectively.

[@ELECTRICSCARS]

1:50 first and only time i see fredrik laugh

[@bmstrr]

Does anybody know where high quality versions of this are?

[@MartyFriedmanRulez66]

@dujl 100% agree John Frusciante said it best "It's not about showing what you can do with a piece of wood and some strings, it's all about the music."

[@sumsar01]

i'm not quite sure if it the same size but if I remember right then they use bass strings at least some times

[@SlyHikari03]

Meshuggah are probably the only band that could make a line 6 vetta 2 amp sound good.

[@NecroButcher91]

I've always made that sound by just fretting a note on the lowest string, then on the next string fret one fret higher, and one fret higher on the string after that. That's what i was trying to convey through my ghetto tab haha. Its a power chord except with a diminished instead of a perfect fifth. Alot of death metal bands use that for the sheer growl it produces. On bass if you did that with distortion it would probably bring your walls down. Hope that helped, have fun \m/

[@T8trsalad]

Standard tunings: 7 string - BEADGBE 8 string - F#BEADGBE

[@iamtomfool]

Yeah Marten has the strat style shape. Fredrik plays the iceman version.

[@k5elevencinc0]

@musicguitarlessons whoa are you gonna make a video on it?

[@barret707]

the Iceman looks like an Ashbody with a maple neck and the RG is a Mahogany body with a mahogany neck i think

[@drthunda]

I watched the whole interview to see what Frederik had to say.

[@th1nkman]

@Azgaroth666 Well, I was right about the maple and the Alder lol. What's the main body wood?

[@Person009]

@horrorandmetalfan001 Have you not listened to songs until the solos such as on one of their most famous tracks 'New Millenium Cyanide Christ'?

[@Justinzorn907]

i like how only Marten and Haake talk Fredrik and Jens stay quiet "most of the time" and no one ever sees the damn bassist lol (in humor)

[@thatguy5557123]

@iancidplaysguitar because of the longer scale they don't have to use heavier strings

[@Stashitquick]

I thought the RG2228 had a 28" or 28.5" scale. Hence the 28 in 2228 and Tosin Abasi's RG2228 is 28.5"

[@dannyboy993218]

Fredrik is on the right, with Marten on the left. You might want to update your description.

[@Nunez87]

I watched a vid with their soundman, he said the 8string is down a halfstep to F

[@fr618]

That's what the longer scale is doing for you, then you can use "lighter" strings and it still is tight!