Black Metal Guitar Technique Lesson With Examples

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[@cesarbeltran6583]

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

[@xSilencex_]

Hey Bro nice and Gothic Metal? And Symphonic metal?

[@ВЛАДОСЕБАНЫЙ]

Thank you

[@VaGdude]

TREMOLO picking not tremelo roflmao

[@josephduffy6455]

What type of tuning is used for black metal

[@Szatanista]

Joseph Duffy most of the bands use E standard

[@Sanguine_Addiction]

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.

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

Agreed. But play three chords on an acoustic, and sing about love and everyone thinks you're a genius

[@jacobbarnes1453]

There’s an art to it. Truly evil.

[@ejnova7215]

@@SimonSmithGuitar *cough*edsheeran *cough*

[@landronics]

Black Metal is rather easy tbh, jazz is easily the hardest

[@Sanguine_Addiction]

@@landronics definitely agree about jazz, talk about crazy time signatures!

[@IndustrialMilitia]

My God, black metal is beautiful. It's like pure, atmospheric emotion.

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

+FRATER NERON My favourite sort of metal by far

[@michaelborg4771]

I just wish they used better recording equipment

[@IndustrialMilitia]

Michael Borg That's the point. The rawness of the recording, aesthetics, and vocals work to contrast the beauty of the music.

[@dcp10200]

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.

[@killslay]

I think you mean "my Satan" :p

[@blackmetalgran7279]

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.

[@funny-hippo2995]

backstories? wtf? I've yet to see that

[@blackmetalgran7279]

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

[@_vez]

@@blackmetalgran7279 Yo that straight up sucks

[@OsloBlack]

^ this guy knows his stuff!

[@LUR1FAX]

Wha? ...ain't you dead?

[@jacobrollins7290]

Black metal is the most beautiful music ever.

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

Yep

[@agemadrid835]

Yup! I agree

[@Oatmeal_Mann]

It's strange how ugly and beautiful it is at the same time. It's just pure, unadulterated emotion and atmosphere.

[@Oatmeal_Mann]

@dazzerstar Oh thanks.\m/

[@blender1188]

Why? All these harmonies are used in various otter types of music.

[@Dreadrealm]

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/

[@AutumnSage98]

Dreadrealm IM INTERESTED!!! are you on Bandcamp?

[@Dreadrealm]

Indeed I have two songs on bandcamp and three songs here on my YT channel. Thanks for your interest!

[@Dreadrealm]

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!

[@sadimehti9934]

Too

[@inverted9998]

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!

[@ZachHarkey]

This really made me thirsty for some blast beats and screaming vocals.

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

Good!!!

[@mikakovalainen4389]

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.

[@buckfastdead5989]

I'm 35, just got into black metal and really enjoyed this video it's been proper helpful and fucking sick!

[@heresyisprogress]

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.

[@paliccolo]

+Timothy White please let me know who is the other channel to follow, because wisdom on black metal is scarce unfortunately

[@metalflower9543]

​@@paliccolo Dev Gohil is awesome too.

[@zackcoffmanguitar]

I think it's cool you did a guitar lesson on black metal.

[@willersandervan]

Hail Simon Smith

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

\m/

[@bryanrosado7578]

+Simon Smith ??

[@BekkersBelly]

He's just playing the exercise, not any particular song

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

Nocturnal Terror - fuck the system Not a song, just an example

[@danielsgrunge]

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

[@bestyoutubecommenter7868]

calm down dude wtf

[@danielsgrunge]

BEST KZbin COMMENTER OK DUDE I'M COOL

[@grandmapussydestoryer6669]

BEST KZbin COMMENTER filithy casual. black metal is for the warriors.

[@aidenseabridge6752]

Daniel Souza varg did

[@jhendkap.2340]

Ullr the glorious one HOW DID I GET THIS TONE? LETS FIND OUT! (pulls out knife)

[@reneelucero2923]

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

[@deathbatmusic6286]

Renée Lucero :3 give metal a chance and you will love it. It really grows on you man. Good luck!

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

Technique. Minor keys. Harmony. Tone. Power. Feeling.

[@reneelucero2923]

True dat, I've heard the minor key thing a lot, makes sense since it gives a much darker sound to songs.

[@reneelucero2923]

xD I'll try, maybe just black metal tho

[@thisprojectisretired1164]

How's the research, mate?

[@BAK87]

Bloody priceless lesson. Thanks man \m/

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

+BAK87 No probs

[@mindspray8164]

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

[@reynoldadamson9892]

+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.

[@waydemcdonnell8069]

+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).

[@reynoldadamson9892]

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?

[@waydemcdonnell8069]

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.

[@reynoldadamson9892]

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.

[@-gnicE-]

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.

[@MORTIFICER]

Great lesson. Very essential black metal techniques.

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

MORTIFICER Thanks

[@geroschorch1365]

no bullshit no nonsense, just really great tips. thanks man!

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

No worries mate

[@shredsixsixsix9218]

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

[@MikeWeikath]

Tremolo picking chords sound amazing, thank you very much man, that was awesome!

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

+Michael Weikath No probs man

[@BBrecht]

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!

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

Pleasure!

[@shoopdawhoopTal]

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 !

[@antoniobanderas3870]

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

[@heavymetalweatherman7774]

This is a pretty fantastic lesson, dude. Well-explained, good pace, and really good examples from black metal songs.

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

+Heavy Metal Weatherman Thank you

[@Tylerlesicka]

Of course you forget the #1 thing to black metal guitar technique. Its having those black winter pickups for the true black metal experience!

[@majr6045]

Sikspak Nazgul are nice aswell

[@Tylerlesicka]

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.

[@majr6045]

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?

[@ForViewingOnly]

3:54 Tremolo picking of chords in this way is something I never even thought of trying... sounds incredible!

[@extremelycold3162]

BLACK METAL IS ACTUALLY MORE EMOTIONAL THAN SAD PIANO MUSIC

[@shanemiller3639]

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 KZbin; 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.

[@shanemiller3639]

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.

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

+Shane Miller Thank you Shane. Comments like this are the main reason I do this stuff!! Glad I've helped you my friend.

[@lllorez]

Very good. Thank you. Would look forward to more of these with some Leviathan and Krohm examples.

[@Paganisma]

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 !

[@coolestreviews5315]

Badass, I'm learning to play metal during this winter. Great video!

[@infernalritual7247]

That dark throne riff is wild

[@geompon6505]

The only tutorial you need to get into bm! Thanks a lot!

[@marsm6765]

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

[@Schodboyblves]

it's funny how black metal is basically distorted surf rock

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

Lol!!

[@discreet4933]

batboy no. just no

[@BustedBattery]

Momoko ye it kind of is try playing some of this stuff without distortion it does sound like surf rock

[@discreet4933]

Grega Križnar he was talking about black metal, not black metal guitar. add the drums and vocals to it and its nowhere close to surf rock

[@BustedBattery]

Momoko i tought he was talking about the guitar cuz afterall... this is a guitar video *Sorry for my grammar

[@JustiniusMXIII]

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.

[@Suassu_Wunnu]

This channel is the best for learning all, good job!!

[@Rascaduanok]

I cheered when you demonstrated Emperor. Didn't realise so much was going on in that one riff!

[@NightSide1349]

Kodanshi Helcarver Ihsahn way of picking is always interesting to see, it's very unique style.

[@islanderATP]

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 ..

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

+rangerram1 Black metal is the best

[@ginterspetrovs7819]

+Simon Smith Thrash Metal and other Styles of Metal is good to.

[@AdrianRamirez-tj3st]

+Ginters Petrovs but black metal is the best one

[@basilrodrigues2575]

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 😊😊

[@cesarbeltran6583]

Does Santanism count as a technique?

[@nixadventures3938]

If you can prove how to use it

[@jank8696]

Yes

[@AnyaKittyMeow]

ho ho ho yes

[@engenheirometaleiro2268]

Such beautifulness on those riffs!!

[@yurik777888]

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

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

Юрий Гари That's awesome! :-)

[@SaccidanandaSadasiva]

RIP Per Yngve Ohlin (Dead) RIP Øystein Aarseth (Euronymous) RIP Thomas Börje Forster (Quorthon)

[@manfrombritain6816]

Triplet picking while changing strings has been fucking with me for years

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

Try this kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4qtZHSmd5WSmbs

[@TheWingedRhinoShow]

I resumed practicing after several years of not playing. What I like about Black Metal is it's REALLY noob friendly! You can write epic evil sounding riffs with some tremolo picked power chords and minor chords and then some chugged power chords and you'd end up using maybe 2 or 3 easy finger positions in total across a whole song and it'd still sound trve kvlt. Especially if you're playing on your shitty first electric guitar from several years ago that has a noisy humbucker on the bridge and use literally ANY high gain amp sim on your laptop or ANY heavily distorted practice amp.

[@TheWingedRhinoShow]

And when you play bass root notes on a really heavy midi synth (one that sounds like the intro to Clockwork Orange) underneath the chords, lower the amp gain a bit and increase the guitar production quality, and then replace the vocals with crystal clean singing that's got a lot of resonance and add reverb on the voice, you just created Gothic Metal out of Black Metal. The lyrics don't even need to change.

[@allahuvonaugustera7895]

Beautifully, hauntingly simple. And it works. Works better than atonality, chugging and other extremes of death metal.

[@waydemcdonnell8069]

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.

[@enha6008]

I don't play guitar but I ocassionally like me some fine black metal. Nice to see how that lovely guitar riffs are produced.

[@red-eyedblackbird8048]

Thank you Simon, you are helping me A LOT!

[@fastfowler]

Confidence grows when your vocal sends you this to learn guitar technics

[@Mr.TierraCaliente]

4:15 goes down hard

[@RafalOi]

4:20 that's what i'm talking about!!!

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

+Rafal Oi It's a beast of a riff isn't it!

[@ivrishcon-abarth38]

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!

[@Zeagods-CyberShadow]

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

[@tonyxslam]

Nargaroth!!!

[@icangorjes7024]

nice tutorial, i think so far its some layer of guitar if they blast picking, but its just blast picking with 2 snares .

[@Funnyyelowdog]

Thanks for this really helpful video and fuck yeah for the nargaroth riff

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

No probs

[@Obsidian12332]

Simon, your playing is awesome. Thanks for the lesson.

[@catto3458]

Best guitar chanel on youtube , your tutorials are the best

[@grahamhoward3462]

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. ✌️

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

Thanks Graham mate. Glad you're finding the video's useful...

[@happyjalapeno9397]

lovely guitar Simon

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

Thanks

[@neuroleptika]

This is fantastic, thank you

[@MScotty90]

Example BM songs for tremolo picking: ...All of them

[@Alex1710XVII]

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.

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

:)

[@Lil._.SpooKy666]

Fucking amazing lessons this man makes...always bang your head for black metal

[@BlixTheGoblin]

Simon, you and Gemini guitar have the best guitar tech/lessons on youtube , Doom on

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

Thanks buddy!!

[@voronOsphere]

Excellent Lesson!!! Thanks, Simon!

[@marcodeleon7047]

i dont play guitar, but if i did, i'd learn from you. good stuff, great examples

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

Thanks mate

[@0797cjm]

Happy days guitar riffs are my personal favourite

[@SNAAAAAAAKE]

Best lesson on the subject I have ever seen. Thank you. Any follow up lessons planned?

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

+666FrankBooth666 Thanks mate. I'm sure there will be :0)

[@SNAAAAAAAKE]

Awesome! Look forward to it

[@J_Ambrus_Films]

Fantastic primer, thanks!

[@rileybarringer9823]

Really good video, very helpful and informative. Gonna write a black metal album now!

[@burningstar3466]

10 out of 10 for the instruction

[@fernandoleiva9133]

Thanks man \m/

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

\m/

[@sprainedchakra8417]

Im not too much of a BM fan, but shit like Nargaroth is great. Not exactly DSBM but still kind of post-rock like.

[@darkfrost1901]

Excellent essentials lesson. Well done.

[@luxeterna1972]

brilliantly made video, thank you so much for sharing!

[@onikiller10]

Hey Simon, would you be willing to do a lesson for One By One from Immortal?

[@kurly7909]

thank you ! now i am trve !

[@ImFuckinHype]

Excellent Video !! Congrats !!!

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

Captain Igloo Thanks Captain!

[@pattyhays487]

Thats a thick ass pick!

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

It certainly is!

[@Robo0595]

Well, Northern Thones doesn't really use an Aug 5th. That's a minor 6th. and considering it uses a lowered 2nd scale degree in the third and fourth chord, I'd assume it's in phrygian.

[@BigFatCaulk]

would’ve been helpful if you included the other half of the guitar in frame so i could actually know what your doing 👍

[@dullahane]

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.

[@derhammermann5213]

+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.

[@dullahane]

Der Hammermann Thanks a lot, man. I'll go check them out!

[@OGbrundle]

shoegaze black metal

[@shumped]

+conor mcguire try blut aus nord, especially memoria vetusta II, they use 2-3 string tremolo constantly

[@dullahane]

Thank you! :) I'll be sure to check them out, they're awesome from what I've heard of them so far!

[@Vaudeyre]

really like ur tutorials, they r to the point, i jus wish there wud'v been more shots of that left hand fretting

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

Vaudeyre Thanks :0)

[@bitethebook]

I wish the camera was on your fretting hand. but these are beautiful tutorials

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

Thanks buddy

[@elliotpierson8350]

6:00 Sounds like rip off of Darkthrone's 'En As I Dype Skogen'

[@scottstever1564]

+Elliot Pierson It's such a well-known sequence, so I wouldn't worry about it.

[@LVX777]

+Scott Stever best.responce.ever 😂

[@trumpsuxcaucus]

Luve it mate! Keep it going

[@codevoid4238]

This has been a huge help \m/ I wonder if black metal is relatively easy to learn ( like you can start learning it from day one ) because a lot of the first wave bands learned guitar for a month or less then started a band with their other mates who did the same.

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

Glad it helped

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

Wow Simon you must be rich Vigier are EXPENSIVE guitars! Great video. Black metal is cool.

[@sekovittol3124]

Interesting how that picking 4:48 can help one play, I have noticed a figure 8 pattern when I play Holy Wars by Megadeth, it's funny how I can seem to keep a better rhythm doing that except just up and down. And I do it subconsciously, hence 'noticed'.

[@TurgutKarahan]

I don't listen to black metal, but this video is great!

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

thanks mate

[@hundwyn7530]

Fantastic video man 🤘🏻

[@homeguitarharry]

Good enough for mentioning some cool black metal tunes and few hcaracteristic basic though, guitar elements regards to black metal.

[@murokmakto9723]

I find it always amusing when people claim they "can play" this or that instrument. When it comes to the guitar, there is such a great variety of musical and playing styles, it is almost inconceivable to accomplish excellence in more than one particular. For example: flamenco and metal. There are barely any similarities between those apart from it being played on a guitar. It takes years of practise to reach any respectable skill level in any of these techniques, yet in both. Each style is like a language you have to speak and live for years to fully understand it.

[@SecretEyeSpot]

You're using the flat side of the pic?

[@maksymkovalchuk92]

Statan bless you, it's the content we deserved

[@bruderwurst3493]

Very nice techniques! Thanks a lot dude!

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

No worries