Does Down Tuning Really Make Riffs Heavier?

[@danielskrivan6921]

"27 inches, which is very, very long." Me: Laughs in bass.

[@WTBlizzard]

thats what she said

[@vantheman1wald]

slapped like on that comment

[@slipknotmfkrlocust8843]

I have a 28 scale inch guitar

[@awesome10pickles32]

*Laughs harder in 41 inch upright bass scale length*

[@AFN2750]

SlipknotMFKR out of curiosity what make/model is it? Not sure ive ever seen a 28 that wasn’t an 8 string, but then again I mostly just see “baritone” and think 27 or 27.5 and never check for sure

[@PowderedYak]

Preferred the standard on all of them, but that really just makes me think they were all written on that guitar initially. Had it been the other way around I suspect I would have preferred the baritone versions. The best riffs are built around the timbre of the instrument I reckon.

[@landrybasket]

I was waiting for someone to say that. I saw a video of drop d vs drop d one octave lower and the more precise and thrashy riffs worked in the higher tuning while the low tuning was best for slow and brooding djenty riffs. At a certain point, low tuned power chords get really muddy.

[@AFN2750]

I completely agree with your timbre comment, and I REALLY didn’t expect anyone to say that, because that’s far to logical for the tribalistic nature of the internet. That said, I agree, I also think he’s palm muting where he would for a normal scale guitar, quite close to the bridge, which means the mutes sound very different ( and in my opinion less good, but that’s just personal preference )

[@Mischu708]

That's what i thought when i played megadeth and metallica in d standard and it sounded really weird

[@CanadianUnicornDeathSquad]

I think a lot of us feel this way. I’ve heard plenty of songs written in standard that sounded super heavy.

[@grshorwich]

TBH I think the standard sounded better too. It's not just about pitch, it's definition as well, and the baritone just lacked it to my ears. Perhaps with a bit less gain it would improve?

[@vladv5126]

Phil Anselmo on downtuning: "Is there no standard anymore?"

[@yeeaahBUDDY]

I see what you did there ;)

[@elixenramirez740]

Lmao

[@vladv5126]

@@ThomasAntoniusOlsenJr.333 someone didn't get the joke

[@tfwnoyandere]

One of the things most unique to Dimebag throughout his career was his use of altered tunings. From Cowboys From Hell to Reinventing the Steel, Dime constantly challenged the preconceptions of how a guitar should be tuned. Early on, when tuned “regularly” to E (E, A, D, G, B, E), Dime’s guitars were actually tuned down more than a quarter step. As his guitar tech has noted, that meant that the guitars were tuned to “D# plus 40 cents on his Korg tuner. The A string was G# plus 40 cents, D was C# plus 40 cents, etc.” (Note: The Van Halen influence is definitely in effect here, as Van Halen I and Van Halen II are tuned in a similar manner.) Dimebag also experimented with “drop D” tuning on Cowboys From Hell (C# plus 40 cents), but later become a fan of tuning the entire guitar down a whole step, beginning with A Vulgar Display of Power. This tuning (D,G,C,F,A,D-a quarter step flat) was used extensively on “Walk” and “A New Level." Further use of this tuning was used on Far Beyond Driven (“Becoming,” “I’m Broken,” “5 Minutes Alone,” etc.), and by Reinventing the Steel it was Dime’s main “standard” tuning. Never one to be limited, Dime also used a “drop D down one step” (C,G,C,F,A,D), and “down 1 ½ steps” (C#,F#,B,E,G#,C#). The last, which is the same tuning used by Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, was a favorite of Dime’s on The Great Southern Trendkill (“Drag the Waters”, etc.), and became the new standard by the time of his band Damageplan (New Found Power), though Dime was also known to use “drop D down 1 ½ steps” (B,F#,B,E,G#,C#).

[@Candleinchains]

@@ThomasAntoniusOlsenJr.333 funny,that's what I think about lower tunings,the lower you tune,the lamer it is

[@courtnrysalamone7677]

"Fat and evil" Sounds like if i had a social media bio

[@ProjectCreativityGuy96]

How dare you bully me! (Joke lol.)

[@7stringslinger74]

I've had a baritone for almost 3 years, and I absolutely love it. Brutal AF. A lot of people are talking about how muddy they are, but that's very easy to remedy with the right amp settings, pickups, and string gauge. It isn't necessarily "more metal," but you definitely get a fatter, more robust low end tone that's very pleasing. This guitar has helped me find my own voice that I was always missing. And you have the comfort of a 6 string neck width with the tuned down goodness of a 7 string!

[@_charwyn]

7stringslinger74 yeah, also people don’t seem to get that you kinda need to adjust your playing to the gauge and tension. Not every guitarist would sound good with a bass for the same exact reason. If playing bass with distortion and chords was the norm, people would complain that “basses are muddy” too xD

[@robob3ar]

Elijah Charwyn yes, I sort of thought of bass as a simpler guitar, but it’s all different, firstly the frets a lot longer and you keep your hand up a lot - and you wnd up tired a lot faster, and then you can’t just use a pick if you want the low end to fit the guitar.. anyway different and more work, also need thicker skin.. I’ve been thinking on a 7 string, but not sure about the width, I do mainly play the fattest strings..

[@luxuriousfir]

I love mine. The local "guitarist" "friends" from my town are all gossiping and talking s*** about me cuz I play a baritone down tuned. It's so hilarious.!

[@jakeybball]

Gojira literally wrote the heaviest matter in the universe in D standard soooo

[@zamkowicz]

Aka the most appropriately named metal song ever

[@wolfyhii5446]

@@zamkowicz Also the best metal song like, ever (Well, maybe top 5 at least)

[@akyo_zynk]

I think that the heaviness of the riff is not in the tunning, is in the way you write the riffs, if it's designed to be heavier in drop A than drop D then it will sound heavier in Drop A, although i wonder how it will sound Laid To Rest by Lamb Of God in Drop A

[@StuntcatTV]

...soooo WHAT?

[@jasonlovesmusicreacting882]

Killswitch Engage and Counterparts have wrote countless of heaviest riffs in that tuning too.

[@landrybasket]

Riff 1: higher Riff 2: lower Riff 3: lower Riff 4: higher The biggest thing to remember about downtuning is writing to the timbre of the instrument you’re playing. Sludgy and brooding riffs work better in lower tuning while the high tuning helps with keeping clarity in precise playing.

[@ravensflight2965]

Thats why I prefer a 7 String in Standard B. You basically got the E Standard with an extra low B.

[@wolvetica]

Riff 1: standard was heavy enough, bari felt like to much Riff 2: bari sounded much better Riff 3: both sound good. Riff 4: felt designed for the bari, but sounded amazing on the standard

[@ujiltromm7358]

Check out Nik Nocturnal's latest video: riffs in E. You yourself also did an up tuned metal video. It was heavy AF. Riffs are heavy. Not tunings. Peace.

[@Biohazardableful]

Pete gives you 2 same exact riffs in different tunings, so you can hear for yourself. Your statement "Riffs are heavy. Not tunings" is inappropriate here.

[@nickcollins9893]

It's a balance between both what makes the ACTUAL MUSIC heavy.

[@zfin87]

Riffs are Heavy, Tunings are heavy, tunings help riffs be heavier. Heavy Tuned riffs are a blessing.

[@williamiceman9939]

🤦‍♂️ Just cause they’re are heavy riffs in E, doesn’t mean it’s HEAVIER. The lower tuning helps make the riff heaviER, it doesn’t automatically make it heavy

[@Atsaan]

Hey, that first riff was Embodiment by Carcass isn't it ? well second riff was also Carcass, love it !

[@kermitthefrog3348]

Atsaan I knew that riff seemed familiar

[@eddyguizonde401]

blind leading the blind

[@lockedowng]

New respect for Pete

[@Lucait]

damn i had to read your comment before 👍🏻

[@atoma8921]

@@eddyguizonde401 *Blind Bleeding the Blind

[@steakiefrags1866]

Every riff you...just...play sounds songworthy. Heavy af

[@kormendymatyas8667]

some of those are actually riffs from songs, not to take away the credit

[@eddyguizonde401]

the first three are carcass (forgot song name) ac/dc (back in black) and carcass (blind leading the blind)

[@steakiefrags1866]

@@eddyguizonde401 not those, the ones he played to compare

[@atoma8921]

@@eddyguizonde401 *Blind Bleeding the Blind

[@MySpaceDxC_Suffo_AtTheGates]

The heaviest metalcore album I’ve ever heard was written in Drop D. It really is the riffing technique that makes a song heavy.

[@thiagofigueiredo2976]

Can you recommend us this album, please?

[@Kruegernator123]

Personally the lowest tuning I like for guitars is C#. Everything gets too muddy below that.

[@amaurypalmen7968]

@@thiagofigueiredo2976 maybe ; As i lay dying an ocean between us

[@HersgoryJigurda]

0:55 Like if you recognized Carcass

[@flonaise]

Riffing straight into Embodiment caught me by surprise as well!

[@ProjectCreativityGuy96]

Embodiment from Heartwork! ;)

[@springbloom5940]

Ha. Thought it was my imagination.

[@mrsweetkandy7673]

I had so much troubles recognizing from where I knew the riff. I knew I listened to that specific song very very often but couldn't remember from where. At some point i settled on Arch Enemy. I was wrong but.. not that far

[@Lostsage01]

Followed by Blind Leading the Blind at 2:45 🤘

[@kjaro5401]

I should mention that while a lot of people say there are loads of really heavy riffs in higher tunings, there are also a lot of very clean and touchy-feely riffs in low tunings. For example, Jake's riff from garden in the bones by Periphery is in AGCFAD tuning, and is not heavy at all (I love that riff btw). This goes to show that tuning doesn't affect the intensity of a song in the way most people think it does. The tuning really affects the feel more so in my opinion.

[@p8ball82]

I gotta say I kinda dig the baritone guitar for some of those riffs. Ok, most of those riffs. Ok, fine, all of those riffs.

[@SynthChris]

Bro if you dig baritones you should check out The Bunn on KZbin, his channel’s only for baritones

[@peteplaysmusic]

Does it sound heavier, what do you think? :)

[@LukiaTheTrue]

oh yeah it does \m/

[@maximecorompt1933]

I don't think so, I prefer when it's thight and I feel it more in higher tuning

[@DavidNwokoye]

4:11 Does anyone know where this riff is from.

[@chris666boss]

Not "heavier" but the sound changes, a different "eq" curve imo

[@paulinpelivideot2327]

yep.

[@dylanshoemaker2994]

To me it all depends on the riff and style of music you're going for. Both sound great in my opinion. I usually play in C# for my Death/Thrash metal type stuff and I play in drop A for my Slam/Deathcore stuff.

[@JeremiahDaniel1995]

I have always preferred C# for Nu Metal it chugs very well for the most part but can u really drop a baritone guitar to C sharp or C flat??? Or do u have to change the strings on the baritone guitar in order for it to be done like that?

[@lostlittlenoobvt]

Sooooo sick man!! Keeping being awesome and stay metal! \m/

[@palmmute]

Generally speaking lowering the tuning will make it sound heavier BUT there's some riffs that (in my opinion) sound heavier played in Drop D than in like Drop C or even B. Some that come to mind right away are God Hates Us by A7X and Laid to Rest by Lamb of God.

[@palmmute]

To me, playing those riffs sounds "heavier" in drop d than in lower tunings 🤔

[@trebmaster]

Does anybody even really have a strict, objective definition of what sounds "heavy"?

[@palmmute]

@@trebmaster good point

[@saiyansatan]

@@trebmaster I do, but my views are my own...sooo

[@eizzah8323]

Yup, say hello to The Heaviest Matter of the Universe (D standard)

[@pimsmise]

Definitely heavier for me. Sounds miles better on the baritone to my ears

[@zionlee1004]

well you are wrong and thats a fact... just kidding

[@mikhailplatonov8039]

This difference in sound are just another pickups/wood/strings whatever I don't think baritone affects on the sound THAT much

[@pimsmise]

@@mikhailplatonov8039 disagree. Not talking about the tone. It just sounds heavier overall because of the lower pitch. It could be the same guitar with a lower pitch and I'd still prefer it lower

[@restoringforce9893]

100% agree bro. Drop fucking F for example sounds definitely heavier than E standard aka dad-rock tuning. And there's nothing you can do about it If somebody says that Sylosis's riffs are heavy I get it. But compared to MIW's Black Damask, Devil's Night and Burned at Both Ends (which are in Drop A and sound absolutely phenomenal from perspective of guitar tone) Sylosis's riffs are just nice light chugga-chugga

[@robinsarebirds1153]

The first riff I liked more on the standard six string, every other riff I enjoyed more on the barritone. I myself play with extra heavy gauge strings on a standard six string in C standard and drop A# and I enjoy it.

[@otjunior]

Low tuning sounds exactly how you said it big beef and fat. Now “heavier” or more “metal” no, I don’t think so. Metal is all about attitude, if it makes your face crunch and your fit tighter then it’s metal. 🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽

[@Williamstanway]

That's a great point , for instance I would consider 'helter skelter ' by the Beatles heavy as fuck .

[@kevinc6323]

@@Williamstanway Agree and think that Pete needs to do Helter Skelter in the style of 20 bands.

[@Williamstanway]

I also agree

[@kingperc6834]

Same I think Johnny B Goode will forever be the heaviest riff

[@nickmaatjes5611]

well said dude!!!!

[@Lostsage01]

Holy shit, busting out the Embodiment and Blind Leading the Blind riffs from Carcass straight away? On point, my man - on point 🤘

[@Jord229]

I feel down tuning adds like a "twang" to the sound, which impacts the tone a lot, kinda like playing slap bass. Obviously whether or not this works for a particular song is dependent on whether the song was wrote with it in mind.

[@ShallieDragon]

As the owner of an ML1 Baritone V1, I can say it's probably one of my favorite guitars to play. Plus, the longer scale length means it can be tuned even lower. I've comfortably tuned my ML1 down to G standard and Drop F, and it played fine. While it may not have as many strings, it can still play as low as a 7 or even an 8 string guitar.

[@DavidNwokoye]

I honestly don't think so. A good guitar riff should have an element of heaviness regardless of tuning. Sylosis play in E and D standard and they're heavy af. Edit: Btw 4:11 is the riff from the first round of Jared Dines vs Sarah Longfield. 🤘🤘🤘

[@setra23]

I'd say writing in lower tunings makes writing heavy easier, rather than just being inherently heavier.

[@clemensmoeller4549]

@@setra23 Yeah because you can just chug all the time instead of writing something interesting, and big interval jumps sound more drastic and are easier to do in drop tuning.

[@deanmihailovici7754]

Great video, Pete! I got the same guitar from Thomann 2 weeks ago (great bang for the buck!!!). I went for a set of EB Beefy Slinky strings (11-54) and my god was I shocked at how amazing the guitar played! Therefore, shout out to all of you out there still looking for the perfect guitar - string gauge combination: you don’t need super heavy strings for baritones. I cannot stress it enough how well regular sets of strings will do (also tried the Mammoth Slinky set before the one mentioned above). You’ll get that nice slinky feel, good tension and most importantly, you’ll be as comfortable as possible when playing. I really hope this message helps to debunk all sorts of ridiculous ideas about string gauge for baritones! Please, if you’re a guitar player torn between all those forums and all those guitar myths, get away from it! Take your time, save a little money and just have fun experimenting! Rock on! 🤘

[@hembryguitars]

Well, with a B-to-b baritone dropped tuned to A, the A string is the same A as a bass. Lower does not equal heavier. Lower equals muddier...especially in a mix.

[@devosaurs3632]

That purely depends on pickups, scale length and tuning stability. Lower doesn’t equal heavier but it’s fun. That’s the whole point dude

[@7stringslinger74]

@@devosaurs3632 absolutely. It also depends on the string gauge. The heavier you go, the more your pick attack suffers. I use a 13-64 set that still gives you a nice crisp attack. Some dudes are using .75 and higher, and I think it sounds like sludge.

[@royalcat10]

That tells me you aren't very experienced in setting the EQ... On your own amp and mixing a song. When you use lower tunings, to avoid the muddiness you cut some of the bass out of the EQ and add more treble. Also you typically want to be on the bridge pick up. It's already low, it's already going to sound big and fat, so you dont need to crank the bass frequencies in the same manner you would using standard tuning. You want more high end to bring out the definition of the notes. It's only muddy if you don't know how to properly set up your amp... And that means you're going to sound bad regardless of your tuning.

[@devosaurs3632]

royalcat10 definitely aware of that already my friend

[@royalcat10]

@@devosaurs3632 That was moreso directed at the original commenter.

[@jessegolden23]

I have the first model, love it, cool to see you jam on it

[@gr4ve686]

Honestly, downtuning doesn't make things heavier imo, just Chunky. And obviously, some riffs need that chunk, while others don't. Bleed would sound like crap in E standard, while Sylosis would sound just plain weird in B standard. Whether or not you need to down tune depends entirely on the riff.

[@aaronstrepka3884]

I agree

[@translila]

this is one of the best comments, since heaviness really depends on how you write the riff, rather than the tuning of it

[@gabreeul9341]

Exactly! It most depends on the context, if ur playing Djent or Groovy Metal downtuning will sounds better, but for Thrash Metal E standard is just perfect

[@elensie6897]

The majority of bleed is the just the note Eb...

[@BiRDiEHere]

@@elensie6897 You mean D#? Well....Eb/D#. What's difference? They are the same note.

[@justinalvarado2422]

I love how you started with Carcass! 🤘

[@beholden_to_ducks]

Had one fellow once try to convince me that he tunes down to B with extra light strings and gets no excess slack in the strings whatsoever.

[@tahnnickson1069]

Lol I use fattys and still feel loose as fuck in B with a standard guitar setup

[@themightymcb7310]

I usually just stick 10-52s on in D standard or Drop C with a normal setup, regular 9s for E standard, and I haven't found anything that works well for lower than the low C because I would need to cut my nut to make it work

[@beholden_to_ducks]

@@themightymcb7310 how would cutting the neck help?

[@themightymcb7310]

@@beholden_to_ducks not the neck, the nut. Most stock nuts aren't wide enough to accommodate a .60 gauge string, so you need to cut them wider.

[@martingarricks6209]

Why does no one get you can play with 46-9s on drop b the strings don’t even wobble and it sounds the same imo

[@Seiffer55]

That's 5 had me fuckin' dying. 10/10 content as always dude.

[@COMICSCOFFEEMETAL]

WINNAHS: 1: Baritone 2: Standard 3: Standard 4: Baritone

[@Soloeagle54]

It's the exact opposite for me. That's funny. The riffs sound really good either way though

[@Candleinchains]

Decide yourself man lmao

[@Salsicha1]

Hey ya, Pete!! I like the regular tuning with the black guitar.

[@DavidNwokoye]

4:11 is the riff from the first round of Jared Dines vs Sarah Longfield. 🤘🤘🤘 That's pretty awesome

[@pounderpolizzo7269]

Sounds like Lamb of God

[@DanSutherland]

100% into the downtuning and baritone. Just savage sounding. I think it is heavier but all the more so because it's contrasted with an uptuned version. Like ideally I want both. Same as when you swapped bass as lead. I want both. (I do like the Bass version of Kinetic better. Wish I could get it.)

[@apoplexiamusic]

Riff 1: standard Riff 2: baritone Riff 3: works equally well with both tunings Riff 4: standard

[@twowiresthick]

It sounds great and I learned something. Thank you for making this vid.

[@LosRockson]

Like if you recognized “Embodiment” by the first riff.

[@bassface5983]

I literally just ordered that exact guitar...cant wait till it comes in...

[@gergoolle5773]

When you play the lowest string with a shit load of reverb. Now that is the sweet spot. Can create a bigget space with the baritone. Just fill your soul up. ^^

[@metalmix7773]

Honestly I don't think you can have one without the other. I like the contrast between parts. Pretty awesome!

[@aleksilamsijarvi2658]

It's just the style about how your playing. Every tuning can be heavy. I personally use Drop C tuning, cause i think melody and solos sound better.

[@deviltelletubbie]

Had my Chapman V2 bari for almost a year now and I love to bits. Insane value for money. It’s beyond ridiculous how much clarity there is in even the lowest of tunings. Been switching mine between Drop G# and Drop F# and it sounds clearer and tighter than most 8-string guitars, and needs very little setup for it, just a little bit of intonation. Even tunings lower than those sound really tight (talking Drop E here). Thing’s an absolute monster. Barely touched another guitar since getting it.

[@DragonsGemstone]

I love u and ur vids man \m/ thrash on bro!! ❤️

[@mindsetoverhaul]

Not an ad. Your opinion is the most important thing about this video.

[@yeesenchai]

Songs sound better in my opinion 1. Regular 2. Baritone 3. Regular 4. Regular

[@Sanderson890]

Not that someone asks, but the only thing I don't like about the Chapman guitars are the pickups, they kinda hiss for humbuckers. But switching them for SD Black Winter makes these guitars really, really awesome for the price (even with the additional SD pickups price).

[@thedyingfetus9493]

Heaviness in my opinion is a result of the technique you use, the tone, the rhythms you use and most importantly the scales, modes and the intervals you use. The tuning is just a preference in my opinion. Gojira are one of the heaviest bands out the lower they go is Drop C so imo opinion it doesnt really matter

[@xibucksgrindset6379]

I love Gojira and all but calling them one of the heaviest bands seems pretty wrong

[@thedyingfetus9493]

@@xibucksgrindset6379 I mean once again its opinions. Imo they're heavier then most of the death metal bands

[@Condemned782]

@@xibucksgrindset6379 you have an interesting definition of heavy then, my friend

[@LeglessWonder]

Found an easy way to bring out the metal snobs, my friend.

[@giacomonoia7566]

I just think that the key change between the two versions it sounds amazing

[@raydog_97]

It’s more of a yes and no for me. Tuning lower definitely changes the mood for sure and hell, sometimes it makes you want to break some shit. So tuning lower is part of it but it’s not really the tuning that makes the riff heavy, it’s the riff itself. It really just depends on how you write the riff and how it sounds and turns out afterwards.

[@David1808cyr]

I was rocking to this video hard! I watched it like three times!

[@andy_ped8500]

My man chugged so hard his monitor started shaking

[@lukeklober]

Personally I think that the riff are who classifies the heavy sound, not the tuning, BUT low tunings to me give a unique sense of fatness, specially for metal. Thanks for the demo Pete, always crushing it!

[@BurntSquirrel]

Chapman copying Mayones paint schemes now.

[@rasmusolesen5307]

Because all guitars were one single solid color before Mayones did a faded blend...

[@DavidNwokoye]

Every guitar company copies each other's paint schemes.

[@BurntSquirrel]

NicoDa1 name one other company beside Mayones that has a faded purple color going into a natural grain wood finish?

[@DavidNwokoye]

@@BurntSquirrel ESP, Ibanez, Jackson, Vola, Acacia........ I can go on all day

[@rasmusolesen5307]

This PRS Fade appreciation thread is 8 years old... So really. Nothing new here. forums.prsguitars.com/threads/wicked-crazy-fades-thread-i-see-2-colors-3-colors-more.683/

[@steeeeeve536]

I’ve got the V1 version of that same guitar and I agree, it is a fantastic guitar, especially for the price. Swapped out the pickups for some Lundgren m6s and couldn’t be happier.

[@TripleAir]

I actually prefer the regular one. Downtuning it too much just makes it sound muddy and dull. Then again, I've never really been a fan of anything lower than C tuning.

[@jasonlovesmusicreacting882]

When you say "C tuning" you mean Drop C, right?

[@GermanYinzer]

I think that different tunings work better for different riffs. Like some amp-tones work great for some songs, and some better for other songs. The first riff for example fit the regular 6 string better, whilst I preferred the second riff on the baritone.

[@AmericanMe]

WELCOME TO THE BARITONE CLUB. ITS HARD TO PLAY ANYTHING ELSE AFTER GETTING USED TO IT. 🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@Davier9999]

What's good about a 6 string baritone guitar? (Honest question here, not trolling) Why don't pick up a 7 strings instead?

[@kingnothing2161]

@@Davier9999 Your playing style doesn't change as much. You dont have to worry about different hand placement, strings ringing over with the extra string. You basically just play normally (often in drop tunings but sometimes in low 'standard') but you might have to make some slightly wider stretches. Either way you've got a guitar meant for extending the low range. I don't recommend tuning a regular ol guitar down more than 1 or 1.5 whole steps

[@angryktulhu]

Lol just put heavier strings or 7/8 strings set on a normal guitar and tune down, no need for baritones :D

[@Davier9999]

@@kingnothing2161 I used to play my 6 strings in drop A, even though it was 25,5'. I used .13 gauge strings and it was alright. Then I got my first 7 and never looked back. It was effortless really.

[@erazmo]

I gave a like for the Carcass riffs at the beginning. :) Funny, Bill played these riffs on a normal down tuned Les Paul, he didn't even have a baritone. I myself don't like one trick pony guitars. If you have a baritone, you can only chug. I had a baritone 7 string, it was the most boring guitar I ever had. I even had more fun and played havier riffs on my old SG in standard tuning. Now I have a normal scale 7 string with coil splitters, if I want to chug - I chug, if I want to play funk - I play funk.

[@alx_p_]

First : Heavier in standard Second : Heavier in lower Third : Heavier in standard Fourth : Heavier in lower

[@matthammond3563]

Glad I found someone else with the same preferences. I think it all depends on the riff, whether it needs the tightness of a higher tuning, or the weight and 'bloom' of a lower tuning.

[@rpycmHblu1]

It sure feels like key change when guitar tracks are switched, but that A chugs bring the "this is heavy" expression to my face

[@Tm00ne]

I dunno about heaviness, but I like the regular-tuned versions more.

[@ChaosPootato]

I think B standard is a nice in-between super low tunings and standard E. You can get crushing riffs using your E string but then when you feel like the most crushingest (it's a word) ever, you fall to B and it's glorious

[@EnslavedAngel_bruh]

Baritone guitars are sick

[@Grindgodgrind]

Straight in with the Carcass riff. Nice.

[@ericvalverderosado2046]

If you like Architects this is your cover guitar xd

[@rickfromtexas4659]

That is a beautiful guitar. I have just begun playing the guitar and I find your videos very informative. Thanks a lot.

[@tbdaemon]

I would say yeah. The down-tuning certainly makes it sound heavier.

[@lostlittlenoobvt]

Fun fact Pete! You have played a baritone! That red Rabea Massaad signature at Thomann was a Baritone!

[@peteplaysmusic]

I was wondering if someone would remember that haha, I think I played it for 15 mins max though :)

[@lostlittlenoobvt]

Why would I forget about your awesome colab with gear gods? ❤️❤️

[@armandklink4843]

0:54 thought you're gonna play Gematria for a second, disappointed >:^(

[@tahnnickson1069]

Lol cause of a big slide? I thought Sulfur off the same album, prob cause I just learnt it hahah

[@armandklink4843]

@@tahnnickson1069 the first few notes sounded exactly like the breakdown of Gematria.

[@ruskasielu6261]

I used to love low tunings, but over the years I've started to appreciate the clarity you get out of higher tunings more and more, especially live and for faster riffs. It's (usually) much harder to get the same definition with low tunings, at least with high gain.

[@Williamstanway]

Dillinger escape plan play in standard

[@aldahirlopez3757]

Opeth play in standard as well, and they sound suuuuuper heavy

[@andrewploeckelman4866]

The first of the four riffs is fucking badass bro, amazing riff

[@ArticLight14]

Baritone is like a guitar and bass in one

[@Jake-sx5ko]

Not really

[@ArticLight14]

Jake matter of opinion and player pal

[@chain872005]

@@ArticLight14 No, it's not a matter of opinion. There are hybrid bass/guitars out there. A baritone guitar is still higher pitched than a bass.

[@turdferguson353]

The tone on the baritone is phenomenal

[@cameronmcleod215]

All of those riffs benefited from being downtuned

[@lestatvonmondlicht]

I've read many times that it's not the tuning what makes a riff heavier but the riff itself and the way it was written. And I can't help but saying it's totally true. As a musician, I've written many songs in many different tunings, and it's safe to say that the song/riff helps to the tuning and not the other way. It won't sound heavier or softer, just different. In conclusion, if the song/riff is well written, any tuning could go just good with it. If it's not, then no matter what tuning it uses, it's just not gonna work. Very nice video, man. Keep it up!

[@mafutofu69]

the riffs are heavy,,, but the tuning makes it more c h o n k y

[@monsterk7603]

There's a place for each. I've been playing guitar since 1986 and just got my first baritone last year. After seeing Jungle Rot just destroy with their massive and brutal tone, I had an Ibanez RGIB6 before the week was over. Paired with a Mesa dual rec or peavey 6505+, it's just awe inspiring. Now I've got a second baritone. An LTD MH400B. That said, I still love my les Paul in E and schecters in D. Time and a place for everything.

[@richardspillers6282]

When I think heavy, one of the main things that tags along behind that initial thought is definition. Clarity, that thump in the low end. I remember testing different amps when I was younger and if I couldn't get that thump I wasn't interested.

[@wolfman8785]

I,just bought a baritone myself about a month ago. Its fun playing something different

[@Auro22]

That's a fucking SICK guitar! sounds super! would love to try one !

[@kanvolu]

I loved the baritone guitar on all of them

[@silenceismycanvas]

Baritone! I have one. 28-5/8 scale. 13-56 strings. drop A tuning. I love it!

[@bleedingrevenge12]

I feel like part of the reason people would like the standard over the baritone version is the fact that playing the riffs back-to-back this way makes the standard sound like the key center, "home", and the baritone like a transposition down a fourth (or an octave below going up a fifth), which is a common technique in metal to get variation out of verse riffs. I bet if you played the baritone riffs first, it would change the perceived key center of the riffs, making the standard tuning sound like the upward 4th transposition and the baritone sound like "home", therefore being more appealing.

[@otto524]

At least this proves that Pete is a killer riff writer. If it was not clear before /,, /

[@richardlopez313]

Preferred the riffs on the standard guitar, BUT I really liked the baritone as a compliment. It just sounded good getting that higher and lower sound going back and forth. In that case, I think a drop tune pedal would work for me.

[@davedavem]

That ending sounded like a cue for a Pete/Rabea collaboration to me... 🤘😝🤘💃🕺

[@ScrambleBandOfficial]

These riffs sound really cool recorded a perfect 4th apart (Drop D - Drop A) but I it's given me a good idea for a band using guitars harmonising on the 3rd (Drop C - Drop A).

[@zachary4670]

Interesting point: The Cure has used a baritone guitar since the 70s, but I don’t think anyone would really call the Cure “heavy” in the same way that you would call Gojira or Opeth “heavy.” I think this lends validity to the idea that “attitude” is what makes a song/riff heavy. For instance, Led Zeppelin played Babe I’m Gonna Leave You on an acoustic and it sounds heavy. The physically thicker & longer strings on a baritone can change your tone quite a lot. A great way to use a baritone is simply to “thicken” your tone. I think that’s why the Cure liked their baritone for lead parts, like the songs Pictures of You and End. It just sounds thicker and richer than a standard guitar.

[@mitchvechart7164]

The first person I've seen whose go to first riff for B standard was Blind Bleeding the Blind by Carcass.

[@777SlipHate666]

I believe tuning all depends on what you play. I prefer higher tunings for faster and "metalcore" stuff but I'm a sucker for the super slow and super low.

[@AlexRooneyComposer]

I think that Production defines heaviness just as much as the riff itself. A prime example of this is Pillars of Serpents by Trivium. They have two version the first version sounds very thin and not all that heavy but the version they recently released sounds massive and is one of the heaviest things they've ever released. That all comes down to the production.

[@tomsimpson357]

Because of that b-e relationship, it actually sounded like a natural progression for each riff, like it’s heavy because they’re together. I always say: if you’re always heavy, you’re never heavy.

[@danielprevratil3149]

It's the way the riffs are written, also drums etc. If you look at Jinjer, back when they had two guitarist they played in drop C and now when there's only Roman, they are writing and playing in drop A because it sounds bigger as whole.

[@godsreclamation2539]

Those riffs were so heavy that the monitor in the back was headbanging 🤘

[@angrydwarf6563]

Standard guitar sounds crisper in each case. (To me) Great riffs Pete!

[@kevinberstler]

Lower pitch riffs sound heavy, especially after higher pitch ones. Thanks for the video.

[@Kainlust666]

What makes a riff a chestbreaker riff is the composition, for example Kataklysm most destroyer riffs are usually the melodic ones, not the low notes ones. Nice video and nice guitar