HOW TO PLAY DOOM METAL - Episode 2: How To Get A Classic Doom Sound (Tutorial)

Hey folks,
as promised last week, this week we're taking a look at the sound of doom in the heyday of Black Sabbath, Candlemass, etc.
It's not really a tutorial as much as it is a look at how this specific style of playing came to be, and the mindset needed to reproduce it today.
I think the most important part here is that we need to focus on the techniques that were available at the time and ignore more modern or flashy ones for the sake of staying true to the original sound.
That being said, I find it almost boring to just copy something.
Put your own spin on it, maybe incorporate some of these ideas into your sludge/stoner riffs, just to mix things up a bit?
As always, thanks a million for sticking around!
If you like this sort of stuff, consider subscribing, or telling your friends about this channel, it would be highly appreciated.

[@TheBaconWizard]

Just for the sake of history: Sabbath didn't tune-down in order to be heavy, they did it because Tony Iommi had injured fingers and needed less tension in the strings in order to play. He played light-guage strings for the same reason.

[@NicolasPerrault]

True.

[@kittavares4334]

He didn’t downtune to C# until Masters Of Reality. But you’re right. he used banjo strings at first to help him with his handicap.

[@matthewlagrange3000]

James Hetfield, who almost lost his arm in a pyro accident, CRINGED when Tony showed him his fingertips up close. It's pretty bad. But, if that injury hadn't happened, would we have hard rock music as it is today?

[@kobrian58]

Question? Did Sabbath go back to E standard for a time because Ozzy left and was replaced by Dio, a singer in a higher and wider range?

[@TheBaconWizard]

@@kobrian58 VERY good question, and I don't know. Nor can I trust that any of my digital copies of the music are true to original...

[@ushnicyuvnikof2748]

Dude. Telecaster + locking tuners + 4-way switch. All problems solved. Doom to your hearts content.

[@NicolasPerrault]

I mean, don't get me wrong, I live a tele as much as the next person, but I do think that classic sound needs a humbucker that has a decent amount of output - or failing that a nice set of p90s. Sure, there are teles with humbuckers and / or p90s, but when I here 'tele' I think of the classic two single coil configuration.

[@ushnicyuvnikof2748]

@Nicolas Perrault The new 4th position turns both single coils into 1 bigger, more powerful humbucker. Like the Jim root Telecaster from slipknot, that's what he uses, that's why his signature model Telecaster has the 4th position (it's a $30 mod), it sounds nothing like Telecaster pickup, it sounds like the mother of all humbuckers.

[@ushnicyuvnikof2748]

Look up "Fuzzlord - Doom Metal Guitars" the Telecaster with the mods I refer to was featured on that series it has its own entire episode.

[@NicolasPerrault]

Yeah, I've just had a tele in with the 4th position. It's definitely fat and handles fuzzes really well, but I don't really like it for candlemass/early sabbath type sounds. It does the weedeater type sludge stuff really well though.

[@williamanderson2203]

Love it! Simple: tune it down, crank up the gain and hit some power chords. It doesn't get much simpler, but what you get is apocalyptic magic sound. Great video, man. Subscribed.

[@NicolasPerrault]

Thanks William!

[@lanceg1312]

this string gauge thing is blowing my mind. I've tuned down a lot before, but it never really did what I was wanting, and I think this is because I changed to heavier strings. thank you for this.

[@NicolasPerrault]

Yeah, strings can have an amazing impact on the feeling of the instrument and thusly the sound as well. It's definitely worth experimenting with. Hope you find what you're looking for!

[@tonyjones1560]

This video is a doom metal guitar science class. Good stuff!

[@NicolasPerrault]

Thanks mate! Glad you liked it

[@darkally82]

Lots of great insights about the music, gear and sound. Really enjoying your vids so thanks Nicolas!

[@NicolasPerrault]

Glad you like it!

[@anmeramz88]

I find it very amusing and inspiring how Tony Iommi invented one of the heaviest genres in rock music using the lightest strings available back then (even for today's "standards"). It throws all the dumb string gauge mysticism out of the window and I f'n love it.

[@guyguyguyjean]

just discovered this channel,well done!!! Really entertaining!! Enjoyable AND great instruction!!

[@NicolasPerrault]

Thanks! Sometimes I also make videos 😅

[@biffoi4531]

wonderful. I could listen for hours.

[@NicolasPerrault]

Thanks mate!

[@doobie8425]

And don’t forget iommi used banjo strings for the longest…

[@NicolasPerrault]

True, but I wouldn't recommend you try that. They play weird. Although if you're in need of looser strings, Ernie Ball makes some extra slinky ones that will get close without feeling so weirdly brittle. But I'm sure a good custom string builder, like skull strings could make a set that would absolutely match the vibe.

[@Osculum_Ex_Animo]

Great vid, subscribed

[@mikeg6258]

Like your video's, gently tickled the subscribe button. Keep it up, cheers Mike

[@WizardinBlack3]

Sick Parker Guitar, I have one of those myself. They play like a dream!

[@NicolasPerrault]

Yep, it's a shame the company isn't around anymore.

[@eaglebauer944]

First two Sabbath albums are in E standard.

[@NicolasPerrault]

True. But I like Vol 4 best, so there's that 😅

[@EasyHeat]

You have to set your action high to get the intonation to work right. I almost broke an Agile LP to get it to take standard C.

[@NicolasPerrault]

Or you could adjust the intonation at the bridge. Action should only be raised as a last mile solution for tuning and intonation issues, as the effect of any inconsistencies in pressure by your fretting hand will be greater the higher the action gets, making it more difficult to intonate properly.

[@reneebear3641]

Also don’t try to match the tension you’d get in E standard when you tune down, they’re gonna get flubbier & there’s little way around that, & if you’re looking for a doom-y sound then leaving it playably flubby is best

[@luisgoregonzalez7394]

Good vídeo!

[@arnowillekes7979]

I put some heavy gauge strings (52-11) on a cheap jazzmaster copy to tune down to somewhere around C and stuff, though nicely distorted, sounds rather neat and ‘tidy’, so true that the standard strings tuned down make a ‘messier’ but also more interesting sound…making heavy and intense ‘scary’ music depends on dissonance, that’s why a lot of ‘heavy’ bands of late sound more like eurotrash productions to me 😂😂😂

[@nanominaa]

Could you make video about Sludge?

[@NicolasPerrault]

Sure thing!

[@Ricktammy269]

Nice man! Thanks

[@NicolasPerrault]

Thanks mate! Glad you liked it

[@balaneopteramusculus]

that was very interesting, thank you! a few questions: as a beginner wanting to play doom metal, once i am proficient enough. what guitar (budget) should i get? i currently play with a squire strat that i borrowed from a friend, but i dont think that is "optimal" in the long run... another question, what is the flag behind you? :) cheers!

[@NicolasPerrault]

Thanks! Honestly, anything that you like playing will get you close. Humbuckers sure help a lot. Look into the Hagstrom Megin, for instance. It's a straight up rock machine for a decent price. The flag is for the Industrial Workers Of The World. Hope that helps!

[@balaneopteramusculus]

@@NicolasPerrault thank you! that sure helps!

[@EasyHeat]

Parker?! Not my bag Amigo. Right after Covid hit? I had to order one of those new Epiphone worn P90 SGs in that freakin' kickass green finish! Instantly slapped some Kluson Revolution 19:1 ratio tuners on it with a set of 12-54 Heavycore Dunlop strings. Set up and tuned it to standard D/drop C. It didn't exactly wanna do all that at first, but I broke it in well : )

[@realdrdork]

badass!!!

[@NicolasPerrault]

Thanks dudes!

[@kittavares4334]

Not sure if I agree with your “slightly detuned guitar” theory. Guitar in general is crappy when it comes to intonation, no matter what gauge you use. Take a tuner and play random you’ll see (the first fret and the g string are the worst), even if your instrument was handled by a pro. Even finger pressure can screw your intonation (isn’t crushing the string a trick Tom Fischer is famous for?)

[@NicolasPerrault]

I know that guitars are generally badly intonated. Still, go test it out. We're talking less than 10 cent detuned, so nothing super crazy.

[@hunkwasbisyan007]

8:52 Thats a Tiger Mew!!!! 😍

[@NicolasPerrault]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@MaxRud80]

dude! Tony had problems with his fingers !!! no need to invent prejudices, the doom sounds cool and that's it!

[@mikerauter1859]

you needed to make a tutorial on how to play power chords slowly Captain Obvious?

[@Luk4zguy97]

10s in C# is straight up silly

[@NicolasPerrault]

I think so too, but apparently there are people who swear by it 🤷‍♂️

[@Luk4zguy97]

@@NicolasPerrault I play 13s in C standard. I gotta say, the pitch drift on thinner strings is attractive to me but I don't like the lack of sustain.

[@FUSIONJAZZMAN420]

"microtonal not unheard of in Western music" Besides blues...

[@_MetaL]

But Symptom of the Universe tho

[@fclefjefff4041]

Tutorials like this just encourage hacks and copycats . If someone needs to be “taught” how to play doom, they probably shouldn’t be playing doom.

[@NicolasPerrault]

Is this where I point that... that's like just your opinion, man

[@eggpod4567]

There's only so many notes and variations of sounds. Everyone's a copy cat one way or the other. Whether you like it or not. This guy's videos are bad ass.