Iced Earth - How to Play "Dystopia" Part 1

[@jntdhome]

Schaffer is to rythym guitar what Steve Harris is to bass. Incredible and sooooo precise.

[@6672rock]

Jon is very underrated as far as thrash metal rhythm guitar goes. He's about as tight and precise as they come.

[@kylegoodman5196]

I rank him the second most accomplishments rhythm guitarist in metal after James Hetfield.

[@Cymbaline713]

@@kylegoodman5196 Hetfield never approaches the speed and tightness that Jon does. He may actually be capable of doing it, but no Metallica song even comes close to Iced Earth's fastest stuff.

[@theofiloshatzigiannis5308]

@@Cymbaline713 Fucking cap. kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4W0mJmiiLNoeqM kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmnbm4p_g82HbJo kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJjGfYpqnLKFkKc kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYq1ZK2si9dlr9E kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2eck4Gbas2UgKc I'd really like to see jon play that

[@danadane2501]

@@theofiloshatzigiannis5308 Kirk Hammett plays all of James' rhythm parts night after night . Let that sink in for a moment . In all fairness early Iced Earth is a cross between the first 3 Metallica records and Iron Maiden . Then again many of Metallica's most famous riffs turned out to be note for note rips from a ton of lesser known bands from the NWOBHM. Since Metallica's beginning to now they've been covering many of those bands songs in studio and especially live without even acknowledging the artist and bands that wrote them . That's a round about way of saying James isn't doing anything that many others can and have done . Jon on the other hand has his own vision .

[@theofiloshatzigiannis5308]

@@danadane2501 Your reading skills are quite limited. We're talking about wether or not james can play more difficult stuff than jon. Not about wether or not he stole riffs or not. Moron. But now that you brought it up let me just say that musicians are influenced by other musicians. It's the reason the become musicians. JoN hAs HiS OwN ViS... Iced earth wouldn't even exist without metallica you piece of shit. They were one of the first thrash bands. As for the covers they did acknowledge the writers. They invited diamond head one of their biggest influences to play with them. Same with lynyrd skynyrd. And james sang stone cold crazy with queen as a tribute to freddy. Metallica didn't get where they are for you to spew that kind of bullshit. Asshole

[@TobyKBTY]

Jon is like, one of the most underrated riffers of all time. So many brilliant riffs throughout Iced earth's discography!!!

[@kazaakas]

2:43 This is the lead part. Plays it like a super tight rhythm. Jon fucking Schaffer right there people!!!

[@rkrokberg]

This is one of the things I love about metal. You watch these videos and realize how much work and how much awesome riffs and parts and vocals and everything a single song contains. I wonder if there's some videos where some dude sits on a computer and says: Hi, I'm gonna show you how I made those computer sounds that require no actual skills for that Billboard 1# hit blablabla. I respect metal musicians for actually being musicians who put a lot of work in a song, be it good or not.

[@JOHNNYwxw]

He really is the best rhythm guitar player in the world

[@yniegowences]

playing those downpicking / triplet chugga chugga riffs for 30 minutes live alone is a nightmare. and i believe Iced Earth plays more than that. JON is one of the tightest rhythm player, alongside with Eric Peterson from Testament. Dave Mustaine is tight also live - not to mention doing the vocals at the same time. not easy...

[@uome20bukz]

chubz78 dumajel james hetfield is incredibly precise and tight too. You can’t listen to a song like Battery or Blackened and not put Hetfield up there in the “tightest rhythm players” list. Especially considering Battery’s guitar track was recorded and layered 5-6 times by Hetfield and he played each track so tight and precise it sounds like one single performance. Nevermind what people may think about Metallica these days, there’s no denying that Hetfield is one bad ass rhythm player.

[@TattooedCarrot]

Dude's a living metronome.

[@BorgMater]

That playing is so freaking smooth and precise :O

[@6672rock]

Jon has got to be the tightest and fastest rhythm guitarist in all of heavy metal, bar none! I've never heard riffs played with such razor-sharp precision by anyone else!

[@TheCrimsonIdol987]

Iced Earth may not be as big as Metallica and Megadeth, but their fans are incredibly rabid and nuts. Makes me proud.

[@dibbo9264]

TheCrimsonIdol987 Iced Earth is such an incredible band

[@6672rock]

One of the most underrated rhythm guitarists in heavy metal. I've never seen a picking hand move that fast and flawlessly before. He's got some major rhythm chops.

[@dibbo9264]

Iced Earth are such an awesome band & Jon Schaffer is such a great Musician

[@dibbo9264]

One Of The Greatest Rhythm Guitarist’s Ever Jon Schaffer Rules

[@nessundorma666]

John is pure genius when it comes to music! Love IE for many many years now!

[@KainandAbleBrothers]

Some how, no matter what I'm doing, I always gravitate back to this video everyday. It's just that awesome.

[@Sweeptheleg83]

Johns picking hand is so on point. His gallops and his alternate picking are so clean and precise.

[@jrock8233]

just when I thought that Dave Mustaine and James Hetfield were the masters of down picking. Jon Schaefer down picks with authority!

[@Bstonz85]

...but this is alternate picking....

[@themodernguitarist]

@@Bstonz85 There's still a shit-ton of downpicking.

[@Bstonz85]

@@themodernguitarist you act like downpicking is difficult. If you have been playing 20+ years, its really not. Its just endurance. Yes, hes fast, but let's see him do damage inc, while singing, at the same tempo. The verse alone is about 3 different picking tempos.

[@carlosluismendez7392]

@@Bstonz85 he plays Stormrider and sing at the same time. Damage inc is piece of cake por him, pal.

[@zeresaksart-victorguillen9544]

@@carlosluismendez7392 I was going to answer that. Jon sings and plays Stormrider, when I saw that I said "may gad"...

[@Kwert]

Jon is definitely one of the greatest metal rhythm guitarists of all time.

[@LHondrums]

a true talent here! listen to the first iced earth record. it's already killer there.

[@renkguitars7472]

THE RIGHT HAND OF DOOOOOM!!!

[@TheCrimsonIdol987]

+RenkGuitars Dude, no kidding. In my opinion, he kicks the shit out of Hetfield and Mustaine in rhythm guitar playing.

[@TheCrimsonIdol987]

Benji music Mustaine considers himself more of a rhythm guitar player.

[@Bstonz85]

@@TheCrimsonIdol987 ok, he might be faster, but you are forgetting one huge thing about hetfield: hes also the vocalist. Hes singing while playing those incredibly fast and complexed riffs.

[@TheCrimsonIdol987]

@@Bstonz85 Not taking it away from him. Just saying as a guitar player, Jon Schaffer has the more interesting riffs.

[@Bstonz85]

@@TheCrimsonIdol987 I've been a metallica fan all of my life, and of course I'm g ping to defend the guy that inspired me to pick up a guitar 25 years ago. And of course I know that there are other guitarist out there that are better than James hetfield, but the early metallica stuff? No way in hell are jons more interesting. Yeah, hes fast at galloping, maybe faster than hetfield, but but I want to see him play the disposable heros riff while singing it. Its damn near impossible to play that fast and sing.

[@DarkturtleX]

Love this fucking band

[@pavondaniel]

That is actually pretty damn useful for practicing right hand techniques and, off course, cover their songs... man that's great

[@patriciomayorga6878]

Jon Schaffer eres un maestro. Saludos desde Ecuador, espero verles algun dia en vivo. SALUD.

[@JustinDiazJokes]

dude that explorer!

[@DeadGlassEyes]

So fucking nice.

[@MrExplorer260]

Finally someone knocked some sense into GuitarWorld.

[@stratosba]

I want a jon schaffer signature guitar!!!!!!

[@KainandAbleBrothers]

That's the power of being Iced Earth's main song writer. The power of a super powered right arm.

[@Louismetal1]

Jon picks like hell !!! The new album is really sick !

[@metalhead41294]

i fucking love iced earth they are so underrated, Jon is one of the best rythm guitarist EVER!!!!!!!

[@mikerichard7030]

Jon is just fucking amazing. Riff master!

[@patriciomayorga6878]

Estoy totalmente de acuerdo. I agree.

[@jaytarantino]

Iced Earth is all Eb tuning, however Schaffer has used a baritone guitar tuned to Bb for songs such as "The Clouding" from Framing Armaggedon, and "End of Innocence" on the new album.....

[@metalmilitia1096]

Amazing guitar player 🔥🔥🔥

[@scottdalrymple1716]

Damn what a wrist. Some of the tightest downpicking I’ve ever seen.

[@johnnycampell8519]

hes very underated

[@fryscream4life]

love his shirt

[@williamfernandez5170]

Good i love that guitar!

[@kresomag]

My idol

[@jacksonbutchetsen5426]

im addicted to these

[@smacman68]

These guys are just total badasses. The opening riff you hear is very hard to play correctly and clean. Jon is a master of the metal riff. Iced Earth has never broken into mainstream popularity like Metallica or Testament. I don't know why. They are just as talented, their song writing just as good. For some reason, they just didn't break into the bigs. Oh well, I love the fact that they're fans are unique. Whenever someone gets in my car, "Who the FUCK is that?" And they're hooked! Bwahahaha...

[@aco2456]

anyone knows the amps settings Jon Schaffer uses? thanks a lot! :D

[@PhukTheLogic]

Just discovered this band, its the only song i know so far. Im learning it, and its fkin awesome!

[@pattyhays487]

The main riff on this song is killer!

[@Cymbaline713]

Just found out he uses heavy strings, gauged 13-56! I bow to his greatness.

[@0Heavy0Metal0]

lol It's kind of hard to pay attention to what's going on with Johnny Cash's middle finger sticking up right at you the whole time! I love it. Iced Earth is brutally good. One of my fave metal bands.

[@TheM42bmw]

This guy is just incredible

[@NovembersDooom]

Man his gallops are epic!

[@JoneHoftun]

@juliancscs he also uses marshall jcm2000 with a larry preamp

[@liamrichguitar]

@sinanrotterdam I believe its standard Eb (E flat, EbAbDbGbBbEb). Pretty much Iced Earth's regular tuning

[@darothrash5216]

Es zarpado!! El sr Schaffer es zarpado!

[@blacklabelmansociety]

I loved the tone! What was the gear?

[@TomPark1986]

That is one of the best tones Ive heard man....anyone know what amp hes using here?

[@jhso1108]

He uses a Larry Dino(hot-rodded JCM800). Good luck getting one…$8k IF you can find one. Several year wait list to have Larry mod you one and not much cheaper. Also, Bareknuckle pickups Black Dogs were unofficially made for him by Troy Steele who is his former lead guitar player who went on to create BKPs. He used to use WCR Icebuckers handmade by Jim Wagner - which you can order still if you email Jim personally. Also want to use .56s tuned to Eb, a pick that won’t bend, and do your wrist exercises to be able to beat the shit out of your strings while you play. -a guy who worships Jon

[@Thurston86]

This riff is my favvvvvourite!

[@Alextiborz]

i love the tone, i wonder what equipment he used. anyone knows?

[@JamesDavis-mm2mi]

He was probably using a marshall 1960A/B with his signature Larry Amplification head. The guitar is obviously a gibson explorer and the pickups are Lindy fralin true 60 PAF pickups. It's the only one of his guitars that has it. All others have either BKP black dog pickups or his signature WCR Icebuckers. All those pickups are expensive XD if you have seymour Duncan JB and Jazz pickups, you'll be fine

[@JamesDavis-mm2mi]

And he doesn't use effects as far as I know of.;)

[@Alextiborz]

Jordan Kay Thanks a lot man, you really helped. For me this tone is awesome xD

[@JamesDavis-mm2mi]

No problem. It's very simple yet awesome. Keep rocking!

[@kazaakas]

If you want his tone and not spend 6k on an amp that takes 2 years to build, get a tube amp that is known to be very responsive and very tight. Hughes & Kettner, VHT and most of all ENGL are good brand in those terms. Next to that just need an Epiphone or Gibson style guitar with a PAF-style humbucker in the bridge. Thick strings are really nice as well, try to go for 11's at minimum. Oh and don't use pedals, if you have a good tube head with a tight sound you'll get all of the grit that you need, no pedals neccesary!

[@wolfey41]

Nice to see Jon is a Patriot!

[@heydenlabelle777]

LOVE THAT GUITAR

[@happieroc]

He has a great guitar tone

[@fellipeluck]

very good!

[@pizzacastello]

I was just about to write "he's downpicking" and in just a second he said I prefer downpicking, haha. Iced Earth, Athens is ready!

[@dannylampron9879]

love your shirt man! Jon Schaffer is a real music lover ;)

[@dmsaftschenko]

"watch how i can timewarp and create a black hole with my right hand" damn, he would be a great rival for Chuck if he wanted.

[@dibbo9264]

James Hetfield Is My # 1 & Jon Schaffer Is My #2 On My Top 5 Rhythm Guitarists

[@ariskoskinas]

@juliancscs yep i know it of course I am a bog fan... I mean in this video here i wish i knew what amp he uses...thnkx anyway...

[@FLEIJA1337]

What is the song that plays at the very start of the video? I know it I just can't remember the name.

[@korruption6]

*Burning Times* my good sir. =]

[@JoneHoftun]

@SomeYoungGuy1993 Dont think iced earth has ever used drop C, maybe though, they mainly use e flat and D as far i know

[@ariskoskinas]

@skiny998 ok...do you play guitar ? is it hard for you to play creeping death or blackened ? In three min you can learn them... Just try to play side by side with the original cd , pure evil , dantes inferno , iced earth and tell me again your opinion... I love metallica but doesnt mean that hetfield can play all those riffs that schaffer does all these years... Maybe he can , but he never showed to us.... All newbie guitar player , they start to play metallica,,, So easy...

[@Bstonz85]

Lol, so easy? Metallica? Ok. Youre not even worth arguing with.

[@ariskoskinas]

@@Bstonz85 no don’t argue with me. In order to argue about guitars you should be able to know how to play and you are not...

[@lordmorgoth7]

oh you mean the equalization, check in this tutorials there is "burning times" song tutorial he explains al ittle of his set up though is not precise you have to experiment a lot to find it. my tips dont use much gain and use a bit of med tones not much, so you can compliment with the other guitar. if you are lone guitar then its gonna be harder it would deppend on the amp and ur guitar and your pedal fx.

[@MrSeanmor]

insane picking!!!!

[@skiny998]

@BKets4ever Yeah I am a fan boy admittedly. His vocals just changed because of his age and touring so much, you couldn't really expect him to sing like he did on the justice album now could you? Although that'd be amazing if he could. I do appreciate guitar, I've been playing for 6 years now, I'm exploring other genres like Punk and grunge at the moment. I used to just limit myself to rock and metal, I even learnt a bit of Mozart a month ago. Personally I think his rhythm playing it just great!

[@BurntIce12]

@AdamWarlock666 Jon Schaffer is the tightest Rhythm guitarist ever.

[@Walamonga1313]

@Mike Hunt He's talking about dubstep and stuff like that. We all know that (for example Depeche Mode) electronic music also requires skill.

[@schism8286]

My man fooking shreds

[@mylerwilson4879]

Shred refers to solos. He’s playing riffs

[@_bob9740]

1:30

[@Hidan270]

no single human is worthy of such an instrument

[@mukeshvaidyamusic]

sir great

[@jdpalm]

Anyone know what the opening song is for this video????

[@JerryFro26]

Love that shirt!

[@lamentate07]

Schaffer is one of the most precise rhythm players in metal, no doubt. Can't say i like the way his guitars sound once they are recorded though.

[@SandorNGY]

Hetfield and Schaffer are both my heroes but Jon is still true to his metal roots.

[@TomPark1986]

That's a nice tone.

[@NebraskaPL]

@aris17561 Ok, I see your point ;) Btw that reminds me of Kirk struggling to play Hetfield's triplet riff in Some of Monster, haha.

[@vapandrei]

And I keep waiting for 'Enter the nightmare....'

[@vibonacci]

2:44 funny how Jon elects to down pick a part like that. But he's right.. it gives a tight sound. Don't comprise on it.. just practice ;)

[@ariskoskinas]

@NebraskaPL You re right... There are lot of guitarists non professionals in youtube that plays iced earth , dream theater... Even malmsteen , satrianni and vai , are being covered ... So a profe like hetfield , for sure he can , if he tries... But i judge them , by their work... And I know every newbie student is able to play lot of ruthm parts of metallica , and I know lots of experienced guitarists that cannot play schaffer`s triplets , in tha same speed... That my point of view...

[@27eichkater]

jon best guitarplayer greez from germany

[@seanquertinmont2760]

Jon is a metal gutairing god 🤘

[@samih1111]

Jon schaffer rules!

[@ΧρήστοςΚαστρινάκης-η8σ]

what tuning is that?

[@ArmandoPuenteJr]

Χρήστος Καστρινάκης Eb Standard. Most of their songs are with the exception of one or two that are in D standard or standard. I think the rerecording of the Something Wicked trilogy was like in Bb or something bizarre like that with baritone guitars.

[@metalqueen8315]

hi metal heads i love it metal i love iced earth is a beast of metal band

[@skiny998]

@aris17561 I can play parts of those songs, I might check the bands out at some other time. But i'm exploring more grunge/punk bands at the moment. Obviously Hetfield can't do everything, Metallica isn't that easy. It just depends what song I.e seek and destroy, that's just chugging on the low E string basically. Where as other songs are much faster.

[@ariskoskinas]

i wish i knew what amp he uses...

[@Petersorg]

1:25 starts the down picking from hell!

[@ozzyzyggy]

@AdamWarlock666 both are awesome, but James is a legend

[@allfu93]

he can play that type of rythym with so much ease, not even i can obviously

[@drury2361]

@SomeYoungGuy1993 Mostly all Iced Earth is Eb

[@666danielclark666]

@aligatoras98 The snake with "Don't Tread on Me" is the Gadsen Flag...one of the USA's first national flags before the "Stars and Stripes". Nothing to do with James Hetfield, but hey..live you learn eh? :)

[@lordmorgoth7]

check on iced earth you tube channel they got a video about Jon's gear

[@lordberly]

And then, my son, the birth of Power Thrash Metal

[@jmeadowbrooks]

@SomeYoungGuy1993 He uses E flat! :)

[@ariskoskinas]

@jmeadowbrooks No he allways uses D#