Mark Holcomb - Periphery / Haunted Shores: GuitarMessenger.com Masterclass 1 of 2

[@Kieron_1234]

It's so nice to how far mark has come since then.

[@mylesmackey2430]

Absolutely incredible how much Mark has changed since this video was filmed. He's so much more comfortable and relaxed infront of a camera, his voice has changed, his picking style has changed. I always find it fascinating to see people develop as they age. Keep being awesome, Mark!

[@TheBladeSephara]

That tone makes me very, very happy.

[@mylesmackey2430]

I neeeeeed to know what his rig is at that point in time. That tone satisfies me to no end.

[@M4NA5]

Is now endorsed by leading brands in recording gear, has his own signature guitar and pickups (and good ones too if I may add). Still humble af, an inspiration to me and I'm sure many others.

[@RichardGarcia93]

i mean he really messed up with the Yvette young thing

[@spoonerluv]

@@RichardGarcia93 Seems nobody cares, he's still living life and posting images with his wife.

[@cawrhy]

So cool, I had no idea that the riff from "Scarlett" was originally a Haunted Shores song. Dig.

[@AlexSaints-t2k]

yeah some of their songs in their album are all from their sub band haunted shores

[@SiaManOnDeath]

And 5 years later he is in one of the greatest bands ever , periphery :)

[@Jn1spion]

and is also one of the greatest guitarists!

[@louciferLGS]

that's a weird way to spell limp bizkit

[@emadeathmetal1264]

@@louciferLGS stop

[@seonethree]

Fuck periphery. You don't need fucking three guitarists.

[@firmans12]

@@seonethree ok boomer

[@Straixin]

i love it when a musician such as yourself admits to not knowing theory but you could never assume that by listening, just shows the natural grip you have on the direction you go for

[@bluesboy18]

Knowing theory dosent have to diminish creativity , knowing how chords work is useful in experimenting and creating new sounds if you know. Rules you can break them . But still not musicians who are self taught or have little theory knowledge usually have a cool unique sound and create complex sick shit

[@zeal6742]

True! I mean, just look at Eddie, he's created some of the sickest shit ever without having a clue how he did it.

[@joeykimble62]

+bluesboy18 he knows theory more than most probably but i bet as a musician you got to be aware that their are always those that are leaps and bounds beyond you in terms of musical development so its not uncommon to see such self deprecation

[@abdulsathar8156]

This man gave me a fist bump during a meet and greet when Periphery visited India to play a festival. To this day, I think of how kind, vibrant and zen he was then and always has been. Love you Mark.

[@tanujcherian3911]

Yo when did periphery come to India????

[@abdulsathar8156]

@@tanujcherian3911 Hi Tanuj! Nh7 Weekender Bangalore, December 2012 ☺️

[@KFieLdGaming]

When I first heard that opening verse riff to Immaterial, my entire world of guitar playing changed forever. Still one of my favorite riffs to this day. Not entirely complicated but the progression is absolutely epic.

[@jwcorcoran9838]

Fifty0ne Totally man, completely changed my writing style too

[@midihc]

this dude takes the term riffage to a new level. he is truly a riffsmith.

[@DSloot]

I like how one of the greatest and most creative guitarists I've ever seen says shit like "I don't know theory" hahaha

[@arrestedshrimp]

I find it incredibley fucking amazing that mark is able to come up with so many amazing sounding chords that flow so nicely together without knowing theory

[@arrestedshrimp]

post a song that you wrote on youtube thats better than this one hes showing us, then your comment would be more credible

[@stoltobot]

arrestedshrimp It seems to me that the players who are making all of the cool songs/riffs/sounds are the guys who can't explain the theory behind what they are doing. The people who could (in theory) use the theory to come up with something amazing are the ones bitching in the comments sections of the internets. Musical theory is descriptive, it doesn't have to be prescriptive. After all, it's just a noise. It either connects with you or it doesn't, no matter if how you describe it.

[@FairlyUnknown]

gh3rulz69 "There are many more chords that could sound much better or much cooler" and you're saying that like it's a fact? Music is what comes from inside of you. Maybe he wont like the sound of the chords that you think sound "better or cooler". Different people, different tastes. You're the kind of person who thinks that knowing theory is what makes a musician good, which couldn't be farther from the truth. Just accept it, someone who has a natural ear for what they like is better than your theory junky self. Do you know what I mean Mr. "gh3rulz69" (that name gets me every time).

[@13thsilent]

gh3rulz69 show one of Your phenomenal, "theory-packed" riffs or gtfo, You jealous piece of shit.

[@poragburagohain87]

Well atleast for a fact I can say that music came before the theory about music existed..

[@RichardGarcia93]

This was Mark’s greatest distorted tone imo. The High end is so rich and it sounds amazing compared to the alpha and omega setZ

[@jwcorcoran9838]

Who gives a fuck if he doesn't know theory?! He writes music that sounds amazing - and that's all that matters!!!!

[@ericvalverderosado2046]

JW Corcoran he knows theory

[@TehBloodyYank556]

He admits that he doesn't

[@sudeephembrom325]

who cares man....if someone knows a bunch of theories....but dont fuckin know how to apply that..............

[@ericvalverderosado2046]

he really knows...Jake and Misha also know theory...they just say they dont to look amazing xd

[@MarkToast99]

That’s what’s cool about it. He doesn’t know that he knows theory. It’s not something he thinks about, it’s something he feels naturally. Kurt Cobain had a very similar thing, where Nirvana’s songs are all very melodic and the chord changes are all great! But Cobain never knew a lick of actual theory, he just felt it. That’s how Mark is too

[@Gobbostopper]

Mark, you truly are an inspiration. Ever since i saw this video, ive wanted to be able to create such amazing chords, and use them HALF as well as you do. You really are having an impact with Haunted Shores. Well done.

[@crazyfaceperson]

Hi, I'm Mark. I guitar in Haunted Shores and...." wait let me stop you there. You play for Periphery now. Welcome to one of the most progressive newer bands today. You will be remembered for decades as "one of the guitarists for Periphery".

[@666luc666]

So glad Mark was brought into Periphery! This stuff is amazing!

[@mrgibson]

wish I could travel back in time and show him what his life looks like in 2016...

[@MattSaintsMusic]

it would be even crazier now haha

[@abhiramkrishna1574]

wish i could "turn" back time to the good old days......

[@CreeCore94]

I love watching videos of these musicians. There's always a diamond if the rough, now i found one of my new favorite bands.

[@rhinoguitar]

Love Mark! Also love the Holdsworth Signature guitar. Makes me want to get one. They are a little high end for me but that helps with the heavier sound. As he's talking I can't help but be reminded of Keanu from Bill and Ted - Excellent!!

[@FairlyUnknown]

I was learning Pale Aura and now I see where that chord comes from during the intro riff! haha

[@GuitarMessenger]

TABS HERE: www.guitarmessenger.com/artist-masterclasses/haunted-shores-mark-holcomb-masterclass-part-1/

[@MajorPonch]

I am in LOVE with the tone. My sweet God, it gives me goosebumps.

[@drummerdude6670]

What I love so much about this post is how many people got the reference.

[@GuillerDrummer]

I really love his style, so elegant and clever.

[@kennn1234]

Dude writes some of the most interesting riffs I've heard in a long time.

[@maxnewellmz8025656]

i love when bands write by what sounds good and not what some music teacher taught them... i love when mark says they are basically in the same scale

[@AnvikThe]

with this great guy in the band im sure the next records of periphery are going to be awesome

[@Sickz666]

@Spliffor The voicing of chords is pretty much how you make the chord. I mean like if you take a normal G major chord, it contains the notes G,B and D. Now i can make a couple of different voicings with that. I can have the G note as my bass note (lowest note) then a B and then a D, or i can have the B in the bass and then a D and a G. It's really taking one chord any playing it in different ways.

[@juvedoo99]

Great chords. Really helps to add atmosphere while still retaining the metal aspect.

[@Psyshimmer]

@TheBlackDahlia815 The first riff is Scarlet by Haunted Shores. Scarlet will also be on the next Periphery album.

[@krazybadger78]

masterful guitar player

[@altpath]

The pickups is especially something people like to argue against. I like their pickups. I put an M22SD in an old cheap guitar once and it sounded killer with it.

[@jimmypennell8831]

He's definitely a interesting player with a unique style. When the majority of 'metal" or heavy rock guitar players go for trying to play all the single note fast lead style he has an approach as more of a writer. Playing a lot of rich deep textures in chords and different tempos. He definitely inspired a lot of great players so 👏 😊

[@BustaBeware]

so right dude elliot coleman's vocals are just fantastic, best I've ever heard I think I can say but spencer is amazing as well, and fits periphery perfectly in my opinion

[@MrFigman420]

I dig Periphery but, fuck i miss Haunted Shores.

[@tcarafi]

Mark said he would record new HS tunes as well as re-record old demos into an album after they're done with Juggernaut.

[@davethedm]

New EP out tomorrow

[@jwcorcoran9838]

Bob Dole Yep, gonna be so good

[@MikaTarkela]

I heard they're making a new record.

[@AchilionX]

I love how he plays all these chords that I immediately recognise in Periphery II songs. Prime example: 2:31, Mile Zero, middle section c:

[@endangeredoddities]

Awesome sense of melody.

[@lyndseypaget2287]

Interesting chords, well done Mrak. Xx

[@Simen0303]

I love mark! Absolutely a great guitarplayer! Huge inspiration!

[@fercontreras8]

love the tone!

[@retrocny5625]

I'm still hoping to one day hear Periphery recycle Immaterial into one of their albums just like they did with Scarlett. The first time I ever heard Immaterial I was totally fucking mind blown. I was listening to your typical metalcore stuff at the time like As I Lay Dying, Parkway Drive, stuff like that in the late 2000s. Randomly stumbled onto Haunted Shores when I was an active member of the harmony central forums and people were talking about it in the gear/rig section because Djenty tones had all of a sudden surged in popularity with the axe-fx becoming a thing, etc. I had heard nothing like what Mark was playing on Immaterial. Totally reshaped my approach to playing. Pretty much made me hit the reset button on guitar.

[@sebastiansallean8240]

And now just a few months later it's been teased that it's being redone for an official Haunted Shores release, I'm very interested to see if they'll have a singer on it this time around

[@MarkToast99]

Oh man I bet you’re happy with the new Haunted Shores album

[@THALL_1]

if anyone is wondering how he gets his tone, and why it sounds different, is because when he strums chords on the treble strings, hes basically holding his pick as if he were doing a pinch harmonic, but strummed instead of individually picked.

[@VoVikMakaR]

he does. Haunted Shores is a side project. Misha and Mark are main members but they can invite whoever they want for songs, Spencer for example. etc

[@B3rrymon]

Mark is a magician and his guitar is basically his magic device! Change my mind.

[@bakedbean1232]

Pretty much instantly became my favourite guitar player. Wow

[@drumfisch]

brilliant stuff. why are all those masters so shy and down to earth...

[@jacobburr7835]

just discovered this channel, I love it!

[@LemurianTime]

it was originally a haunted shores song which was a project with mark and misha but they adapted it into a periphery song since they're both in the band now :D

[@Zuurkool1]

@PhantomNote I understand what you mean. Although i always look it the other way around. Theory is derived from what we play and what we hear. ^^

[@DeaniieBoii]

i jusgt fel in love with the main riff from passenger! more videos like this please

[@Peron1-MC]

he remind me of scarecrow from batman

[@socaldgr24]

So happy this guy's in Periphery now

[@Dampfwalzi]

i try to play with these chords a lot

[@fnonose]

need some tabs to learn that passenger song man..

[@deftones0918]

simplicity is amazing

[@EmbraceTheWorld1990]

Hey guys, I just learned the tuning for scarlet. It's like drop C, CGCEGD.

[@coleearnest7784]

i can't believe he doesnt know theory, hes just so good. one of my favorite guitar players!

[@TehFenix]

Also The Gods must be Crazy was written mostly by Jake, trying to write like Mark. He said his main influence was Mark's writing technique. Also if you listen to it, it has many of the same chords/progressions as Immaterial.

[@Joe.Shmo.Eskimo]

He may not know theory, but he knows how to play... AND THAT TONE. It makes me moist.

[@altpath]

@basedgod293, you're right. What I'm saying is that a lot of people like to make the argument that carvin does not produce guitars, especially the holdsworth model, that will work for metal. This video helps prove those people wrong.

[@0juan23]

i wish someone had the full tab of passenger. like EVERYTHING. it's an awesome song

[@Dethsquirrel]

please read my comment, he is a fantastic musician and guitar player, he just doesn't speak the standardized language I'm used to, and I agree with you, whenever I compose I avoid theory whenever possible I only bust it out when I get writers block, and thats one of the reason I love Periphery, because they don't know what they are doing (in the context of theory) they get a lot of really interesting sounds that make sense sonically but not theoretically

[@bradhargis2261]

Oh mark. Before you even knew you'd end up designing the most balanced/aggressive sounding Seymour Duncan pups ever created.

[@altpath]

Looks like a stock carvin holdsworth signature guitar. Sounds amazing. Goes to show that a good amp and awesome player is all you need to get a wicked tone.

Really cool chord voicings. This dude is awesome!

[@bladerunner345]

@SmileyMcGee900 Thanks man! I actually didn't notice there was a chart that came with the video, and I see that kind of chord (A chord lookin m7#5) when I play jazz a lot. So I just generalized what it was, but I guess it could be called a Gm11..I think it looses luster when it does. hah

[@Surrey_01]

If you'r talking about the rhythm solo, there is a video of him tracking it in the studio update, so your assumption is invalid. How do you know he didn't write more of the song? I def here mark in there. He was a big part of the album for sure. And Im really glad he is in Periphery as well.

[@BiggyTalls93]

Maybe because they re-recorded it for Periphery II, plus Mark is in Periphery now. The song Passenger is also from Haunted Shores I believe.

[@RoyaltonDrummer922]

Mark seems a lot more chilled out these days. He comes across a little nervous here

[@guitarblade1891]

@SmileyMcGee900 you are correct to an extent. alot of great musicians dont know theory and i cant remember who said it i think it was devin townsend. he said learn enough theory to play the ideas you get in your head. which is the best advice because not everyone is great at theory. not arguing or anything just throwing an off shoot of your thought

[@demon92490]

I love his tone.

[@pariah206]

@cheepy91 its actually Csus2 tuning

[@Kevinelevin92]

Just to think, a year after this video was uploaded, this would be a Periphery song.

[@matty0234]

He played live with Periphery on the Frak the Gods tour!

[@thatguy5557123]

love the guitar

[@hiddenoath]

@PedroMirrordead well i played these chords in drop b, it just sounded really beefy and deep. so i'd imagine that in drop a it would sound even more heavy, if you have the strings set to a decent action

[@TheBlackDahlia815]

that opening riff is used in one of the periphery update vids.

[@lejoust]

what was the song from the intro? around 0:06 to 0:24 SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME FIND THIS

[@parthanvishvanathan7724]

Scarlet - Periphery

[@lejoust]

thanks!

[@AnthonyNelsonPhoto]

Chris Vella Well, technically, it's the Haunted Shores version.

[@LifeofEbb]

Anthony Nelson Not much difference lol, basically an instrumental version of Periphery's :D

[@mikesinaro]

Indeed it is. Extremely fun to play though. The periphery version with Spencer singing is even better, believe it or not.

[@kiikiu]

amazing chords

[@CptColtFlash]

@Spliffor The way you play the chord. You can take one chord and play it many different ways. Its all about the shape.

[@KingNed]

Haunted shores is a side project setup by Misha with Mark in. Since Mark and Misha are now both Periphery, and it didn't look like Haunted Shores was going anywhere with the success Periphery is having, they decided to use Scarlet. Haunted Shores was basically just another recording project of Misha's which I think he didn't want to associate with Periphery or Bulb. Scarlet was so popular and Spencer's vocals fitted so well that they just decided to record Sacarlet as a Periphery tune.

[@pariah206]

@cheepy91 better yet the sus2 tuning is the tuning in "oslo" maybe not the other songs

[@sinksinkswim]

Life would be bliss if Casey Sabol joined Haunted Shores and you got a whole band together and started touring. I don't think I'd listen to anything else if that happened!

[@xjohnxwaynex]

@Cairnivore haha me too. After seeing this it sounds even cooler than it did before.

[@matthewcolwell6593]

That one chord is basically the Achilles last stand opening chord. Jimmy adds his twist at the end. Pretty sick to hear it last generationally. Two of my all time favorite bands makes sense lol

[@naraithsil]

Looks like a Peavey 5150 Combo or similar on the right there. Combine that with whatever his pickups are (probably some Bare Knuckles) and you'd get pretty close after some tweaking. I think the main aspect of his tone is that the mid range is defined so you can hear all the notes of chords, so basically don't scoop your EQ.

[@nazarf1884]

I love when mark stated extol as his main influence..i can tell there's a lot similarity on mark/ole borud playing 🤘🏻

[@pelsmann]

@sierramister123 yeh, he does right.. awesome

[@PhantomNote]

@Straixin Yeah I would feel really blind without theory. On the other hand, he probably figured all the "theory" things out by ear, which is basically what theory is. A description of how sounds works with our ears. I cant imagine how misha and him just plays this amazing stuff with no theory

[@njudndudi]

Did he really say he knows no theory ? wow Good to see it's possible to write this kind of music without having to know theory really well

[@njudndudi]

tried to find it out for myself. looks and sounds pretty good! i think it's a model from the SC90 series

[@Niallphillips]

I have been trying to work this stuff out for the longest time, cheers...amazing shit

[@jhim767]

I love hes taste in music

[@horizoniki]

because it IS Scarlet by periphery. Originally written by Mark and Misha back when they were Haunted Shores.

[@HeavyMetalVagabond]

incidentally the best tracks on the album imo :D

[@JonathanChunPrevenge]

@cosmicjuju Masterclass (n.) - a class given to students of a particular discipline by an expert of that discipline

[@grungus7200]

Make him do another one of these please