Metal rhythm guitar playing technique - Josh Middleton

How to improve the speed, consistency, endurance and accuracy of your right hand picking for playing ultra fast metal.
You can buy my solo album and Kemper pack here www.joshmiddleton.com/shop/

[@yuritarelko9916]

One of the tidest and cleanest metal guitarists i've ever seen. That's how metal guitar should sound.

[@oddo1121]

tightal wave of skill

[@nckhed]

@@oddo1121 I see what you did there. 😆

[@isamiakatsuki8416]

С такой техникой престижный образ жизни точно будет)

[@erickmazur807]

I'd like to hear josh play some old metallica with that technique.

[@willyrosenkrantz8037]

Down Picking Rhytm

[@ЦельВоздержание]

Лайк если после фредгитариста

[@A9_Chord]

Why???

[@Nightwrang]

​@@ЦельВоздержаниепошел вон отсюда

[@KaranDas]

A* personal tip* i'd like to share,metallica songs are excellent for downpicking practice.They have helped me develop my technique ALOT in the past 7 years i've been playing.

[@josuastangl7140]

that's how I initially went from beginner to intermediate, just learning Metallica songs for like 2 years straight haha

[@Jerrydetonfail88]

Thank for all the good music and the videos ! It's so cool to see that you are close to your fans and very down to earth ! I hope to see you soon on tour !

[@samsancheziii]

So I'm palm muting the crap out of my guitar while watching this video, then all of a sudden i felt like fainting. I was like wth is wrong with me?? The strangest thing, as this video came to an end Josh says, "Remember to breathe".... I bet y'all know where I'm going with this. Haha Thanks for the advice dude.

[@aaronzufelt2619]

Every video of yours starts with some sick intro! I constantly end up restarting your videos just to jam to your riffs. You're amazing man!

[@egor_nvkv]

Best metal guitar lesson on KZbin hands down.

[@sonicx2218]

Josh seriously thanks for these. I've been in a rut with my guitar progress for about a year and these videos were the thing that got me past a big progress barrier.

[@jaharris3rd]

Playing along to Teras has become one of my go to rhythm exercises! It's super fun and strenuous yet fairly straight forward (the rhythm parts that is) with decent rest sections throughout. It's such a great workout song!

[@TheRealRedWolf]

BROOOO!! You have Meshuggah speed. God damn!!!

[@Dan_Ranger]

Totally agree with the digging in picking technique for thrash metal. Coming from that background from being in thrash bands in the 80's ( Hydra Vein ) it's all about being consistent and lasting the song! haha. I learnt my skills from listening to Hetfield and Holt in the early to mid 80's and just sitting there for hours chugging away. Great tips there Josh. Man picks for the win :-)

[@周丁丁]

Best KZbin guitarist .

[@Hilltoptoys]

周丁丁 best guitarist. Try some sylosis!

[@bubblegumbloodbath9886]

^

[@sylviagilbert8536]

Just wanted to say thank you so much for taking the time to give these lessons. Really, really helpful. I still listen to Edge of the Earth every week. Again, thank you.

[@sonnyseabury4051]

I think I saw some smoke billowing off of the fretboard, from your right hand strumming so fast. You're definitely an inspiration to many people, including myself.

[@Idontknowone1able]

Thanks for the help man. I've been playing for about 6 years and I've been using JD small jazz picks this whole time. I'll have to use the ones Matt heafy and Corey beaulieu gave me.

[@kokojumbo972]

i watched this video severals years back when i got my first guitar. looking back, everything is basically on point.

[@thehoppo]

Probably my favourite tutorial so far, awesome, thanks!

[@mikeomalley5761]

Thanks for these technique vids and congrats on ur LTD sig model! Hope to play one very soon! Keep up the good work brother!

[@Pr0v0kat0r777]

miss ur lessons, straight expirience, what others tryng to explain for 1-2 hours u put in 15 minutes. U explain things that other dont talk about. Thank u Josh. Btw did u practice upward picking only?

[@hass9510]

Thanks man, this is extremely helpful

[@yfz450rider39]

Your videos are awesome! Will be sharing with friends for sure!

[@tahmidashraf9498]

damn man ur right hand is like a MG

[@niddan5244]

Sylosis till I fucking die !

[@okaight7248]

This video still resonates today! Josh, there's only one thing I want to ask. Do you still believe in pressing the frets as hard as possible? In my experience, the best players will smash their picking hand but be as soft as possible on the fretting hand for two reasons. 1 is that intonation is a million times better with a soft hand. It keeps the strings parallel and doesn't accidentally bend them. 2 is for joint issues lol. Obviously you're a monster player regardless, just wanted to know your thoughts.

[@300WINMAG360]

Josh: I don't mess with Jazz picks, I stick to Man sized picks Me: (looking at my Jazz iii with a tear in my eye) I HATE YOU!

[@seanlundy2837]

exactly what i just thought to myself

[@00Dusty]

Pitdog360 John petrucci uses jazz iii and he’s unmatchable in talent and skill 😂

[@dackjaniels4205]

I started using jazz Traynor picks and they've helped my accuracy and speed tremendously.

[@kimbarsegyan]

@@00Dusty Petrucci's signature Jazz iii is larger than the regular one. ;) That's my go to pick actually.

[@tb_tyler5363]

Those picks are a fucking godsend. My playing literally gets noticeably sloppier when I use other picks. Maybe it's psychological l but I only use the JP picks now haha

[@keyable]

Great playing! little advise for Rhythm metal player out there: Try playing Metallica - Disposable heroes, its the best for practicing Downpicking, Alternative picking, speed picking and overall metal rhythm playing! )

[@riffheart]

Practice Ascendancy full record by Trivium and you'll be best at rhythms.

[@samuelvela2708]

@@riffheart Same goes for Shogun; that album has been an integral part of my rhythm guitar routine. Callisto, Insurrection, Into the Mouth of Hell, and Kirisute Gomen are all fantastic for metal rhythm.

[@nckhed]

I like to play that open E alternate picking riff whenever I feel like really tightening up my rhythm. It's fun to play, too.

[@thrasherfan9636]

I use this video as my "secret weapon" to building my technique and bettering it.

[@unleashthefury111]

Granted hes playing a short scale guitar so heavier string gauge is needed for tighter tension

[@IleniaCore]

Why am I seeing this just now? Thanks Josh.

[@yoseanantoniotorres8597]

Solid Technique!!!!

[@guitarhero899]

One of my favorite guitar players !

[@AkosKovacs.Author.Musician]

I'd like to hear josh play the Path I Choose from Iced Earth.

[@reverenddisciple]

Thank you for setting some of this shit straight. The amount of people playing tiny picks and 8's or 9's on ibanez's and getting a weak sound as a result...

[@salifm6919]

you forgot to mention your hand positioning,degree your hand is at? I realise alot of lessons dont ever tell you this.Makes the biggest difference in the world

[@hugolopes1233]

Great video!! It's funny that everything you said it's exactly the way I train myself in guitar.. and for me it's the best way to achieve great results.

[@demondrive147]

Thank you for tips Josh! I actually started practicing my stamina today, so the video is super useful \m/

[@TheDUDE101GOOD]

i prefer tortex. my hands sweat a lot so getting a good grip is difficult and cripples my sound with an ordinary pick

[@enlightenedwarrior7119]

I use the orange tortex

[@invin7215]

Also worth noting they make Jazz III XL picks which are the size of a normal pick but still have the thickness and sharp edge of the Jazz series. I have some and much prefer them to the mini Jazz III, but I still go back to the Tortex III 1.14 because it has a louder, snappier attack like Josh alluded to. Personal preference of course, I'd say try both and see what you like.

[@NeighbourThrashman]

Invin I agree with you. Jazz III XL picks are awesome and I use them too. They are great for example for thrash :D

[@ClifHamburger]

Awesome, thanks man. I needed this.

[@165-i8s]

Yea man nines was killing my arm bad bro this is best picking video

[@clem_chret]

Let's go again ! :D Thanks for the vid ;)

[@conor7187]

You're a fucking genius.. you know how many guitarists who don't pick up on most of this even though they're quite good? Most of them!

[@DM-jf7pt]

Brilliant lesson

[@dudarino666]

Megadeth, Exodus, Iced Earth, Testament, Slayer, Overkill, are about all you need.

[@GitarisPemulaID]

Nice Josh. Thanks

[@Dystopia95]

surgeyX The issue with string guages is more to do with the playability than the tone. If you're using light floppy strings you're not going to be able to dig in and pound the strings the same as using a heavier guage. You wouldn't necessarily be able to distinguish between a light and heavy guage for music where you're not beating your strings but inevitably, if you're playing fast aggressive music, the inability to smack the strings would have a huge impact on the tone.

[@fearofthedark88]

This is a great instructional video

[@keylllogdark]

Best KZbin guitarist . 

[@DropdaLTDtoB]

lel jazz picks are actually thicker (the typical dunlop jazz 3 anyway), therefore stronger which is what you simply need for any metal style that is based on speed, tightness like black, death or thrash etc. There is less material to control and a nice point which eliminates scraping against the strings. I seriously can't remember how i played comfortably with normal picks, i used to use tortex now it's jazz 3 'til death. They are infinitely more ergonomic than normal picks, I am dead serious that I can't remember how the hell i ever played normal picks.

[@paul1720]

You are dumb and ignorant as fuck, kid. lol @ avenged sevenfold, shit head.

[@DropdaLTDtoB]

Al humphits who are you talking to troll?

[@alexsharp3481]

see I'm absolutely opposite. I used to only use Jazz style picks. now I hate trying to play rhythm or lead without my normal tortex picks. love the 1.14s. it's all personal preference though.

[@grahamcollins2350]

I went through a Dunlop Jazz thing for a while then went back to the black 1mm but now I play .73s with 10-56 Ernies and still get fat chunk.

[@alexsharp3481]

***** I can't play .73 on any gauge lol. Funny how that works

[@bigdj0ntz8]

this is very helpful, thanks a lot!

[@drumzcovered292]

Pretty eye opening moment for me notice that he uses his arm more than his wrist when playing fast. I’ve had people tell me play with my wrist when playing fast. Legit tried for several years to switch to that and just couldn’t do it... my body wouldn’t let me. Really cool to see one of my favorite guitarists play how I do. So screw the wrist technique for playing fast, I’m sticking with my arm. Sidenote: years ago I held my pick with three fingers, was told that’s not a good technique. Later watched and learned that Hetfield holds his pick with three fingers. I have now switched and play with two fingers but the point is, if you’re body naturally does it and you can pull it off, stick with it. If someone more advanced than you gives you advice about changing a technique, try it. Try it for a year or two. If you can do it your old way then stick with that.

[@sunnyalas6044]

Damn that is one sick right hand..\../

[@srinarayana]

Hmmm I wonder when the new Sylosis album will drop 🤔

[@srinarayana]

@@13guitard00d That is good to know! Thanks mate.

[@thegodphreaker]

Would you say the ability to pick fast comes from slight tension of the forearm higher up at the elbow, or is it more the wrist moving while the forearm stays anchored at the body. And I dont mean that the forearm actually moves, but the muscle contraction originates at the forearm with a slight, unnoticeable and subtle twitch? Also, pointed vs rounded pics, i notice pointed has more attack but rounded is easier to get speed but makes less tone. I use to tell my friends I was teaching fast alternate picking to to take a pen and hold it like a pic over a piece of paper and draw the shortest horizontal lines on paper directly underneath, with the muscle contraction starting higher up at the elbow/forearm, which makes the wrist twitch up and down at a highspeed, whats your technique, all wrist?

[@dannystumpf321]

All in the wrist

[@andresolivarez9450]

Awesome advice buddy

[@gipsyavenger9829]

MIddleton is a riff and rhythmic magician. Dude has the right hand of God (a.k.a. Hetfield )

[@metalhead282]

nice video! thank you!

[@tinydragon2645]

hey thanks for all that! quick question: where do you pick from? wrist? arm? both? been struggling for a week with the wrist! :D

[@Djeraldancheta]

My biggest problem is getting hung up on the string fairly constantly when galloping and tremolo. Any insights?

[@abhishekrana9470]

Try practicing gallops at slow speed, try to play it continuosly for a minute atleast.

[@totalbender420]

This was a great vid. Haha I feel like you should just call this “how to play with authority”

[@borhanus]

i m using a stainless steel pick .sound cool, the rubber picks kinda absorb a lot of sound

[@akwabutra]

i use a small pick (1.5mm) and i still get a play heavy. i had the same pick you have but it was too thin for my likings.

[@gabrielshelwood3072]

Thank you 🤘🏾

[@theinzawclashloso]

Wow amazing!

[@randomguitarnote8887]

Nothing beats a LPC for a good chunky metal tone.

[@kotymccallister5150]

So I ha e basically the epiphone version of this guitar (matt heafy model with gold hardware swap) and use the same picks as he does. I use 10-59 strings tho

[@hellskreamer]

lol just realised our setup is extremely similar, i am mainly rythm guitarist and i play 11/48 and use dunlop 1.14, lel.

[@solidshadownomad7936]

the sword t shirt got you my sub

[@wardkdouglas]

Mmmmmmmmm subs. I prefer Italian myself.

[@tobiliveathome2756]

thanks, it helps a lot!

[@samcruz6454]

I use .10-.52 on E tuning (25.5 scale) I just hate it when you get out of tune when you chug and/or pick hard. (Should probably change to a bit lighter), for the scratchy tone I use the "Flex" tortex Jazz III or the Jeff Loomis Sharp Picks and found out it has less noticeable scratchy tone than the regular Tortex material

[@nckhed]

You shouldn't go out of tune if your strings are stretched properly. Also, since you're using heavier strings on the bottom end, check to see if the nut slots are pinching the strings. I was recently having trouble with this and it was causing ridiculous tuning issues until I just widened the nut slots a hair for each string. Much more stable tuning now.

[@h3r3tic66]

Rhythm guitarists are underrated as fuck. I want to be rhythm guitar if i join a band cause ive always been a riff guy, not good with leads at all

[@waseemllica]

My forearm pains like hell when I do downpicks. What am I suppose to do?

[@noodle845]

If you're playing a 7 string but want to gallop on the 6th string, I find it hard to put any sort of aggression into it in case I'm hitting the 7th string. Any advice guys?

[@A9_Chord]

Minimize ur movement

[@christianguidone7000]

sick t-shirt mate!

[@stuartoneill3470]

what a legend. good man josh thanks

[@rolandlemus203]

Nice Gibson! Which year is that Custom?

[@brandonkelley5719]

Can I what height you put your strings at? No matter how high I put mine it still seems like the string doesn't return as fast as yours.

[@satanicwrath1968]

ok about the picks....i play melodeath using jaz 3s and 13-65 DR strings. and i get the heavyst when i make my riffs. so if you bro but thats just me...

[@ericvalverderosado2046]

i can hear clearly you're a Heavy, Thrash and Death Metal guy, just like me hahahha, but you can build your ideas way better than me xd, im an amateur now...but hopefully i'll start to learn more songs (can't play one complete song hahahha, i find a complex part and is like: oh no mate, my hand's gonna burn hahahha)

[@swaroov9236]

you are messing with sylosis warrior

[@marmaladebrah]

so tight

[@swaroov9236]

sylosis band members looks so innocent,actually their cute faces doesn't looks like they play violent music, but when you hear their music you know how baby faced thwy are

[@wolfieenightcore6701]

12:18 so is that also just down picking? Or is the triplets and stuff done with alternate picking and down picking

[@lebarbosa9778]

First down picking then Alternate picking

[@swaroov9236]

How about daddario 1.50 mm,its not cool to pick,but develops speed

[@catcaesar4490]

do you use your forearm when picking?

[@themaggot8]

Josh Sylosis I used Tortex picks for many years, then I tried the Jazz III and I couldn't go back. I think that you get a lot more accurate with those thick sharp picks than with tortex. The other thing is that with the Jazz size, you don't to use that much force to sound heavy, in fact, I'm used to pick really hard and I had to be a little bit softer with the Jazz. Anyway, amazing video once again.

[@thehoppo]

Same for me in terms of switching to Jazz III, I found I was choking the "man sized" picks anyway.

[@themaggot8]

thehoppo "choking the "man sized" picks" that's exactly what I was trying to say. As Matt Heafy once said, "you just have to pick like a man"

[@Roonagu]

Juan José Fonseca Godoy I would recommend to try John Petrucci Jazz III, size is something like a hybrid between Jazz III and Jazz III XL. I had been using Jazz III for many years, but it wasnt problem at all with switching to JP, and it seems to me than my tone is even more accurate.

[@themaggot8]

Roonagu I really want to try them, but I haven't been able to find the,. Now I'mt trying the jazz tortex 1.14 and it's really nice. I'm liking it better than the Jazz III, but I'd like to try a thicker version of it.

[@infernapeDLS]

lol I tried tortex, I really can't stand them..I use weird picks 1.00 mm Dunlop nylon picks, they're black. I played tortex and after I switched to those simple picks, I began playing better, they don't have that scraping noise I hate xd to each their own...I like trying new picks...I got a planet waves pick from Jake Bowen once..I tried using that . it was weird and floppy. Its funny how something simple as a pick can switch your playing style

[@myaspm]

what is the song from 4th (last) riff of the intro?

[@yuridanylko]

I experience a lot of tension in my hand to the point of muscle fatigue and only half of the time I actually get fast triplets to sound. What can I do? I've been trying to learn this for 8 months.

[@yuridanylko]

I should add that tremolo on any speed goes flawlessly

[@bobu5213]

My pick just gets stuck. I have been trying to fix that for 2 years and still can't do the speed bursts.

[@__Diego__Aguilar_]

Personally, that happen to me when using thicker picks. Try differents pick gauges.

[@davyscarpellini1348]

Please tell me which pick you use??

[@BoBz013]

i have a sudden urge to listen to she-wolf by megadeth :P

[@CliffJaded]

Underrated comment. Apologies for the necro.

[@spartanrabbit]

How to pick a 16th -8th -16th, please help!

[@Martin7182]

Nice stuff. What you call triplets sounds like gallops.

[@dylank6191]

They are triplets though.

[@A9_Chord]

@@dylank6191 as far i know triplet is 3 note per beat and gallop is 4 note per beat but u miss 1 note so there's gone be pause when u doing gallop

[@roguevoleur6411]

What does the V mean on your profile name

[@erickmazur807]

i always thought that "squeak" was a click track until i recorded a song playing hard. its the notes lol

[@swaroov9236]

How do he get that sound low distortion

[@benjimetalhed]

Should Reflections Through Fire be down picked or alternate picked?

[@clemensmoeller4549]

benjimetalhed I think they probably downpicked it in the recording but if the downpicking is to hard to do live they sometimes seem to do it differently live. A serpents tongue was also downpicked on the recording but judging on live videos they play it with alternate picking. But just for training purposes I would try downpicking.

[@benjimetalhed]

Yeah I agree. It sounds diet with alternate picking haha

[@Spite456]

i like the vid i kinda thought you was going to throw in some notes

[@keithcourneyea1609]

'Man sized picks'.... so true. No need to pussyfoot around. :)

[@goldendays404]

What scales and modes would you say are more commonly used in metal?

[@SuperCooldude24]

g major

[@SuperCooldude24]

Hahaha I don't even remember posting that. Yeah g major but the relative minor would be better so e minor

[@DropdaLTDtoB]

+SuperCooldude24 truth.

[@wardesu2120]

there is only 1 scale and many variations in western music.

[@Raghav_Sachdeva]

@@wardesu2120 There is more than one scale

[@xdx2653]

nice... what amp are you using? i like a lot the tone

[@mohamedalimechri2762]

+XDX HE uses Marshall JCM 800 mainly but his amp is modded, it wont sound like any JCM 800 out there

[@xdx2653]

mohamed ali mechri what kind of mod??

[@mohamedalimechri2762]

Ohh forgot about it bro, but he's got a vid about his JCM 800, and he basically say everything about it, check out his channel and you will find the vid

[@xdx2653]

mohamed ali mechri ok my bro ty a lot

[@mohamedalimechri2762]

XDX your are welcome