Mick Thomson Shows How To Play Surfacing

[@zascruyt]

"...and a little digital distortion to make it sound like shit" I love this man hahaha

[@XMetalChefX]

It was recorded on a rocktron piranha through a marshall poweramp and a carvin cab. He literally had terrible tone that sounded amazing.

[@nick_be9159]

@@XMetalChefX Mesa 925 power amp ;) the marshall he used with a JMP1

[@XMetalChefX]

@@nick_be9159 You sure? I swear I saw him with the Marshalls

[@nick_be9159]

@@XMetalChefX 2000% wanna have some links with Mick interviews that he says it himself?

[@XMetalChefX]

@@nick_be9159 yeah go for it

[@alexanderoden-r3j]

He was a great guitar teacher! I took lessons from him years ago at Ye Olde Guitar shop in Des Moines. He got me into doing sweep arpeggios. I learned a lot just from watching his playing technique. Precise and brutal! Really cool guy too. I wish I could have taken lessons from him longer. A few months after I started lessons he had to leave to record on Slipknot's first major label release. He came back and we continued lessons for a few weeks. After that he had to leave for Ozzfest and I think he's been pretty busy since then :)

[@crappyboy6522]

wow

[@twiztid133]

Stop lying

[@hankatstricklandpropane]

Alexander Oden Hey man, that's awesome. Dude can shred, but shows enough restraint in not over-complicating his riffs, which is admirable. Sounds like quite an experience, rock on!

[@brodieondasidewalk]

Why the fuck you lyin? Why you always lyin? Mm oh my god, stop fucking lyin.

[@adamgriffith-smith9106]

Alexander Oden r/thathappened

[@alexhollon7526]

This dude is unironically of the most technically skilled metal guitarists you could imagine. If he wanted, he could play with any number of technical death metal bands and would fit like a glove. No I'm not kidding in the least. He's a guitar teacher for a reason.

[@maJastoL]

Tbh I think he might fit in one of those bands even better than slipknot, seems to love death metal

[@Divine_Serpent_Geh]

Mick is a huge Death Metal guy. So were Joey and Paul, they all played in Death Metal/Grind bands before the Knot. There’s a reason the older records sound so damn brutal. Now on his guitar skills, yes. He is deceptively good, he is a learned player and his downpicking is ridiculous. He motivated me to practice it religiously.

[@jesusespada6753]

​@maJastoL i honestly would like to see side projects of jim root and mick Thomson

[@vrsq0863]

Only when you try it, do you truly realise how fucking talented these guys are

[@bakerhalt]

I know the comment is six years old (Jesus time flies...) but I'm saying this more as motivation rather than insult and it isn't directed to you only but to everyone who reads. Being from Des Moines in ye olden days these guys were probably very isolated, I know that was the case with Mick, who sat in his room and played guitar 6 hours every day, Prince also shared the same tale, Prince's room mates see him practicing guitar leads at 6pm, come home from partying at 11pm he is still on that same chair practicing guitar leads as if he hadn't moved an inch. What I'm trying to say is, the words talent/talented have been truly skewed, it's a simplification and I completely understand you didn't mean any disrespect, but to me it does come of disrespectful. I hate when people call me talented, or "rhythmically gifted" I didn't know jack shit about holding a groove, hell I didn't understand it 5 months in... I can go on but I don't want to sound egotistical it's not my goal here. Imagine if today you put in the work, imagine if this guy played guitar at least an hour in 2 days these last 6 years, he would be a MACHINE today. So reader, your life is in your hands, everything you hear and see in the human realm is achievable by YOU, it's on YOU how bad you want it. Fuck the "grind", it's livin' and breathin' it mothafucka! I hope I helped someone, this doesn't even have to be guitar related. I'm ready to crush my local scene and show them what hard work sounds like. Good luck to yall!!!

[@librarychair2255]

@@bakerhalt very well said

[@harlevinlp]

Looks like he's holding a ukulele.

[@DankoHidalgo]

It doesn't

[@joselopez6990]

He’s 6 foot 6 in body frame

[@MikeLearnsEnglish]

Mick Thomson and Jim Root are both 6'6 they dwarf the guitars

[@TacoFijiwater]

@@MikeLearnsEnglish mick is 6'4 jim is 6'6

[@CamDugg2004]

@@MikeLearnsEnglish Mick's 6'3

[@alistairmuckle9034]

imagine if he was ur teacher with the mask and everything😂😂

[@LiquidSasha]

he used to be a teacher apparently

[@randomchannel2105]

Alistair Muckle I would have a reason to want to go to school

[@marshallsalmon6924]

@@randomchannel2105 I wouldn't have to hate school anymore. I could just show up and start headbanging and no one would be allowed to judge

[@rileyrush9272]

😣😣😲😂😅😔😔😔😮😂😂😂😂😂

[@c48trey47]

That would be fucking awesome

[@Kylored]

Sometimes simplicity is the key for good music and it doesn't have to be complex at all to create good music

[@paul.orourke497]

My old guitar teacher once told me that it's not how many notes you can okay in a second, but how little you can play while still having something powerful and moving

[@fendertremolo9793]

Thank you captain obvious

[@cyntdestroyer69xd]

I would've said, that this is still kinda not that easy, especially that Mick's intro part,and ESPECIALLY considering what most of the Nu-Metal scene made. Self-titled still has that amazing "VHS" vibe in it, and the style of this album is pretty different from rapcore and Nu-Metal

[@regularjack2]

for anyone trying to play this in standard and getting pissed, its in Drop-B

[@Велосипедист-ъ8м]

Jackson Price I'm from 2017, that's still in Drop-B

[@awsjthegoldcobra23]

@@Велосипедист-ъ8м from 2019 here

[@EmptyDomoKanti99]

for those still confused, it’s B F# B E C# G#

[@kaleb.metzger]

I'm weak

[@bobaIina]

from 2024

[@fleckx]

"The heaviest songs tend to be the simplest." Indeed I mean Pantera, Sepultura, Crowbar... some of the heaviest Metal there is and not excessively complicated any of them.

[@slipknotman012345678]

MLGKFC ^YES

[@2014andon]

Not necessarily

[@thadutchrulezz]

Well, yeah guitar is pretty easy. Drum is actually pretty hard sometimes!

[@thadutchrulezz]

Zach McConnell Why that? If I may ask.

[@soilworker2099]

Frankie cocker Wow guitar really is easy isnt it... I bet your just a shred monster too, I bet your knowledge and technique is perfect, I bet you can play anything....

[@paulotwt]

5:24 damn, he's playing it all downtrokes

[@emmazinke355]

Lol

[@stefanfatu7889]

Emma Zinke he actually said that, it’s not a joke

[@emmazinke355]

Stefan Fatu. I know

[@ruzcelbeltran]

But james hetfield can do better hahaha

[@_swmc8_613]

@ruzcel Beltran he really can’t though. James’s down picking is overrated

[@MetalBaller83]

True guitar teacher right here. I would kill to take a couple lessons from Mick. One of the most underrated guitar players in metal. I love his comment on Master of Puppets. Definitely a true guitar lover. Watch some of the videos about his signature amps and guitars. This guy is a total gear head! I would love to pick his brain for a few hours.

[@bds_mguydasic9293]

You are right

[@pandamera1]

1:10 UUUUGGHHHHH I just LOVE the meaty tone of that riff. It’s so good.

[@bosephusjr]

his facial expression is always the same

[@robloxlover123456790]

+bosephusjr ikr

[@min1897]

+bosephusjr maybe because he's wearing a mask

[@KnicksBasketball96]

+Realm Werehunt that's the joke

[@jeremykuronya4391]

thats fuckin hillarious

[@MetalBaller83]

Lol!!! Love it

[@MauroGuedes]

This was the first video I watched in KZbin. I used to work in a music store in 2006 and I was browsing around googling "slipknot guitar video". All of a sudden this video pops up and my mind is blown because I was watching a video without having to download it! I called all my friends to tell them about it and they also went nuts. Good ol' times!!

[@eloymiranda6017]

"some really disgusting distortion to make it sound like shit" hahahahH

[@tylerwhite4625]

Ikr XD

[@educatedcockroach]

I like how Mick Thompson sounds exactly like you would expect him to.

[@Three3Nill]

Why do people love to hate so much. "that guy sucks!" "slipknot sucks!" I think they get the misunderstanding that if they don't like it, it must suck. Which that's not it at all. The world doesn't revolve around you. They are the ones with recognized names. They are the ones with recognized looks. They are the ones that play for huge crowds. Just saying.

[@fendertremolo9793]

Stop writing "they are" it's irritating. People are allowed to have opinions, you f*ckin Nazi

[@hazamahonoka7439]

@@fendertremolo9793 And with an opinion, most force it way too fucking much.

[@SkySouthern273]

@@fendertremolo9793 en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27m_entitled_to_my_opinion

[@lovelylemonfactory]

I agree, Ed Sheeran is awesome

[@NavidAhsan203]

I can’t believe this video is over 10 years old, I remember watching this as a kid and being in complete awe of mick and his playing style, he inspired my love for metal and guitars 🤘🏻❤️

[@patrickolivier1]

Same here 🤘🏼🙂

[@DavidjnMatthews]

This dude is an amazing teacher! Eager to show/ share the mechanics of his playing. I'm likely watching more of these directly.

[@juankamehameha]

That down picking tho...

[@cacullamiercale591]

Mick looks like a machine xD

[@i_have_a_coat]

+Sheogorath I love how he's like if you want to learn down picking go learn master of puppets first...

[@FlogehtaufsKlo]

Like he said, stay in your room all day and lose all your friends practising guitar

[@lucasoanta8878]

James Hetfield has entered the chat

[@bottomgear3686]

Who the fuck up picks? I never play up.

[@playful678]

i LOVE how he used Rush as an example

[@playful678]

I b in I km hnju Ku on ijj

[@playful678]

Hbu vbb b tinjhunitusybungky bog on u by myhjyup bugvb x bub mumvb b in iI I biuy bv

[@karenwooters1239]

Mick is love, Mick is life.

[@drdestruction3347]

“Basically you’re gonna wanna sit down with master of puppets”

[@BradyThomas]

whoops! i though this was the trailor for sinister 2 lol

[@misteralfie]

trailer*

[@misteralfie]

synister*

[@vidarskanal]

+Angelo Heringa loool it's spelled "sinister"

[@TheMakuta345]

I love how Mick can be talking regulary but as soon as he strums that first note he instantly locks into an epic serius look!

[@chrisworland7754]

have always loved the slam style riff at 4:04

[@ballsindustries8492]

To me it sounds a bit like Deep Six-Marylin Manson

[@fmbighair]

If you like that riff listen to the chorus riff of children of the underworld by Deicide

[@MetalBaller83]

His experience as a guitar teacher definitely coming through. Awesome

[@nyanrlz]

FYI Slipknot song are supposed to rip your head off your shoulders, not make you sit in a dark room trying to figure out the complexity of a masterpiece tab.

[@lolhowmad]

nyanrlz dude, shut the fuck up

[@nimarezvani9160]

+nyanrlz But i can rip my head off my shoulders while i'm sitting in a dark room trying to figure out Meshuggah's works. Not this prick. No offense tho.

[@crawlingamongthestars3736]

@Nima Yeah, but Mick is actually a really solid, technical player. It's just not being shown here. He's playing to the song. Not everything has to be technical, and not everything has to be guitar dominated.

[@karimpardayev]

The song is iconic ...

[@ImAVerySadFaceGoth]

240p... we meet again.

[@ImAVerySadFaceGoth]

Obviously troll... we meet again.

[@Venim85]

Donald Waite a potato

[@mrThorleifsen]

Donald Waite An egg roll

[@filipabramczyk8831]

Hello 240 my old friend

[@ElucidatorVids]

1,000 people that use digital distortion

[@austincutty4548]

wats digital distortion?.

[@Xiphos1349]

Or don't even like the band?

[@cacullamiercale591]

Whats a tuner?

[@ferna2294]

+caculla miercale What´s a guitar?

[@natedavid3873]

+caculla miercale whats a metronome?

[@alexmgs7934]

i bought this guitar yesterday, this is the best guitar for metal ever! this is a monster, you don't need a lot of distortion, it's amazing.

[@pablonius]

"Let the lactic acid build up on your forearm." Mick Thomson is a genius. And notice how epic his face is as soon as he starts playing.

[@SuperAssasinSteve]

I love how he says: "To make it sound like shit" XD

[@Noided88815]

His fingers are weirdly skinny for a man of his stature.

[@MrMillions69]

He has the weak womanly hands of a guitar princess

[@jery3385]

@@MrMillions69 he's pretty manly in his own right my guy

[@jamzifier4886]

He's a legend

[@garrett.c.j]

I like how he almost never looks at the guitar while he's playing... makes him look like a bad-a

[@Велосипедист-ъ8м]

GRocket1020 Years and years of practicing

[@ribertorbet5304]

Yeah, you don't have to when you're just chugging the shit over and over. This guy is garbage sounds like I'm listening to someone at Guitar Center

[@garrett.c.j]

Riber Torbet Jeez man bad day?

[@jong8265]

GRocket1020 or maybe he's pissed because all that chugging had took him all over the world

[@IceThatJaw]

1:08. Holy shit, that riff is badass! I went ape shit on my e-drums while watching this.

[@BenjisBoxingChannel]

When you first start watching this video, you wonder why he has the word 'Semen' written on his guitar...

[@chloeisabellagrace1868]

Mate...it says Seven...it's his number in the band you idiot😐

[@BenjisBoxingChannel]

+Chloe Grace hahahaha. mate. you have no sence of humour, and can't spot an obvious joke....

[@theonethatkillstheleast5441]

+Chloe Grace wow you must be fun at parties

[@robindreier9796]

Only he doesn't.

[@Spongeboy0]

I can imagine how she'll ever find someone.

[@PedroBlazeArt]

I was looking for the parody of this...but actually learned something new! What a great teacher!

[@TheDmanMA]

musicians are the best thinkers..

[@unoriginal_name7091]

Wow, he really seems to know his stuff; he'd be an awesome guitar teacher.

[@mokseee]

he was, before he entered slipknot

[@unoriginal_name7091]

Maksee oh cool.

[@stanpdrwash4807]

have any source on that statement?

[@mokseee]

StanPDR Wash slipknotiowa.com/mick-thomson-7-slipknot-guitar-biography

[@stanpdrwash4807]

This is a fan website with no/few sources for their facts. Im not saying its not true, but i would like to see if it was traceable to a good source

[@themknation4492]

Micks Expressions:Happy: 0:10Sad: 0:10Mad: 0:10Hyped: 0:10Confused: 0:10Sleepy: 0:10

[@longmeter9977]

Haha

[@jay-pi5gn]

Mick sounds so intelligent and just smart idk why he just sounds smart as fuck

[@haydenstrucksounds3681]

“The opening line in Surfacing. I use a pitch shifter. One note shifted up one octave. Another note shifted up two octaves. Original note mixed out. Little bit use it away, little bit of reverb. And some really disgusting bit of distortion to make it sound like shit. Here's how it's performed.”

[@MauroGuedes]

"Little bit of digital delay"

[@dylanduffy9177]

Greatest Guitarist On The Planet!!!

[@EliTEXeNoMoRpH426]

Dylan Duffy ha

[@TomHolloway123]

not even the best guitarist in slipknot IMO

[@derpdeep719]

Dimebag>all

[@lilcurrio]

Mick is an amazing guitarist. But if you are looking for the best guitarist in the world. Take a listen to Eddie Van Halen

[@aaaaaSHKA]

Dylan Duffy Go home, troll

[@MaNsonFanBye]

Dude has an awesome mask, one of the best, next to Craig's probably.

[@gorthind]

I like how this is an actual lesson. I love Jim but damn his lessons are just him playing

[@khaydennclark-darden4695]

0:30 best part

[@glumexamination7401]

I can literally hear the drums changing the riffs as he’s explaining them

[@austinguinn4584]

This tone is downright brutal

[@andresluisavelinovalderram8631]

Brutally and amazing sound and riff

[@CyanMadness]

I thought it said "semen" on the fret board for a little bit..

[@RuffisInc]

Can't really read it properly in 240p

[@foundyou1734]

Lmao

[@FilthTribeFTP]

"No its actually says semen, if you think it says seven, youre a fuckin idiot....." Not many people will get this reference. But it's funny that you said that because that gets brought up in a funny overdub of this video.

[@polillaguzman]

It's funny how Mick's mask is frowning but he's so gently teaching you the song step by step.

[@EllTeeTwoThree]

Great shit, I love that Mick was a guitar instructor for years before making it with Slipknot. He really fits a lot of good advice into this video that doesn't necessarily apply to just Surfacing but any music you might be working on.

[@hideki12345]

cool how even easy riffs sound fantastic when he plays them!

[@rydaflyguy03]

simply amazing he must have practiced for like 10 hours a day for years to become this good i hope i can someday achieve maybe half of his excellence and talent on the guitar

[@patrickolivier1]

How are you now? 🙂

[@mustainesmechanix]

i learned nothing but it was great i love mick

[@ahdbw8494]

I love that they do this all on 6 strings. Keeping it old school.

[@austin247990]

fucking drop w

[@AR-ic1ot]

Funny joke, but it seems like Drop A (obviously fuck loads of distortion)

[@lostfang123]

+Archie Evans Close. Drop b

[@bobbyraysetliff6795]

One of my favorite songs from self titled

[@Dragslo]

Mick and james are so huge! make the guitars look like toys. I think they are quite underrated, Im glad these videos exist so we can see how they are without the band.

[@ProtonicNemesis]

I love this guys mask so much haha :D

[@6789drummerdude]

that opening line is just killer. i love it!

[@StevenEveral]

For those of you complaining about the quality of this video: look at the upload date. HD at this time was only a feature on high end TVs, and a run of the mill computer was less powerful and had less processing power than a current generation iPhone/Android device.

[@braindamage7128]

Puppets is a right hand destroyer

[@Christo-s3c]

If you don’t play guitar. There is no possible way to wrap your mind around how talented Mick is. FOR A MAN WITH HUGE HANDS AND LONG FINGERS TO MOVE THAT FAST ON A NECK THAT SMALL AND NEVER MISS A NOTE IS TRULY FING AMAZING. NO DOUBT. MICK YOU ARE BADASS. BUT IT DOESN’T COME OVERNIGHT ITS A LONG TIME TO GET TO THIS LEVEL. I LOVE IT.

[@Murdee6]

WHAT THE F IS THAT 5:24 DOWNPICKING

[@JadeIsBunny]

Mostly accidental alternate picking. Somebody didn't practise master of puppets enough, ironically.

[@mikhailardhito1024]

Great guitar teacher with no expression

[@nathanhale23]

He's so fucking epic, his mask his height enforces his epicness and his hair is insane and his guitar playing is badass, throughout his playing he doesn't look at his guitar....he stares into your soul

[@CallMeMasterBabo]

2:50 love this part

[@calebwestcott79]

Why is there so much hating in these comments?

[@DeniseDahlen]

It's only envy XD

[@calebwestcott79]

Lol. ur probably right.

[@lokilaufeyson276]

Caleb Youde I wonder who your favourite Slipknot memebr is? XD

[@svbassist]

Caleb Youde Lots of very insecure people.

[@Pointsbeingmade]

Badass lesson. I tend to play with strained hands instead of lowering speed. Thx.

[@andywood2478]

Slipknot loves that disortion

[@beastinthecoverregard1190]

caculla miercale You talk shit alot in other guitar videos for not knowing what distortion is.

[@whatda45]

I don't really like Slipknot that much anymore but they were the band that got me into really heavy stuff so I still respect them. Mick Thompson obviously has a lot of skill just like Jimmy.

[@metalheadpolack]

I remember going home 14, only using schools internet to watch Jim root and mick Thompson guitar lesson during lunch (I had no internet lol), not even eat till I got home and practicing HOURS with pure enjoyment because I felt cool playing slipknot songs and actually learning them : D... I’m glad I grew up with talented ass guitarists like mick and Jim because to this day they inspire me and I’m proud of myself : D.. I like to play more like Jim as time went on and just practice silky legato stuff over variations of major scales, like he does.

[@saschasascha4285]

Does he play a 7 String guitar? If so individually built or like the k7 from korn?

[@deflepfan365]

Here we have 6" of pure talent

[@GoldenGateNum9]

*Intense and meditative for me, every time.*

[@PilaresdaHistoria.]

THIS SONG...IS CALL...SUURFAAAACING!!

[@georgeraptelo7185]

FUCKING AWESOME GUITAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@dax36dc]

just the guitar

[@georgeraptelo7185]

He's a very good guitarist,but he can be better

[@metalbynumber]

George RAPTELO He is an amazing artist but he doesnt show his potential in slipknot.

[@dax36dc]

i agree

[@roosolini7105]

Man the quality is so good

[@peggymonsterwihetmonster]

God bless 🎉🎉🎉

[@twiztid133]

I still want then to play master of puppets

[@CareyPortnoyBeauford]

i just dont get how all these guys all lived in the same state and all met eachother. incredible talent

[@EyeJayAre]

He might not be the best guitar player, but I'll take his skill any day

[@lolhowmad]

EyeJayAre Yeah because you're a master guitar player you would know who is and isnt the best. Fucking worm

[@anpleidhceeireannach9498]

Nah I'm pretty sure he is one of the best

[@cyntdestroyer69xd]

@@jimknight7666 There are such guitarists, as Tosin Abasi, or Tim Henson, and I'm pretty sure, that there are even better ones, whom we don't know about. So, I don't think, that saying "he's not best" is an offence. Remember, "if you're think you're best at something - there is a Chinese guy, that can do this even better". But I think OP is just an asshole, who wanted some flame in replies, lol

[@Metalheadmike1211]

Did they use a potato to record the video?

[@cacullamiercale591]

Connected to a lemon

[@Wolphy9914]

Mike Lariviere look at when it was uploaded genius

[@Metalhead4Life97]

to be honest...do you know what i don't understand?.. to me..Mick is one of the best metal guitarrists,yet...alot of people don't appriciate his talent,i mean come on..how can you not appriciate this guy? I'd really wish that people give Mick more credit for what he does

[@dtrocky7478]

The guitar needs a mask too

[@Tacotrain333]

still after this tutorial, the onlly guitar I can play is the guitar hero one

[@tylerwhite4625]

Same. I play Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock XD

[@user-bq4jv6tj8n]

I used to watch this video when I was 16, now I'm 33

[@Mr500Ninjaboy]

Who cares? They are still a great band (in my opinion)

[@sixtyninety]

he looks so menacing. but I guess that's the point of the masks

[@samuellanda9139]

SixtyNinety because he's big as fuck

[@sixtyninety]

Chef Vortivask i went to a concert on Aug 13 (Concord) & he just stood there the whole time and he looked so mad but chill at the same time

[@RamonIRL]

Reason we all love them is cos of crazy stupid shhhhh like the intro. He did that and was like yeahhhh f it. That will do. Iconic moments in the creation of the band.

[@6Chemical6Music6]

man, this sucks

[@filipvasicek1341]

Death ForceMetal fuck you

[@Xeroforte]

Death ForceMetal Was a gun at your head making you come to this video?

[@Wolphy9914]

man, you suck

[@SSThunDerHawK]

it looks so effortless

[@anakinskywalker1509]

God is with yall

[@damiansplayroom4943]

He's such a sweetheart❤❤❤❤❤

[@Mayhem0113]

His mask makes him look soooooo evil and demonic but hes rlly nice and i love how hes just calmy teaching us how to play a song

[@JeffersonDinedAlone]

Quality gear counts, no matter what level at which you're working. Sounds obvious, but it's not until you move up. I went from a Harmony through a Fender 4 x 10, which was abused within an inch of its life, to a 1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom (Tobacco Sunburst)which I lucked out and found through an ad in the paper from the original owner in mint condition through a Mesa/Boogie rig. What's that like? Like going from the prom to your own front door key to the Playboy Mansion. Killer.

[@raulsolis72]

0:32 love the way he puts his pinky up looks so fancy