15 HEAVY Riffs In E Standard (with Tabs)

[@JooshWii]

Unpopular opinion: Tone matters more to heaviness than tuning

[@mihalyponyiczki1855]

yeah but tuning down definitely helps getting a bigger tone

[@KevinBalke]

@Ohio Resident I absolutely agree.

[@Glintingbeetle]

Well a few things I learned after experimenting in lower tunings (A Standard) and comparing it to higher tunings (E/ D# Standard) is that most of the time you can ake songs way heavier just by changing the drum beat following it. (Changing from a two-step into a halftime groove or having some open space) The tone can add a lot depending on what style you use. You can get really heavy sounds when you use a djent tone that works better in a low tuning than a heavy metal tone for higher tunings imo. So I think you can play in any tuning really but there‘s a lot to keep in mind when you want to make songs heavy. It‘s most of the time not the guitar that makes a part of the song heavy (nowadays there‘s a lot of production-work for the song aswell).

[@lanceolson5988]

I see it as three pillars that can be balanced in varying degrees. The third pillar is composition. Neither tone nor tuning are going to mean much if the riffs you're writing aren't what would be considered heavy in nature.

[@MrHrannsi]

And on top of that, heaviness is a sum of all parts, guitar, bass and drums. Rhythm plays a big role in so called "heaviness"

[@percrunner1433]

I forgot about engine No 9. What a killer riff

[@Deadcorzhik]

Drop D riif

[@taproot-jt6pg]

@@Deadcorzhik нет, он в стандартном

[@Deadcorzhik]

@@taproot-jt6pg потому что он пенёк, на концертах видно что все в Дропе играется

[@taproot-jt6pg]

@@Deadcorzhik и? на студийной записи он в стандартном строе играет

[@ycelean5064]

rammstein riff looks like domination asf

[@Axay05]

True.. and the primus riff looks similar to cowboys from hell

[@kiefdemon1979]

You're both right

[@Slongoon69ma]

Domination should have been on the list. The break down alone

[@raulrossi9735]

Rammstein first albums sounds and have a lot of Metallica, Pantera and similar bands influence

[@mihalyponyiczki1855]

one thing I've noticed is that a lot of these riffs, including Freezing Moon use perfect 4s / inverted power chords a lot. those always sound so nasty, doesn't matter what tuning you are in

[@hzpfyjdcrbq]

I think if I add seventh string on that guitar, I can play all the same notes but with the actual root of the chord. Won't it be heavier then?🤔

[@arshakpetrosyan09]

@@hzpfyjdcrbq You'll get a thicker sound from that yes, but the bass is probably playing the root note in this case, so the lowest note you'll hear is still the root.

[@pAWNproductionsDE]

Inverted power chords are great for faking a lower tuning than you're actually in

[@mihalyponyiczki1855]

@@hzpfyjdcrbq it will be a different sound for sure, maybe heavier too

[@mihalyponyiczki1855]

@@pAWNproductionsDE absolutely! but they also have a nice nasty sound to them even when you play them on higher strings (just think of Crystal Mountain by Death)

[@UchihaZoSo]

Unless I'm mistaken, Inner Self by Sepultura is in E Standard and that riff is SO heavy

[@danbonestrider]

All Sepultura is in E standard until Chaos A.D.

[@francescof.9290]

The whole "Beneath the remains" album is extremely heavy

[@RobertHastings12]

I think most, if not all of "Among the Living" by Anthrax is in E standard. Some of the heaviest riffs of that era, in my opinion.

[@kiefdemon1979]

Was expecting 15 Dillinger riffs. Great video, didn't know some of these were in standard.

[@KevinBalke]

If the video had 15 Dillinger riffs it would still be legit though.

[@andrewpappas9311]

Definitely happy to see Primus on here, Larry LaLonde has such great riffs and I genuinely don’t think Primus would be the same without those weird and wacky lines over the absolutely beautiful insanity that are Les Claypool’s bass lines

[@TheSunMoon]

Opeth - Master's Apprentices main riff just kicks you in the balls. Especially at the intro. 🤘🏼🤯🤘🏼

[@carlangaspotter]

One of my favs!!

[@shanemedhurst9714]

Knew Sylosis would be on here somewhere, they’ve got some of the heaviest e standard riffs I’ve ever heard, good video man keep it up 👌🏻😊

[@frnaglfr5243]

Came here for this. Sylosis absolutely slays standard E tuning

[@shanemedhurst9714]

@@frnaglfr5243 I remember the first time I heard empyreal I was like holy shit that’s heavy, gotta be like drop a or something close, nope just those inverted power chords Josh loves to use, they kill it man 👌🏻

[@flamethegame1]

even more proof that you dont have to tune down to drop Z to sound heavy folks

[@heccingcommie4942]

but it sure helps

[@XxNoMErcY99xX]

I agree but it just doesn't feel the same though. (Not excessive) Drop tuning has a special something to it

[@theswartleymc]

If your riffs don't sound heavy in Standard then your riffs are weak

[@zomielastaroth4956]

You're absolutely right. I always say that.

[@valenb2839]

True, its all about the composition

[@VeritabIlIti]

Sure Standard 9-string tuning *laughs in Mick Gordon*

[@bonifasiusnathanaeladinugr8248]

Just how Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth lead singer) said it

[@proudbrogressive315]

Damn right. All those hipster djent kids with their droning low tunings are still sounding weaker than Deicide's Legion, which is E standard.

[@zacdubois8282]

All great choices! Slowly We Rot was the first song that came to my mind. Much love♥️

[@cradelioTV]

Crazy selection. The Pimus bass line transcription is on top.👌

[@toothless7053]

So happy to see Sylosis make this list!

[@heathskrabak5214]

As a drummer , and guitar player . I know that a lot has to do with the drums (beat selection most importantly ) and what the bass player does to contrast ( not play the same dam thing as the guitarist ) the guitar riff . It can be as specific as the bass kick or snare hit placement on exactly the right interval to achieve maximum heft . You can notice this here on a couple tracks the best is different and they don’t sound as heavy as the original .

[@massposting6845]

43% burnt is such a good song

[@Jws0]

Yes! I knew it was an Opeth song in the thumbnail! Couldn't quite put my finger on which one though. Probably because of the starting point. Showing the tritone would have been a dead give away :)

[@KevinBalke]

Haha, I intentionally didn't use the tritone part for the thumbnail so as not to spoil the first entry. But actually I didn't really expect anyone to pay attention to it.

[@Hello-cw7ou]

Mors principium has more or less everything in e standard. They are heavy and you should check em out, they are really good

[@KevinBalke]

Thanks for the band recommendation, ended up listening through several of their albums.

[@Unwanted_Being]

That ibanez is really pretty and the riffs are fire too!!

[@richardhornberger2182]

Cheers for including Masked Jackle.

[@nikthomas-le7915]

Brilliant Coroner track to finish 👌

[@kidrock5709]

SUPER 🎸💪🎶👍 Pozdrawiam From Poland 🇵🇱🎸🎶👍👍👍

[@kalamay]

Coroner was a nice surprise! Best prog-thrash band

[@MarceloFranco87]

I was FEELING there would be some riff from Deftones' Adrenaline in this video. Not disappointed at all! Engine #9 is a banger.

[@giovannidykes6158]

Brendon Small has proven that all you need is some overdrive with c standard tuning. That is the sweet spot between low tunings (B - A) and tones. His Burstbuckers are really good on just a clean amp with some overdrive.

[@ski9392]

Being "Heavy" is an attitude/way of playing, NOT your tuning. All the bands chugging their low string but not coming up with interesting riffs are not heavy, just unoriginal, in my opinion. Great video, thank you for making it.

[@peaner083]

Absolutely yeah

[@RafaelCDet]

Nope, that's YOUR definition of heavy. For everyone else, heavy means heavy. Architects is heavier than Slayer, even if their music sucks.

[@charizardmaster13]

No thats called attitude and something being badass. Heavy is subjective and a completely different thing

[@singleproppilot]

You mean like most of the bands featured in this video?

[@breidablikmusic2501]

Coroner

[@Xammblu_Games]

Pissed I had to scroll this far down to see them finally mentioned

[@eoinbourke6577]

Entrance of the conflagration by trivium is another killer e standard tune

[@MrTimAREus]

Nice Graveyard record in the background Innocence and Decadence

[@KevinBalke]

My favorite Graveyard record, everything about it is just right for me.

[@sn00k24]

Great list! I highly recommend Descend by Summoning the Lich for super heavy E standard songs too

[@frnaglfr5243]

Yo I just saw them open for Allegaeon a few weeks ago and they were fucking SICK. Do they always play E standard?

[@KevinBalke]

Oh damn! Nice. Thanks for the recommendation.

[@MrCopenhagen113]

Black Sabbath, darkest and heaviest riff in this video.

[@KevinBalke]

They started their first album back in 1970 with this riff. Savage.

[@MrCopenhagen113]

@@KevinBalke N.I.B is still the best off that album though. Mostly because for some reason ozzys vocals on Black Sabbath just sound off to me

[@TACDKillswitch93]

To the rats by trivium is also in e standard and that riff is so thrashy and heavy I just love it

[@Sadion666]

Mass hypnosis by sepultura, all of Power Trip and wasn't Domination in standard tuning? Could be wrong though?

[@Evolji228]

Great riff choice my friend! P.S. S521 is love < 3

[@dbwastooshort]

as i clicked on this video i was thinking to myself "there better be opeth in this video", lo and behold first riff is heir apparent

[@timg2727]

I was hoping to see Heir Apparent in this video and was not disappointed. Any riff from that song could've been here.

[@lordoftheelements2112]

I am so very glad that Primus made it onto the list and that you payed homage to Larry Lalonde!

[@doctor_yogurt]

But he played it wrong

[@DimitarHMarinov]

Thieves by Ministry fits well in this category

[@francescof.9290]

Burning inside too

[@eamonahern7495]

Yes! Any guitar I've had was almost always standard tuning.

[@anttikettunen8601]

Interesting song picks. Thumbs up!

[@christophernoble76]

This could be a list of Opeth only and it would be legit still

[@KevinBalke]

Absolutely.

[@gmdevilla0599]

Domination-pantera

[@nikolasguitarplayer]

I my Celtic Frost first Eps and albums

[@krook1298]

Came to see if you included Heir Apparent. Not dissapointed

[@lucasvandale1370]

Excellent!!

[@fernandomoreno3148]

oh my god . THANKYOU

[@vollxx4872]

nice work

[@velocitrader]

Every Metallica song before 1994 lol

[@skeletonskeleton3233]

The Thing That Should Not Be is in D standard

[@neroun671]

1990*

[@valenb2839]

@@skeletonskeleton3233 sad but true too

[@soundrelax7547]

Fire 🎸🔥

[@ok5988]

Btw: hammer smash face is in Eb tuning

[@broondjongen]

Every song by From Autumn to Ashes can also fall on here

[@JoshuelAdame7]

Standard stunning Sylosis police here to ensure they made the list. Your free to go.

[@BillBraskyy]

Cool video!

[@Anti_VerdictNMD_YeahDivertito]

awesome!

[@metalfreekz13]

Some of my faves : Like Callisto To A Star In Heaven - Trivium God Has Fallen - Mors Principium Est Creed of Tyrants - Winds of Plague Damage, Inc. - Metallica Washington Is Next - Megadeth Funeral Hymn - Exodus

[@DNOWAKJR]

Good to see some winds of plague

[@elgendor-powerslayer_4184]

Agreed, they are a phenomenal band

[@itstony1567]

I was thinking I was gonna hear some pantera but these are so great choices

[@juliodefreitas157]

Awesome 🔥🔥👍👍

[@TommyTotone]

Some tight riffs thinking of joining is there ALOT of tabs I can tap into that you do

[@thischanneldoesnotexist.750]

43% Burnt is the greatest Math Rock song ever

[@TheAntarcticaProject]

❤️❤️

[@CPSDREI]

What's heavier? E Standard with low tension strings or C# Standard with high tension? Personally I tune my guitar to c# Standard just because it fits my register better

[@pascalphilosopher4237]

Suffocation plays in C# in they are fucking heavy

[@joeylo3543]

I see Borgir I happy. Your taste is chad tier

[@Floptart]

I came here just to make sure that 43% burnt was properly represented.

[@DragonBolo]

Strange that no song from Obituary´s first album “Slowly we rot” made to the list of the 15. Each song of this album is way heavier than all songs played here ….

[@stepa22]

Symphony of destruction where?

[@orionmartin6908]

Casually has the second best graveyard album in display 👀

[@calvee1100]

Love this! 🤘 What guitar are you playing?

[@KevinBalke]

Ibanez S521. My gear is linked in the description.

[@dxfifa]

Malpractice or Jizzlobber (or Stripsearch breakdown riff) by Faith No More for part 2

[@type_o_negative459]

fire

[@romanders6451]

I always play freezing moon with minor chords instead of the inverted fifths xd

[@ayeessbee4641]

In my opinion one of the heaviest standard tuning riffs is the bridge of Am I Savage by Metallica

[@leo_khali]

I came here just to make sure Sylosis is on its place

[@mrm_10_]

Great🔥

[@heathskrabak5214]

Would have liked to seen Leper Messiah instead of FWTBT that riff is heavy as balls even on its own . Also Killing in the name of or Guerrilla Radio instead of Bombtrack . The front half of that riff is heavy but it’s resolved by a bluesy smooth thing that lightens it up . Which I’m great with , just doesn’t make it to be their heaviest riff/ song by far .

[@Gab0ME]

cool songs!

[@toddwilliams8128]

Coroner 🤘

[@Roberto-nn6kb]

11:08 should be first 🤘

[@GeoLumen]

15 HEAVY Riffs In E Standard and Megadeth's Symphony of Destruction is not included? Blasphemy!

[@Andrew-Gomez904]

you could probably add some Saint Vitus early work to this too, or other doom bands

[@muhammadfadhil9544]

Slow rock riffs please 🙏

[@greaser7765]

Lack of Metallica in there is offensive

[@francescof.9290]

Lack of "For whom the bell tolls" in this video should be illegal

[@matiaschidiak2340]

if you want heavy riffs in E standard go and listen to mors principium est

[@mrpositronia]

Yes. Can everyone just reset and get back to standard E tuning please. There's no where left to go, other than back up.

[@karenwang313]

One can only pray. One of the reasons I dont play much metal is because I don't want to constantly be tuning my guitar all the time lol.

[@Judasinchains]

E standard is heavier than any tuning djent bands use

[@nairamdiam]

I think that using power chords with additional perfect fifth octave lower, sounds good only to B chord. A and Bb chords played that way sound muddy and like a lump - 2:32

[@viktorgemeri4588]

Bro please come to brazil make a concert

[@ktfnmusic1708]

Winds of Plague... Godzilla walking

[@always_on_ten]

Graveyard album cover is cool

[@drk3758]

What about To Live is to Die by Metallica or Rope Ends by Pain Of Salvation?

[@wintlock]

Surprised du hast didn't make it to the list

[@valenb2839]

Or Links 234, so heavy

[@benji31184]

can you do cover watching over you full song by amber pacific with chords plss, thank you

[@brendanhayward7577]

Nice

[@Trolling4Jesus]

You can't kill the metal

[@bazookaman1353]

Music tone is defined by mainly intervals and a very small side of register, tuning has very little to do with it, as a matter of fact, keys are a relic of the days of just intonation where intervals would actually change, now with equal temperament keys only matter to easy the jobs of singers or if you modulate, other than that keys aren't actually real.

[@VeritabIlIti]

I know several composition majors and instrumental musicians that would love to fight with you on this

[@heathskrabak5214]

Yea there are some good points there , but if you play any if these riffs then tune down to C against the same beat . Two steps down sounds heavier . It just does . It also makes higher notes especially in the area I like to play sound fuller , smoother , and more ear pleasing … for my taste .

[@bazookaman1353]

@@heathskrabak5214 It's overall subjective, while lower gives a standard heavier feel going at the opposite direction can cause the same effect on different circumstances.

[@badbeardbill9956]

Key can influence register, timbre and register also have an interplay. Yes there are only so many pitch classes, but something in the key of E may still sound different from the key of G even starting at the same octave, because the register is altered slightly

[@boxer4engine]

Syslosis - Servitude.

[@atomicclockagency]

I love how that one of the first metal songs ever written was in Standard E and it gets so much flak for not being a proper metal tuning

[@isaacspradling2777]

I'm not even a huge Sylosis fan but if Empyreal wasn't on this list, I'd consider it a failure.

[@christiancrowder4214]

Wonderwall should’ve been on here

[@Vhaldemar90]

Freezing Moon is 430 HZ