The Most Used Chord Progressions In Metal Music

[@miguelfernandezmillan2829]

but but but, you forgot 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 like the definition of break down

[@Slamthulhu]

That's not a chord progression though?

[@adamhensby8534]

Add a few 1s

[@ellafebriani7570]

asking alexandria and attack attack joined the chat

[@mr.rworkshop6832]

You mean "Homosaphien/homo(shape)ien" metal

[@ruvchbrevth]

🤣

[@abhishekdudeja9186]

'As I Lay Riffing' that was so truee haha

[@crunk8818]

Abhishek Dudeja i want tabs for that

[@berziimusic]

Bullet fot my valentine in a nutshell

[@mykusmondo]

Generic LEGO Man yes pls

[@n4veybaby]

the entire metalcore scene in one video

[@NikNocturnal]

;)

[@n4veybaby]

would've also added 3-5-7

[@CodySpering]

I feel personally attacked lol

[@Pavol_P]

Shut the up

[@Baskl757]

Metalcore is hot garbage

[@RomanCzachor]

Ok but the Vikings and beards Riff is actually fucking killer, sick vid nik

[@NikNocturnal]

Thank you! :)

[@Unknownusername1004]

Sound a little like amon amarth

[@ze-ce.cra_]

Trivium the heart from your hate

[@floki5605]

Cameron Archer Not really

[@6.L.U.C.I.F.E.R.]

Cameron Archer , it sounds more like a mix between Killswitch Engage & Parkway Drive. Nothing like Amon Amarth 😂

[@aspiringmurdervictim2874]

Rawr XD is actually a pretty sick progression. Most of these sound pretty awesome the way you play them, actually.

[@-solidsnake-]

One Armee scissor

[@BlakeMcConnellMusic]

where is the jared dines shred war

[@abhishekdudeja9186]

Blake McConnell Wtf is there a shred war coming?!

[@isaackawlewski5925]

Abhishek Dudeja probably not, but we’re all hoping

[@brandonjota375]

stop wasting time and do a cover of the song lifeline from Somos

[@NikNocturnal]

I'd love to do one with him if he was ever willing :)

[@BlakeMcConnellMusic]

i'm patiently waiting for that day

[@morgonemusic3372]

“I don’t feel like using the chorus maker” is fucking perfect

[@christosioannouin]

I liked the fact that you explained how we can use the chord progressions to learn songs more intuitively, great vid man keep it up

[@NikNocturnal]

Thanks fam, glad you enjoyed it! :)

[@tyarfebrian2038]

@@NikNocturnal Sir, in this case (i) mean mayor or minor ?

[@Zinogre5730]

​@tyarfebrian2038 I think (i) means the root chord of the scale/key

[@tyarfebrian2038]

@@Zinogre5730 ok thanks man

[@brodycates8472]

As I lay riffing! Love it!

[@NikNocturnal]

Thanks Brody! I used to use that one FAR too often aha

[@brodycates8472]

It IS a good one though! I love as I lay dying, but it does sound like everyone of their songs. Not hard to over play (it’s too good)

[@bruteforce3170]

Nu Metal is One Step Closer.

[@NikNocturnal]

^^^

[@steeezyjoey]

It already is!?

[@followfornothing]

I really like how you looked up the bands yesterday and then to hear the end result of what you did, man. I gotta tell you that it wasn't boring at all. It was very insightful and fun to see that you studied on one side of the spectrum and then played what you learned on the other side of the spectrum.

[@NikNocturnal]

Thanks fam! I really wanted to include the idea of using the actual band songs we all discussed, I tried it and it just wasn't fitting that well sadly, so I ended up going with this one :)

[@followfornothing]

Nik Nocturnal this definitely worked a lot better. The "Vikings & Beards" seriously warrants a full version. It was my favorite.

[@brunoalves3958]

Oh lord! You are my songwriting guru! You’ve helped me open my mind a lot! Thank you so much!

[@kevgmei]

The viking's beard one is def Twilight of the Thunder God.

[@NikNocturnal]

^^^^^

[@asmoth360]

Twilight of the Thunder God is 2 2 5 10 0 though

[@jakezepeda1267]

The chord info on the bottom makes this video even better 👌

[@joshduby6526]

Nik my dude. I love your videos and guitar playing. You get me thinking differently about guitar. We all get trapped in a certain playability sometimes but when I watch your videos it inspires me to try new things. Thank you I hope you keep making good content haha

[@Syn-eo7yv]

Most used chords in heavy pop music... fixed. I love that you have the chord functions listed on the side.

[@jakobmogenson5150]

Loved the vid, until I realized all my riffs are in it. Crap, now what do I do? XD

[@NikNocturnal]

Lmao, I use these A LOT as well, dw :)

[@Judge_RR]

Rawr xD

[@kungfuman82]

Try the Shredmaster Scott thing by applying his prime, retrograde, etc to your riffs?

[@DanielSmith-pw9ws]

Hard same

[@vincentvinyl_]

1:27 sounds like the chorus of masterpiece by MIW (literally seeing this from the future)

[@RockWeller]

Hey Nik! Really love the riffs! As a rock band based in Singapore, really love your stuff!

[@swimminlikeapig]

This video really helped me come up with some cool ass riffs! I've always had the metalcore rhythms down but never really the chord progressions or the scales so it just sounded boring.

[@NikNocturnal]

Glad I could help :)

[@Freepin]

I need more Nik Nocturnal video's like this.

[@thierryvienna6144]

Nice vid as always Nik. Please do the most powerful dissonant chords or the fanciest chords ever

[@NikNocturnal]

Thanks! That's a great idea :D

[@ferna2294]

My music techer only knows the blues scale... I tend to make some sexy pseudo 80s rock riffs with that one hhahahahahahaha

[@NikNocturnal]

Haha, yeah some guitarists really can use it very well and in a unique way, but for the most part it's just extremely overused

[@spongebobsquarepants675]

ferna2294 wow slow down there turbo

[@thorthunderlungs5171]

ferna2294 Aka the Rammstein.

[@carlosmembreno7831]

Vikings and beards waa my personal favorite 👌

[@NikNocturnal]

I use that one a decent amount in my own original music!

[@itzthaman]

does what you played in Vikings and Beards have a name or just something you came up with? Would love to hear more like it, or get tabs or smthn :D Great Video btw!

[@Snowdon4321]

reminds me of my sweet shadow - in flames

[@TimlegoStudios]

Mine was "RAWR xD"

[@DxtEppieDoe]

I actually like all these riffs. Should i seek help?

[@NikNocturnal]

So do I

[@coleG112]

I mean... There's a reason they're the go-to riffs, right? They're catchy and sound great, especially when used well

[@alexmccullough1961]

Music needs repetition, theres no shame in liking ANY music (Even cheesy metal that makes you feel like an emo 13 year old)

[@chandlerfyfe1]

Well If you like metal, I’d hope you would like these riffs. You know.. cause they’re the most used progressions in metal.. lol

[@shadyacr]

I really like I-I-vi-IV, it's real emotional, old school emo. Similar to the As I Lay Riffing or whatever one lol.

[@formestaken]

WOAH THIS IS SICK!!!

[@Terribleguitarist89]

Probably my favorite yet of the, "Most used" series so far!

[@NikNocturnal]

Thank you, glad you like it! :)

[@markpilon6959]

Those video was exactly what I needed! Chord progression to break me our of my basic minor and phrydian scales

[@LunA-Emi]

1:58 I hear Rob Zombie on vocals. Sick video man

[@NikNocturnal]

Thank you! :D

[@etienneallain9807]

"Oh shit... I actually use that..." What I told to myself again and again watching this video. Thank you so much for this. X)

[@jeffsimpson8841]

Thank you so much! Amazing video!

[@MartinBergnerGuitar]

Haha I'm so guilty of doing some of these in my first songs and still there is a reason why they are popular, a lot of them just sound good in a lot of situations thats why people stick with it and thats fine until they are overused... they are so common that it's an instant turn off when I notice them I mean at least mix em up a bit

[@NikNocturnal]

Exactly! I use them a lot myself, but people have to use it in a unique way instead of just basic strumming with basic chords under them :)

[@snakehawk8164]

Dope video Nic stay healthy my friend

[@NikNocturnal]

Thank you!

[@VoodoodiamondBand]

I call this channel the inspirational metal library!! :D Amazing stuff mate!

[@sirdougieaudio]

You're one of my favorite KZbinrs ever, thank you so much for posting amazing content!

[@NikNocturnal]

Thank YOU for watching! :)

[@grantbowers2319]

1:11 I feel like this was inspired by open letter by the Amity Affliction 😉👌, 1:28 and I wiiiiiitheerrrrrrr

[@NikNocturnal]

You're spot on Grant!

[@xcalibrx1653]

IM NOT SEARCHING THE SKYYY FOR A REASON TO LIVVVEEEE

[@MarkArandjus]

Lovely tone, Nik.

[@NikNocturnal]

Thank you! :)

[@stevenprevatt7532]

Love your work man ✊🎸

[@NikNocturnal]

Thanks Steven! :D

[@malpacamusic_1007]

in much happy many feels, even though your bass note is on the 2nd fret on the second chord the implied harmony is actually the v chord :)

[@Artraxast]

awsome as always

[@NikNocturnal]

Thank you! :)

[@followfornothing]

There it is!

[@hieunguyenvu9448]

Vikings and beards sounds like an In Flames riff :)))) Sick dude

[@NikNocturnal]

That was what I was going for, thank you! :)

[@AusTraLiaNPsyChO]

20 years later and I'm still stealing riff ideas from As I Lay Dying's "Frail Words Collapse" album. Absolute peak musicianship. They aren't too bad either.

[@desolatesoul2304]

This rocks man!

[@NikNocturnal]

Thank you! :)

[@Jarsonia]

Wow so many ideas thank you sir

[@centocerez]

the fact that you nailed basically half of my band repertoire is a bit unsettling! But I like these progressions, so who cares?!

[@NikNocturnal]

Aha exactly! I myself use a lot of these, just gotta use them in unique ways is all :)

[@kahall]

this guy loves that Sleepwalking progression

[@edaj600]

Vikings And Beards was beautiful. It reminded me of Heart From Your Hate by Trivium.

[@vandersonjunior8018]

The "Much Happy, Many Feels" one reminds me of Disturbed hahaha I love this one

[@manlau999]

I just found you on Spotify yesterday hysteria is my favourite song 🤘🏿 I really like your music 👌🏿

[@NikNocturnal]

Thank you, glad you enjoy that album! :)

[@eddyguizonde401]

nice vid, very true. kind of expected the basic "heroic" progression of hitting C-D-Em-D-C-G-D-Em. maiden made a crazy number of riffs using that sequence, found it again in children of bodom's "hatebreeder" chorus, just the descent (Em-D-C) in their "hate me" verse, and it pops up a lot in melo-death in general. then again, it's also "nothing else matters"' entire structure... i refer to it as "the magic chords of metal" in reference to the axis of awesome's vid about pop songs (sequence which you used titled "much happy, many feels"). any chance for more chord progressions?

[@NikNocturnal]

Thank you! There are TONES of extra progressions I wanted to add so maybe I'll make another video with all those soon :)

[@InceyWincey]

Much happy many feels isn’t the axis chord sequence. The axis sequence is I V vi IV. Nik’s sequence is G F# E C. If we call E the IV, so that F# is the V and G is the vi, the I should be a B, but instead we get a C. If the C is the one we have a IV# and a III, if the G is the I we have a VII a VI and a VI, which is what the progression sounds like to me, not that it matters that much because changing key from G to C is as easy as falling off a bike.

[@mdntctyvlcn]

"Much Happy, Many Feels" ironically sounds like the whole of "Where is My Mind."

[@Bss_-eo9dn]

To me it sounded like the rhythm part during the solo My Own Prison by Creed, but tuned lower.

[@Archeum94]

Much Happy, Many Feels felt like A Chorus To Remember ^^

[@Max-The-Axe]

This really helped

[@HellGoodDoogz]

Hahaha the beards and viking windmill was gold! Spot on!

[@NikNocturnal]

Thank you! Sadly I don't have long hair to do a proper windmill but I did the best with what I have.

[@haaardcoooreee]

Im sure i could easily be a friend of this guy. Love your videos and music Nick!!!! :)

[@tylerh.2602]

Loving these vids man! Keep up the great work!

[@NikNocturnal]

Thank you! :)

[@joshgrimm8443]

Dammit you interrupted my full Nik Nocturnal disco playthrough

[@NikNocturnal]

Lmao sorry my friend!

[@memoire-30jm09]

"As I Lay Riffing" sounds like if Forty Six & Two was metalcore. 😆

[@zanitozanito]

0:31 that sounded like Spiders from Soad

[@INCRYPTIDFORM]

0653 sounds like a soad riff

[@sanyo_neezy]

thanks for the info! I'm going to try these out next time I write something :)

[@jordythebassist]

Much happy, many feels is basically Whiskey in the Jar

[@RedTownMedia]

Your face in the last one had me dying!

[@An_Amazing_Login5036]

Hey, I just wanted to say thanks! As a classical musician and composer (that always loved power metal lol) i work in the time-honored tradition of finding cool music, spray-painting it and calling it my own, and seeing these ”standard” chords makes it easy to get the right sound. Basically I’m happy I learn. (But why does everything relate back to the minor scale? Lol) Great work!

[@justpassing5324]

Great video!

[@NikNocturnal]

Thank you! :)

[@rskityaev]

Yeah, i-VI-VII is indeed very popular progression. Although i found a nice manner of playing it. I prefer play it downwards. I play in standard A tuning and going down from C to Bb to Ab sounds really nice and not so beaten up :) At least to my ear.

[@here4laughs]

1:50 Rather than (I-VI-IV-#I) it should be (I-VI-IV-tritone subV) because it is a transitional chord back into the I

[@NikNocturnal]

Oh I didn't know that, thank for your the correction my friend! :)

[@MaggaraMarine]

Not sure if I would call it a "tritone sub" in this case (it's more of a jazz theory thing any way). It's just the bII chord giving it a bit of a Phrygian sound. It would be a tritone sub if it was a dominant 7th chord. But without the 7th it's just the typical bII chord, also known as the "Neapolitan chord" in classical music theory.

[@rohanjeetdas5707]

Man, that Vikings & Beards got me fuzzy.

[@NikNocturnal]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@gerardogarcia895]

Much happy many feels more like bullet for my valentine fever album

[@puikinsh_]

Much happy, many feels - literally every Creed song ever

[@NikNocturnal]

Lmao exactly!

[@HeroxYouxH8]

Fantastic! I can't wait to start using these in my own music to piss everybody else off!

[@NikNocturnal]

Lmao, as long as you use them in a somewhat unique way then you won't piss anyone off.

[@GINOLR]

Vikings and beards, i need more of that

[@siavash1310]

thanx a lot.

[@tychovandonk2616]

The viking chord progression (leaving out the lead guitar) with some variations on it is pretty much every parkway drive chord progression

[@NikNocturnal]

^^ exactly

[@destiny0796]

"the chorus maker" is AA - Breathless

[@JustKeener]

I'm way late but the "Much Happy, Many Feels" is a little off; while the root is on the 2(II), the chord played is a VII/II

[@MaggaraMarine]

Not sure if that's the correct way of writing the inversion... VII/II would refer to a secondary dominant chord of the 2nd scale degree, at least in the traditional way of writing chord functions. But actually, I would first of all choose a different tonic chord. This is the only major key progression on this list, and the I chord should be the chord on the 3rd fret. It's the classic I-V-vi-IV progression, i.e., the "four chord progression" with the V chord in the first inversion. Probably the best way of writing the inversion with roman numerals would be either the classical way, i.e. V6, or V/3 that means it's the V chord with the third of the chord in bass.

[@lifebreather]

Hey man....the Vikings and Beards Riff is one of the best I ve heard in my entire Life! My girlfriend immediately Said to me: If this was an outro and repeated like four times with another harmony, it would simply be the best riff ever.....Is there a chance you can create a complete Song out of it?

[@NikNocturnal]

Thank you for the kind words my friend! I'll see if I can incorporate it into a song sometime soon :)

[@lifebreather]

Nik Nocturnal Thank you for your reply...Yeah if this was in one of your songs, I would say TAKE ALL MY MONEY!

[@tfos993]

As in metalcore...

[@AerosolKid95]

The chorus maker always cones back to haunt me

[@NikNocturnal]

Lmao, me as well my friend!

[@sdecario5736]

Awesome!!!!!!

[@NikNocturnal]

Thanks!

[@awightviewuhs6103]

1:40 is that... the office theme song?

[@mattsmith1825]

With punk music they use alot of major and 1 6 5 4 progressions with metal being minor what are some easy metal progressions you recommend like the 1 6 5 4

[@FloindaMTL]

As I Lay Dying made masterpieces using this chord progression though :D

[@jordythebassist]

As I Lay Riffing. Nailed it.

[@shamsonight]

Dude I love this series. It's great to have a couple videos I can use as a reference when I have writer's block. Can you do common Time signatures in metal? As in the breakdowns, riffs, etc.

[@_hexes_]

Oh my god you got these all on the fuckin dot, nice!!

[@39Panzerman]

1:27 Can youuuu take meeee higheeeer

[@wazzupbeercommercial]

noooooo now I want another AILD album :(

[@isaackawlewski5925]

Rob Tieffenbacher there’s talk on a reformation and comeback of AILD now that Tim is out

[@Unknownusername1004]

Isaac Kawlewski tim owns the bands name they can't remove him from it

[@2EyesI]

Didn’t he try to get his wife assassinated?

[@kevinperri93]

Isaac Kawlewski I doubt the other guys are gonna drop Wovenwar just to go back to Tim

[@aaronjones3181]

kevinperri93 agreed, but I doubt he would have a hard time getting a few good musicians together. He did Austrian Death Machine without the other AILD members. It just wouldn't be the same band though.

[@MaxRamos8]

I'm a bit confused, are all the chords in major or how do i know when its the minor form? its confusing me because the major/minor really affects the funtion

[@ADuckNamedVeld]

Metal guitarist typically play power chords (usually just the root and fifth on the two or three lowest strings) because a full chord across a distortion pedal typically sounds terrible. Because it is just the root and fifth of any given scale, power chords don't really have major/minor forms.

[@thedrycleaners3086]

These are all minor progressions (specifically C minor)

[@awightviewuhs6103]

What about that common ass chord progression thats in early metal, the progression thats over the solo in stone cold crazy and also hit the lights... and like... every other song on kill em all

[@ruvchbrevth]

Great video 😂

[@CarlosTorres-di5li]

Great

[@KoenvMeijel]

0-0-8-10 is about 50% of blessthefall's songs

[@NikNocturnal]

Pretty much.

[@mykusmondo]

So

[@danielbarreto2]

Thank you Man, i hope see vídeos, chords progressions like bands, special one band for vídeo, great

[@NikNocturnal]

Thank you!

[@bread_time255]

Me, trying to do this virtually, but not knowing tab: *confused screaming*

[@unknownentity7444]

I know I'm late so I'm just gonna put this here. The "Rawr XD" chord progression could be a villain-theme song. If you know what I'm trying to say.

[@BELIKEJUATER]

🔥🔥🔥🥶

[@coleG112]

Vikings & Beards is so early-August Burns Red I literally laughed out loud. Modern August Burns Red has too many different genres in even just one song to really fit just that though Also Nu Metal or GTFO is almost beat for beat the same pattern as One Step Closer I'm thoroughly impressed. All of these were super evocative of the individual bands they were obviously mimicking, but were still generic enough to fit more than just the one band.

[@davidlicea9192]

What do you mean with "VIII"? The "I" but octave higher?