4 MORE Most CONFUSING Metallica RIFFS! (Part 2: Subscriber Requests)

Had so many great comments in the last video that I had to make this follow-up video right away. Thanks to all my awesome subscribers who suggested songs and guided me in the right direction on some of them. Check out all my videos at: www.the-art-of-...
Patreon: / theartofguitar

[@arglbargl]

it's cliche at this point but james hetfield's right hand is metallica's actual drummer

[@jeromebraden7364]

I've never heard it said myself, but I can believe it. In fact, I'd add that his right hand is the bass and singer too. :P

[@krzysztofhanarz8778]

just listen to Joe Duplantier talk about what you hear in hetfield's live in-ear monitors :)

[@Fister_of_Muppets]

Yes

[@dartawnasailo4449]

He himself also says" i play it as a drummer but on the guitar"

[@yasinkarakaya1073]

That frayed end of sanity riff is a masterpiece

[@phadrus]

Yasin Karakaya yes, so simple yet so stinkin groovin

[@russianbear6384]

Lars is a great drummer. He plays to the same rhythm as James riffs. He's definitely gotten a tad sloppy at times during live shows. But he still grooves hard.

[@prometheustv6558]

Russian Bear He can be a great drummer when he wants to be.

[@janugur2241]

@@prometheustv6558 Dyers Eve and Fight Fire With Fire: *intensifies*

[@drummerdude476]

I like Lars, but he has pretty much never been good, except for in the studio. Even back in the day he would drop beats and have tempo issues. Those tempo issues are way more glaring now though in his old age, dude seriously needs to put a click track in his ear or something when he plays.

[@JVR10893]

PrometheusTV He actually posted a picture of him practicing during this quarantine, and I had to laugh because it felt so uncharacteristic of him.

[@Stereotype23]

​@@drummerdude476 "never been good" is a pretty ridiculous statement. If you compare him to the best metal drummers then maybe yes he is not quite on par (though even that can be argued at his peak around 88-89), but compared to 90% of rock drummers he is really good and one of the most creative drummers out there.

[@russianbear6384]

That Orion riff always kills me. Like you said, you really just have to zone out and count the down beats

[@walkingdirt138]

Russian Bear that’s right on dude! That’s still one of my favorite songs to just groove on.

[@enlight_8360]

I now like the song less now that I can hear the riff stay the same instead of changing. The change made it cooler. It made it feel like there was a part 1 and part 2… now I can hear it being all samey and I wish I didn’t watch this video.

[@markusnyman6897]

Fun fact: damage inc has the most open e in metallica songs

[@emperordraygon]

Even compared to Whiplash?

[@sampeake4235]

Or disposable heroes

[@A7xeno]

Disposable heroes and Whiplash

[@Aaron-ts4ym]

It isn’t it has the most in a row but not in total

[@Wind-nj5xz]

@@Aaron-ts4ym Doesn't Disposable Heroes have more in a row?

[@davidkinsella7624]

It's been 34 years and somebody finally cracked that Orion riff. I can die in peace! Mike you legend.

[@mplegrandpa6018]

In Orion, they play the “normal beat” riff in the outro

[@sebastianthrash227]

well not really. it doesnt have that weird timing thing but its technically a normal double time beat...

[@NekroMcFly]

The interlude riff on Damage Inc. palm muting Is confusing as hell.

[@thadkayne]

simple. just know when to downpick and when to alternate pick. this riff cannot be played with just down or just alt. I play it down, down on open E. down, up on 7 fret on A.down on open E. up on 8 fret on A. down on open E. up on 5 fret on A. down on open E. down, up on 7 fret on A. down on open E. up on 8 feet on A. down on open E. down, up on 7 fret on A. down on open E then end with power chord with down. picking pattern= d, d, d,u d, u, d, u, d, d,u d, u, d, d,u ,d d. hope this helps

[@ΑλέξανδροςΛαζαρόπουλος]

When all of these metallica riffs are straight beat, the sound like they came out of kill em all

[@ChrisRash]

That Lars weird drum pattern on the Orion riff still messes me up after 30 years of playing it.

[@tweettweetjones1262]

Well, I'm 50 and I've never played it so I guess that means that I'm the winner...oh wait!!

[@kirkohagan5181]

Amen

[@prometheustv6558]

Confusing Guitar Riffs Take 3

[@TheArtofGuitar]

FML tonight. I had to break a few laws to fix this.

[@BlackMarketHoney]

Lars flips the snare to down beats and the bass to upbeats on many occasions while James plays the same. Creates an amazing effect. The freakiest one for me is Blackened main riff right after the solo. Lars flips the snare and bass for the first 4 bars, does a half drum roll then flips back to the standard pattern. Super tech! James is playing the same thing the whole time but the drums make it sound like two different riffs! Legendary!!

[@deadstar44]

That drum shifting placement during that post-solo reprise of Blackened signature riff is so confusing. It's like Lars plays out of sync with Hetfield on and on then you realize it was actually deliberate when he comes back right into the original drum placement with those final crash/snare fills closing that section. They skip that post-solo section live though because it's too confusing to play like the album lol.

[@lovefan7694]

The one from Blackened right before the solo. It has a really confusing time signature

[@_Obnoxious_]

That is true, but the time signatures are 6/4 (like the verses) and right after that measure it goes to 7/4. So its like the verse beat and the next measure it just has one more extra beat. Hopefully that helps. So right after he says "See your mother die" it goes to 6/4, then 7/4, then 6/4, then back to 7/4 over and over again. when the solo begins (Before the crazy drum part) its 4/4. And the fast tempo is 7/8.

[@Wind-nj5xz]

It's just alternating 6/4 and 7/4

[@GSpareBurner]

You probably mean the one that’s a combo of 4 to 2 to 4 to 3

[@simezra]

that Orion riff is my top favorite of all time, i`ve listen to it so many times and i still think he play it different on the second pass, at the outro he play it like you said idk it messes with me mind

[@kartikaye3313]

3:05 We vibin' to this on the dance floor

[@spill1t]

I LOVE those Frayed Ends and Orion bits, but especially Frayed Ends. Thanks for this Orion bit though because I play the rest of it OKAY, but that odd time signature ALWAYS MESSES ME UP!

[@tolyo96]

You have to do a third part, I just NEED to know how to play Ain't My Bitch

[@acemew3255]

Апостол Радославов кефи ме как си sub-нат към Rudy и Filthy Frank

[@tolyo96]

славни времена...

[@alpha.primus8258]

Many haters but the guys are Iconic. They will not last if they are sloppy or whatsoever. They are one of the greatest heavy mettal band that still on top at this moment in history.

[@brobamsmusic]

Trash metal not heavy

[@FyreofShadow]

@@brobamsmusic Thrash*** metal, and it can be

[@dylancampbell8064]

@@brobamsmusic They have one thrash metal album. MOP is the pinnacle of heavy metal.

[@govindgerard8551]

Holy shit. The Orion part on lars changing his beat instead blew my mind. I thought I was playing it wrong. Thank you so much man! 🤟🏽

[@reykjavik666]

Tell me you did Trapped Under Ice in one of these videos. That one ALWAYS trips me up

[@SouperAsH]

The tone from that SG, and whatever else is involved in that rig, is unreal.

[@tripsr4kids]

im no longer a metal head. im now a professional jazz and funk guitarist. but i love your channel! lol brings me back to high school when i listened to Metallica, Priest, Maiden etc at nauseum to learn every guitar riff on every record. you're clearing up lots of blind spots that are decades old hahaha! nice work and thx!

[@trevorjalla]

when you said Frayed Ends I thought "yesss!" but then you broke down the part that was straight 4/4 :( I wanna hear your take on the the B section (starting on B). I can never tell if they added a an odd time signature between sections OR its a flipped beat. fwiw, that section is my favourite in all Metallica riffdom and also I recently found out what Rob considered the most challenging section he had to learn when joining the band.

[@austinhunt4260]

You’re a great teacher, bro!

[@maiorrroberto]

would be super cool a teaching video of the metallica guitar duets, like in "master of puppets" before james solo, "fight fire" after solo, one after guitar solo, blackened before the guitar solo

[@Hoscitt]

01:18 - 01:20 your foot tap switches from the 'one' to the 'and' Haha, this is why we all struggle! 😄

[@Rebel-zw5hv]

PART 3!! I love this super helpful in this one especially with fight fire with fire and Orion. Great work! 🤘🤘🤘

[@hugovalenzuela5992]

very interesting about orion, I always thought it was a variation on the riff

[@epicrawr123]

These videos have been so interesting and really educational! If you do another video can you cover the breakdown riff in Damage Inc? The riff around the 3:12 mark in the original recording

[@metaldog4642]

It's amazing when u slow the riff down it sounds completely different

[@5150JAM]

saw them once.....in 86 opening for Ozzy.....saw Cliff too.....what a show

[@666Jakemetal]

I could never wrap my head around that fight fire with fire but I think I can get it now

[@josephbuscarino8264]

That frayed ends of sanity riff is the best riff on the entire and justice album. Blackened is my favorite song ever by Metallica but that riff is just so good. Both solos though are neck and neck for me. They’re both just so well written

[@qzwxecrv0192837465]

I think I have mentioned this in one of his other videos where he demonstrated tricky (odd) playing of the guitar with dums: if you compare james guitars on the normal beat VS off or down beat, the down beat keeps the songs cleaner and more open sonically. James will have an accent note between snare hits rather than on, adding depth as well.

[@daniconstantin1463]

The intro to The Shortest Straw is an awkward one to play and is pretty tricky. Maybe do a part 3 featuring this one.

[@getstickbugged_lol950]

Sounds like spanish music lol

[@gabriellarrubia1006]

Awesome, I think this definitely ends the Fight Fire with Fire mystery for me... Just a quick comment on Lars: He gets criticized quite often, but you can tell Metallica was scratching the surface of prog with some of their songs, and he was essential for that... Sure, I've heard crazier time signatures and changes from other bands, but it's technical enough to the point that it occasionally needs to be broken down and analysed like this...

[@Th3Raz96]

Yessss I'm so stoked you did the one I wanted, the Frayed Ends of Sanity riff. Thanks man

[@albertosotelo9969]

That riff in fight fire with fire is the one that has prevented me from learning it for about 20 years. Thanks Mike!

[@BL-cc1vm]

You're explanation of fight fire with fire helped me alot! Thank you ! By the way I can't help but notice that salt lamp on top of you're gear, be careful those lamps absorb and leak water I bought one and it left a puddle of water everyday! I live in the south where there's a ton of humidity. Maybe they don't do that in dryer places.

[@phadrus]

Dude, thank you for making that fight fire with fire riff clear for the first time! Wish I could like this video 1000 times.

[@davidmustonen9456]

Thank you! Not all heroes where All Valley Karate Kid Karate Championship Baseball tees..

[@beltalowda7897]

Thanks man. I noticed in person back in 2011 at the Big 4 Yankee stadium that they do throw that power chord in in Orion. Love that song. I think it might be the other way on the album though

[@bleromafia]

3:35 I really was laughing my ass off

[@bleromafia]

@Psyche ok.

[@fpardo2111]

I cannot believe that Orion Riff is the same the 2 times! Great video dude!

[@DeviantmindOG]

LOVE this series of Metallica going on!!!!! This is unique, because nobody gets into the details like you do ❤️

[@paulmcnair2735]

Very good teaching! Slow deliberate, informative, keeping the listener interested!

[@jacobwooten5137]

For me a confusing metallica riff has always been ronnie would love to see you talk about it!!!

[@TheArtofGuitar]

My knowledge of Met ends after the Black Album. It's not that I don't like the albums that follow it's that I was so depressed I associate bad feelings to them. :(

[@remisathemasta2]

@@TheArtofGuitar Lucky you, that you still have so much to explore :)

[@macerra4401]

@@TheArtofGuitar I think that you, being a classic Metallica fan, would really enjoy their most recent (2016) album if you haven't already heard it. Very reminiscent of their Puppets/Justice sound

[@quintonkrull5086]

Thankyou for all the great channel

[@captainblackbeard7840]

its unfortunate that the majority of viewers just watch without hitting the like button. the orion riff always tripped me up, thanks for clearing that up for me bud

[@fabianarteaga5931]

The other riff during the guitar solo in The Frayed ends of Sanity still fucks me up

[@elielsilva7432]

2:45 man that shit is groovy as hell when you put it that way

[@daltonhagood5059]

I used to play bass and on the Orion one the original way you said(with the multiple hits in the 1st fret) is how it’s played on bass so I think that’s where that comes from

[@Fister_of_Muppets]

The Frayed Ends of Sanity riff is so simple, yet so dynamic/groovy/progressive to how it is positioned into arrangement in the song. Also, the Orion riff with how Lars arranged the drums, I kind of dig how Lars mixed this, because it gives the illusion of the "false" eb-and-flow that makes it seem like the guitars are hanging back with the drums, when in actuality the bpm never actually changes. Cool stuff.

[@JohnSmith-cl2sq]

I don’t trust those tab books but to me anything that Mike says is GOSPEL! Musical talent at its finest!

[@SengiR86]

Fantastic video series!!!!!! Thank you!

[@richardskinner1155]

The Frayed ends slowed down beat sounds really cool!! Definitely more like newer Metallica

[@StevenFonte]

When sometimes I tried to record some songs the thing I noticed with Metallica is that when I listen to the backing drum track I know exactly what to do and when to do it, it's like I am hearing the song and I don't feel Iike I need another metronome underneath. This may sound strange but I didn't have this feeling when trying to record other bands.

[@acvek2002]

Hey man I love your channel and I really learned a lot from you keep up the good work 😁

[@WTWTA5760]

6:10 I read on some tabs that they play that whole open muted part with 5th (E powerchords then a F Powerchord)

[@slashliongames9289]

Funnily enough Lars' Shenanigans on Orion never tripped me up, but i can see how it would mess with people

[@gianz73]

Another excellent explanation. Thanks!

[@jethrohill6102]

Great series 👍

[@richrinehart1083]

Killer video I love your stuff and how you try to give us idiots a snowballs chance in hell to figure these crazy riffs and the stuff that's reallllllly fast out because as a complete electric newbie I am at a total loss. I often get frustrated and pickup my 12 string to double check that my brain is still functioning. Sometimes I look at my electric and I almost can't believe it can make those sounds LOL

[@TheArtofGuitar]

WE're all idiots!

[@richrinehart1083]

@@TheArtofGuitar Touche'

[@hyalinamusic18]

There's a riff in The Shortest Straw that's pretty weird to think about. It's the one slide sounding riff they play after the verses and choruses.

[@mikatomik5532]

Project-awesome customs and music it’s just triplets.

[@usernameihavechosen289]

Oh, and then there's a lot of debate on what he's doing in "I disappear" underneath the "I'm pain I'm hope I'm suffer" line. I figure it's B 5 string /G 6th string, A/F sharp, C sharp/A, A/Fsharp (or E?), B/G, A/F sharp, C sharp/A (not sure, varies live), B/F sharp (or D/A), B/E, tuned down half step. Or there are two guitars doing this differently.

[@kniv3s187]

for years i could never figure out what was happening in Blackened just after the guitar solo. When the main riff comes back, it's ON the beat, and after it repeats like that, Lars does a crazy little fill that's just half a beat shorter than normal, at which point the riff "magically" returns to the off-beat. SMH. after recording my own cover of it, i realized all i had to do was keep the beat steady as i played and the drums part would turn it around and bring it back home. Lars really liked flipping the beat around in those days it seems.

[@Hakaan256]

Surprised I didn't see the Eye of the Beholder chorus in these videos, probably the most confusing off-beaty riff I've tried to learn.

[@lizardz23]

Great vid, must have taken a long time to prepare and record.

[@NoahParker98]

The galloping riff after the main Orion riff is a lot harder than it sounds timing wise

[@steliostsapakis7478]

Nice T - shirt dude!!!!!

[@rainerdietwerner5048]

a riff from 1984 while wearing a Cobra Kai shirt (I assume) that says 1984 is pretty badass...

[@nflick10]

I've always found the Orion riff pretty easy to get down but fight fire with fire is another story

[@sunsetsmusic3792]

I’m a drummer but know how to play a guitar well enough to be in a garage band rythm guitarist, I think a challenging one is creeping death riff, master of puppets pre virus riff

[@BostonWhoFan515]

That shirt kicks ass!

[@clayman478]

I remember learning Orion when i was a teenager and thought...wow i can actually play something difficult ha. And i loved the part where Lars throws the beat off. Actually thought i was doing something back then. Metallica was so fun to play back in the day. I believe even Bob Rock said it too when he filled in after Jason left.

[@harrison738]

I often find hardwired kinda confusing. Not the gallop though. The one surrounding the solo

[@Drw-zw4gp]

The rythym behind the solo on frayed ends sanity is confusing also. Probably more than the riff you showed on this video

[@logan0288]

Great t-shirt!

[@RawkHawkRockin]

Holy shit, I had no idea the second half of that Orion part was the exact same riff. Hats off to Lars, that's pretty prog of him changing it up like this.

[@addi7719]

Shout-out to "Ain't My Bitch" which still confuses my ear to this day

[@tiagoufrr]

Great video, dude!!! Helped me a lot with those riffs. By the way, what’s the pickups and setup you’re using? I enjoyed a lot.

[@blastingreviews2]

Next do confusing megadeth riffs

[@kartikchandrasekhar2762]

The second main riff of FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE is proof that James Hetfield is a rhythm beast. So his detractors can shove off. He's VERY capable of writing good riffs. He doesn't need to 'steal' from people. He borrows, sure (who doesn't?) but he always does his own spin on things.

[@szithaanu9934]

The only way I was ever able to play that Orion riff is to play along with what the drums are doing. If I'm concentrating on a 4/4 beat I get thrown off by Lars. I know I'm playing the same thing twice but it feels like I'm playing a different rhythm on the second run so I use Lars' last crash hit of the sequence to signal me back into the 4/4. And for some reason that's the only way it works for me. But thanks for the two vids. Really informative.

[@tiagometallica007]

The frayed ends riff sound like something off of Load/Reload when slowed down

[@jorgecobospaz6936]

I thought the slowed down Fight Fire riff sounded like something from St. Anger.

[@SuperReallyNice]

You always see James counting down.

[@alancosens]

I wonder what time signature Lars thinks that Orion riff is.

[@peyoshi]

I find the verse riff in Shortest Straw so confusing to play, I always end up messing the timing, it would be cool to see it in the next part

[@jeffgerdau9436]

From playing it for years and hearing it many many times, the best "tip" I can give I guess is that there are "hidden" open E notes between the F, G and Bb notes. That riff confused me for awhile too, I can understand

[@ewansmith165]

all the up tempo straight beats feel like songs on justice to me... anyone else?

[@masonschwalm2010]

I think Lars probably did that beat thing in Orion to facilitate going back into the main riff timing afterwards.

[@MrJared93]

I really wish you would do confusing tool songs

[@coreystribling2983]

Habits of Synyster Gates please!

[@bucketfeet6570]

I can never play along with My Apocalypse because of the one - two beat thing. I always want to start on the snare.

[@Lucasl501]

When the art of guitar gives me 7 odd metallica riffs instead of 3 riffs and 4 MORE riffs: 😩

[@Lightning6479]

what about phantom lord and how to play it correctly???

[@low_easy]

Dude my brain just can't take this Fight Fire With Fire riff

[@maaraa01]

So.. If they were educated musicians we would probably never witness Metallica as band?!

[@mfree80286]

Sometimes you can educate someone into sounding just like everyone else.

[@dillonmacpherson3350]

Damage inc with straight beats sounds like load Edit: so does everything else

[@BillyBong]

It's not really Lars' beat, he's just following Cliff's bass line, which has that extra bit.

[@laurencescrenci1460]

hey nice shirt man i love karate kid!