Want to MASTER Puppets? You’re Gonna Need THIS

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Its once again METALLICA TIME! Eddie Munson resurrected Master of Puppets back onto the charts when we shredded it in the Stranger Things season 4 finale, and now every guitarist is itching to learn it again. But what are the skills you need to handle James' massive down picking powers?! You're about to learn 4 things that are going to increase your downstroke powers TODAY! We're gonna talk:
His use of OUTstrokes rather than DOWNstrokes
Proper palm muting technique to contain the vibration of the strings
The best way to build down pick endurance
and the truth of the "all downstroke" technique Hetfield uses.
Buckle up, loosen up, and shred with Uncle Ben Eller!
Gear:
Ibanez RG550 with Fishman Fluence Classic pickups
Fractal Audio Axe FX 3
The Magnet camera mount from Troy Grady of Cracking the Code fame
What Metallica song are YOU working on right now??
#masterofpuppets #strangerthings4 #eddiemunson #jameshetfield #metallica

[@TheArtofGuitar]

C'mon Ben, you, me, and Bradley Hall play Master of Puppets all downstrokes over and over and whoever taps out last wins. haha.

[@hellbentofficial9930]

Hell yeah!!

[@PearlJamaholic]

If this happens, I hope it's live streamed!

[@GozMaster]

Master Of Down Strokes!

[@MartianDust415]

Nice, but i think bradly will smoke you guys :)

[@cadehicks5091]

Yes

[@marcinmcula99]

It's kind of unreal that he could play these tunes tight while singing, being drunk, having lars as a drummer, and playing faster than the record (creeping death live at around 250 bpm yikes)

[@Goose21]

It was all in the hunched over power stance. It gave him special powers. That and the lion hair

[@Xplora213]

James is acknowledged as the greatest rhythm guitarist of all time for a reason 😉

[@Im_An_Innocent_Man]

@@Xplora213 According to a vote by Guitar World readers, Malcolm Young was voted #1, and James #2.

[@Xplora213]

@@Im_An_Innocent_Man and? Drummers World voted Lars #1 for years as well LOL

[@Im_An_Innocent_Man]

@@Xplora213 the point is, all the 'someone is the best' are subjective opinions, don't mean much.

[@KevinNolin]

I always feel proud when I have the stamina to play this entire song. Then I remember James does a 3 hour set AND sings. What a fucking legend.

[@BenEller]

The king!!!

[@Red-mp3to]

@@BenEller I want my "guitar giveaway package" that I won!!

[@SampieSmith]

@@Red-mp3to You know that is a fake account right? You're probably getting scammed

[@mastrofpuppets]

@@Red-mp3to dude its a scam stop falling for it

[@Red-mp3to]

@@mastrofpuppets I'm still waiting for my guitar!!! Paid almost $300 bucks in shipping....lol

[@zeldamage001]

9:22 "Just like your stepmom told me, building up endurance takes time, there's nothing to be ashamed about." What a line! Ben insulted himself and us at the same time!

[@StuPedassol]

As much as James deserves the love for his rhythmic prowess, Kirk keeps up with him every downstroke live, and always has. Crazy cool duo.

[@BenEller]

Totally true, man!

[@chrischoir3594]

kirk bends notes out of tune

[@jfo3000]

Newsted did as well, with a pick on bass! From what I saw. He was a beast, and upped their performance game.

[@chrischoir3594]

@@jfo3000 Jason is a well below average bass player though.

[@dan082476]

@@chrischoir3594 yeah. So bad. Played in his own band that he started. Hired by Metallica. Did his solo stuff, voivod and more solo stuff

[@rodrigoblotte]

All we are missing for rhythm perfection is a dedicated galloping tutorial uncle Ben. MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!

[@lyudmilapavlichenko7551]

Once my band did the King of the Hill into as a cover and galloping made it sick. Galloping, good for metal and country. 😂

[@Cthulhu_Awaken]

Exactly. Metallica in particular use various forms of gallop and even thrown into down picking or alternate picking rhythm patterns. Personally I never figured those out correctly in my head, let alone try to play that stuff! A video from Ben solving the mystery would be well welcomed!

[@voronOsphere]

@@rozza105 Hopefully, we get a Galloping Gourmet!

[@71771PAULTHEWALLOFSOUND]

😟😟 I got to learn this first lol, but I'm sure it will be a very educational lesson.

[@stef1144]

We need that gallop!

[@TheDankCat127]

Even though it’s been played to death, the whole Master of Puppets album is truly a masterpiece. Probably Metallica’s magnum opus. And they were all in their early 20s when they wrote it.

[@BenEller]

Absolutely insane! One of the greatest metal albums of all time. Masterpiece.

[@TristanJCumpole]

This seems like a good place to add that Cliff would have fucking loved Stranger Things.

[@pfzt]

It's an important album and masterpiece for sure but their magnum opus is AJFA.

[@TristanJCumpole]

@@pfzt I don't think that there's much value in such comparative album vs. album discussions. The band wasn't the same, the times had changed in spite of them being back to back records. Justice was a crazy album of itself, definitely.

[@pfzt]

@@TristanJCumpole Good point. And in the end what really counts is that we as fans can enjoy the music that was made along their journey. 4 consecutive masterpieces in a row is not something many other bands have pulled of.

[@ashamael]

The "outpicking" just blew my mind. I've played for 20+ years and never thought about that! Entire video is *chef's kiss* as usual. Uncle Ben? More like Uncle Win!

[@markgillespie3971]

Playing thousands of hours live between '82-'85 probably gave him the extra hand speed/endurance required to achieve the insane speeds he hit on Puppets tour

[@VhangorD2]

I've been playing guitar for 25 years, and this is the best video regarding palm mutting I've seen.

[@BenEller]

Thank you!

[@billbob6458]

It's crazy dude.... i've been playing guitar for the last 15 years with some breaks here and there. MOP is the song i could never get right because of the crazy downpicking speed. I've tried and tried again to get it right with practice and videos... and you, just like that, gives free technique advice and talk about the outbrush downpicking. You're awesome uncle Ben! You've made me accomplish it for the first time in 15 years. Thanks!

[@BenEller]

I’m so glad to hear that!!! Happy to help!

[@whitebread940]

Me too, bro . Outstroke!

[@toranzoM]

This and Bleed from Meshuggah screw me up. My picking hand feels like one of those dreams where your legs feels like they are encased in cement and you are trying to run away from your mother in law.

[@mahmud1019]

Uncle Ben, I appreciate how you focused on palm muting and pressurizing. No one talks about it but it’s a very important part to nail that *Metal* sound

[@BenEller]

It really is!!!

[@CannibalCommunist]

4:10 YESSS!!! Why does no one ever play Through the Never? KILLER SONG! Thank you for having good taste my man!

[@mc12358]

Definitely one of their more underrated riffs. Despite being on their big commercial crossover album, Through the Never absolutely would have been a good fit on Puppets or Justice.

[@TheGamer8041]

I love that you're the only one that talks about the finer details of playing, from pressure to picking angle and all that. As someone who's not that good at guitar, it really helps getting all the details from a pro!

[@SukunaGames247]

agreed, step daddy Ben is a great teacher. he helped me learn barre chords :) his videos are so good

[@philfrank5601]

Nobody explains this stuff better than Unc.

[@prototype9904]

When I'm working on down-strokes, instead of a "rest" in between the fast notes, I use that time to practice my gallops \m/

[@sciomancy6]

From frozen fish head to taints of the guitar, I'm always learning something new on this channel. Praise Uncle Ben

[@PapaSancho666]

This is perfect! I have always been doing my downstrokes straight down to the floor... now seeing that slant/angle position is like unlocking a huge mystery for me. Thanks Tio Ben!

[@oldmanriff7633]

Can't agree enough about playing along to songs/albums - way back in the day I got my rhythm chops together by playing along to Ride the Lightning & Among the Living & just focusing on keeping my picking hand in time.

[@anthonyhallgren3703]

Ben, I have done that exact exercise you’ve done with Blitzkreig Bop and also Basketcase by Green Day when i feel like my down strokes are starting to lose it a little. Works great, love the lessons

[@rodrigoblotte]

I've waited for this downstroke dedicated video ever since you discussed it in the weekendwankshop with your Ramones shirt. I love you uncle Ben.

[@josephvandeven4228]

I found this video super helpful. I've increased the amount of pressure on my muting hand and instantly noticed a better and more percussive sound. Thank you!

[@hellNo116]

I am playing such riffs for years now. I always watch tutorial videos because you never know when you are going to see something new. The approach to downpick it is a way more refined and purposeful way of doing what my hand wanted to do by itself. Now I have practice do. thanks for that!!!

[@thepresidentslab]

That out stroke idea just blew my entire mind.

[@donicsm7684]

The tone on this is pure fire

[@J96Jacob]

Ben this has got to be the single most helpful video on James’s picking style. Thank you for taking the time to do this. I have already improved so much in such a short amount of time🤘🏻

[@DrewT92377]

I love that you covered this Uncle Ben. I discovered this on my own years ago trying to keep up with Creeping Death. Just like you said I took "downstroke" literally and struggled. I thought "do I shorten my pick stroke?". Nope. Lose power and doesn't sound right. So after contemplating removal of the A string (kidding) I thought what if I just get outta the way a bit? Thus "outstroking"!! Add to that some work with my palm mute position and I was finally getting there. Sorry this was a "I was right!" moment for me seeing you cover this. Then again, of course you already did this. Another monster rhythm player who uses the same technique is Scott Ian (James' close rival if he has one besides Kirk). Thank you for the continued inspiration and content sir. The fact that you take the time to not only share knowledge, but the time that goes into your content (recording, editing, etc) is noticeable and much appreciated. Thank you.

[@Swampster70]

James has a very unique right hand picking technique. Not only does he do the outstroke but his right hand floats quite a lot. You have to float it to get the pick velocity and the ensuing chunk. Watch the Guitar Center video with James and watch the Battery into. I think there's two things going on - he mutes somewhat with his left hand and relies on the Mesa's odd "feature" to almost noise gate quieter notes when cranked.

[@mihalybeviz8543]

Thanks for this, Ben. I watched it in the afternoon before our conceet and used the technique during the gig. A surprising leap in speed and accuracy of my down... erm outstrokes. Thanks a lot indeed!!!

[@Tyt130]

Amazing Ben, been waiting for you to a tutorial on this subject for a long time!

[@spike007980]

i like how you have a strong emphasis on, this will take time, and also stated that this didn't happen over night. A lot of songs don't. Thanks for giving us trinkets of wisdom and trying to have us slow down for a second to absorb the craziness, that is performing a song.

[@randellwillis]

"The taint of the guitar", classic Uncle Ben!

[@stupidusername38]

tension in playing is something that doesn't get spoken about. Great stuff. One thing i will mention when it comes to tension is to not rigidly grip the pick. I see so many players do this and you end up fighting the string because the pick has no movement to deal with the vibration from the string, with a rigid grip all that kinetic energy is being transferred right into the pick and its slowing you way down. Loosen up the grip folks. For a more apparent understanding of it check out any really good drummer, they don't hold the stick like a club, they balance the stick between thumb and finger at the fulcrum point and they are accommodating the bounce off the snare head, they don't fight it.

[@darrenm01]

I’ve had/read/watched guitar lessons since 1984, but today was the first time I heard the term “taint of the guitar”. Well done.

[@BwAaS]

I learned this song when started playing in say 2003. Watching instruction like this is mind-blowing to see just now narrow minded I was a youngster. Great vid Ty.

[@mesaseany]

Wow... earned a sub for sure. The "Out stroke" idea totally makes playing down strokes much faster. Really spending time mentally practicing doing out strokes and I know my speed and accuracy is picking up. Thanks!

[@keithbriscoe99]

"The taint of the guitar" - wow, perfect and first time I've ever heard that applied to my instrument (oh wait). Anyway, nice one.

[@pedrobortoli6852]

Coming back after almost a year of not playing guitar, and wanting to get some Hetdaddy downpicking down, this is a lifesaver! Thanks, Uncle Ben! 🤘

[@pauldaskal9510]

Battery & Blackened are fucking lessons on super accurate hyper downstrokes...no Upstrokes mom!

[@Nick-yq6tj]

I’d say it’s almost time to give fight fire with fire a go but don’t want you to lose an arm

[@Melitzaneitor]

best guitar teacher on yt. I have been learning from you since i grabbed the guitar like 10 years or so ago. Your tips are gold as always Uncle Ben, thank you!

[@jacka55penguin]

Well done Ben! I was playing this in 1986 when I was 16. One of my all time favorite albums.

[@jacka55penguin]

Well good! good good good.

[@prajwalsrinivas5157]

Thank you so much for showing a detailed overview of your picking hand. A really helpful video for once after watching tens of pointless ones

[@Kriegter]

Being self taught all I did during the first few weeks was practice downpicking, looking back probably should had learned the basics but I never had a phase where downpicking was a challenge aside from the first 2 weeks

[@payamelahian7511]

This is the third time I watch this dear Ben, you really utterly nailed it.

[@brutalslam8443]

This was an excellent tutorial. So insightful and helpful. You're a great teacher. 😎

[@BlakeSpohn]

Thank you man! you've been such a great help!

[@bryndialn]

3:01 That outstroke or outside downstroke thing is actually produced by a wrist motion called flexion and extension (also called flextension).

[@Xplora213]

It’s a major reason he’s so good. You can’t play soloes like that. Drumming has a similar challenge. Blues drumming doesn’t work when you are set up to play Dimmu Borgir. James has sacrificed his ability to solo to focus on pure speed.

[@BJ-ol3ev]

This is awesome info Ben ,as well as the Sanatarium vid you did about the incorrect tabs (you nailed it ) which helped heaps.Only discovered your website a week ago (better late than never ),so ive subscribed and Ill search for your patreon as a small token of appreciation.These simple tips just save so much time that I have wasted Cheers !

[@GretschenMunch]

Thanks Uncle Ben! As a 50+ year old guitarist who's spent his time playing blues, jazz, soul and rock'n'roll, this is just the type of thing I need to keep learning fresh skills and maintaining neural plasticity in my brain. So well explained! The lightbulb moment for me was when you explained about picking in an outwards direction across the top of the string! One thing I wanted to ask, how do you account for the sharpening of pitch when resting the right hand heavily against the string? I've been doing this exercise on my acoustic and notice a slight pitch raise when resting heavily to get the chunk!

[@davedaveleadguitar]

Sounds amazing Uncle Ben!! Nice chops too!!

[@Guitar387]

Thanks for the help and great video Ben.. I also find using trail edge picking (, angling pick backwards to hit string using opposite edge , Marty Friedman esque but not as extreme ) it really helps me to play this. It uses different muscles in the wrist and feels so much easier without getting as much wrist fatigue .

[@sagig72]

This is such a cool lesson Ben!

[@heitornolla]

Gracias Tío Ben! You're a frickin beast man, what a fantastic lesson dude

[@DarthV506]

I learned it in the late 80s, but was on the 'alternate pick everything' train, took a while to get the all down stroke endurance built up!

[@SolidSnake684]

The point about holding unneeded tension is really helpful, thanks!

[@coryhillman6536]

Thanks for the downpicking tutorial for "Master of Puppets." I have been having issues with "burning out" before the end of the song so I'm excited to try to the downpicking motions you talked about. Much respect to Uncle Ben!

[@charles-davidcorbin3341]

This is perfect for me since I work that song now. Thanks for all those good tips. I wish I Will be able to play this song soon, well at least this year. I am at the intro right now.

[@theausdog]

vids like this are why i love this guy!!!

[@gingeral80]

That palm mute tip. Freaking awesome! I've been playing Master for years with my ol' drummer buddy, now is the time to nail it I think!

[@SpencerWalden8]

Thanks for posting this. No one else breaks down technique in the detail you do, I always feel like I am missing something from other lessons (and I am because they don't mention things). Your barre chord video solved some issues for me as well.

[@TheIdiotNamedJoe]

Man that tone is CRUSHING!!

[@pitpride1220]

Great lesson Unc!

[@voronOsphere]

Great Lesson!

[@Giraffinator]

A lesson that I've been able to take from this channel is that any song can teach you something, even if it's just 4 power chords.

[@neilriffs]

Dude, this is gonna help me a LOT in my playing! Not only can I play Master of Puppets better than how it sounded before, but this video is gonna improve my downpicking technique for a tighter sound on anything I wanna play!

[@BenEller]

Huzzah!!! Glad to help!

[@monstruonegro05]

Great video and great lesson!!! 🤘🏽

[@SystematicMechanic]

Great video. Learned somethings that I didn't know.

[@MittensOnly]

WOW! Absolutely incredible insight into downpicking! I've always struggled with that semicircle motion you outlined and wondered how in the fuck all the greats get that down strum so fast. This makes SO much sense! Time to practice!

[@jaymakesmusic6916]

I remember rewinding the master of puppets tape. Over and over. Learning this 20 sum years ago.

[@LuciferOldwine]

So much good info. You’re great.

[@DBSG1976]

Thanks for the palm muting placement fix! I've always had my hand on top of the Floyd Rose or the 2 point trem on my Strat, so it's nice to have a consistent spot regardless of bridge type.

[@TheStrykerProject]

Great advice to play along with Ramones, The Sex Pistols, and other punk. That's how I learned to quickly switch chords all over the neck! Way back when I learned the Kill 'Em All songs, "Seek and Destroy" is the one that sticks in my head as the heaviest one. (And now I have to add that to my guitar TODO list! 😆)

[@xray6115]

Great insight here thanks!

[@waynehorton8894]

I’m really going to try and pull this off, I managed to learn the 18 and Life solo recently via Ben’s channel, I was over the moon, his in-depth teaching style is brilliant, good luck everyone, love from England 🤟🤟

[@waynehorton8894]

@ghost mall that bit took me a while!

[@jasonwojcik]

Great content Uncle Ben! Over the pandemic nonsense, I was playing MoP at step dad speed. Now, I am playing MoP at real dad speed, faster than the album version. It is true, building endurance took A LONG TIME! And thank you for pointing out that the hand position closer to the bridge made a huge difference. I thought it was my guitar/amp/pedals. I swapped guitars and realized it was me but didnt know how to fix it. Thank you for making this video!

[@wesguitarguy9536]

That was such a great video. This video alone is worth subbing for!

[@Red-mp3to]

I'll never look at that area of a guitar the same ever again...."the taint of the guitar"....fuckin' hilarious. Too funny. As always, excellent videos and content.

[@ALLforROME]

Been playing guitar for 30+ years and this is still my go to song for down picking dexterity. My rule is: NO ALTERNATE PICKING...at all..I have to down pick the whole song...and let me tell ya...it's hard AF! I have a video somewhere on my channel of me doing this exact thing. Have a great day sir! 🤙

[@IWishUWereTacos]

Great breakdown of his technique!

[@MartyDadRiffs]

Very helpful for an old mit that poops out after the first verse. I need to slow down until I get my Saturday night wrist back.

[@carlangaspinetree]

Awesome video !!! Thanks Uncle Ben 👍

[@esotericsoundlab]

You cracked the code! 🔥🎸🔥

[@jakemertz2660]

Dayum 16 years of guitaring and I’ve never heard of/noticed this technique. Thanks uncle B!!

[@markbrady7532]

Love this man. I’m an analog metronome boy but grew up with Metallica on cassette, scrambling to play along 🤘 your insight rules. Thank you

[@josephlangham9900]

Thanks again Uncle Ben! Excellent lesson/content!! \m/

[@svestrani.kolega]

Comment about Battery and the joy of the discovery was definitely the best way to end this great video. This is how you inspire people. ❤️🤘🏻

[@ChristianMoses]

I had to pull out my '89 RG750 I bought in HS to play along with this. :D Great video!

[@gregoryschmidtdvm9103]

Great as always! Thank you!

[@leenewsted9484]

Thanks Uncle Ben!

[@creepyboy6593]

NAILED IT!!

[@trinerd]

Man, I love the picking camera!

[@71771PAULTHEWALLOFSOUND]

As a learner in guitar i found this extremely helpful, thankyou, subbed 🤟

[@ChrisCollinsGuitar]

The right way! Great work Ben 👍👍👍

[@thejonathandoan]

Mastering your step dad and looking damn cool doing it. Thanks, Uncle Ben!

[@karenc84121]

I finally got it! Thank you!

[@luziefa6067]

Thats soo helpful! Thank you a lot!!

[@rong9758]

It seems I haven’t mastered any of them. Every time I think I do, Ben makes another video showing me that I’m playing it wrong. Thanks uncle Ben.

[@nealatthecrossfishing]

Just got back to playing electric guitar after a 4 year hiatus only playing acoustic. I was always a Metallica metal head! I’m 48 and came through my teenage years with them in my ears lol! Just subscribed to your channel man, I need the refresher and more to improve my playing! Thanks!

[@TheDankCat127]

Thanks Uncle Ben. Can’t wait to get to strokin’

[@lewisderfuss7537]

Why am I just now finding this page? Great content. Now that I’ve found this page I’ve subscribed and now need to watch past videos or should I practice.

[@rickedstyles1]

Thanks Ben!!

[@geauxtime]

Gold. And love the guitar!