Metal Rhythm Guitar Playing

Rhythm guitar is one of the most important aspects of metal. In fact, it is far more important than lead guitar; guitar solos aren’t necessary, but steady rhythm is.

To be a metal rhythm guitarist, there are a few things you need to learn, a few tricks of the trade, if you will.

The first thing is steady rhythm. While this may sound like an oxymoron, the rhythm guitarist needing steady rhythm, you would be surprised by the number of rhythm guitarists who simply don’t grasp the concept.

As a rhythm guitarist, your best, and possibly only friend, will be the metronome. This little magic device will help you develop your steady rhythm by keeping you playing at a steady tempo.

And just how will a little noisy box or, if your computer savvy, a website clicker help you to become a better rhythm guitarist?

As stated, it will help you develop your sense of rhythm. Many rhythm guitarists make the mistake of taking up rhythm guitar because it is ‘easier then lead guitar’ when in fact, just like the lead guitar, rhythm guitar is an art form in and of itself.

The way to use a metronome is slowly. Now this may sound boring, but it is the sure way to get you on the fast track. Another oxymoron, but this one, like the first, is completely honest. Playing slowly with a metronome helps you to develop something called muscle memory. Muscle memory is the ability of your muscle --or in this case your digits-- to remember a pattern of motion, or a certain action.

In this case, it will be the former over the latter. Starting off slowly with the metronome will help your fingers to remember notes and positioning far more efficiently than jumping head first in at full speed. Rhythm guitar isn’t like weight lifting, and the last thing you want to do is create muscle, or digit, confusion. This happens when you try too many patterns, too quickly, too often.

The second thing you will need to learn is how to stay in key. This may sound almost as basic and simple as the first, but once more it is one of those often overlooked aspects that guitarists either ignore, or think they are above. They aren’t.

Keeping the rhythm means you need to keep the flow of the song. The flow of any song comes from its ability to stay relative. Jumping up and down with extreme key changes, or just running around the fret board at a frantic chromatic pace, is not staying relative. In fact, you are making everyone else in your band’s life a living nightmare. To stay in key, you need to study our keys and know your scales.

Sure you can jump to your relative minor scale, because it is in the same key signature. No, you can’t jump from Phrygian to Major to Chromatic because you will confuse everyone in your band and audience. Remember, as the rhythm guitar, it is your job to keep the rhythm. This can’t be done if you are busy exploring the bounds of music underneath the song.

Keep in mind, every style takes practice, so take your time and allow your skills to develop. Don’t rush, and have fun.