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If you think heavy metal bass playing is just about rapid root notes, you ain’t seen nothing! The world of heavy metal has so much to offer bass players from any musical genre.
Join legendary bassist and co-founder of Megadeth David Ellefson as he introduces you to the world of rock and thrash metal. In this course, David reconstructs and analyses the title track from his album Sleeping Giants.
In this course Adam ‘Nolly’ Getgood offers an inside look at the tones and techniques behind two of Periphery’s standout tracks; Prayer Position and Make Total Destroy.
The tune “Steel Maiden” is inspired by late 70s and early-80s metal bands such as Iron Maiden or Quiet Riot, with maybe a dash of Deep Purple mixed in. This song will certainly test your stamina with its nearly constant stream of rockin’ eighth-note riffs. Getting them feeling steady, fluid, and consistent will be one of the big challenges of this piece. Other things you’ll learn along the way are: Song form, Note ties, Eighth-note rhythms, Locking in with guitars and drums, And so much more…
This track takes influence from contemporary progressive rock and metal artists such as Animals as Leaders, but also adds a few unexpected twists and turns along the way. On looking at the music, you’ll note that the tempo is fast and there’s a fair amount of syncopation, which is characteristic of these musical styles. Inside, Scott guides you through a gauntlet of hard-rocking hammer-on riffs, challenging rhythmic patterns, and even an almost Latin-style bass part within the overall metal context of the piece. Plug in, turn up, and dive right into this beast of a tune.
“Alternate Telemetry” was written in the progressive metal style, akin to bands like Tool and Periphery, and is sure to challenge you technically and rhythmically in a multitude of ways. Inside, Scott breaks down the music, step-by-step, providing tips to help you slay this beast of a tune, such as: How to dial in a distorted, yet full tone (There’s a secret to it!), Picking techniques that get you a powerful, steady sound, Techniques for playing 2-note “power” chords, Fingerings to help you navigate tricky lines, And more...
This tune takes influence from metal music and from bands such as Pantera. At 100 bpm, the tempo of this tune may not seem particularly fast, the abundance of sixteenth notes make it a real workout, something that will test both your dexterity and stamina! If heavy riffs, distorted guitars and syncopated rhythms are your thing, this song is most definitely for you.
This tune takes influence from metal music, particularly from bands like Slayer. Right off the bat, there are two key things to watch out for: the 200 bpm tempo and the 7/4 time signature. A fast tempo and an odd time signature on their own are challenging, but having them appear in one song is what makes this piece a real (giant) killer! We’re going to be tackling a number of repeated, heavy riffs and there are some unison lines that might just get your fingers in a twist! If you’re interested in building your stamina, learning to play in an odd time signature, or if you simply want to play some crushing riffs, this tune could be a great choice!
“Triceratops” is a wild ride of a tune! Inspired by hard rock music, this tune will see you playing chugging triplet lines, tackling syncopated rhythms, and traversing different registers of the instrument. If you are wanting to develop your dexterity, your fretting and plucking hand technique, and your ability to internalise and play challenging rhythms, this tune could be a great choice for you!
This is a progressive metal tune inspired by bands such as Slayer and Sepultura. The blistering 187 bpm tempo coupled with fiendish unison lines and changing time signatures make this tune a real challenge. If you’re wanting to develop your stamina, your dexterity and your ability to move seamlessly between different time signatures, or if you simply want to learn an absolutely beastly metal tune, “Falling Knife” is the one for you.
