The heavy metal guitar school of music has few unique characteristics. There are people who completely worship it, and there are people who find it very loud and aggressive. Whatever might be your preference, it is quite impossible to ignore the huge effect it has on popular culture and music.
So, if you want to play heavy metal guitar, knowing few things about this school of music might come in handy. Heavy metal music involves deep and primordial sounds, which are very different from the genre of pop music. The emphasis is on the forceful and the loud music created by the lead guitarist and the entire band, rather than on the individual prowess of the lead singer. Therefore, the lyrics of the songs are also sometimes considered as of secondary importance.
Heavy metal music evolved out of certain musical influences and notions. The Blues music was a major influence but some musicologists even trace back the roots to classical music. Although, they are from different traditions, many of the guitarists of heavy metal bands, especially those belonging to the power metal tradition, are in fact trained in playing classical music. One fine example of such an artist is Swedish player, Yngwie Malmsteen. Malmsteen has popularized the neo classical guitar playing with his blend of classical infused metal guitar solos.
Metal music can be divided in to various types, and some are more popular than the others. The thrash metal groups like Metallica, Anthrax and Slayer have been very popular in the 1980s. The death metal genre, which is a more complicated version of the thrash metal, has never really been able to duplicate the mass popularity of thrash metal. In the 1990s and in the first decade of the new century, we have seen the rise of certain popular bands which derive heavily from the school of metal music. There are bands like Linkin Park and Korn, which mix elements of metal music with pop, hip-hop, rap and other kinds of music to create a new sound.
Thus, the heavy metal guitar school is not really uniform with its large sub-branches of other metal genres. But regardless of its many mutations, the classic heavy metal still enjoys a huge popularity. You might still find your neighborhood teen 'head banging' to the timeless creations of Led Zeppelin. And so, if you are really interested to learn metal guitar, it is time to grab a guitar and follow your dreams.
So, if you want to play heavy metal guitar, knowing few things about this school of music might come in handy. Heavy metal music involves deep and primordial sounds, which are very different from the genre of pop music. The emphasis is on the forceful and the loud music created by the lead guitarist and the entire band, rather than on the individual prowess of the lead singer. Therefore, the lyrics of the songs are also sometimes considered as of secondary importance.
Heavy metal music evolved out of certain musical influences and notions. The Blues music was a major influence but some musicologists even trace back the roots to classical music. Although, they are from different traditions, many of the guitarists of heavy metal bands, especially those belonging to the power metal tradition, are in fact trained in playing classical music. One fine example of such an artist is Swedish player, Yngwie Malmsteen. Malmsteen has popularized the neo classical guitar playing with his blend of classical infused metal guitar solos.
Metal music can be divided in to various types, and some are more popular than the others. The thrash metal groups like Metallica, Anthrax and Slayer have been very popular in the 1980s. The death metal genre, which is a more complicated version of the thrash metal, has never really been able to duplicate the mass popularity of thrash metal. In the 1990s and in the first decade of the new century, we have seen the rise of certain popular bands which derive heavily from the school of metal music. There are bands like Linkin Park and Korn, which mix elements of metal music with pop, hip-hop, rap and other kinds of music to create a new sound.
Thus, the heavy metal guitar school is not really uniform with its large sub-branches of other metal genres. But regardless of its many mutations, the classic heavy metal still enjoys a huge popularity. You might still find your neighborhood teen 'head banging' to the timeless creations of Led Zeppelin. And so, if you are really interested to learn metal guitar, it is time to grab a guitar and follow your dreams.