Metal Drumming Lessons

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Heavy, sometimes even evil sounding, metal is one of the most unique genres of today. There are dozens of sub-genres and off-shoots of every kind. Death metal, black metal, thrash, doom; and those are only a few of the genres.

Metal drumming has always been powerful. From the beginnings, with drummers such as John Bonham from Led Zeppelin and Ian Pace of Deep Purple leading an auditory assault on the world, to more modern drummers such as Tomas Haake of Meshuggah and Richard Christy of Death, who have polished their techniques, learning from the innovators of the genre.

If you love heavy, in your face, no holds barred music, then these metal drumming lessons are for you!

The Blast Beat Technique

Many metal bands such as Sepultura and Morbid Angel have implemented a technique called the blast beat into their music. This is one of the most common techniques in metal drumming today. The blast beat is performed using three voices; the snare, the bass drum, and hi-hat.

There are numerous variations of blast beats in modern metal, and today I will show you a few examples of those.

When doing blast beats, be sure to pick a form that is comfortable for you. If you find yourself more comfortable performing the bursts by working both feet on the bass pedals, then do so. If you feel more comfortable with one foot, then use one foot.

There may be some drummers who say that it is ‘un-metal’ to play blast beats using with feet, but the truly ‘un-metal’ thing would be to hurt yourself playing in a way that is uncomfortable for you.

Example 1:

This first blast beat, using Guitar Pro 6 to compose, starts on the hi-hat and bass, followed by a single stroke on the snare. This blast beat is fairly powerful sounding, accenting on the on-beat.

metal drumming lessons

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If you do not have Guitar Pro 6 yet, you can download it instantly here

While performing this variation of the blast beat, be sure to keep your wrists loose. Start of slowly and build your speed gradually with a metronome. Do not tense your calves or legs. Keep a light flow between your legs and your ankles and the pedals.

Example 2:

This next variation of the blast beat also emphasizes an accent on the on-beat. This time, instead of pairing the hi-hat and bass pedal, you will be pairing the hi-hat and snare, striking the bass pedal on the off-beat.

metal drumming lessons example

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When playing this second variation, be sure that you are differentiating the snare and hi-hat combination from the bass and hi-hat combination of the previous example. Once more, like we always say; start off slow and use a metronome in drums practice. The key is to maintain your comfort, which in turn will help you build up your speed much more efficiently.

Example 3:

This final example of a blast beat is a newer form. This blast beat uses the ride bell instead of the hi-hat. This blast beat is very powerful, with a heavy, daunting style.

metal drumming lessons drumbeats

Download the .gtp file for the lesson ( Right click and Save As... )

When playing the blast beat, coordination is a must. I will say it for the third time; use a metronome and start slow. It may not look hard, but if you jump in at full speed, you will inevitably learn poor habits, striking notes unevenly and causing excess noise.

Now that you know the metal drummers most cherished tool, practice, implement, and have fun!

Discover the secret techniques that you can use to achieve the greatest impact in the way you play drums in the metal genre. Check out Maximum Meytal for more information…

List of Metal Drumming Lessons And Videos

#1 – 5 Tips to Fire Up Your Metal Drums Playing
Heavy metal is a very demanding style of music that requires a certain level of skill. While it is not recommended for new players, here are 5 quick tips to get you started the right way and hopefully, develop your musicianship overtime.

#2 – Off Beats Rhythm And Other Weird Timings
Did you know that many metal drummers get caught in the rut by play the same thing over and over again? There are tons of other people who simply try to follow the latest trend with no regards for using originality. If you are looking for that something else, this is the article you must read.

#3 – Using the Double Bass in Metal Based Songs
As with all the different genres of music, every style has its own distinct flavor and techniques that define that particular genre. For metal heads, double bass drumming is a staple that you can’t do without.

#4 – Speed Exercises You Can Use to Gain Faster Movements And Build Up The Heat
Everybody loves speed. And when it comes to playing fast and furious, you will sound like sh*t if you are out of timing. Speed drumming is a skill that requires tons of endurance and stamina. And in order to achieve good accuracy and consistency, you will need lots of practice.

#5 – Drum Rolling Tips for Metal Styled Music
Drum rolls can be utilized in many ways to create accents in a song, to place emphasize in guitar solos and etc… In this lesson, we are going to discuss some of the usages of the roll specifically in heavy metal.

#6 – Song Ending Tips to Go Out On a Bang!
The ending of a song is the time where you need to leave a good impression to your listeners. Instead of going out on a bang, I had seen tons of bands go out on a whim. Find out why and how you can avoid such mistakes.

#7 – Reasons Why People Fail at Drums Playing And What You Should Avoid Doing
Giving up in the middle of learning a difficult task is a very frequent option that many people choose to take. This article will show you some of the most common reasons why people give up on their drumset and how you can avoid that.

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