We’re living in the easiest—and maybe the most overwhelming—time to buy a guitar. Solid axes are more affordable than ever, and even budget models come loaded with features that used to be reserved for high-end gear.
But here’s the problem: with so many choices out there, it’s easy to get stuck....
Guitarists everywhere are finally catching on that there’s more to the pentatonic scale than just Form 1, or what many call “Box 1”. But there’s one form that still flies under the radar—even though it’s much closer to you than you might even realize. I’m talking about Form 5 of the minor pentato...
Most guitarists think in terms of scales, shapes, and positions. What if the real secret to writing sick metal riffs isn't just what you play, but where you play it on the neck?
Today, we’re breaking down the three main fretboard zones that can completely change the character of your riffs — wh...
There’s one switch on your guitar that a lot of metal players overlook—but it can make a massive difference in how pro or amateur you sound. I’m talking about your pickup selector. Most guitarists find a setting they like, stick with it, and never really think twice. But if you’re serious about m...
Palm muting is a highly favored guitar technique that is adored and used by metal guitarists across the planet. The modern metal player has an especially fun time with this technique because it’s the secret weapon to getting a massively heavy chug in your riffs. But one of the biggest mistakes I ...
What does it really mean to be a metal guitarist in the age of the internet?
We're in a time where anyone can post a flawless solo at lightning speed… but was it truly their idea—or just someone else’s, recycled note-for-note? A time where tone is no longer just about amps and cabs—but plugins,...
Most guitarists master the minor pentatonic scale… and then stay stuck there. Sure, it’s really fun to play at first, but then you just end up rotting away in Pentatonic Prison. In this lesson, I’ll reveal how to inject 3 essential modes directly into your pentatonic playing to add real depth and...
Let’s face it–a lot of modern metal guitars have been sounding generic and boring. This is a shame for me because I never saw myself turning into one of those guys who long for the music of bygone eras without any hope for the quality of new music. Thankfully, this can be fixed since there's a se...
MuseScore is one of my favorite tools I use for guitar projects. As much as I love this program, it’s not always the most intuitive software to use. I’ve found that there are specific actions commonly needed for guitar writing that are not so easy to find when using this tool. That’s okay becau...
In 2003, Linkin Park released what I believe to be the greatest album of all time: Meteora. This album, from start to finish, takes you to a whole new world that you always want to return to. This work by Linkin Park has some seriously heavy, underrated riffs that are largely what inspired me to ...
I encourage all players to learn every technique they can, no matter what style they play. The more techniques you have, the more tools you have in your toolbox. Certain techniques tend to appear more in some genres than others. When it comes to being a modern metal guitarist, there are certain t...
Learning songs is a necessary part of achieving proficiency on the guitar. It's also one of the most joyful things we get to do because once we learn our favorite songs, we get to play along with them and pretend we are the fill-in guitarists of our favorite bands. If players aren't inherently in...
