Metalcore - The Basics. Part 1

Introduction

Metal music and Hardcore have mixed together over the years to bring this subgenre called Metalcore. Usually Metalcore music has large, slow breakdowns which include lots of moshing and hitting. Metalcore usually has two guitars which play the same riffs harmonized. I'm not saying Metalcore sucks. To be honest, my favorite genre is Metalcore.

Metalcore Bands

Some DECENT Metalcore bands that i would look into are Killswitch Engage, As I Lay Dying, The Devil Wears Prada, Trivium, Bullet For My Valentine, and Avenged Sevenfold.

Tuning

I personally like to use Dropped tunings for this genre. Although you can use Standard, but i wouldn't reccomend it. some tunings to try that sound good are: [B] D A D G B E, C G C F A D, D G C F A D, or B F# B E G# C#[/B].

You don't need to use these tunings, but I prefer them. What I usually use is Dropped D (D A D G B E), but it's really your preference.

A Technique That I Use

What I usually do before I start practicing is that I take my right index and thumb finger, and I put it between my left index and middle and strech out my finger so that I have a better reach across the fretboard. This is very helpful. Believe me.

Starting Out

All I'm going to do in Riff #1 is teach you how to mute the bottom string, then play a note on another string. You need to practice this a lot inorder to get a nice fast metalcore sounding riff.

Example 1

|-------------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----5-----7-----8^------5-----7-----8^------8-----7-----5---|
|-0-0---0-0---0-0-----0-0---0-0---0-0-----8-8---8-8---8-8-----|
pm. .   . .   . .     . .   . .   . .     . .   . .   . .

It's ok if you can't do this riff right away. Keep practicing and you'll get the hang of switching strings back and fourth.

Example 2

Killswitch Engage - My Curse
|---------------------------------------------------------------|
|--------10--------------10---------------6------------6--------|
|---10--------10----10--------10------5-------5----5-------5----|
|-8----8----8-----8----8----8-------8---8---8----8---8---8------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------|
pm.    .    .     .    .    .       .   .   .    .   .   .
 
|--------------------0---------------------------0--------------|
|-------6----------------6----------6----------------6----------|
|---5-------5----5--------------5-------5----5------------------|
|-7---7---7----7---7---7------7---7---7----7---7---7------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------|
pm.   .   .    .   .   .      .   .   .    .   .   .

This is riff is really good to build your finger strength, and how far you can reach. Just remeber to take your time and to hit each note clearly.

The Most Important Part, The Intro

The intro riff is probably one of the most important riffs in the whole song. it has to be catchy, yet not having so much notes that we cant even hear the riff. The intro sets the feeling for the whole song. And if you make a nasty intro, the audience will think the whole song is nasty. But thats ok for now. Here are some really cool intros that are worth listening to and learning.

Three Days Grace - Riot
BFMV - Tears Don't Fall
Atreyu - The Crimson
Atreyu - Honor
Killswitch Engage - Rose Of Sharyn
Killswitch Engage - My Last Serenade
Childrean of Bodom - Downfall
As I Lay Dying - The Darkest Nights

Example 1

BFMV - Hand Of Blood
**ALTERNATE PICK**
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-0-7-8--0-5-7--0-3-5--0-2-3--0-2-5-4~--0-7-8--0-5-7--0-3-5-0-2-3-2h3p2h3-|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Dosen't this intro just get you lost into the song?

Example 2

Saosin - They Perch On Their Stilts Pointing And Daring Me To Break Custom
E|------------------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-2-2-2-2-2-2-----------------2-2-2-2-2-2--------------------|
D|-0-0-0-0-0-0-3-3p2p0-2-2-2h3-0-0-0-0-0-0-7-7h5/3-5-5-5h7----|
A|-0-0-0-0-0-0-----------------0-0-0-0-0-0--------------------|
D|-0-0-0-0-0-0-----------------0-0-0-0-0-0--------------------|
 
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-8-8-8-8-8-8--3-3p2p0-2-2-2h3-10-10-10-10-10-10-7-7h5/3-5-5-5h7--|
A|-8-8-8-8-8-8------------------10-10-10-10-10-10------------------|
D|-8-8-8-8-8-8------------------10-10-10-10-10-10------------------|

Verses

Verses usually have alot of screaming and hardcore riffs in them with muting, powerchords, and such like that. Here's an example just so you can get an idea.

Example 1

Killswitch Engage - My Curse
D|----------------------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------------|
F|----------------------------------------------------|
C|-5-----3--------------------------------------------|
G|-5-----3-----------------------------5--------------|
C|---0-0---0-0-/6-0-0-5-0-0-3p0-0-0--7---7-6-5-0-3-5--|
pm  . .   . .    . .   . .     . .              

D|--------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------|
F|--------------------------------------------------|
C|-5-----3------------------------------------------|
G|-5-----3-----------------------------3------------|
C|---0-0---0-0-/6-0-0-5-0-0-3p0-0-0--5---5-4-3-0-3--|
pm  . .   . .    . .   . .     . .

Chorus

In my opinion, I like it when they sing during the chorus because it gives you some relaxation time to soak in the verse and just kinda chill a little before it starts again, I really wouldn't wanna listen to someone scream for like 3-4 minutes.

Example 1

Killswitch Engage - Arms Of Sorrow
|--------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|
|-1-1-1-1--3-3-3-3--5-5-5-5--0-------0-------|
|-1-1-1-1--3-3-3-3--5-5-5-5--0-------0-------|
|-1-1-1-1--3-3-3-3--5-5-5-5--0--0-0--0--0-0--|
pm                              . .     . .

Breakdowns

You can do anything in a breakdown. You can make palm-muted open string riffs, you can just stop playing and let the singer sing, you can make a little solo, you can do about anything! So, I'l leave that up to you. What I would do is palm mute some chords or make a tapping solo.

Conclusion

Thanks for reading my lesson and I hope that this helps you on your way to metalcore music! Most people might think that metalcore is really stupid and the riffs sound the same, but with a little creativity you can make a peice of art. I might make a part 2 to this.

Comments

[shnurs]

i really like how down to earth this is, and yet so informative. cheers mate.

[Musashi22]

Thanks, this guide definitely helped me. Awesome guide

[xLegendary]

Nice lesson, It'd be nice to know how chords can be used in metalcore instead of just powerchords. So maybe move onto that side of things in the next lesson. Also, putting lyrics on top of a riff can be tricky and the song can feel empty if it's not done properly so maybe cover that aswel?

NOTE: Odd time signatures and polyrythms are where the music is heading off and it is what sounds bettter (in my opinion anyway) so keep that in mind.

[richwatkinson]

this lesson is just...
its like you've basically taken the tabs for your favourite metal riffs and gone
'this is a riff.this is a breakdown.breakdowns are heavy'. Too simple to glean any kind of useful information from

[richwatkinson]

seriously, WTF UG? quality control!

[Nano556]

richwatkinson wrote:

this lesson is just...
its like you've basically taken the tabs for your favourite metal riffs and gone
'this is a riff.this is a breakdown.breakdowns are heavy'. Too simple to glean any kind of useful information from

richwatkinson wrote:

seriously, WTF UG? quality control!

Harsh but true, and Children of bodom are NOT metalcore, thye're melodic death metal.

[lukegjpotter]

This is a great article as its the basics.
I'm really getting into this genre, I love Bullet, AX7 and Fightstar

[Wezz.]

._. So Let's see if we can start a flame war over genres. Unless you're trying to market it a new band, does it really matter what genre it is? It's the same sound no matter whether I describe it as "shiny gold coins of destiny" or "badger droppings of fail"

Anyways, this guide is good for BEGINNERS. Might want to elaborate on the techniques (muting, alternate picking, and other things people who just picked up a guitar wouldn't know) because it's only good for VERY beginners.

Decent enough guide =]

[Kenyannah]

great lesson..learnt alot!!!only wish there was more...

[wasssup]

its quite good, but for bands like bfmv, they always have a bridge type thing, like in take it out on me and hand of blood.

[Mrhardcorex]

Thanks dude. Know anymore simple yet sick sounding songs?

[andrew_anarchy]

dude ive been playing this for years and didnt even know it

[defenderobanana]

Nice guide, but one thing I would suggest is that (since this is for beginners) since we are assuming that the person reading this is brand new with guitar, you should teach them more techniques, such as how to palm mute, or how to use pinch harmonics, because I didn't know how to do these things when i first started. Also, you should point out that the tunings are Dropped D, Dropped C, and Dropped B, so that they can apply that to their music life.

[kud666]

hey man great lesson, huge metalcore fan and have been able to play loads of metalcore stuff for a while but not played any in a while due to breaking my middle finger lol so cheers for the recap lol

[miguul911]

defenderobanana wrote:

Nice guide, but one thing I would suggest is that (since this is for beginners) since we are assuming that the person reading this is brand new with guitar, you should teach them more techniques, such as how to palm mute, or how to use pinch harmonics, because I didn't know how to do these things when i first started. Also, you should point out that the tunings are Dropped D, Dropped C, and Dropped B, so that they can apply that to their music life.

i forward that, especially the palm muting part and how it takes a little time o develope speed in your right hand while palm muting.

*just a little note good lesson

[TDG Tabs]

METALCORE - the basics 2 is out.
go take a look at it.

-TDG Tabs

[panterafever]

Yeah dude you got confused on some of your bands are not metal core like Children of Bodom plus you use complicated terms that a lot of begginers wouldnt understand but its ok 7/10

[panterafever]

I would recommend this for someone like me or someone not considered a beginner but not really expert like a intermediate player like on my lesson which you read *thanks* break it down most people want to know what it is since they are reading it and cant see what you are doing.

[guitarmaniac182]

Three Days Grace is not metalcore.
Children of Bodom is not metalcore.
it would be hard for someone who isnt familiar with metalcore to learn how to play it from this. i listen to a lot of metalcore so i know how it works and how to play it. but its not really suited for beginners.

[TDG Tabs]

guitarmaniac182 wrote:

Three Days Grace is not metalcore.
Children of Bodom is not metalcore.
it would be hard for someone who isnt familiar with metalcore to learn how to play it from this. i listen to a lot of metalcore so i know how it works and how to play it. but its not really suited for beginners.

i already know that guys. i know CoB arnt metalcore and i know TDG arnt either.

[guitargod3716]

This helps me learn Killswitch songs better than before!

[hprice138]

thanks

[zombiekangaroo]

im not thrilled with this lesson at all, half the bands u mentioned are definitly NOT metalcore, if u want the epidemy of a metalcore band, look up august burns red. this was a horrible article, i think you missed some of the most important aspects of what makes metalcore, and the ones you did hit on you did badly

[Youwithoutme]

I really wouldn't wanna listen to someone scream for like 3-4 minutes.

jaja then you haven't heard converge (they ARE metalcore they were one the first bands and in my opinion the best) Which exactly all really high screaming

[A.J.4991]

A7X aren't really Metalcore anymore.
God I miss the days of Sounding The Seventh Trumpet and Waking The Fallen. And what was up with the tuning on Hand Of Blood? BFMV uses drop C.

[Trivium_Child]

Triviums newest album (shogun) isn't relly metalcore

not a bad column tho

[Kelly1991]

I really like BFMV - Hand Of Blood sounds so bad ass i think going to go learn this song

[KingGohma]

Metalcore is genre exclusively listened to by the mentally ill. This lesson wouldn't teach anyone anything either.

[bb_rock]

Killswitch Engage, As I Lay Dying, The Devil Wears Prada, Trivium, Bullet For My Valentine, and Avenged Sevenfold.

KSI is NOT metal core none of those emo bands are metal core your joking right. you need to put actual metalcore bands in like, Suicide Silence, Job for a Cowboy, Oceano, and more dude. learn ur metalcore

[hellz own]

KingGohma :
Metalcore is genre exclusively listened to by the mentally ill. This lesson wouldn't teach anyone anything either.

omg. so funny!.

but seriously the hand of blood riff is played on the D string jack ass...

also, wtf trivium are metalcore??

[vIsIbleNoIsE]

this lesson just confirms the metalcore genre's reasons for its infamy. i'll give it a 10 because of that.

[kmohr93]

this aint no metalcore. These bands are just American new metal. Bands like Suicidal tendencies and Stormtroopers of death fall under the Metalcore genre. It seems liek you just took a bunch of bands that you like and called them metalcore because you like metal and hardcore. Stop the misinformation jack ass.

[wattheeffable]

helpful

[kay-kay]

AWSUM. good lesson but i got the killswicth engage tab that ive ben looking for, so sweet

[mino123]

kmohr93 wrote:....WHat?

this aint no metalcore. These bands are just American new metal. Bands like Suicidal tendencies and Stormtroopers of death fall under the Metalcore genre. It seems liek you just took a bunch of bands that you like and called them metalcore because you like metal and hardcore. Stop the misinformation jack ass.

[XxIBiHIxX]

Thanks dude i actually did practice some examples, and now i am way better at palm muting and alternate picking

[SteveHeyn]

uhm...isn't the my curse riff/intro in some alternate tuning?

[Racid]

Horrible band examples...

Look into Earth Crisis, Between the Buried and Me, Intergrity, Converge, etc...

I really don't even want to consider any of the bands you posted metalcore, you're the new scene I'm assuming.

[MetalLove666]

id have to say i am def unimpressed if i was a beginner readin it id be so confused after the first half of the article id probably quit guitar right then and there you needed to elaborate alot more on what things meant(as was already said such as palm muting and the different tunings) also your tabs should have been checked for accuracy before you put them in and they should have been labeled for there appropriate tunings, also most of the bands you said are metalcore....AREN'T. Please bring clear and correct information next time or dont bother at all

[madeoin]

You said I wouldn't reccomend Standard tuning... but DGCFAD is just Standard 2 steps down. However your article is informative and includes the basics for a metalcore song.

[GyckaZ]

i don't know in tabs here, there is no rhythm

[Nascar_48]

hey.
im new to guitar so this really helps, is it possible for further help in all aspects of guitar?
im a BIG fan of BFMV, and would like to get as good as matt tuck, however im unclear of some things to do, and my hands wont strect far enough to hit certain notes?

[ratracekid111]

this is your average metalcore riff....

-----
-----
-----
-----
----8---7---10---12- --5---
0-0---0---0----0----0-----

nuff said

[Oc3lot]

Its good but the genre itself has been overflooded with so many crap bands