Related to tip five, if you are using programmed drums, sometimes just experimenting with different drum patterns can really change up the flavor of a riff. For instance, trying out a half time style drum pattern, or 'carpet' double kick, even blast beats, and so on, can really change the way a riff feels!
I am really interested in metal music and electric guitars right now, and I want to get into it. Thanks to your tutorials, tips and tricks, I am really excited to get a new guitar and start to learn from you! Great tutorship have a wonderful day Jason!
Get ya some money together and get a good guitar. Nothing wrong with used.. used is like half the price for same guitar new lot of times.. Have the place guitar tech their set it up..
Great video Jason! I’ve been a follower for quite some time now and I just decided today to buy your Riff Master lesson package. Can’t wait to dig into it! Love your music and your insight into recording and writing. Keep rocking! 🤘🏼
Very good video. I've been playing for 35 years but mostly as a rhythm guitarist. I'm working on a Stoner Rock/hard rock ep at home. My lead skills are not up to metal standards. I have very little speed. How can I spice up my songs if I'm not a hot lead player?
Thanks for this great video. One important thing to figure out also is how to create a good vocal melody over the riffs. Sometimes I do have a vocal melody in my head and I create a riff to fit it, and sometimes it s the guitar riff that comes first... when the guitar riff comes first, I try to use another melodic guitar that I called the "vox guitar" to try some melodies that will eventually become the "real" vocals. How do you approach this challenge of finding the right vocals melodies to fit your riffs and vice versa ?
That's an extremely great point and question! The biggest thing is to write vocal melodies as you're writing the riffs. And I need to practice what I preach (like Testament!). After recording my last album, Masterpeace, I found that I had a tough time playing singing certain parts of songs. This is because I wrote and recorded the riffs and later recorded the vocals. But I never played and sang those songs as I didn't think I'd ever do them live. So that was a lesson learned as I plan to do some live shows for the upcoming album (I've got some local musicians that will back me). Here's a video that I made about that: ruclips.net/video/4irypVJPsFg/видео.html
Great ideas here . I've been doing more recording lately and my chops end up sounding a little more classic hard rock than metal but I think these ideas still apply . I'm trying to sound more metal lol.
I can totally see how that can happen, especially if you've listened to that growing up. But yeah, try some of these to change things up a bit! Or even apply some of the classic rock sounds mixed with some metal methods!
Look at my hands, can't you see, Nothing in them but you, Seeking to find a way, through the mind, Only one thing you will find, Tangled and twisted turns, But you rise above, The fire burns inside, it's the only thing that keeps me alive, But I will, I will survive..
Hey Jason, how's the new album coming along? I've really enjoyed Masterpeace and would love to hear what you've been cooking up since then. :) One thing I've been wondering, and would be interested in hearing your thoughts on - how is being an "album artist" working out for you business-wise? Recording an album is something I've been dreaming about for a long while, and if I do it someday, I'd be doing it for the love of music, not for the money. Still, it would be interesting to know if this could potentially generate a bit of income as well.
Dude, I am so far behind on this new album and really need to get it complete this month! The one thing I will say is that, yes, go for it. But don't tell yourself that you're not doing it for money because that mentality will impact what you make (or don't make). I'm not saying do it only for the money. But this is something that you're putting in a lot of work towards. So you should absolutely expect to profit for your work. I do plan to put out some more content on this as I love this topic...it's almost as much fun as writing music! And I also have a 4-part blow series on this topic. Here's the link to the first post: www.jasonstallworth.com/release-your-song-1/
@@jasonstallworth Thanks for the in-depth reply. You surprised me with the mentality aspect! It makes sense, though - I would want my music to live up to my standards, and to make some impact, so I guess I have to approach it with some.. professionalism? Some interesting thoughts here. I read your blog series. I've never seen the process broken down like this, it's extremely helpful. Daunting, but not impossible. Thanks! 🙂
Idk any theory or what shape correlates to what chord. All I know is the sound thats supposed to be made where my fingers land and then I just listen to what sounds good together based on where I started playing. I just go from there. These spots on the neck and these shapes sound good here, here, and here, now let’s play it. That’s literally been my approach for the past 15 years. I play almost everything by ear. I’ve tried learning theory, but it just in the way and made me over think everything and slowed my progress.
Dude, that's actually how I learned and has been my method since 1989! Of course, I learned the basic chords and a few scales in my first year (typical scales were always boring to me!) But what we don't realize is that we do learn some theory by default. And I'm starting to dive a little deeper. I don't know that it will have an impact on my playing and writing but I'd like to know a little more about reading music so that it's easier to develop tabs for my courses and songs.
@@jasonstallworth to be honest, most of the reason I tried learning theory was simply to communicate with other musicians when I’d jam with them (at least with instruments). I’m primarily a harsh vocalist, but I picked up playing so I could still do something musical, but not strain my voice. So, yeah, I guess you’re right when you say we at least learn a little by default. But when I really tried going deep I felt way in over my head. It’s was like trying to learn calculus for me hahaha but that’s why I trained my ears. If someone says to me “okay, we’re in C Major” that means nothing to me. But if I hear it, I’m like oh, okay, that makes sense. Maybe all of my years doing vocals first had something to do with that, I’m not totally sure. But even with clean singing, Used to be all over the place, but as I tuned my ear I started being able to hear when I was flat, sharp, not hitting notes properly. Plus I cant read music, and most tabs are trash, so me ears were the only thing I had to work with. So I’d put song on and fidget along the fret board. As long as I’m in the right tuning, I’ll figure it out with some time and concentration. But if you ever do vids on theory, I’ll definitely watch them. Been watching your videos for years and I love your down to earth and simple approach to things without being overly technical.
@@-whiskey-4134 I’m with you on just trusting your ears. That’s how I learned as well. I plan to do some ‘light’ stuff on theory but I honesty don’t know how deep I’ll go…probably not too deep! That side of my brain doesn’t work too well 😂
🎸 Get my free Metal Riffs and Licks practice guide:
www.jasonstallworth.com/guitarist/
I got it and metal guitar apprentice
Mixing modes is one of my favorite techniques also adding breakes and different rythm patterns works well. 🤘
It's such a cool way to make your songs more interesting!
Related to tip five, if you are using programmed drums, sometimes just experimenting with different drum patterns can really change up the flavor of a riff. For instance, trying out a half time style drum pattern, or 'carpet' double kick, even blast beats, and so on, can really change the way a riff feels!
That's certainly true! Just changing the drums can really make a huge difference in giving the song and riff more spice!
I am really interested in metal music and electric guitars right now, and I want to get into it. Thanks to your tutorials, tips and tricks, I am really excited to get a new guitar and start to learn from you! Great tutorship have a wonderful day Jason!
Awesome and glad you're getting into guitar!
Get ya some money together and get a good guitar. Nothing wrong with used.. used is like half the price for same guitar new lot of times.. Have the place guitar tech their set it up..
thanks dude, you rule more on every new video you make, thanks for keeping metal up our asess, yeahhh man
🤘🤘🤘
I use a combination of single note riffs with normal power chords.
Sooner I will start using other strategies you showed. Thanks for sharing this.
Glad these helped! That's a powerful combination!
Great video Jason! I’ve been a follower for quite some time now and I just decided today to buy your Riff Master lesson package. Can’t wait to dig into it! Love your music and your insight into recording and writing. Keep rocking! 🤘🏼
Dude, thank you for getting my course! I really hope you enjoy it!
I was new to playing guitar and metal is my interest. Thank you for the strategies you mentioned.
Glad this video helped! 🙏🏻🤘
I like throwing in inverted power chords mixed with regular power chords with and without the doubled root
Yeah those chords just sound killer!
Absolute awesome video. And thank you for sharing your skills 💙💙👍
Thank you and glad this helped!
Very good video. I've been playing for 35 years but mostly as a rhythm guitarist. I'm working on a Stoner Rock/hard rock ep at home. My lead skills are not up to metal standards. I have very little speed. How can I spice up my songs if I'm not a hot lead player?
I always encourage folks to focus more on developing their own style, whether that's fast leads, simple leads, or no leads.
Very good video man, lot of good points and advice for making riffs. Definitely going to use these, like right now
Thank you and glad this helped...and don't forget the bonus tip at the end!
@@jasonstallworth yea, imma check it. Btw anthem of brutality is underrated af.
Thanks for this great video. One important thing to figure out also is how to create a good vocal melody over the riffs. Sometimes I do have a vocal melody in my head and I create a riff to fit it, and sometimes it s the guitar riff that comes first...
when the guitar riff comes first, I try to use another melodic guitar that I called the "vox guitar" to try some melodies that will eventually become the "real" vocals.
How do you approach this challenge of finding the right vocals melodies to fit your riffs and vice versa ?
That's an extremely great point and question! The biggest thing is to write vocal melodies as you're writing the riffs. And I need to practice what I preach (like Testament!).
After recording my last album, Masterpeace, I found that I had a tough time playing singing certain parts of songs. This is because I wrote and recorded the riffs and later recorded the vocals. But I never played and sang those songs as I didn't think I'd ever do them live. So that was a lesson learned as I plan to do some live shows for the upcoming album (I've got some local musicians that will back me).
Here's a video that I made about that: ruclips.net/video/4irypVJPsFg/видео.html
CLEAN ACUSTIC UNDERNETH
Man, my guitars are constantly getting cleaned but also getting dirty as I'm playing out so much.
Great ideas here . I've been doing more recording lately and my chops end up sounding a little more classic hard rock than metal but I think these ideas still apply . I'm trying to sound more metal lol.
I can totally see how that can happen, especially if you've listened to that growing up. But yeah, try some of these to change things up a bit! Or even apply some of the classic rock sounds mixed with some metal methods!
I've been playing a while.. I hadn't got the the alternate picking train till now.. definitely difficult to break picking habits
You'll nail and it's a cool feeling once you do!
Look at my hands, can't you see,
Nothing in them but you,
Seeking to find a way, through the mind,
Only one thing you will find,
Tangled and twisted turns,
But you rise above,
The fire burns inside, it's the only thing that keeps me alive,
But I will, I will survive..
🤘
Awesome video Jason good info man 👍🆒
Thank you...hopefully these tips help folks out of the ruts we all fall into at times!
@@jasonstallworth 👍👍
Hey Jason, how's the new album coming along? I've really enjoyed Masterpeace and would love to hear what you've been cooking up since then. :)
One thing I've been wondering, and would be interested in hearing your thoughts on - how is being an "album artist" working out for you business-wise? Recording an album is something I've been dreaming about for a long while, and if I do it someday, I'd be doing it for the love of music, not for the money. Still, it would be interesting to know if this could potentially generate a bit of income as well.
Dude, I am so far behind on this new album and really need to get it complete this month!
The one thing I will say is that, yes, go for it. But don't tell yourself that you're not doing it for money because that mentality will impact what you make (or don't make). I'm not saying do it only for the money. But this is something that you're putting in a lot of work towards. So you should absolutely expect to profit for your work.
I do plan to put out some more content on this as I love this topic...it's almost as much fun as writing music!
And I also have a 4-part blow series on this topic. Here's the link to the first post: www.jasonstallworth.com/release-your-song-1/
@@jasonstallworth Thanks for the in-depth reply. You surprised me with the mentality aspect! It makes sense, though - I would want my music to live up to my standards, and to make some impact, so I guess I have to approach it with some.. professionalism? Some interesting thoughts here.
I read your blog series. I've never seen the process broken down like this, it's extremely helpful. Daunting, but not impossible. Thanks! 🙂
@@karstux you definitely want to treat it like a business!
AWESOME EVEN OLD GEEZERS GRT IT THX THEN OVERLAY OH THEN U SAID IT AS A BONUS WHILE TYPING
🤘
I do strategy 2 and 3
🤘
Never knew David Draiman ia a youtuber now.
I don't even know who that is lol
👍👍👍
🤘
Ben traning scales for a while here back to metal riffs so your Chanel is the place to go 😊👍
Metalicazos
.....
🤘
Idk any theory or what shape correlates to what chord. All I know is the sound thats supposed to be made where my fingers land and then I just listen to what sounds good together based on where I started playing. I just go from there. These spots on the neck and these shapes sound good here, here, and here, now let’s play it. That’s literally been my approach for the past 15 years. I play almost everything by ear. I’ve tried learning theory, but it just in the way and made me over think everything and slowed my progress.
Dude, that's actually how I learned and has been my method since 1989! Of course, I learned the basic chords and a few scales in my first year (typical scales were always boring to me!)
But what we don't realize is that we do learn some theory by default. And I'm starting to dive a little deeper. I don't know that it will have an impact on my playing and writing but I'd like to know a little more about reading music so that it's easier to develop tabs for my courses and songs.
@@jasonstallworth to be honest, most of the reason I tried learning theory was simply to communicate with other musicians when I’d jam with them (at least with instruments). I’m primarily a harsh vocalist, but I picked up playing so I could still do something musical, but not strain my voice. So, yeah, I guess you’re right when you say we at least learn a little by default. But when I really tried going deep I felt way in over my head. It’s was like trying to learn calculus for me hahaha but that’s why I trained my ears. If someone says to me “okay, we’re in C Major” that means nothing to me. But if I hear it, I’m like oh, okay, that makes sense. Maybe all of my years doing vocals first had something to do with that, I’m not totally sure. But even with clean singing, Used to be all over the place, but as I tuned my ear I started being able to hear when I was flat, sharp, not hitting notes properly. Plus I cant read music, and most tabs are trash, so me ears were the only thing I had to work with. So I’d put song on and fidget along the fret board. As long as I’m in the right tuning, I’ll figure it out with some time and concentration. But if you ever do vids on theory, I’ll definitely watch them. Been watching your videos for years and I love your down to earth and simple approach to things without being overly technical.
@@-whiskey-4134 I’m with you on just trusting your ears. That’s how I learned as well. I plan to do some ‘light’ stuff on theory but I honesty don’t know how deep I’ll go…probably not too deep! That side of my brain doesn’t work too well 😂