Metal is a unique genre that uses low, muddled tones, intense power chords, and guitar distortion to create the aggressive sound millions of people love to headbang to. There are several branches of metal music that one can learn, from heavy metal to death metal, and each can be achieved using an electric guitar by keeping a few pointers in mind.
Want to go even lower without losing string tension? Many metal players now choose fanned fret guitars, whose multiscale necks keep down-tuned strings tight.
Related: best metal guitars.
You can make an electric guitar sound better for metal using the right gear, strings and techniques. Adjusting your amp settings and incorporating pedals into the mix will also create the distorted sound that dominates the metal genre.
This article will look more closely at what gear is best to use, what amp settings are most appropriate and which techniques will make your electric guitar sound as metal as possible. Get ready to shred with the following tips!
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- Fender Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar Bundle (MY FAVORITE GUITAR)
- Snark SN-8 Super Tight All Instrument Tuner (Easiest Tuner I’ve Used😏)
- 6 String Acoustic Guitar Capo (Best CAPO for quick changes)
- Dunlop Max Grip 1.0mm Nylon Picks (Thick Guitar Pick So You Don’t Lose Grip!)
- Universal Guitar Stand (Cheap & Minimalist Guitar Stand I Recommend)
- Levy’s 2″ Wide Quick Adjust Guitar Strap (Best Guitar Strap For Any Level)
1. Use the Proper Gear
To achieve the best metal sound on your guitar, you want to ensure that you have the suitable gear. Specific instruments and amps are better designed to project the explosive riffs of metal, so it’s crucial that your equipment can withstand the power playing of the genre. Other pieces of equipment, like heavy-duty tuners and pickups, are also critical.
Best Amps for Metal Music
Metal music requires amps that can deliver a heavy tone; to achieve that, you need to buy an amp with gain control. Gain and volume work in tandem, with gain controlling the tone (clear versus distorted) and volume controlling the– well, the volume of the sound!
Paul Reed Smith MT 15
Also referred to as the ‘Lunchbox Hero,’ the Paul Reed Smith MT 15 is a small, low-wattage amp designed especially for metalheads. It hosts several gain stages (gain stages are the levels of sound prep before reaching the amp’s volume – read more here). This gives the guitar a much better metal sound because it creates a perfectly distorted tone.
Peavey 6505+
The Peavey 6505+ is the second-generation Peavey 6505 amp, surpassing its predecessor with durability, pure volume, and gain adjustments that deliver a wicked raw tone. The amp also comes with a foot pedal that allows you to adjust your amp settings and sound with a simple stomp of the foot.
Marshall DSL20C
Of course, I could never forget to include a Marshall’s amp. The DSL20C is an excellent amplifier for basically any genre of music, including metal. It has two groups of gain and volume settings (classic and ultra), and at 20 watts, it’s loud enough for parties and jam sessions.
Suppose you’re planning to play in a house show or in front of a big audience. In that case, you may want to consider upgrading to the DSL40, which has a higher wattage output and can reach the ears of larger crowds.
Best Guitars for Metal Music
So you’ve got a solid metal amp, but your instrument needs to be just as durable and strong! Now, a guitar doesn’t have to be big and flashy in order to play death metal. On the contrary, lightweight guitars are excellent for metal because they’re easy to hold and allow for fast fretting.
You might wonder what else makes a good metal guitar besides size. The best guitars for shredding have thin necks, locking tuners, and good pickups, as we’ll explore below. For now, let’s take a look at the best guitars to play for metal music.
Jackson X Series Rhoads RRX24
The Jackson X series is arguably the coolest looking shredder out there, with a sharp V shape to it. In reality, though, any of the Jackson series guitars will give you a definitely-metal-player look and feel because they are all so uniquely shaped. The RRX24 has two sets of humbucker pickups and a thin fretboard.
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4
The Jazzmaster was designed by Fender and Slipknot songwriter Jim Root, and while it may look a little soft, it doesn’t sound that way in the slightest.
With ten gauge strings, the Jazzmaster plays warmer, heavier tones that you can mosh the hardest to. It doesn’t have the same sharp look as the Jackson series guitars. Still, its aesthetic is simple and visually pleasing– perfect for those who enjoy a more modest look.
Other Equipment
Some other necessary equipment to make your guitar sound better are tuners and pickups. Locked tuners lock the tension in place to maintain the string’s tune, which is ideal for metal music. Pickups take the vibration of the plucked string and turn it into electricity, which can affect the sound’s tone. Take a look at the suggested tuners and pickups for metal guitars.
Tuners
Metal music is hardcore; we all know that. So purchasing tuners that will stay in place and maintain the key’s composure is critical! Locking tuners hold or lock the string’s tension in place to keep its tune. Metal guitarists would do well to install these tuners because the aggressive playing of metal can turn a guitar out of tune quite quickly.
Hipshot Chrome Tuners are a great set for those who don’t want to make many adjustments to the headstock of their guitar. Sometimes, locking tuners need to be drilled into place, but Hipshot tuners come with a mounting plate instead.
Pickups
Pickups sit on the body of the guitar, right beneath the strings, and metal guitarists will preach the word “humbucker” to anyone looking to make their guitar sound better for metal. Pickups transfer the vibration of the string into electricity. Humbucker pickups do that twice as well, producing a thicker sound– perfect for metal.
2. Use the Right Strings
Since the pick attack in metal is pretty gnarly, your guitar strings need to be durable. Interestingly, guitar strings are designed with thickness, coating, and material in mind, so naturally, some strings are better for metal music than others.
String Thickness
Guitar strings are made in five sizes, with most electric guitars using the thinnest one available. They’re called gauges, and they range from ‘super lightweight’ (the high E is .008 inches in thickness) to ‘heavy’ (the high E is .012 inches), with two sizes in between.
Most guitars use super lightweight to lightweight strings, but metal guitars should go for the medium to heavy size. When you’re ripping power chords in the thick of a metal show, you want to know that the strings of your instrument are capable of keeping up without snapping or wearing down over time.
A guide to the various gauges of guitar strings can be found here.
3. Adjust Your Amp Settings
Your amplifier likely has man