Techniques
Metal guitar is a mechanical sport wearing a musical costume. This hub organizes the right-hand and left-hand skills that make riffs tight and leads clean at tempo.
Why this topic matters
Most stalled metal players do not lack “licks.” They lack a reliable picking motion, a stable mute, and a way to increase tempo without recruiting the shoulder. Technique pages here treat those as trainable skills with constraints, not talent.
Featured guide
PillarAlternate Picking for Metal
The default engine for 16th-note riffs and scalar runs. Mechanics, string crossing, and a speed ladder.
Supporting articles
- Outside string-crossing drill
- Sweep picking fundamentals
- Building speed without tension
- Palm muting and tight rhythm
Related FAQs
Related glossary
Research
See deliberate practice applied to guitar speed for why slow, accurate reps outperform sloppy high-BPM grinding.
Products
A metronome you will actually use matters more than a new guitar. See practice tools.