Chapter 1: Fundamentals of Metal Guitar

Metal Riffs & Licks

 
Downloads for this lesson

What's included:

  • Tabs for all 5 beginner riffs (PDF)
  • Backing tracks with full mix (MP3)
  • Backing tracks without guitar - just drums and bass (MP3)
  • Guitar Pro file – this is the software I use to write tabs

đź’ľ Be sure to save everything to a folder called Metal Riffs and Licks on your computer or cloud drive.

➡️ Want to check out Guitar Pro? Learn more here

Beginner's Metal Guitar Lesson: What You Need to Know to Get Started

There are 4 essential techniques every metal guitarist needs to master first:

  • Power chords
  • Palm muting
  • Picking (downpicking + alternate picking)
  • Single-note riffs

This chapter is all about building a solid foundation using those techniques.

You’re not just learning what they are—you’re learning to use them in context by playing 5 beginner metal riffs that gradually increase in difficulty.

Each riff helps you combine techniques and build toward intermediate-level playing.

Once you’ve worked through the riffs, try this:

  • Add or remove notes
  • Change the order
  • Move them up or down the fretboard

Start experimenting—and let your own style come out.

👉 Get ready for the next chapter in your Metal Riffs and Licks book:
Metal Riffs – build on the foundation and start learning some killer riffs and techniques for tighter, faster rhythms.

Ready for Your Next Level of Metal Guitar?

If Metal Riffs and Licks is helping you and my style of teaching resonates with you, consider becoming a member of my guitar academy.

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Dustan Kaup

I tried getting into a different course a few months ago, and it ended up being a less than satisfying experience.
It was way too focused on stuff I have zero interest in.
Playing the same few chords and strumming patterns ad nauseum. Mostly for country and campfire crap.
Nowhere near the stuff that I'm interested in, or the direction I want to go as a guitar player.
Then I stumbled across some Jason Stallworth videos on YouTube, and I was hooked.
As soon as I could I bought in to the guitar academy.
Started out in the metal guitar apprentice course, to start building that foundation as the kind of player I want to be.
Within just a couple of weeks I'm already working on module 3.
Jason's teaching style is awesome, and I'm making noticeable progress.
100% the best decision I've made in a long time !!