Crucial Music Theory Concepts for Metal

Started playing metal back in the late 70s when it was still being called hard/ heavy rock ( yeah, I´m that old) so I´ve been through most of the genres throughout the decades. One thing I often miss in metal is actual SONGS, so here are a few additions that always helped me in my own songwriting,- just to elaborate on the points made in the video. Use the relative keys: If you´re riffin´in Em you could sing a melody in Gmajor - they would go together flawlessly as they contain all of the same notes just starting at a different spot in the scale. If you´re in major you find the relative minor by going three semitones ( or three frets :) ) DOWN from the root or if you´re in minor say Am you go three semitones ( or three frets ) UP to find the corresponding major. So: Am / C major - A major/ F#M - D major/ Bm - D minor/ F major etc.,- this technique makes the combined chords sound very wide and open especially when you add upper extentions like the 6, 7 and 9 on top of the minor chords to go with the major. Old Black Sabbath trick: Riffin in minor - melody in major - often starting on the fifth instead of the root. Hope this helps unlocking creativity.. Stay Metal.

The difference between major and Phyrigian made the riff so much better. I love these demonstrations! I Really like the end of the piece!

Great video

Your approach to theory and what it represents is excellent. Love hearing how you dissect things. As someone still learning theory principles (we are always learning I think and hope) it’s really cool to hear someone breaking stuff down less traditionally. Outside of the box of the rules per se.

Helpful video, and very cool winter environs. Thank you.

Riff in major sounded like something Billy Corgan would write for Smashing Pumpkins, but then the riff in phrgyian sounded like early Ghost. Crazy how vastly different a sound you can get from just changing a few notes.

This is a fantastic breakdown (no pun intended) of how you use theory to help you. Also big thumbs up to the atmosphere, just you sitting and hanging out in the snow/forest was lovely. 🤟🏼

just past 420

That's literally the whole point and purpose of theory: the terms exist only to communicate ideas, and the logic exists to describe the reality and what is possible. Weird how at times you get this where people think theory defines limits in a conformist sort of way: scale exists, therefore I should use only scale. No, scale exists because you make something, and then scale is able to describe what you make perfectly. Theory in itself is not a restriction on creativity because to say so would mean that reality itself somehow restricts creativity. That makes no sense. On the other hand, you get people who emphasize the sensable and empirical too much, denying theory and ultimately claiming experience is the only true teacher—as if the last 6000 years or so of human tradition were worthless and there's nothing to be gained except by reinventing the wheel for oneself endlessly over and over again rather than building upon the sum of all human knowledge and beliefs which constitutes human tradition.