New To Guitars.

Don't bother learning Metallica 'clean'.
It will sound rubbish.
Wack the distortion up.
If your amp doesn't have a distortion button get a pedal like they suggest.
Playing with distortion is completely different to playing clean.
For a start you can't hear pinched harmonics if you play clean. And pinched harmonics are cool.
More relevant to that Metallica sound is the constant palm muting. Which will definitely sound rubbish with no distort.
 
Andelusion said:
Get a teacher ;)
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Quoted for truth!

As for those talking about a mesa and pinched harmonics, both are clearly out of range in terms of budget and skill, so why even bother mentioning them?

He'll never get anywhere without his 1337 sweepz!

But seriously, in order to get a metallica sound, or a heavy sound, you will need to drop the middle frequencies whilst raising the higher and lower frequencies of your amp, whilst turning the 'gain' or distortion up high. This will leave you with a 'scooped' tone typical of some metal bands.

Whilst sounding great in the bedroom, on the stage these tones tend not to cut very well through the mix and easily get drowned out. In order to overcome this, big bands like metallica tend not to cut the middle frequencies quite as much or even raise them slightly.

But for your bedroom, a typical 'scooped' tone is the first step on your tonal journey of awesomeness, so I would suggest you go from there :)
 
Robosapien said:
Don't bother learning Metallica 'clean'.
It will sound rubbish.
Wack the distortion up.
If your amp doesn't have a distortion button get a pedal like they suggest.
Playing with distortion is completely different to playing clean.
For a start you can't hear pinched harmonics if you play clean. And pinched harmonics are cool.
More relevant to that Metallica sound is the constant palm muting. Which will definitely sound rubbish with no distort.
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I would just like to point out to the OP that this man is and idiot. I have outlined the following reason below:

No amps have a distortion 'button'. Distortion is achieved through the use of gain controlled by a dial on the amp. An amp with two channels for instance can be set to have a clean channel, and a dirty channel, or both clean, or both dirty which you can switch between. There is no such thing as a 'distortion button' - idiot++

Distortion is to clean as a G on the piano is to a G on an acoustic guitar. It is simply a representation of the same note with a different timbre (colouring). It is the reason different instruments sound differently but can still be 'in tune' with one another. They sound different, but they play exactly the same. idiot++

Can you hear natural harmonics clean? Yes, then you can definitely hear pinched harmonics clean as well. Just because you cant play them properly doesn't mean other nobody can. idiot++

Palm muting sounds rubbish with no distortion does it? What about on acoustic? idiot++

So congratulations, in one post you have achieved idiot status of +4,
 
Clinkz said:
Can you hear natural harmonics clean? Yes, then you can definitely hear pinched harmonics clean as well. Just because you cant play them properly doesn't mean other nobody can. idiot++
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You can hear them with clean tone yes if done correctly, BUT they don't sound anything like they should.
 
I've always wondered why people say you need distortion to hear pinched harmonics, I have no trouble hearing them even with the guitar unplugged.
 
Clinkz said:
I would just like to point out to the OP that this man is and idiot. I have outlined the following reason below:

No amps have a distortion 'button'. Distortion is achieved through the use of gain controlled by a dial on the amp. An amp with two channels for instance can be set to have a clean channel, and a dirty channel, or both clean, or both dirty which you can switch between. There is no such thing as a 'distortion button' - idiot++

Distortion is to clean as a G on the piano is to a G on an acoustic guitar. It is simply a representation of the same note with a different timbre (colouring). It is the reason different instruments sound differently but can still be 'in tune' with one another. They sound different, but they play exactly the same. idiot++

Can you hear natural harmonics clean? Yes, then you can definitely hear pinched harmonics clean as well. Just because you cant play them properly doesn't mean other nobody can. idiot++

Palm muting sounds rubbish with no distortion does it? What about on acoustic? idiot++

So congratulations, in one post you have achieved idiot status of +4,
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Do you have a big, fat, greasy chip on your shoulder? Is there any reason for such an attack? Sure his explanations may be a little off and vague, but thats no reason to call him an idiot over and over.

Its quite possible to have an amp that has a switch (button), that alternates between clean and distorted tones. Your explanation of distortion being achieved through "turning the gain dial", is just as vague. I can list an amp of almost every manufacturer than has a switch (button), that alternates between clean and distorted tones. Infact, i can't think of many that don't have switches to introduce a gain stage. :confused:

The op wants a Metallica esque tone, pinch harmonics in clean isn't going to help him in his quest for tone, only brush up his skills. Pinch harmonics are just fine with a distorted tone, even practicing them with distortion is 'fine'. But still, when did he ever mention wanting tips on technique? Metallica doesn't require that much 'technique' to begin with.

Yes, palm mutes on an acoustic guitar, semi acoustic guitar, electric acoustic, electric guitar, sound terrible in clean. That of course is my opinion, but i'm not an idiot for thinking so. The idea of palm muting on an acoustic guitar makes me laugh, to be frank.
 
Andelusion said:
Gear is always the first thing to get the blame for poor technique ;)
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You also can't polish a turd, can you. While i agree technique is of utmost importance, even Paul Gilbert and the like, couldn't make certain equipment sound good. I had to borrow someones Crate at a gig once, as my tube amp had failed on me, it wasn't a pleasant experience. :(

Just remembered a time when i had to borrow a Bc rich warlock, HORRIBLE GIG! :( :( :(
 
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Or you could learn it clean so you get it down properly and neatly, then wack up the gain so it sounds right.

It's tempting to do the gain first (obviously do if you want to show off to people), but for practice, put it clean.

Or, you could play with gain, and turn into one of those people who cover their mistakes with distortion.
 
georges said:
Or you could learn it clean so you get it down properly and neatly, then wack up the gain so it sounds right.

It's tempting to do the gain first (obviously do if you want to show off to people), but for practice, put it clean.

Or, you could play with gain, and turn into one of those people who cover their mistakes with distortion.
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Or, you could practise both :p

I find that distortion actually makes mistakes far more obvious when attempting to play something remotely complicated or clean. Thats why I use reverb and delay ;)
 
Guess i'll have to quote the op

"This is just a quick simple question, ive tried reading up on it but cant seem to pin down the answer. Basically how do you get an electric guitar to create your classic metallica type sound, is this down to an effects box / peddle ?"

Practicing in clean, polishing your technique, has NOTHING to do with his question, ffs!
 
I_Am_Vengeance said:
Guess i'll have to quote the op

"This is just a quick simple question, ive tried reading up on it but cant seem to pin down the answer. Basically how do you get an electric guitar to create your classic metallica type sound, is this down to an effects box / peddle ?"

Practicing in clean, polishing your technique, has NOTHING to do with his question, ffs!
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I can't hurt to give him tips though surely? He's already got a couple of answers to his question: a Line 6 that emulates the sound or a Mark 4 that produces it.
 
H2F Scott said:
I can't hurt to give him tips though surely? He's already got a couple of answers to his question: a Line 6 that emulates the sound or a Mark 4 that produces it.
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It can't hurt, you're right, but thats not the point. People are telling him to "Get a teacher" and "play in clean to learn pinch harmonics", as if that was the answer to getting the Metallica tone. So, the op might go away, thinking all he needs is practice, to achieve said tone, which isn't the case. You can use drop tuning, a Mark 4 and achieve the Metallica tone, without even learning to play the guitar! :)
 
I_Am_Vengeance said:
It can't hurt, you're right, but thats not the point. People are telling him to "Get a teacher" and "play in clean to learn pinch harmonics", as if that was the answer to getting the Metallica tone. So, the op might go away, thinking all he needs is practice, to achieve said tone, which isn't the case. You can use drop tuning, a Mark 4 and achieve the Metallica tone, without even learning to play the guitar! :)
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.... constant precise downstrokes anyone? :p
 
Clinkz said:
I would just like to point out to the OP that this man is and idiot. I have outlined the following reason below:

No amps have a distortion 'button'. Distortion is achieved through the use of gain controlled by a dial on the amp. An amp with two channels for instance can be set to have a clean channel, and a dirty channel, or both clean, or both dirty which you can switch between. There is no such thing as a 'distortion button' - idiot++
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I had a Kustom amp with a distortion button.
 
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