What’s the best way to learn electric guitar for metal music? … where should I start?

General
1

I want to learn how to play metal music on the guitar, but I haven’t gotten one yet, so I have a few questions first:

  1. Where’s the best place to buy a guitar?
  2. What price range is good for a decent guitar?
  3. What type of electric guitar is better for metal music? Does the shape matter (pointy vs round)?
  4. Does the guitar pick matter? If so, which ones are best for metal music?
  5. What’s the best way to learn metal music on an electric guitar?
  6. How long will it take to learn?

Please answer in order so I can keep track. Thanks! :slight_smile:

2
  1. Best to get a guitar from a shop, they can set it up for you. Pay attention to action and intonation when you try them out.
  2. A beginner can find a decent guitar in the $150-$250 range these days.
  3. Look for guitars with humbucker pickups. I recommend a Les Paul-shaped guitar with EMG 85 pickups for metal.
  4. Thicker picks give you more control over speed and sound. It’s good to try out different picks to see what works for you.
  5. You should get a teacher, or follow a structured course or even this guide. Best is a mix of all three.
  6. It took me about 2,000 hours of practice and 4,000 hours of learning over three years to build the main framework of skills and knowledge. I’m still learning, but once you hit a solid foundation, you can get into the swing of things. Pro players say it takes a lifetime to master.
3

@Flint
Thanks so much! Could action and intonation be adjusted on any guitar? I’m really new to this and curious.

4

Jael said:
@Flint
Thanks so much! Could action and intonation be adjusted on any guitar? I’m really new to this and curious.

Yes, action is the height of the strings over the neck, and intonation is making sure the guitar stays in tune after the 12th fret. Once it’s set up, it should stay good for a long time. There are hardware adjustments for these, so as long as you don’t mess with them, they should be fine.

5

@Flint
Thanks a lot!

6

Hey there,

I’d say to buy your guitar from a shop, and pick one that feels comfortable when you hold it. You want something that makes you want to play it every day.

For electric guitars, a humbucker pickup will give you great hard rock and metal tones. If you start exploring other kinds of music, you can try a guitar with mixed pickups. The shape isn’t as important for electric guitars, as long as it feels good to play. (It matters more for acoustic guitars.)