How to learn metal guitar with an additional request for gear recs

July 1, 2017 6:42 PM

I'm looking to buy a 7 string guitar and learn how to play it. Let me know what you think my best options are.

I have some experience with guitar, I've doodled for the past 15 years. I'm looking to branch into a particular genre in order to gain some more specialized knowledge. I recently sold all of my gear and have some funds available to buy new gear. I am looking to learn metal and hard rock; I'm into music of all kinds. I listen to Miley Cyrus and Chopin, but I'm interested in investing time into a single genre, and I think that genre is going to be metal.

My budget is $3,500 dollars. Do you have recommendations for a 7 string guitar and a combo amp for a beginner player?

And what would be the best way to learn how to play? I.E. how do I find an instructor that actually specializes into metal instead of the usual "X plays classical, bluegrass, jazz, rock, blues" situation? I've been a bedroom player for a long time and am also looking for self-directed learning opportunities.

Thanks so much.

posted by lilies.lilies to Media & Arts (6 answers total)

Response by poster: If it helps, the music I'm most into right now is Babymetal.
posted by lilies.lilies at 6:55 PM on July 1, 2017

OK, you are talking about a pretty serious budget commitment, so the first order of business is, go play as many 7-strings as possible, see what's out there, try to get a feel for the differences between the budget tiers, and most importantly, try to find one you love playing. Don't be hasty! Dropping $2000 on a guitar you later feel kind of unhappy with is a bad experience. As far as combo amps go, I don't know, probably some kind of modeling amp.

And what would be the best way to learn how to play? I.E. how do I find an instructor that actually specializes into metal instead of the usual "X plays classical, bluegrass, jazz, rock, blues" situation? I've been a bedroom player for a long time and am also looking for self-directed learning opportunities.

Youtube! It's stocked with people trying to build a following by posting high-quality music instruction. I don't have any metal channels in specific to recommend, I am afraid, but I don't think they will be hard to find, once Youtube figures out that you like metal guitar instruction.

As for real lessons, if there are no metal guitar teachers who can give you the authentic thing in your area, there are lots of people teaching on Skype now.
posted by thelonius at 7:15 PM on July 1, 2017 [1 favorite]

You could ask at http://www.sevenstring.org/
posted by oh pollo! at 12:58 AM on July 2, 2017 [1 favorite]

I'd recommend also budgeting for some pedals and a pedal board.
posted by motty at 4:52 AM on July 2, 2017

Best answer: That's actually a fairly hefty budget, so you've got a lot of options available, so I'll second thelonius that you should go try as many out in person as you can. If you're in a place where there aren't a lot to try and you have to order online, you could start with a lower budget model from Ibanez, Schecter, or ESP and still get a solid guitar to start learning on, and save your dough for a higher-end guitar after you've gotten some more 7-string playing experience.

For a combo practice amp, maybe look into a modeling amp so you have a variety of distortion tones and levels to play with, and maybe one with a headphone out so you can practice without disturbing your neighbors.

how do I find an instructor that actually specializes into metal instead of the usual "X plays classical, bluegrass, jazz, rock, blues" situation?

Eh. If you're interested in lessons in person, I would be less focused on finding a "metal specialist" teacher and instead look for a teacher who's willing to allow you to pick the material you learn - like, you want a person who says, "OK, so first half of the lesson will be scales, second half we'll work on "Master of Puppets"" rather than someone who insists on starting with "Mary Had A Little Lamb." Honestly, music is music, a good teacher can understand and teach many styles without being expert in any, and modern metal still uses all the basic musical building blocks of scales and modes and chord progressions. If anything, lots of the metal guys I know have moved into metal because they've already mastered basic rock and blues stuff.
posted by soundguy99 at 7:48 AM on July 2, 2017 [4 favorites]

I have a more traditional Les Paul style guitar from these guys. I love it. I'm not an expert by any means but my luthier is. After having him do a setup on it he asked me about it (he hadn't really played it other than what was required to do the job) so I asked him to give it a whirl and tell me what he thought. He casually banged out a bunch of stuff I'll never be able to play and was very impressed.

His jaw hit the floor when I told him it only cost me $400.

They have a ton of options and give you information about the various neck profiles that they use or you could get something custom.

I know it's WAY under your budget but I still think they're worthy of consideration and it would leave you a ton of room for pedals and such.
posted by VTX at 1:19 PM on July 4, 2017 [1 favorite]