Introduction

Metallica certainly needs no introduction in the metal world. As one of the hardest hitting metal bands of all time Metallica have firmly entrenched themselves as one of, if not the, most famous and popular metal bands ever. I’ve been a fan of Metallica since I was in my teens and I’ve learned to play a ton of their songs from all of their albums up to and including the Black Album from which Nothing else matters belongs. I’ve played and sung One, Master of Puppets, and Enter Sandman all around the world in a covers band called KAHA from New Zealand. Interestingly, our band did a Metallica tribute show in Abu Dhabi on the night that Metallica played there back in 2011. A lot of people that attended their concert came to the bar we were playing in that night and were blown away by the fact that we were paying tribute to Metallica. A little known fact is that Kirk Hammet did not learn to play this song until Metallica went back out on tour to promote the album. As such, all of the guitar tracks you hear throughout the song (including the solo) were played by James Hetfield! As far as Metallica solos go this is definitely one of the easiest and more mellow, probably because it’s played by James and a rip-roaring balls to the wall distorted solo just would’ve sounded out of place on this ballad. Here are a few helpful tips to get you through the solo:

• Listen carefully to get those bends to the correct pitch
• Practice counting in this somewhat uncommon time signature by counting along with the song
• look ahead to the next position when doing the big position shifts to increase your chances of shifting to the right fret

Musical Style

Metallica’s musical style is characterized by its blend of heavy metal and hard rock, with influences from classical and blues music. Known for their intricate guitar riffs, powerful vocals, and complex song structures, Metallica has defined the genre with their aggressive yet melodic approach. Their music often features rapid tempos, distorted guitar tones, and dynamic changes, creating a sound that is both intense and emotionally charged. Metallica’s ability to incorporate melodic elements into their heavy sound has broadened their appeal, making them one of the most successful and influential rock bands in history.

Notable Songs

Five notable songs by Metallica:

• Enter Sandman

• Fade to Black

• Master of Puppets

• One

• The Unforgiven

Let your fingers fly!

Josh