School me on brutal playing and getting that tone

[Audioholic]

As the title says. School me on all things brutal, Talking getting that tight rythm, chugga low mayhem.

What are you tuning your strings to?

Using a separate guitar to keep it tuned low?

Baritone a must?


ready...set.. go...!

 

[glassjaw7]

The metal that I play isn't super "brutal" compared to some shit that's out there, but I prefer drop C or Drop B with at least a 25 1/2" scale axe.

For drop C I use the EB Skinny Top/Heavy Bottom (25 1/2")

For drop B I use the Not even Slinky set or similar (25 1/2")

Use a high gain amp (duh) with a boost unless it's a 6505, VH4, or a Mark (or any really tight amp) A boost is still necessary for some styles to get that certain sound that only the boost can create. It scoops out certain frequencies and adds something to the tone.
The rest is preference.

I really haven't played brutal metal for a couple years. Been jamming on blues, rock and ambient spacey stuff

 

[Audioholic]

Seems like a guitar with a trem would have to get setup for such a low tuning.... no?

 

[glassjaw7]

Seems like a guitar with a trem would have to get setup for such a low tuning.... no?

I think so. I tried setting my Dime up once long ago for C standard and it wasn't pretty. Had to take it in to a pro to adjust the Floyd.
Have you considered a 7 string axe? You'd be set up with that low B so you don't have to mess with trem adjustments or any bs.
Baritones are cool too, though they take some getting used to. I think Schecter makes one with a 26 1/2" scale. Seems like it'd be just enough extra length tune down a bit but not feel like a bass.

 

[JohnnyC]

are you asking mainly for live tone or for recorded tone?
or both
as settings differ for both

brutal tones IMO = tight low end/low mid response/ aggressive mids/top end with percussive/precision playing.
usually not very dynamic sounding...eg chug chug pinch harmoni squeal chug blaaaah with the guitars volume/tone on full.

some/or a lot of guys cheat by using a noise gate dailled in for that stop/start effect.


down tuniing/string gauge/guitar neck scale lenght also play a part on the string attack/response. depends on how quick you want the strings to respond.

experiment with diffrent neck scales/tunings/seven or eight strings and gauges.

i dont like down tuning sixes anymore as i find there is too much of a compromise for low end response on the lower strings for rhtyhm and string bending for leads on the higher strings...hence why i use a seven string for this style.

 

[Code001]

You can play in A with a 25.5'' scale and intonate perfectly fine. I don't see the need for a longer scale unless you're going lower than that. As far as strings, use what you want. I use whatever the guitar requires. If the guitar is brighter, I might use thicker strings. If the guitar has a lot of bass, I'll use thinner strings.

What exactly do you call brutal metal, btw? Are talking about bands like Trivium or bands like Cannibal Corpse? Guitar -> Boost -> 5150 -> Mesa 4x12 should get you what 90% of metal bands use.

 

[Audioholic]

So it sounds like a 7 string would be a great thing to get. Any affordable 7's out there that are worth a salt?

Don't have any real particuliar band in mind, but that tight technical chugga sound, clean, crisp, deep. Both my guitars have trems on them so I haven't ventured past drop D.

 

[Code001]

So it sounds like a 7 string would be a great thing to get. Any affordable 7's out there that are worth a salt?

Trem:
RG7620/RG1527
Schecter Loomis
Schecter C7 FR

Non-Trem:
RG7621
Schecter Loomis Hardtail
Schecter Hellraiser C7

 

[glassjaw7]

The Agile stuff should be worth checking out also.
http://www.rondomusic.com/7string.html

 

[Juggernaut]

I HATE all that down-tuned crap, the ONLY bands IMO that sounds even remotely good tuned that far down to have to use 7/8 strings are Fear Factory and Meshuggah. I play in standard drop D most of the time.....

not sure what you want as far as advice, dialing in the amps is easy, just dial in your mids, and keep the gain reasonable. Boosting helps with "looser" sounding amps. Gates help with feedback.

it's in the attitude of your playing more than anything.....

 

[glassjaw7]

I HATE all that down-tuned crap, the ONLY bands IMO that sounds even remotely good tuned that far down to have to use 7/8 strings are Fear Factory and Meshuggah. I play in standard drop D most of the time.....

not sure what you want as far as advice, dialing in the amps is easy, just dial in your mids, and keep the gain reasonable. Boosting helps with "looser" sounding amps. Gates help with feedback.

it's in the attitude of your playing more than anything.....

I'm getting sick of most of the newer stuff too, which is why I don't really play much metal anymore. Bored of the old stuff too. But there are some cool bands that tune down: Sikth, Deftones, Meshuggah to name a few. Love me some AIC too. Obviously not brutal metal, but tuned down nonetheless. I think the reason many bands that tune low sound like shit is because they're all clones of each other. Some dude squealing and growling and the guitars just chunking along. But there are some great bands that tune down. Shit, even Dime used to tune down to C sometimes.

 

[EXPcustom]

I think people get to caught up in that mentality that you have to tune down to sound brutal.

Some of the most brutal stuff I have ever heard was in Eb.

 

[petejt]

I think people get to caught up in that mentality that you have to tune down to sound brutal.

Some of the most brutal stuff I have ever heard was in Eb.

 

[Beyond Black]

I think people get to caught up in that mentality that you have to tune down to sound brutal.

Some of the most brutal stuff I have ever heard was in Eb.

Agreed.

 

[sebby123]

Eb Standard or drop Db

 

[Juggernaut]

I HATE all that down-tuned crap, the ONLY bands IMO that sounds even remotely good tuned that far down to have to use 7/8 strings are Fear Factory and Meshuggah. I play in standard drop D most of the time.....

not sure what you want as far as advice, dialing in the amps is easy, just dial in your mids, and keep the gain reasonable. Boosting helps with "looser" sounding amps. Gates help with feedback.

it's in the attitude of your playing more than anything.....

I'm getting sick of most of the newer stuff too, which is why I don't really play much metal anymore. Bored of the old stuff too. But there are some cool bands that tune down: Sikth, Deftones, Meshuggah to name a few. Love me some AIC too. Obviously not brutal metal, but tuned down nonetheless. I think the reason many bands that tune low sound like shit is because they're all clones of each other. Some dude squealing and growling and the guitars just chunking along. But there are some great bands that tune down. Shit, even Dime used to tune down to C sometimes.

agreed. but even when Dime tuned down it wasn't the same.... example: Damageplan. Zakk and his tuned down to hell and back with so much chorus on his tone is just horrendous....

There are some killer bands that tune down, but then again, Deftones, I'm a fan.... BUT when Steph was still playing 6 string was when they were at their best.

My favorite band of all time (Exodus) tunes down, 1 whole step, THAT is acceptable, but when you may as well be playing a bass through a guitar rig is when it gets STUPID.

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

there's some pretty cool harmonics with down tuned stuff.


C standard can be pretty cool, and Mastodon is D standard.

 

[Motorpud]

I think a good old boosted recto or boosted 5150 with get you most of the way to where you need to be. I personally don't dig stuff tuned lower than D standard but fuck it, tune as low as you want, it's an experiment

 

[hunter]

This

 

[nbarts]

This

Yep, he nails it!