If you’re playing by yourself with nothing or no one else to accompany you, I get it. It can feel limiting to rely on that E string being your lowest sound. That said, higher note ranges can still pack a lot of fierce punch. If you start a song with higher notes, it doesn't matter how low your tuning is. The lower notes you then introduce later on can add enough contrast to hit your listeners' ears hard. If you want a good starting place to see some of this in action, check out the video I made on the best keys for metal guitar.
Heaviness isn’t just about the guitar. All instruments work together in a well-arranged song. The bass plays a huge role in making your guitars sound big and fat. We’ll discuss more about how music theory plays a role in that later when we talk about harnessing the power of intervals.
Drums are the backbone of music–especially heavy music. Having a drummer who knows what they’re doing, when to dial it back, and when to make the music hit harder can perhaps be the most important contribution to the weight of your sound.
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