I've been taking lessons from Brandon for about a month now and the guy is so down to earth and easy to chat with and get along with. Learning a lot from him. He's a great teacher, very knowledgable and most importantly...humble.
I would get goosebumps hearing him play the solos on nocturnal when they played the whole album live. He brought those solos to life compared to the album versions.
Yeah, he really took center stage whenever he played any solos, especially Nocturnal. To be fair - I think a lot of musicians will have a pretty rough idea of a solo going into the studio. They’ll know the key, they might know the scale or mode but the rest they kind of improvise. From what I understand it’s actually pretty rare for a guitarist to have a super precise idea of what their solo will sound like before they get into the studio
Ronnie Belcher I heard something like that too. That he wasn’t prepared ever. I remember trevor saying on a documentary that he had to help write the solos by singing the melody then the guitar player would play what Trevor sang. Not sure what album he was referring too.
Guitar players, beginner and advanced - listen very carefully to this man. He is dropping so much knowledge - both techniques that he explains and musical concepts. In addition, he has great taste in music.
The down-down-up chugging picking technique he said he uses and learned from playing at the gates songs is the same exact technique I learned from Gary Holt at one of his guitar clinics I attended. That technique is a total game changer when playing hard riffs. Instead of down picking every note while switching from the low string to play on a higher string, it makes it easier and cleaner sounding when you use the down-down-up technique. Out of all the lead guitarist BDM has had this guy is by far my favorite. Him and Brian Eschbach create some killer riffs.
This dude is in fact the best guitarist in metal today. The leads on Verminous are ferocious! The riffs and stylistic elements he has been adding since Nightbringers are so refreshing in MDM.
@hadoken12 As soon as I say that you bring up DD. You are right. That dude is arenaissance man as a guitarist. He can do it all. The Outer Ones is such a killer record.
Ill never forget the first time I heard Miasma. Been a die hard fan ever since. I have yet to hear a death metal band that does it even close to as well as they do it.
For those who didn't catch what songs he were playing. 0:38 Whitesnake - Still of the Night Whitesnake (1987) 1:41 Queensrÿche - Empire Empire (1990) 2:22 The Black Dahlia Murder - As Good as Dead Nightbringers (2017) 3:38 At The Gates - Slaughter Of The Soul Slaughter Of The Soul (1995) 5:23 King Diamond - Welcome Home Them (1988) 6:59 King Diamond - The Invisible Guest Them (1988) 8:51 Yngwie Malmsteen - I Am A Viking Marching Out (1985)
Ive seen them with many of their guitar players (as early as john) and I gotta admit, brandon does have this flair that was not there before, ryan knight was savage too though.
It looks like Brandon's gotten a lot more comfortable with interviews and things like that - speech is 10x more natural sounding. Definitely my favorite TBDM guitarist.
I love Brandon’s playing style and his phrasing. I live what he does in TBDM. He really brings those songs to life. I think he brings an already great band to the next level.
I really love it that he is into the 80s stuff. Those were my years. I used Quiet Riots first album for demoing high end home stereos when it hit the charts as well as Dokken's Breaking the Chains
Keep learning with that Yngwie influence because any additional spin/take on what he does, but with a new interpretation is gonna be friggin' awesome!! 👍👍
Really cool that Brandon knows (at least, some) theory, and it's very visible that it helps him practically in songwriting! One of the modern shredders. Love his old school influences, also!
Great guitar teacher too! I mean you clearly understand what he is saying, everything makes sense and probably you learn a thing or two in just ten minutes!!
Great teacher, calm and collected. I can tell the passion for playing is there. It makes sense because it always shows in there music. The Yngwie "I am a viking" riff (And the lead) was cool!, Thanks for sharing.
Great tone man. I had to watch this again. John Sykes did that song for White Snake and he's one of my favs. Great player and he has a patent on vibrato with a LP custom I think. 😂 Very cool. ❤
Nailing that I Am A Viking riff for the first time on point as a teenager was definitely a formative experience. And I had no idea what economy picking was back then
Is this a new series? I tried looking for more of these "The Riffs That Taught Me" videos but couldn't find any. I would very much like more of these haha.
this is stage 2. his face is slowly becoming Trevor's size. Just look how Alan's transformed. that's stage 7 of 10. all of them are sickly talented though. LONG LIVE TBDM!!!
Sykes was known for diads. I learned a lot from him. And Queensryche too. But I never had a singer to pull that off till the mid 90s. Even then all we did was Silent Lucidity. But it was always a crowd pleaser
His co guitarist does though, Brians the down picking god, the song Deathmask Divine is insanely fast and both John and Brian down picked even the fastest riffs.
This video has helped me a great deal! i always wondered why i struggled in the "cliffs of dover" part where ellis says johnson actually used an economy picking. I always played that with alternate picking and struggled a lot. thanks man!
The new album is great his influence on tbdm and his production skills are much welcomed by someone like myself who is a long time fan I hope this is the final lineup all cylinders are firing with this record my only complaint was it’s not long enough I want more!
I preordered it and got it on the 3rd metal blade takes care of its customers just saying and it’s more Brandon oriented than Nightbringers but it’s all for the better
I realised watching this how much Brandon contributed to Nightbringers being such a great record... That riff he wrote for As Good As Dead is pure metal \m/
Brandon is one of the best players out there today. He’s like a love letter to 80s shred while still having a really sick modern style
clean as fuck live!
@@JohnQueSacc unbelievably so! caught them in an intimate gig here (Canberra, Australia) with Aborted - fucking insane.
@@Takun117 intimate? 😏
I've been taking lessons from Brandon for about a month now and the guy is so down to earth and easy to chat with and get along with. Learning a lot from him. He's a great teacher, very knowledgable and most importantly...humble.
How do you go about getting lessons from him?
@@eetfuk5699 hey did you ever figure that out? I'd like to know as well
@@vanessak.620 He has a patreon and it's called called "Brandon Ellis' Shred Light District"
I want lessons Brandon.
Killer guitar player man!! I love Brandon’s style cause he likes that 80’s shred!
Mr Thrash Metal
You can hear all his influences from the 80s to the melodeath so Ryan was awesome for bringing him to the band
+1 Jackson Kelly
+1 Green Crackle
+2 Reverse Headstock
whups. locking nut. negates the EVH reverse hockeystick theory
@@russellzauner Are we not gonna talk pickups?
I prefer his Snake Kelly.
@I Love Guitars why?
@@JesusLordOfLords455 because reversed headstocks are cooler and easier to use, at least imo
I would get goosebumps hearing him play the solos on nocturnal when they played the whole album live. He brought those solos to life compared to the album versions.
Kempanien sucked
they said he wrote the solos in the studio
Yeah, he really took center stage whenever he played any solos, especially Nocturnal. To be fair - I think a lot of musicians will have a pretty rough idea of a solo going into the studio. They’ll know the key, they might know the scale or mode but the rest they kind of improvise. From what I understand it’s actually pretty rare for a guitarist to have a super precise idea of what their solo will sound like before they get into the studio
@@liamdooley863 so you're offering comments when you dont a totally play guitar and haven't actually recorded or written a solo. Nice
Wow, someone’s precious
Ronnie Belcher I heard something like that too. That he wasn’t prepared ever. I remember trevor saying on a documentary that he had to help write the solos by singing the melody then the guitar player would play what Trevor sang. Not sure what album he was referring too.
Guitar players, beginner and advanced - listen very carefully to this man. He is dropping so much knowledge - both techniques that he explains and musical concepts. In addition, he has great taste in music.
Legitimately my favorite guitarist in metal right now. So clean and his ceiling is so high.
Just watched him play in Milwaukee tonight, and second everything you've said here.
I’m kind of sad this isn’t 25 hours long. I could watch Brandon / listen to him all day long.
I'm so happy that he played Slaughter the Soul PROPERLY. I see so many people leave about 60% of the notes out of those riffs.
Wearing a Boston shirt and playing a Jackson Kelly... This dude need to be president of the world.
Wicked fahkin pissah bud!
I’m not familiar with this guy, I don’t listen to a lot of metal but I really dig this dude. His playing is sick, and seems like a good dude.
Brandon's playing is easily one of the most recognisable in metal today.
So many great points to his playing - such a killer dude!
Brandon is ridiculous. One of the best new guitarist I've ever heard.
The down-down-up chugging picking technique he said he uses and learned from playing at the gates songs is the same exact technique I learned from Gary Holt at one of his guitar clinics I attended. That technique is a total game changer when playing hard riffs. Instead of down picking every note while switching from the low string to play on a higher string, it makes it easier and cleaner sounding when you use the down-down-up technique. Out of all the lead guitarist BDM has had this guy is by far my favorite. Him and Brian Eschbach create some killer riffs.
Goddamn I figured it out only a few weeks ago after months of struggling with that exact same riff. I wish I'd watched this video a few weeks ago😂
This dude is in fact the best guitarist in metal today. The leads on Verminous are ferocious! The riffs and stylistic elements he has been adding since Nightbringers are so refreshing in MDM.
@hadoken12 As soon as I say that you bring up DD. You are right. That dude is arenaissance man as a guitarist. He can do it all. The Outer Ones is such a killer record.
MartyDadRiffs - yes - everyone talks about his playing but far more interesting to me is the excellent composing skills he has brought to the band.
If I could be even half the guitar player he is, I'd die a happy man
Such an influence for this generation. I've been listening to TBDM for 11 years! Time flies by.
Ill never forget the first time I heard Miasma. Been a die hard fan ever since. I have yet to hear a death metal band that does it even close to as well as they do it.
Im an EPIC Millennial and he is a LEGEND and ICONIC HUMAN. Best Ev-errrrrrrrrr
rrrrrrrrrrrrrr
@@bestiewolfsroadto200subs9 Same. Statutory Ape was an eye-opener for me, and I immediately fell in love.
For those who didn't catch what songs he were playing.
0:38 Whitesnake - Still of the Night
Whitesnake (1987)
1:41 Queensrÿche - Empire
Empire (1990)
2:22 The Black Dahlia Murder - As Good as Dead
Nightbringers (2017)
3:38 At The Gates - Slaughter Of The Soul
Slaughter Of The Soul (1995)
5:23 King Diamond - Welcome Home
Them (1988)
6:59 King Diamond - The Invisible Guest
Them (1988)
8:51 Yngwie Malmsteen - I Am A Viking
Marching Out (1985)
I've seen TBDM twice with Brandon, he's an incredible guitar player and his live stuff is flawless
Can confirm.
Ive seen them with many of their guitar players (as early as john) and I gotta admit, brandon does have this flair that was not there before, ryan knight was savage too though.
@@hacksbeenjamin Agreed. I thought they couldn't sound better after Knight, and uh, well, I was wrong lol.
Mostly Swedish players.
At the Gates, Andy Laroque and Yngwie.
Bjorn Gellotte
It looks like Brandon's gotten a lot more comfortable with interviews and things like that - speech is 10x more natural sounding.
Definitely my favorite TBDM guitarist.
Love to hear one of my favourite band! Queensryche!
Hell yeah my dad took me to see queensryche as my first concert back when I was about 10
I love Brandon’s playing style and his phrasing. I live what he does in TBDM. He really brings those songs to life. I think he brings an already great band to the next level.
Very cool, playing those runs like he does at the end is way harder than it looks, especially making it that clean, dudes a killer player.
Yes Andy LaRocque getting some love! Serious shredder!
I really love it that he is into the 80s stuff. Those were my years. I used Quiet Riots first album for demoing high end home stereos when it hit the charts as well as Dokken's Breaking the Chains
Pedagogue, clear and articulate, a real pleasure to listen to him tell us where he comes from musically! Such a skilled and talented guitar player!
I love his playing in Arsis too, Unwelcome is a really underrated album IMO.
Oh ya. Sunglasses at night is a killer
Didn't know he played for Arsis I need to hear that.
They were sick with Ryan Knight, and he switched over to TBDM at one point, too.
“From really early in the beginning I just trusted my ear.”
Ey I’m with you buddy! 👂🤘🏻
That Abigail poster in the back though 👌
"I guess like a voice led kind of way..."
Just own it bro, we know that you know that's exactly what it is lol
Hell yeah, brother 🤘🏽🎶🐾🤓🦃🍽️🪙🪙🪙Happy thanksgiving dude!! Thankful for TBDM
And thank you the most from
William Kevern Music and K-Dogg and Dr Metal 🫀
I like how knowledgable he is and how cleanly he transfers what he knows in to music and into words
One of my favorites modern guitarrist, such a beast!
A death metal guitar player who loves the 80s. Hell yeah 🤘🏻🤘🏻
Black Dahlia NEEDS to cover Slaughter of the Soul! Damn, they would be sick!
One of very few actual lessons where guitarist really gets into riffs
Tbdm with Brandon indeed has same vibe as at the gates and king diamond. 3 of my top bands ever
Dude's got an awesome sound. 80s guitar style in a Death Metal Band
At the Gates along with Iced Earth opened the door for metal to be a part of my life. At the Gates kick ass and are super fast at playing.
Ashenone88 at the gates is one of the best
Saw Brandon with BDM New Zealand and couldn't believe how clean he played every riff and solo... goose bumps
Imagine all the secrets and techniques he’s going to unlock the more he plays. Jeez
I love how Black Dahlia can change their lead guitarist up every once in awhile but still keep their sound. I like every album, since Miasma at least
Keep learning with that Yngwie influence because any additional spin/take on what he does, but with a new interpretation is gonna be friggin' awesome!! 👍👍
Wow the I am a Viking riff down tuned sounds like straight metal
Damn, Andy & AtTheGates. Both from my hometown of Gothenburg I feel it for sure!!
Tasteful player with impeccable technique
And self taught... That's amazing
I learned that same King Diamond riff back when it came out. It helped me to be more creative in my playing.
I'm so hyped an this new album. Hearing bands members talk like this is awesome
Who doesn’t love this guy
haha for real. Absolutely shreds and seems like a rad guy too!
Really cool that Brandon knows (at least, some) theory, and it's very visible that it helps him practically in songwriting! One of the modern shredders. Love his old school influences, also!
He knows a massive amount of theory I think
@Metal Injection & Brandon Ellis thanks so much for this video!
I won't more vids like this . I want to get to know this guy and i really enjoy listening to him talk and play
King diamond is pure 80s pleasure. Andy is a genius....GRAAAANNNNDDDMAAAAA
This was f*n awesome. I heard so much of the BDM in those riffs!! Thanks so much. 🙏 Sorry for your loss. 🖤
Easily my favorite guitarist.
Because John Sykes is a badass.
With that much love for 80's metal sound, you were the perfect match for Arsis indeed !
Awesome to see Brandon giving some love to queensryche. Such great band and riff.
Killer player, always like his work with Arsis 🤘🏼
Awesome🤘♥🤘🎸🎶Thank you so much Brandon!!!
Great guitar teacher too! I mean you clearly understand what he is saying, everything makes sense and probably you learn a thing or two in just ten minutes!!
This kids young but knows the classics of metal. Love still of the night, sick jam
Great, Brandon ! Super taste in every detail
Great teacher, calm and collected. I can tell the passion for playing is there. It makes sense because it always shows in there music. The Yngwie "I am a viking" riff (And the lead) was cool!, Thanks for sharing.
Brandon, I won't stop until I have that guitar. I keep telling people you have the sickest collection. I love the crackle paint.
Saw TBDM live, he was the definite standout in the band, real talent.
Great tone man. I had to watch this again. John Sykes did that song for White Snake and he's one of my favs. Great player and he has a patent on vibrato with a LP custom I think. 😂
Very cool. ❤
Nailing that I Am A Viking riff for the first time on point as a teenager was definitely a formative experience. And I had no idea what economy picking was back then
Such a badass player! One of my favs for sure lol.
one of the best alive
He's an awesome guitar player because he learned from awesome influences.
the number of times I said "jesus whoa" in this video is staggering. he makes even the basic riffage sound amazing.
Great playing and tone!
So many amazing influences, I Am A Viking is a BANGER.
We need an USA signature version of this Jackson. Looks absolutely tasty.
Nah, let's skip that altogether and go Pro series right away. Less complaining to read through.
@@rsa4834 pro series can smd or go both. I really dislike the current trend of jackson going towards “only pro, no USA models anymore“
is that a Kelly?
Best Riffs video yet - these are all my favorite bands! Awesome choice of riffs and well executed. I see a bright future for Brandon - cheers!
Is this a new series? I tried looking for more of these "The Riffs That Taught Me" videos but couldn't find any. I would very much like more of these haha.
Nikki Six from Motley Crue has a series like this in his old podcast "The Sixth Sense".
i would guess, it was uploaded very shortly ago.
this is stage 2. his face is slowly becoming Trevor's size. Just look how Alan's transformed. that's stage 7 of 10.
all of them are sickly talented though.
LONG LIVE TBDM!!!
I learned more from this 10 minute video than I have hour long guitar lessons on youtube. Thanks Brandon \m/ Killer guitarist.
It's cool that you grew up being influenced by those bands ,I'm not alone.
I'm very impressed by this young man.
I LOVE HIS TONE! WOW
This was amazing, great display of skills homeboy. I can see how these riffs have influenced, crazy what bands though.
Sykes was known for diads. I learned a lot from him. And Queensryche too. But I never had a singer to pull that off till the mid 90s. Even then all we did was Silent Lucidity. But it was always a crowd pleaser
Inspiring as always! 😍
So talented!!
"If you had to alternate pick, you couldn't do that".... proceeds to immediately do that. 😂
His co guitarist does though, Brians the down picking god, the song Deathmask Divine is insanely fast and both John and Brian down picked even the fastest riffs.
@@John.AR.Activism Brian is for sure the best at downpicking. Those triplets are insane haha
He was economy picking
Few good metal guitarists left who slay solos, Ellis is on the top
This video has helped me a great deal! i always wondered why i struggled in the "cliffs of dover" part where ellis says johnson actually used an economy picking. I always played that with alternate picking and struggled a lot. thanks man!
Phenomenal guitarist in a phenomenal band. I wish instructional vids were still a thing; Brandon's would be killer.
Respect for the fellow jersey boy 🤘
Dude! thank you for reminding all the naysayers that 80s shred is still metal as fuck
The new album is great his influence on tbdm and his production skills are much welcomed by someone like myself who is a long time fan I hope this is the final lineup all cylinders are firing with this record my only complaint was it’s not long enough I want more!
The new album isn't out yet ..
@@Shredder-KJ some people have already heard it. I preordered it on vinyl and it already arrived
@@bunnyvesper6824 oh ok is it melodic like normally tbdm is ?
I preordered it and got it on the 3rd metal blade takes care of its customers just saying and it’s more Brandon oriented than Nightbringers but it’s all for the better
Man, Slaughter of the Soul still sounds so good after all these years.
After seeing this i realize I play welcome home way different. I am glad Brandon played that riff.
This is my favorite one of these you guys have done yet!! Love this dude
I realised watching this how much Brandon contributed to Nightbringers being such a great record... That riff he wrote for As Good As Dead is pure metal \m/
Your an amazing guitarist! Thanks for showing us the economy picking I'm gonna try to learn that In my playing! 🤟
What a cool guy. Very knowledgeable!!!!