Personal notes: Start simple and establish foundation riff Create a melody Build on the foundation riff, make it less boring by changing groove Incorporate melody into foundation or expand the melody itself into its own thing separate from the foundation Use blast beats, or use a base drum groove then incorporate bass drum to fit the heavy riff better Noted with thanks
This riff from 4:46 is fucking sick. Honestly I would like to hear a full song with it. It’s sorta of Trivium from In Waves era and Gojira alike. Dooope!
I love content like this when I'm in a rut. Been playing metal for about 25 years. Been in several bands, signed twice, recorded played many shows, and I find myself in ruts from time to time. Other genres of music and somehow videos like this help me when I'm searching for something new to create. Liked and subscribed. Keep it up man. You shred by the way. Don't hate the bassist BTW. Take it from a guy who plays bass and guitar, nothing you do to a guitar, adding strings or effects will ever duplicate or replace a bassist with good tone who actually knows how to play the instrument instead of just mirroring the guitar.
This is the best explanation I've heard on riff writing. The part about adding space to creat rhythm as really helpful because I find myself chugging or playing Bleed-esque rhythms all too often . I don't plan on making 578 core even though it's sick, but this has helped me with my own sound. Also, I felt see when you used Javier Reyes' guitar as the 8-string example, because that's the 8-string I have lol.
Nik, I’d like to see you make a list for people who’d like to get into heavier music. The idea is to start with a rock song and the next song will be a little bit heavier, do this until you get to the heaviest song you know. Basically a stepping stone playlist so people can determine how heavy they wanna go.
Blink 182 Linkin Park My Chemical Romance Bullet for my Valentine Killswitch Engage As I Lay Dying Parkway Drive Everytime I Die The Dillinger Escape Plan Hope that helps.
Thats it, I'm quitting my job as a marketing director and forming a chug metal band. Now that i have the power of riffage. This was great Nik. Thank you.
I'm an intermediate guitar player. I'm super fascinated to great detail in how you made those drums. That appeared to be such a no-nonsense way to do things
The drums and guitar on the newest Phinehas album lock in *so tight* and it sounds phenomenal. Maybe the first album I ever listened to where it just stood out how dang good the combo was.
Wow this is exactly what I needed, just a few days ago I started working on my first ever metal song and I just watched your how to make amazing choruses video and now I see this one!
To be fair bass is actually really important for supporting the guitar and making a tone that sounds better. Also what is that drum tone program? Sounds great. Your production is really getting better.
@Dr. Kujo Jotaro I think it's the Modern and Massive drum set with some pre-production applied to it. I searched his old videos and that's what he used, so I'm assuming it's the same stuff.
Love your stuff. Especially the “make anything metal” content. But, I feel like you have a lot more to offer than typical metal and would absolutely LOVE to see you put out some math metal or post metal à la Botch or Pelican. Thanks for all you do
I actually like the offset of simple drums + technical riff and vice versa. Simple riff + technical drums works very well. I feel if one instrument is being busy then the rest must take a back seat for that moment,
Thank you So much Nik. Ive been struggling with how to come up with a good heavy grooving Nu metal or just any kind of Grooving metal. You just helped me so much
Awesome! Those complicated technical riffs were cool too. Have you done a how-to video on those? Also please do a how-to on how you make your drum beats! love
What I find the hardest is syncing a riff with the kick drum... like yeah not all parts have to be the same but a breakdown is a mind fuck to me programming the drums lol
An excellent riff to see this in action IMO is Wasted by Def Leppard. You have 3 notes of 7-5-10 on the A and a bunch of muted low E chugs in between, and then some random ass power chords and pull-offs for the tail, and that repeats like 4 times at the start of the song and it sounds great!
Been following your channel for a while and enjoying man, but little videos like this remind us that behind the fun and memes you're a really solid musician
Some of these things are genuinely good advice even though it sounds like it shouldn't be. Yeah, experimenting with random flourishes can make any simple melody sound amazing
Anyone else hearing Jinjer in that riff he plays at the start? Cloud Factory starts almost the same way, it just sounds like he played it from the top of his head and didn't remember it perfectly
So basically, "use a simple melody in any minor scale, repeat it every 2 bars with some random stuff in the middle until the random stuff sound good. For every question about the rythm ask a drummer"
*Smash like so I can show more people the way of the chugs, tyty*
How to Godsmack in 30 seconds?
How to Type O Negative/Paradise Lost in 30 seconds ?
Cool riffs could be heavier😂
What guitar plug-in are you using
Nik,react to "Rakuin" by Unholy Harakiri
Brutal Brazilian band🇧🇷
Nik tuning up to standard tuning gave me chills
It was honestly badass going to standard
yea fr
Never expected to see a Cyborg Octopus profile picture but I approve ! \m/
Haters will say it's edited
@Xxpsyhodelik007xX haha yeah, Baptism of Clay goes too hard
Personal notes:
Start simple and establish foundation riff
Create a melody
Build on the foundation riff, make it less boring by changing groove
Incorporate melody into foundation or expand the melody itself into its own thing separate from the foundation
Use blast beats, or use a base drum groove then incorporate bass drum to fit the heavy riff better
Noted with thanks
You forgot to shit on bass players 🎉
@@DarkBladeOniken hire an actual bass player. Jk, midi is good enough
@@DarkBladeOniken Sacrilege! Bassists rarely get the respect they deserve!
Nik is our new Music theory teacher lol
Period 😂❤
Bob Ross of music
You’re such a good teacher Nik! Thanks for always breaking it down for us simpletons
just when I was about to lose my mind struggling to write riffs, this came out. THANK YOU
This riff from 4:46 is fucking sick. Honestly I would like to hear a full song with it. It’s sorta of Trivium from In Waves era and Gojira alike. Dooope!
That reminded me of the main riff in Far From Heaven by Fit For An Autopsy
I love content like this when I'm in a rut. Been playing metal for about 25 years. Been in several bands, signed twice, recorded played many shows, and I find myself in ruts from time to time. Other genres of music and somehow videos like this help me when I'm searching for something new to create. Liked and subscribed. Keep it up man. You shred by the way. Don't hate the bassist BTW. Take it from a guy who plays bass and guitar, nothing you do to a guitar, adding strings or effects will ever duplicate or replace a bassist with good tone who actually knows how to play the instrument instead of just mirroring the guitar.
Nice man
I got so excited when he said bass riffs!! I love Nik and his videos, but he never gives bass enough love lol
Honestly there are no guides as good and easy to follow as Nik's I would pay good money to have a course or somthing
Awesome riffs Nik! You should also show us your approach to drum parts, writing those seemed so smooth!
second this!
This is the best explanation I've heard on riff writing. The part about adding space to creat rhythm as really helpful because I find myself chugging or playing Bleed-esque rhythms all too often . I don't plan on making 578 core even though it's sick, but this has helped me with my own sound. Also, I felt see when you used Javier Reyes' guitar as the 8-string example, because that's the 8-string I have lol.
578 core lol
I actually really liked the simple drums with the more technical riff. It sounded cool
Nik, I’d like to see you make a list for people who’d like to get into heavier music. The idea is to start with a rock song and the next song will be a little bit heavier, do this until you get to the heaviest song you know. Basically a stepping stone playlist so people can determine how heavy they wanna go.
Starts with American Idiot, ends with XAVLEGBMAOFFFASSSSITIMIWOAMNDUTROABCWAPWAEIIPPOHFFFX
Blink 182
Linkin Park
My Chemical Romance
Bullet for my Valentine
Killswitch Engage
As I Lay Dying
Parkway Drive
Everytime I Die
The Dillinger Escape Plan
Hope that helps.
@@ComputerPerson6000 oh, my list is more like
The Offspring
System of a Down, Linkin Park
Korn
Slipknot
Megadeth
Cannibal Corpse
Mortician
Meshuggah
@TheLaughinator That's a good list but not core-kid enough for this comment section
0:36 Nik: "You could be a guitarist"
Then shows a pic of a bass player during a break down!
Classic😂
*Checks comments for attacked bass players.*
thought my boy was gonna come up with the Machine Head - Locust main riff in 5 secs of improvising at 3:00 lol, great video!
He's actually such a talented writer
7:00 Expected a Davie504 to come in breaking the door down
NIk, your tutorials are awesome bro, actually making music theory fun and easy to understand!
the amount of memes you tie in with actual good advice is gnarly
Indeed
Thats it, I'm quitting my job as a marketing director and forming a chug metal band. Now that i have the power of riffage.
This was great Nik. Thank you.
I'm an intermediate guitar player. I'm super fascinated to great detail in how you made those drums.
That appeared to be such a no-nonsense way to do things
1:06 my boy just became Drachenlord
PLEASE make more tutorials like this. I feel like these kind of lessons are what I need to really get back into it.
I'd say that Crowbar will always have the heaviest riffs in the business. Low-tuned, groovy chugs and breakdowns with all sorts of heavy chords.
I swear Planets Collide is still one of the heaviest songs in the universe even though it's "only" in B standard
Heaviest riff for me's gotta be Sacrifice unto Sebek by Nile
The drums and guitar on the newest Phinehas album lock in *so tight* and it sounds phenomenal. Maybe the first album I ever listened to where it just stood out how dang good the combo was.
That technical riff was FIRE🔥🔥🔥🔥
6:39
A.) Love the editing.
B.) Love that lowered drop C sound. Chunky is funky. 🤟🔥
The only thing I want from you: I sick modern metal riff in e standard
Wow this is exactly what I needed, just a few days ago I started working on my first ever metal song and I just watched your how to make amazing choruses video and now I see this one!
To be fair bass is actually really important for supporting the guitar and making a tone that sounds better.
Also what is that drum tone program? Sounds great. Your production is really getting better.
Let me know if you find the drums he uses!
fr we need it wtf
I need to know this too!
@Dr. Kujo Jotaro I think it's the Modern and Massive drum set with some pre-production applied to it. I searched his old videos and that's what he used, so I'm assuming it's the same stuff.
3:22 Locust-Machine Head
glad someone else heard it 😭
@@rigbog7714 i thought i was trippin tho😂
I love your tutorial videos! Was starting to miss them.
Drop C, chugs, 578, power chords, crazy drums. Okay, time to do some 2000s metalcore
"Way back in the day" *5 years ago*
Love your stuff. Especially the “make anything metal” content. But, I feel like you have a lot more to offer than typical metal and would absolutely LOVE to see you put out some math metal or post metal à la Botch or Pelican. Thanks for all you do
1:31 that tone was fucking delicious jeez...
I actually like the offset of simple drums + technical riff and vice versa. Simple riff + technical drums works very well. I feel if one instrument is being busy then the rest must take a back seat for that moment,
I love the "Tuning: Metal" in the description, haha!
Thank you So much Nik. Ive been struggling with how to come up with a good heavy grooving Nu metal or just any kind of Grooving metal. You just helped me so much
0:57 “Funda-metal-ly”.
ok now how do i write or program heavy metal drums(full lesson)?
Asking the tough questions we want to know lol
wanna hear Nik on this too 😏
“Sounds like mush” he says after sounding like he was about to bust out the Doom ost
Awesome! Those complicated technical riffs were cool too. Have you done a how-to video on those? Also please do a how-to on how you make your drum beats! love
I always enjoy these teaching videos of yours! 🤘
What I find the hardest is syncing a riff with the kick drum... like yeah not all parts have to be the same but a breakdown is a mind fuck to me programming the drums lol
Started laughing at 5:37. Yeah! It actually kinda rips.
Love your vids Nic! btw that initial riff you started with sounds like the pre chorus to Locust by Machinehead😛
An excellent riff to see this in action IMO is Wasted by Def Leppard. You have 3 notes of 7-5-10 on the A and a bunch of muted low E chugs in between, and then some random ass power chords and pull-offs for the tail, and that repeats like 4 times at the start of the song and it sounds great!
"Nik playing in Standard tuning isn't real. He can't hurt you."
Nik playing in Standard tuning:
I love that guitar tone 3:44
If you don’t say out loud “we do fun metal things here” at the same time as Nik, you’re not real. Like birds.
I want to hate nik because he's popular, but I do dig his guitar chops
Sick riff straight outta the gate, well done sir.
4:45 huuuuuge a month ago there was a clip from twitch with this riff, since then I have been waiting for the full version
Chromatic notes "as long as you hit them with confidence, it works" awesome words
For as many videos on this topic that I've watched, this is the one that really made the pieces fall in to place.
Id like some advice on how to make D.I. guitar and digital drums sound better. What plugins, how to use them, maybe some cheap and expensive options.
The bass part is like the complete opposite of what Rob Scallon just said in his recent video......... I'm so conflicted!!!! I need an adult!
Ironically, the riff developed into Machine Head's Locust. LMAO
2:51 stone sour Inhale
Been following your channel for a while and enjoying man, but little videos like this remind us that behind the fun and memes you're a really solid musician
Some of these things are genuinely good advice even though it sounds like it shouldn't be. Yeah, experimenting with random flourishes can make any simple melody sound amazing
Whole lotta love is the riff because you always move your head listening to it everytime
Secret sauce: in my head: drums
Nik: bass
Visible confusion
Your explanations absolutely crack me up 😂😂😂 yet you exsplain it so well 😂😂😂
6:47 bro really thought he could sneak digital veil into this without us knowing
looks like my man nik’s been getting some sun!
Man the riff in standard tuning at 4:45 is just FUCKING SICK
So sick
"Its just random bullshit, It doesn't matter"
my man out here spilling the sacred beans
Nik: there's one secret sauce that I haven't mentioned, and it's not guitar, it's BASS
Rob Scallon: YES!
Nik: jk it's drums
Rob: ...oh.
4:24 GO GO POWER RANGERS
'It's just random bullshit it doesn't matter'. Nihilist metal, thanks Nik.
2:50 As I Lay Dying wants to know your location ... Literally the Intro of Blinded lmao
4:42 ayo make smth out of that plz that is sick
Now do a follow-up, using riffs to make a song structure
Lulz loved the Siccas guitars plug. I’m a classical player so I watch most all of their stuff.
That opening riff alone made me chonk in my pants
Guitarists write sweet midi drum parts. I stand by this.
We need a tutorial on programming drums baaaaad. No drummers of the core exist where I live sooooo.
4:45 epic As I Lay Dying levels of melody
Anyone else hearing Jinjer in that riff he plays at the start? Cloud Factory starts almost the same way, it just sounds like he played it from the top of his head and didn't remember it perfectly
Forever stuck in the pentatonic power chords phase
"Don't piss off your drummer," haha no truer words spoken...
When bro when’s low, he was ripping that bass fr,fr 😂😂😂
6:58
BASS TEARS DON'T FALL, THEY CRASH AROUND MEEEEH
So basically, "use a simple melody in any minor scale, repeat it every 2 bars with some random stuff in the middle until the random stuff sound good. For every question about the rythm ask a drummer"
This just might be the greatest tutorial EVER!
next tutorial: how to midi blast beat
yes, we need this
motherfricker really said 'four to the floor' and only put two on the floor to piss off drummers
For a moment I was like", wdf why am I not subscribed? "
The more im picking up about the metal. The more it becomes clear. Its the drums man. Its always the drums that are cool xd.
Drop C and good drums is literally all you need, couldn't have said it better myself
Which drum vst does he use?
Good video 🤘 definitely gonna use these tips.
Haha nice one Nik, you mentioned Tails, I really love that character
What are you plugged into sounds awesome....playing again after 10 years... drop D was the shit now C love it keep it up....
I would pay high dollar to have full lessons from this man
Bro started to write the new Amon Amarth song then went corekid
3:01 reminds me of a brazillian band called Charlie Brown Junior. The song is "O Côro vai Comê". its a nice riff tho
I can't believe I watched this and actually learned something