How to Write (& Record) a Metal Song in 5 Minutes
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ย. 2024
- Are you ready to write a metal song in less than 5 minutes? Oh, and we're going to record this, too!
I'm showing you my process of writing and recording metal songs where you'll learn ways to reduce the amount of frustration that comes with writing your own riffs and music.
The goal here is to get you writing more metal riffs and music without overthinking the process.
***Stay tuned for the 'guitar chat' at the end!
Keep it Metal,
Jason
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Great you've made me write songs every five minutes.
Nice!!! 🤘
@@jasonstallworth Even better, now my album is nearly done. Thanks a ton!
/ Sam
Thats a lot of songs🤣🤣🤣
I looked at this guys room and went. “Oh yeah this guy is qualified to teach me metal”
There are a few cool items in the room! 🤘
Dude.... WTF!? That guitar riff was sick right off the top... I cant even fathom being able to do that. Need more lessons
You will get there! Check out the video I left in your other comment
I love the way you hold yourself during your explanations. Very well spoken and straight to the point. Definitely quality content right here. Please don’t stop because you’re amazing
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Euge Valovirta said he used toontrack drums on his last studio cd. Said you will be hard pressed to record drums yourself with the quality that Superior drummer was recoded. Then the dude said he runs his real amps to an IR load when in the studio for similar reasons. Blew my mind.
I used programmed drums on my instrumental series called Heavy Metal Workout. But after that, I decided to start hiring a drummer. There's a specific feel to having a really amazing drummer that just can't be replicated. And Cameron Fleury is awesome!
I'm always excited to see what melee weapon Jason has sitting in the corner of his studio
Lol...they're just kinda random!
Something tells me this guys favorite movie is Bill and Ted's excellent adventure.
Lol…it’s actually the Rocky series
@@jasonstallworthThat's the same for me!
Hey Jason! thanks for making this video, it really relieved a bit of my artist block I've had these past few months!
Dude, it's great to hear that! 🤘
I always wanted to write metal songs, and make an metal album , this really helped me, thanks
I have another helpful video on metal songwriting (more like an entire process flow) here on my other channel: th-cam.com/video/zNym0C-dGeg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=1qlIPqOvZeaR2dQ5
@@jasonstallworth thank you 😊
Really enjoyed this content mate, thank you from Australia! Gonna get my guitars from my Mum's place and start creating some killer ideas that I have had in my head for years!
Keep it real :) thank you again (and of course I subscribed too).
Thank you, I appreciate that 🙏🤘
This is exactly right and some of the best advice for anyone that produces their own music - just start recording already! Just like anything else in life, the more you do something, the better you will get. I wasted too many years following red herrings, procrastinating, watching videos, reading articles, buying more gear (or worse - tons of plugins that I didn't really need), making 16 bars with a riff or 2 and not taking it any farther because I thought it needed to be "perfect", waiting for some genius idea that would never materialize, etc. Anything but actually playing and getting busy tracking. Luckily I've overcome that over the last couple years and started to actually finish songs. The best part is that each one I make seems to be better than the previous one, and now can say I'm pretty damn confident in my ability to write AND record. I did pick up an electronic drum kit last year and learned to play (was always just a guitarist/bassist/keyboardist and vocals) - that really helped speed up my process as I like playing the drums better than programming them, which I found a bit tedious and seemed too much like work. Any sloppy drumming of mine can be easily tweaked later since it's all MIDI - still much faster and more human sounding for me.
Yep, you just have to jump in and do it! Execution is the one thing that keeps most from progressing.
@@jasonstallworthThanks man. Keep up the good work.
Yep, write for the trashcan as I've heard it called...need to get back into that, I'm not the most creative but I have innate talent I should probably use more
I’m currently trying to write my first metal track within a two week timeframe, the knowledge is there, the skill is there but my confidence is zero! So I’ve been really struggling, but this video had already helped so much!! I know have more than just my intro 😂 Thanks so much!! I’m just gonna binge watch all your vids and have an album at the end of this journey 🖤🤣
Thank you for the comment and keep pushing yourself and give yourself positive affirmations when it comes to this. It is indeed a journey and I want you to enjoy every moment of that journey!
Definitely A great tip, we're trying come with new album but don't know how I want it to sound yet, but this gives me ideas thank you!
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hell yeah brother
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I'm a Hardcore Fan of your videos!! THANK YOU!
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Thanks for another great video Jason. I'm still in the very early days, getting better and guitar slowly but surely and just started a bass course. Managed to pick up EZdrummer 2, 2 EDX's (Big Rock Drums and Progressive) and 2 midi packs (Action Drums and Thrash Metal) during black Friday sales all for less than the normal price of just EZdrummer so pretty happy with that. Yes the discounted extras were a limited choice but was pretty happy with the demo of them.
Looking foward to putting these tips to good use in the coming weeks.
Those are all great packs for writing!!
Great vid, bro. I’ve been producing electronic music in the box for 10+ years and I’m just now incorporating analog instruments, bass, guitars, drums, into my tracks. I’m a head banger by nature so producing some heavy metal tracks is definitely in my immediate future. Since I’m playing everything myself I now have an idea how to track all this stuff. Thanks for the tutorial.
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A big reason I wanna play is to make metal instrumentals. I just need an audio interface and I could start putting my ideas down.
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Amazing info Jason, you are one of a kind buddy
Thank you brother Mike!
Yep 👍 that’s how I write songs start with drums then come up with riffs 🤘🤘
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Noticed the Siren flyer and patch, awesome!
Dude I’ve got an interview with Doug and Ed of Siren here: th-cam.com/video/SMvSgFrIId8/w-d-xo.html
This is one of the msot helpful producing videos I have ever seen by far!! THANK YOU
Awesome to hear that! Also, if you don’t have it already, be sure to get my free practice guide that I give to all my subs here: www.jasonstallworth.com/guitarist/
Very encouraging :)
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Im always use drum groves when i play guitar, its so much easier to find a riff that fits the drums and vice versa.
Yeah it’s so much more motivating than a click track!
i wrote a song and a riff already i just keep forgetting the lyrics i wrote myself 😭😭
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This was a great video! My songwriting process is pretty much the same. I use EZ Drummer 2 with the Modern Metal add on with Studio One. But pretty much the same process, although I'll sometimes come up with a riff first and find a beat that works well with that. Usually I'll record the first guitar part and then bass, second guitar part, third etc. Vocals I always do last.
Yeah I like recording vocals last...it's more inspiring to record vocals to the full mix
@@jasonstallworth Totally. It gives me that feeling of a full band playing backing me up. Adds to the energy, which is extremely important especially in hard rock and metal.
thank you so Much , you are amazing person , you gave me HOPE . thank you Sir
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true inspiration mate ,excellent playing too .
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Great vid and some wise words. Thank you! It took me several years to internalize that songs are to write this way and starting- and filling-riffs not necessarily have to be the best for getting somewhere. Not to mention that parts could be re-arranged and overworked later on... was unthinkable for me. This technique aplies to any kind of creative blocking but imho becomes crucial if you're struggling with writing a master-thesis or something important like that. The same "songwriting-mechanism" ... any written down nonsense will most likely bring you further than a blank page!
Glad this helped and you're absolutely right! Sometimes you just have to start doing it and going through the motions!
exactly what I have been doing as well! Great video :)
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Great stuff 👍👍👍💯💯💯🤙🤙🤙
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Damn right! Write and Record the metal!
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Thank you for your simple ideas... helping me alot
Glad this helped!
I had a little hard time this evening getting that second guitar down. If I'd panned that first guitar to one side it probably would have been easier. Thank you.
Yeah, pan that one guitar before recording the 2nd one...makes it much easier to hear what's going on between the two (and go ahead and pan the 2nd guitar track to the opposite side while recording)
Un domingo en la tarde, con ganas de componer, sin banda completa...usted me acaba de dar un gran idea jejeje, Gracias lml
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I swear I didn't even think when I clicked on this video! My subconscious did!
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Love the video, motivated to create something cool!
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Great video, so simple in a world of complexity. Love it. Thanks Jason
Dude, I'm like Skynyrd...I'm a 'simple man!'
This is my favorite guy ever
I appreciate that! 🤘 🙏
*My kind of metal content right here!* ❤
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Cool !
It was like seeing Bob Ross the Painter. 😅
😂
I'm banging my head trying to figure out what DAW to use and what percussion plug-in's to use in order to help me record bass lines!
They're all relatively the same. I use PreSonus Studio One (for no reason other than that's what I happened to have started with way back in 2009)
@@jasonstallworth Thanks for the reply Jason. I’ve gone with Cakewalk DAW and just installed EZDrummer with the Death Metal expansion and EZBass. Now I’ve got the tools I’m suffering from severe writers block!! 😂 Watching your videos is really helping though. 🤘🏼
@@LifeandTimesPhotography that Death Metal expansion is awesome
I play raw black metal so most of writing involves blast beats. I generally publish whatever I write that day. No afterthought
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That's an awesome process!! My recording setup isn't modern enough for this. I use a Tascam 2488. It is capable of doing a lot more than I know how to utilize. I have an Alesis drum machine and there are some decent drum patterns in my DigiTech RP 360. For most of my life I've always been a straight jack player, but recently I have really fed my GAS and now I have pedals and stuff that I don't understand well enough to fully utilize. Like Loopers, I understand that it is an awesome tool for creativity, but I'm not proficient enough with the functions. Think you could do another video about using loopers in the writing process for crafting tasty lead lines?
I used to love those Alesis drum machines in the late 80s-90s. I had so much fun recording on my Tascam 4trk. No grids or digitization. Just good analog metal.
I only use looper pedals for playing live solo gigs. I think for you just using a drum software program would be your easiest and best route.
@@Gee-no yeah I also had one of those!!
Amazing Jason!! love the videos.
Thanks dude 🙏🏻🤘
i have ezd2 metal machine the death pack and studio one good lesson thanks for making this video
Yeah that’s an awesome pack!
Great video ! I also use studio one but I'm pretty new at it . Good stuff here , it definitely is inspiring me to come up with some new music.
Awesome to hear that!
Thank you Jason. You the man!
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Bro is jacked
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i love writing songs. sad thing is i dropped my seven string a few weeks ago and the body split in half, its still in the repair shop being glued back together......also bought myself a new lighting set and a new camera going to get back into making videos again soon i hope
Damn...i hope she will be well again
Dude...NOOOOO!!! Sorry to hear that!
Another great video! Thanks!!!!
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You an inspiration man, keep up the great work
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tqvm jason for the tutorial you are the best salute🫡
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Could kinda go through your whole setup you have behind you in this video please? Thanks
Meant to say " could you"
I have a video series on that here: th-cam.com/video/UFlH68Z-BHE/w-d-xo.html
Amazing work!!!
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I love Jason
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I guess I’m going to spen these next “5 minutes alone” hehehe
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Great video!
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I struggle with during the doubled take memorizing what was in the first take and making them match. That is what takes me the most time.
The cool thing is you can try some different things with that second take and eventually build the song into something that's really ingrained in you, if that makes sense.
@@jasonstallworth yes it does. Will try that approach instead. Thanks
What does your mastering chain look like? What plug ins do you use are you using stock plug ins?
I never master these clips that I write for TH-cam and social media videos. I just mix along the way. For my albums, I hire someone else to do the mastering.
Thanks 👍🤘🤘
You’re welcome 🤘
hell yea! \m/
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any recomendations for beginner friendly (and not expensive) software like ez drummer
You can check your DAW for loops (most come with some loops) but they're probably not going to be metal. It's best to save up and get something good that's going to inspire you
I'm a sucker for pen and paper.
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great motivational video, however missing a bit on the essentials: how to properly EQ the damn guitar sound...that final sound isn't the result of an EV miked through an SM 57.....pleeeeeeeease! ♣♦
Here's the video you want: th-cam.com/video/WXNOU_a65dE/w-d-xo.html
**This is Part 3 of a playlist series I have
Wow - that's super impressing. And a rly nice tutorial for beginners like me. Had no clue how to begin yet and now I'm super hyped to just start!
Any affordable alternative for ezdrummer for the poor beginners?
Thanks. It's possible that your DAW has some drums or beats already so check that first
MTPowerDrumKit will work decently until you do buy something.
@@luhmayo647 ty!
So what would be the best way to write down the rhythm and timing of the chords and riffs if someone can’t read or write music , I understand it’s recorded so you can go back and listen to it but most music is notated also but if you can’t write music it makes it kind of tough .
I never write out the actual music. You can just record your ideas one at a time. If you ever want to change the BPM, you can just do that in your DAW.
In the writing process, you're just recording your ideas so they don't have to be perfect. Once you have it all down, you'll want to go back and re-record the song.
What software did you use to record everything and place the ezdrummer tracks?
PreSonus. I have a video here going over what I've used over the past several years (there will soon be a new video as some things have changed): th-cam.com/video/AXgEc2abkl8/w-d-xo.html
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Hey man I love what you're doing but I have a few questions I use the same exact setup as you actually studio One I got easy drummer I got like library the extreme and death metal and couple other packs I was just wondering if maybe you could do a video on like starting from the beginning like let's say I'm running my guitar directly in and I'm using an amp plugin like I'm using a free one actually emissary I'm just not sure about levels what all I want to put on as far as compression or anything else I'm really just I'm at a loss for where to start I'm so up tutorial video on how to get started from the beginning with metal might be really helpful man and I'd really appreciate it
Dude, with amp sims an plugins, I don't use anything else. That signal is already so processed and I don't see the need to use any type of compressor. Just the amp, noise gate, and maybe the overdrive if you feel you need to clean it up.
I do plan to do a tutorial on EZ Drummer, specifically those packs!
I find it so much easier to have riffs to add drums to....must be from so many years of playing in a live band lol.
Yeah it’s much more inspiring!
Got any to tips specifically for melodic death metal with operatic female vocals?
I don't think there are any specific tips for that. You've just gotta write what you're feeling and let your own natural style come out. One of my favorite bands is Nightwish so naturally some of their influence will come out in what I write (and you can tell by the nature of some of the riffs they were influenced by older Metallica, which was my first early influence in the 80s)
Also, I co-created a complete metal songwriting course here if that's something you're interested in: metalmastermind.com/metal-songwriters-forge/
@@jasonstallworth I'll definitely check it out. Thanks! 👍
Hi! Im Hungarian and my favourite music type is metal, and i want to write a song but i doesn't got a bass guitar. Please help. What can i do? Thank you! you are Awesome!!!
There are bass programs but I would encourage you to save and get a bass at some point and learn that
@@jasonstallworth Thank you! I bought a beginner Bass guitar and my song better now!
Hey, is it better to keep notes simple or make it more complex 🤔🤟🤟🤟
There's no best or better method. It's gotta come from your heart and be original! That's all that matters. I personally think that many get caught up in everything having to be complicated. But complex doesn't necessarily equate to a great song.
You sound STRIKINGLY similar to Chris Sabbat. The voice of piccolo and vegeta from dragonball. You literally have the perfect voice for voice acting lol. Great video and great tips brother! 🤘
Lo, thanks dude. Funny thing is I was on an acting scholarship way back in 93-95!
What is the name of the song that your talking over
Thanks for noticing that! I typically have my instrumental album Heavy Metal Workout playing in the background of most of my videos: www.jasonstallworth.com/music/heavy-metal-workout/
A like, for you.
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Just curious, when you recorded both guitar tracks, why didn't you just copy the one then pan it instead of playing the same thing twice?
All that does is increase the overall volume. The reason for playing both tracks is to get those little nuances of the two guitars. That's what really brings the mix to life
I've always liked this method because it makes your song more lively with those slight nuances between the two guitar tracks. Though they need to be close, you're never going to play that 2nd track exactly the same so it really helps the overall mix sound more organic and brings it to life.
Yeah. It's the differences that make it thicker. Randy Rhoades would quad track sometimes. Play the part 4 times and then pan them 9, 11, 1, and 3 o'clock. Something like that.
I use this method daily ? . One drum track two Rhythm guitar tracks panned left on first right on seconded recording them separate some time I even double down and do four so one side has differences to the other at times then a Lead channel then bass . Hell I’ll even do bass first sometimes bc that’s the foundation to most melody’s.
Like I tell my wife my vocal hum is the melody’s I sing or whistle leads . Then write down what I come up with
Why I was a little confused with the it just increases the volume reply ?
Step one: Write a metal song. Just kidding lol. Great advice man thanks.
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I've never been able to properly double track guitars. I never remember what I played in the first place and the minute I tab it out my fingers forget everything they know. I figured out a passable trick though. My rig consists of the amp into 2 1x (a 12" and an 8") cabs and I connect them with a Radial Cab-link box. I mic the cab and pull a line out from the Radial into another input on the interface. Switching the polarity on one of the inputs in Studio One bizarrely seems to alleviate any and all phasing issues.
The reason I record a 2nd is to capture those nuances between the two guitars. You'll never play it exactly the same the 2nd time, but that's exactly what I want...that's part of what can bring your song to life!
@@jasonstallworth oh I understand the concept rightly enough, it's the execution that kills me. Instead of sounding big and bad, it usually just ends up sounding... bad lol
Can you send me a tab png to play your guitar riff
I would love to get this tab too!!
Not for this video but I now offer tabs to at least two of my TH-cam lessons per month for my Patreon supporters
@@jasonstallworth thank you!
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I DO THE SAME BUT I LET EZBASS PLAY OFF MY JAM
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5 minutes you mean 15 minutes
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Video is 14 min
Gotta count the actual recording time without the explanations I provide...it's 5 minutes, give or take a little
jesus loves you
I encourage you to love yourself, as well
when I hear "writing music" I'd always expect writing sheet music.
That's a great method for folks that read music. I personally never got into that
@@jasonstallworth I can read but very slooooooooooowwwwwwwwwllllllllyyyyyyyy.
Making music is easy, perfecting them is the hard part.
Try not to get caught up in perfection. Make it great but if you chase perfection you'll never get anything done
@@jasonstallworth Couldn't have said it better Jason... the more melodies & riffs we make the better we become, you can't nail anything in life first try!!!
Hey man, you're too good to be true... You're not an AI machine, I believe...? hehehe... Great man, I appreciate your help.
Thank you Jason. You the man!
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