Learn To Play Metallica
Song Lessons in this Course
Song-by-Song Guitar Lessons Taught by Danny Gill
This course covers five complete Metallica songs, with every riff, rhythm part, and guitar solo broken down in full detail. Each lesson is structured to take you from the opening notes through to the final chord, giving you a thorough understanding of both the technical demands and the musical intent behind each track.
Enter Sandman
"Enter Sandman" is the defining opening statement of the Black Album and one of the most recognisable guitar riffs in the history of heavy metal. The lesson begins with the clean-tone intro riff — deceptively simple in appearance but requiring precise fretting-hand control and a clean, consistent pick attack. You will then move into the crunching main riff, which is a masterclass in James Hetfield's approach to down-picking and rhythmic precision. The lesson culminates in Kirk Hammett's guitar solo, a showcase of alternate picking, expressive string bending, and vibrato technique that remains one of the most studied solos in online guitar lesson communities.
Sad But True
"Sad But True" is built around one of the heaviest, most down-tuned riffs Metallica ever committed to tape. This lesson explores the power of drop-tuned power chords and the specific palm-muting technique required to give the riff its suffocating, rhythmic weight. The solo section introduces a more melodic side of Hammett's playing, combining slides and vibrato in a slow, expressive passage before accelerating into a series of hammer-ons and pull-offs. This track is an essential study for any guitarist looking to develop a truly heavy, authoritative rhythm sound.
The Unforgiven
"The Unforgiven" demonstrates the full dynamic range of Metallica's songwriting, moving between delicate, arpeggiated clean passages and powerful, distorted riff sections. The lesson covers the fingerpicked intro and verse arpeggios in detail, teaching you how to achieve the haunting, atmospheric tone that opens the track. The lead guitar work in the solo section draws heavily on the minor pentatonic scale and legato technique, with hammer-ons and pull-offs creating a fluid, seamless quality that contrasts beautifully with the heavier sections of the song.
Fade to Black
"Fade to Black" is one of Metallica's most beloved and musically rich compositions, and the guitar lesson reflects that depth. Beginning with the fingerpicked acoustic-style intro in B minor, the lesson guides you through the song's gradual build in intensity, covering the transition from clean to distorted tones and the increasingly complex rhythmic figures that drive the song forward. The Kirk Hammett guitar solo that closes the track is one of his finest moments — a full-fretboard journey that incorporates string bending, slides, and expressive vibrato, and which represents a genuine milestone for any guitarist learning to play Metallica online.
Battery
"Battery" is a full-throttle thrash metal workout and one of the most technically demanding tracks in this course. The lesson covers the intricate acoustic intro before launching into the main thrash riff, which demands rapid alternate picking, tight palm muting, and the kind of right-hand stamina that separates intermediate players from advanced ones. Hammett's solo is a tour de force of speed and precision, incorporating sweep picking, two-handed tapping, and whammy bar techniques. Completing this lesson is a genuine achievement for any metal guitarist.
This Course is Ideal for Players Who...
Learn to Play Metallica on LickLibrary is designed for guitarists who are serious about developing their metal technique and who want to learn from the very best source material the genre has to offer.
This course is the perfect choice for guitarists who are already comfortable with basic chord shapes and picking techniques and are ready to take on the challenges of intermediate to advanced metal guitar. It suits players who have a genuine passion for the Metallica catalogue and want to go beyond simply strumming along — to truly understand how these songs are constructed and performed. If you admire the precision and aggression of James Hetfield's rhythm playing, or the melodic instinct and technical brilliance of Kirk Hammett's lead work, this course will give you the tools to replicate and understand both.
This is also an ideal course for players who have been learning metal guitar online and feel ready to apply their developing technique to real, iconic songs. The structured, note-for-note approach means you are not just learning isolated licks or exercises — you are building a genuine, performance-ready repertoire of five of the most important songs in heavy metal history.
What will I achieve from completing this course?
LickLibrary's Learn to Play Metallica works because it is built on the principle that the best way to develop as a metal guitarist is to learn great music, played correctly, from an expert instructor. Jamie Humphries brings decades of experience as a metal guitar tutor, session guitarist, and performer to every lesson, ensuring that the technical guidance is always grounded in genuine musical understanding.
The note-for-note methodology means that every riff, rhythm part, and solo is taught exactly as it appears on the original recordings, giving you an authentic connection to the music rather than a simplified approximation. This approach develops real technique — the kind of alternate picking stamina, palm-muting control, and lead guitar fluency that transfers directly to your own playing, regardless of the style you ultimately pursue.
Metallica's music is, at its core, a masterclass in the relationship between rhythm and lead guitar. Learning these five songs with Jamie Humphries will give you a profound understanding of how thrash metal rhythms are constructed, how Kirk Hammett builds tension and release in his solos, and how the interplay between Hetfield's rhythm guitar and Hammett's lead work creates the signature Metallica sound. This is not just a guitar course — it is a complete education in the craft of heavy metal guitar, delivered through five of the genre's most enduring anthems.
WE CAN HELP...
1-ON-1 COACHING
Access to thousands of lessons is great, but without a plan you can feel like you’re practicing in circles. Book your FREE 1-on-1 video call with a Licklibrary pro to fix your technique, build a practice plan, get motivated, or overcome any challenge. It's all included in your membership!
** Disclaimer **
*This product is not endorsed by or made in association with
Metallica
nor does
Metallica
perform or appear on this course.*
Learn to Play Metallica: The Ultimate Guide for Every Guitarist
With Licklibrary's "Learn to Play Metallica," you're just a strum away from mastering the legendary riffs and powerful solos that define the iconic sound of Metallica. Dive into the depths of the band's discography, starting from the ground up with detailed breakdowns of some of their most famous songs. Join Lick Library's very own Jamie Humphries as he takes you through these iconic metal songs.
Enter Sandman
The opening track of the seminal 1991 album, "Metallica" (also known as the Black Album), "Enter Sandman" is a cornerstone of heavy metal guitar work. The signature clean-tone riff, played using an E minor scale, forms the bedrock of the song, transitioning seamlessly into a dynamic, crunching main riff.
What stands out most in "Enter Sandman" is the slick guitar solo, which is a masterclass in both technical proficiency and melodic sensibility. The solo kicks off with a sequence of rapid sixteenth notes, highlighting the use of alternate picking and slides. The phrase ends with an expressive, high-pitched bend, showing the importance of vibrato in adding emotional depth to your solos.
Sad But True
"Sad But True" is a beast of a song, built on a monstrous, down-tuned riff that rings out with a thunderous roar. The riff, based in D minor, is a fine example of Metallica's use of power chords and palm muting to create a heavy, rhythmic sound.
The solo in "Sad But True" is more subdued than most of Metallica's, but no less impressive. It starts with a slow, melodic passage that uses a mixture of slides and vibrato to great effect, before moving into a faster section that features a series of quick hammer-ons and pull-offs.
The Unforgiven
"The Unforgiven" demonstrates a contrast between clean, arpeggiated chord progressions and powerful, distorted riffs. The opening clean section is based around an E minor chord progression, with the chords played as arpeggios, creating a haunting atmosphere.
The song's solo showcases Hammett's command of the minor pentatonic scale, starting with a blistering ascending run. The solo also makes use of legato techniques, with fast hammer-ons and pull-offs adding a fluid, seamless quality to the playing.
Fade to Black
"Fade to Black" is a showcase of Metallica's more melodic side, beginning with a beautiful clean arpeggio sequence in B minor. The song steadily builds in intensity, culminating in one of Kirk Hammett's most emotive solos. The solo takes advantage of the entire fretboard, starting in a low register and gradually climbing higher and higher. There's a healthy mix of techniques involved, including slides, string bending, and vibrato.
Battery
"Battery" is a relentless, fast-paced thrasher that serves as a testament to Metallica's thrash metal roots. The song is based on an E minor scale, with the main riff making use of rapid alternate picking and palm muting to deliver a percussive, aggressive sound.
Hammett's solo in "Battery" is a tour de force, packed with rapid alternate picking, sweeping arpeggios, and an array of harmonics. It's a prime example of Hammett's incredible speed and precision, and the use of a whammy bar adds a dramatic flair to the solo.
The Lead Guitarist: Kirk Hammett
The force behind these impressive guitar works is Kirk Hammett, the lead guitarist of Metallica. Known for his fast, intricate solos and heavy riffing, Hammett's contribution to Metallica's sound cannot be understated. He incorporates a variety of guitar techniques into his playing, including two-handed tapping, string bending, and sweep picking, often within the same song. Hammett's proficiency and diversity as a guitarist make him a joy to learn from, and an inspiration to guitarists around the world.
Techniques Used in the Lessons
- Vibrato
- Alternate Picking
- Legato
- Hammer-ons and Pull-offs
- Power Chords
- Palm Muting
- Slides
- String Bending
- Arpeggios
- Two-handed Tapping
- Sweep Picking
- Whammy Bar Tricks
Licklibrary's "Learn to Play Metallica" is an incredible resource for any guitarist looking to broaden their musical vocabulary, improve their technique, and delve into the intricate guitar work of one of the world's most influential metal bands.
About The Tutor
Tutor Profile
Jamie Humphries
Jamie is one of the mainstays of LickLibrary, having a stream of hugely successful best selling DVDs, Jamie is best known as Brian May's sideman who he's played shows with all over the world. Aside from this Jamie is a hugely popular clinician working all over the world with Ernie...