Modern Metal Rhythm Techniques
Lessons Included in this Course
Course Content Overview
Sam Bell—a highly respected session guitarist, LickLibrary tutor, and modern metal virtuoso—will guide you through these essential rhythm frameworks with clarity, efficiency, and real-world application. You will learn the secrets behind sculpting the perfect high-gain guitar tone, developing aggressive pick attack, and executing fluid string-skipping riffs. Each lesson is a step-by-step journey into rhythmic mastery, focusing on the core techniques that drive heavy, syncopated grooves and memorable metal riffs.
Course contents:
Tonal Considerations & Setup — Master the foundation of modern metal guitar tone. You will explore how amp settings, EQ, gain structure, and pick choice affect the clarity and aggressiveness of your sound, ensuring your riffs cut through the densest of mixes.
Pick Attack & Dynamics — Explore the aggressive, percussive sounds essential for modern metal. This section gives you a balanced view of how varying the intensity and angle of your pick affects articulation, helping you control the energy and feel of your rhythm playing.
Syncopation & Accents — Focus on the complex rhythmic textures that define djent and progressive metal. These exercises encourage accuracy in timing while teaching you how to place accents to create tension, emphasise downbeats, and play riffs that feel "off the beat" while remaining locked into the groove.
Dyads & Drop Voicings — Build on standard power chords with a more harmonically interesting tonal palette. These shapes are perfect for developing expressive rhythm parts, using two-note dyads and jazz-inspired drop voicings reinterpreted with gain and aggression to give your riffs an unexpected harmonic twist.
Arpeggio Based Patterns & String Skipping — Master the art of integrating melody into your rhythm playing. You will work through Sam Bell's signature 2-1-2 arpeggio patterns and angular string-skipping riffs, developing complete hand synchronisation and clean articulation across wider intervals.
Technical skills you will develop:
- Mastery of aggressive palm muting and percussive chugging techniques
- Proficiency in alternate picking and down-picking for fast, articulate, and clean metal riffs
- Execution of complex syncopated rhythms and odd-time signatures
- Enhanced fretboard awareness using dyads, drop voicings, and standard chord forms
- Improved rhythmic precision, timing, and overall picking hand control
- A deep understanding of how to apply arpeggio-based patterns and string skipping to rhythm guitar
- Development of a tight, modern metal guitar tone and gear setup
This Course is Ideal for Players Who...
Our Modern Metal Rhythm Techniques guitar course is essential for any guitarist who wants to deepen their understanding of heavy rhythm playing and master the art of the modern metal groove. Whether you are an intermediate player looking to sharpen your right-hand technique, or an advanced student who wants to build a rock-solid foundation in djent and progressive metal, this course is built for you.
This course is perfect for guitarists who are looking to improve their rhythmic fluency and break out of repetitive power chord shapes; who want to master essential techniques like syncopation and string skipping; who are looking to develop a powerful, tight sound with consistent timing; who admire the technical excellence and rhythmic precision of Sam Bell; and who believe that a structured approach to modern metal rhythm is the key to unlocking true creative freedom on the guitar.
What will I achieve from completing this course?
This course goes beyond simply learning heavy riffs—it is an education in the mechanics of confident, aggressive, and precise metal guitar playing. It is about understanding how a focused approach to pick attack, dynamics, and tone can transform your technique and open up new rhythmic possibilities. You will gain unparalleled insight into the teaching methods of Sam Bell and learn how his efficient, practical approach to the guitar creates a foundation for limitless riff writing. By focusing on accuracy, timing, and the specific techniques that define modern metal—from palm muting to complex arpeggio patterns—this course ensures that you do not just learn the riffs, but truly integrate them into your musical vocabulary. For those ready to take their rhythm playing to the cutting edge, your heavy metal workout starts here.
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1-ON-1 COACHING
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Modern Metal Rhythm Techniques by Sam Bell
Take your guitar playing to the cutting edge of modern metal with ‘Modern Metal Rhythm Techniques’ by Sam Bell, exclusively at LickLibrary.com. This in-depth guitar course is tailor-made for intermediate to advanced guitarists looking to master the core mechanics and creative subtleties of modern metal rhythm playing. Sam Bell, known for his exceptional technical prowess and rhythmic precision, guides you through a comprehensive set of techniques and concepts that define the sound of contemporary metal.
Tonal Considerations & Setup
Tone is everything in modern metal, and this course begins with a deep dive into guitar tone shaping and gear setup. Sam explains how amp settings, pickups, EQ, gain structure, and even pick choice affect the clarity and aggressiveness of your tone. Getting the right tone not only helps cut through a mix but also supports the articulation of fast, complex rhythms. Students will understand how to sculpt a tight, percussive sound that complements the technical aspects of their playing.
Pick Attack & Dynamics
The pick attack and dynamics section is all about how your picking hand influences your sound. From aggressive palm-muted chugs to more fluid lead passages, Sam demonstrates how varying the intensity and angle of your pick affects articulation, clarity, and groove. This part of the course trains your ability to control energy and feel — vital for expressive metal rhythm guitar playing.
Accents
Modern metal thrives on rhythmic nuance, and accent placement is key to this. Sam explores how emphasising certain notes within a riff can transform its feel, using accents to create tension, emphasise downbeats, or introduce syncopation. Mastering accents will help you build dynamic, groove-heavy riffs that keep listeners engaged.
Syncopation
Syncopation is a cornerstone of modern rhythm guitar playing. In this lesson, Sam breaks down how to play riffs that feel "off the beat" while remaining locked into the groove. These patterns challenge your timing and improve your internal sense of rhythm. Guitarists will walk away with a tighter groove and a deeper understanding of how to create complex rhythmic textures.
String Skipping Control
String skipping isn't just a lead guitar technique — it has a big place in riff creation. Sam introduces string skipping to build angular, aggressive riffs that avoid conventional patterns. The focus here is on accuracy, control, and picking discipline. This helps develop hand synchronisation and promotes cleaner articulation across wider intervals.
Dyads
A modern approach to rhythm involves more than just power chords. Dyads, or two-note chord shapes, are explored in depth to help you craft riffs that are both harmonically interesting and rhythmically tight. Sam demonstrates how dyads can be used melodically or as rhythm anchors, giving your riffs greater harmonic flexibility.
Standard Chord Forms
Even in metal, standard chord voicings are relevant — especially when creating contrast or building transitions. Sam highlights how major, minor, and extended chord shapes can be creatively integrated into rhythm parts for atmosphere, tension, or resolution. This adds emotional depth to your compositions.
Drop Voicings
Drop voicings provide a fresh approach to rhythm guitar voicing. Sam explains how drop 2 and drop 3 voicings, typically found in jazz, can be reinterpreted with gain and aggression in a metal context. This unique blend gives your rhythm playing an unexpected harmonic twist that cuts through dense arrangements.
Arpeggio Based Patterns
Arpeggios aren't just for solos. Sam teaches how to use arpeggio-based rhythm patterns to add a flowing, linear quality to your riffs. These parts often combine sweep picking and alternate picking in syncopated grooves, giving your playing melodic clarity and forward momentum.
2-1-2 Arpeggios
A signature technique in Sam Bell's playing, 2-1-2 arpeggios involve a repeating three-string arpeggio pattern (two notes on the first string, one on the next, two on the next). These patterns are excellent for both rhythm and lead application, blending melody and rhythm in a modern, creative way. They also challenge your picking accuracy and coordination.
Guitar Techniques Used in ‘Modern Metal Rhythm Techniques’
Whether you're aiming to write cutting-edge riffs or want to refine your rhythmic precision, Modern Metal Rhythm Techniques gives you all the tools you need. With Sam Bell’s expert guidance, you’ll unlock a new level of rhythmic fluency, tonal awareness, and creative confidence — all essential for the modern metal guitarist.
About The Tutor
Tutor Profile
Sam Bell
Sam Bell has been playing guitar from the age of 4, since then he has played many styles from Funky Blues to screaming Metal/Fusion on 8 string guitar. A member of UK tech metal band ‘Mask of Judas’, he is also currently writing his own solo instrumental album. He also...