Harvester of Sorrow – Metallica

Learn to play “Harvester of Sorrow” by Metallica with note-for-note precision in this in-depth guitar lesson from Licklibrary.com. Our expert instructors take you through every crushing riff, nuanced lick, and intricate rhythm, helping you build essential metal guitar techniques that will sharpen your skills and deepen your appreciation for Metallica’s unmistakable sound. This lesson not only teaches you how to replicate the track, but also explains the technique behind each part, empowering you to use them in your own playing. Andy James breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About the Song and Its Guitarists

“Harvester of Sorrow” was released in 1988 on Metallica’s legendary ...And Justice for All album. The track is built around mid-tempo heaviness, dark harmony, and percussive rhythm guitar that showcase Metallica’s evolution toward more progressive metal structures.

The guitar work on this track is primarily delivered by James Hetfield (rhythm guitar, vocals) and Kirk Hammett (lead guitar). Hetfield's rhythm playing is world-renowned for its precision and aggression, making him one of metal’s most influential rhythm guitarists. His palm-muted down-picking is as relentless as it is accurate. Kirk Hammett, on the other hand, brings a wild, expressive lead guitar style rooted in blues and classical scales, often highlighted by fast legato runs and harmonics. Together, they form one of the most iconic guitar duos in heavy metal history.

Guitar Techniques Explored in This Lesson

This Licklibrary guitar lesson on “Harvester of Sorrow” breaks down key playing techniques used by Hetfield and Hammett, ensuring that students not only play the song accurately but also understand the mechanics and musicality behind each technique.

Palm Muting

Palm muting is a cornerstone of Hetfield’s rhythm style and is used extensively in this track to create tight, percussive chugging sounds. This technique adds dynamic control and clarity to distorted guitar tones, making riffs punchy and rhythmically engaging.

Benefit: Learning palm muting improves timing and tightness in rhythm playing, which is essential for mastering heavy metal riffing.

Power Chords

Power chords dominate the rhythm section of “Harvester of Sorrow.” Their raw, stripped-down nature makes them perfect for creating massive, heavy sounds while keeping the structure harmonically simple and clear.

Benefit: Mastering power chords allows you to create heavy, driving rhythm parts that work in a wide range of rock and metal styles.

Slides

The song features subtle yet effective slides between power chords and melodic figures, adding movement and phrasing to otherwise straightforward parts.

Benefit: Practicing slides develops left-hand control and smooth transitions, making your playing sound more fluid and expressive.

Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

Kirk Hammett's lead sections include fast hammer-ons and pull-offs, especially during the solo and fills. These techniques help execute legato passages that flow smoothly across notes.

Benefit: Incorporating hammer-ons and pull-offs helps increase speed, sustain, and articulation in your lead playing.

Vibrato

Vibrato is a key expressive element in Hammett’s lead playing. His signature wide, aggressive vibrato style gives single notes more life and emotion, often applied at the end of bends or sustained notes.

Benefit: Learning vibrato enhances your phrasing and makes your solos stand out with more vocal-like quality.

Alternate Picking

Though “Harvester of Sorrow” leans heavily on downpicking, certain riffs and licks benefit from efficient alternate picking—especially when playing faster or more intricate passages.

Benefit: Alternate picking increases speed and efficiency, especially when playing scalar runs or complex rhythms.

String Bending

While not as prominent as in some other Metallica solos, string bending is used by Hammett to add expression and emotion, particularly in sustained lead lines.

Benefit: String bending builds finger strength and ear training, allowing you to bend notes accurately and expressively.

Why Learn “Harvester of Sorrow”?

This lesson is perfect for intermediate players looking to solidify their rhythm playing while dipping into expressive lead techniques. It’s also ideal for anyone wanting to build real-world metal guitar skills based on the work of two of the genre’s most influential players. By the end of the lesson, you’ll not only be able to play the song note-for-note but will also understand how to apply the techniques across your own riffs and solos.

Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Palm Muting
• Power Chords
• Slides
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs
• Vibrato
• Alternate Picking
• String Bending

Unlock your inner metalhead by mastering this heavy-hitting track and gaining a deeper understanding of the techniques that shaped an era. Dive into the “Harvester of Sorrow” guitar lesson at Licklibrary.com and build your skills with precision, aggression, and power.