Metallica's "The Black Album": A Guitarist's Perspective

Metallica’s eponymously titled fifth studio album, more commonly known as 'The Black Album', is the heavy metal giant’s best-selling album to date and it’s no surprise. The Black Album produced five singles that are among the band’s best-known songs, including Enter Sandman, Sad But True, Nothing Else Matters, Wherever I May Roam and The Unforgiven.  

The album marks a change in Metallica’s direction from the early thrash metal roots of the band’s previous four studio albums towards a more commercial, heavy metal sound, that helped the record début at number one on the Billboard 200. Jamie Humphries shows you how James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett use multiple parts, powerful riffs, and blistering solos to create the songs that have helped make 1991’s The Black Album a classic album.  

Guitar Lessons in this Course

Guitar Lesson 1: "Enter Sandman"

The album kicks off with this anthemic tune, boasting a memorable main riff in E minor, comprised mainly of power chords with some syncopated rhythms. The scale used in the guitar solo is the E minor pentatonic, with Hammett demonstrating an adept use of slides and string bending, while his melodic choices provide an appealing juxtaposition to the song's heavy rhythm.

Guitar Lesson 2: "Sad But True"

In "Sad But True", the band employs a drop D tuning to give a hefty weight to the riffing. The song is built around a slow, grinding D blues scale riff, with the main solo section featuring bluesy bends and clever use of vibrato to emphasize tension.

Guitar Lesson 3: "Holier Than Thou"

"Holier Than Thou" displays galloping rhythms akin to their thrash metal roots. The song is primarily in E minor, with the solo in the same key. Hammett utilises alternate picking techniques to deliver a rapid-fire succession of notes in the solo.

Guitar Lesson 4: "The Unforgiven"

This song exhibits an interesting arpeggiated chord progression in the intro, played on clean guitar. The main riffs and solo are predominantly in A minor. In the solo, Hammett demonstrates a tasteful mix of legato, pull-offs, and hammer-ons.

Guitar Lesson 5: "Wherever I May Roam"

"Wherever I May Roam" showcases a unique usage of an E Phrygian Dominant scale, creating a darker, Eastern-flavoured sound. The song includes an extensive use of palm-muting, whilst the solo displays Hammett's mastery of both alternate picking and sweep picking.

Guitar Lesson 6: "Don't Tread On Me"

In this track, Metallica makes prominent use of the D major scale. The intro riff uses power chords and incorporates a lot of chromaticism, which continues throughout the song. The guitar solo is rhythmically precise, featuring precise string bending and fast alternate picking.

Guitar Lesson 7: "Through The Never"

"Through The Never" is primarily in E minor. The song showcases fast alternate picking and an intricate use of power chords. Hammett’s solo leans heavily on the E minor pentatonic scale, applying an array of techniques like slides, pull-offs, and vibrato.

Guitar Lesson 8: "Nothing Else Matters"

This song is a deviation from Metallica's usual style, featuring finger picking and open-string riffs. Played in E minor, it includes an arpeggiated chord progression and a solo that demonstrates a mix of slides and bends, creating a soulful, melodic feel.

Guitar Lesson 9: "Of Wolf and Man"

Here, Hammett employs extensive use of palm-muted power chords, with the main riff and solo in E minor. The solo is an intriguing mix of slides, pull-offs, and vibrato.

Guitar Lesson 10: "The God That Failed"

"The God That Failed" makes use of the D minor scale. The riffing includes power chords and palm muting, while the solo features Hammett's signature use of string bending and pull-offs.

Guitar Lesson 11: "My Friend of Misery"

This track starts with a melodic bass line over which Hammett plays an eerie, arpeggiated riff. The song is mainly in D minor, and Hammett’s solo uses techniques such as vibrato, pull-offs, and string bending.

Guitar Lesson 12: "The Struggle Within"

"The Struggle Within" ends the album with a bang. The song uses E minor, and features fast, palm-muted power chord riffs. The solo uses a lot of string bending and pull-offs, and Hammett’s use of alternate picking and vibrato in the solo adds depth to the track.

The lead guitarist Kirk Hammett's contribution to "The Black Album" is phenomenal. His ability to blend technical prowess with catchy, melodic hooks gives the album its unique appeal. Hammett not only wrote iconic solos but also brought a melodic sensibility to Metallica's riff writing. His signature touch, particularly in his use of string bending, vibrato, and melodic choices, helped to define the sound of "The Black Album".

Guitar Techniques Used in The Album

1. Vibrato
2. Alternate Picking
3. Legato
4. Power Chords
5. Palm Muting
6. Pull-offs
7. Hammer-ons
8. Slides
9. String Bending
10. Arpeggiated Chord Progressions
11. Chromaticism
12. Galloping Rhythms
13. Syncopated Rhythms
14. Finger Picking
15. Sweep Picking
16. Open-String Riffs
17. Bluesy Bends
18. NB: PERFORMANCE FOOTAGE NOT INCLUDED WITH THIS COURSE