In this lesson, you'll learn a simplified version of the first riff. This is an awesome exercise for beginners! But this is about more than simply learning the riffs โ we'll also explore how to approach learning tricky songs as a beginner.
At this stage in the journey, you'll find lots of songs beyond your level. And I don't want you to feel intimidated. You can simplify songs to suit your level. We'll dig into a process for this after learning the Metallica riffs.
So, are you ready to rock? Grab your guitar, and let's get going with the first riff!
Fingers 2 and 4 stay put all the way through the first riff. Finger 4 goes on 5:7 (string 5, fret 7), while finger 2 goes on 4:5 (string 4, fret 5). This will feel stretchy! Make sure fingers 2 and 4 are right up next to the fret, and keep them in place while you play the other parts.
This is a great exercise for working out your little finger. You'll build finger independence by holding down fingers 2 and 4 while manipulating the others. But if this feels too stretchy, use finger 3 on 5:7 and replace 4:5 with the open G string (the notes are the exact same). This way is loads easier! It just sounds a bit different.
Here's riff 1 in TAB:
Finger 3 plays 6:6, and finger 1 plays 6:5. For the easier version, play 3:0 instead of 4:5, and use fingers 2 and 1 to fret the notes on string 6.
Let's check out the second riff. We start by strumming the open E string with all downstrums and some palm mute. The rhythm is 1 + 2 + 3 + 4. After the downstrum on beat 4, finger 1 goes on 5:5. Pick, then slide up to 5:7. We return to a downstrum on the E string on beat 1. The rhythm for this is:
4 e + a 1
D 5:5 5:7 D
Keep finger 1 down on 5:7, using the underside of the finger to mute strings 4, 3, 2, and 1. Keep playing the same rhythm on the open E string, then play 5:7 with finger 3 followed by 4:7 with finger 1.
๐ก Palm Mute โ It's crucial you use the correct amount of palm mute. You should still be able to hear the chord.
Then we grab an F power chord (13XXXX), strum it, then flick off both fingers to reveal the open strings (00XXXX). If you find this tricky, you can simplify it by just playing 6:1 and flicking off to 6:0.
The rhythm for this is:
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 e + a
D D 5:7 5:5 D D D 6:1 6:0
On the third and four reps, we add 6:5 on beat 3.
The next part starts with an E power chord (02XXXX). Use finger 1 to play 5:2 and mute the other strings. Then we play 5:7, 6:6, 6:5. Here's the rhythm:
+ 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
E5 E5 5:7 6:6 6:5 E5
The E5 is pushed: we switch to it on the "and" of 4 instead of beat 1. I also tend to mute the strings a little on beat 4.
Time for riff 5.
+ 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
G5 6:0 F#5 6:0 F#5 G5 F#5 E5
Use palm mute throughout, except for the E5 chord. This is the full riff, but you can simplify it by only playing the bottom notes (6:3 for G, 6:2 for F#, 6:0 for E).
โ๏ธ Listen, Listen, Listen to the original recording. Not only will you learn the order of the song, you'll get a much better idea of the rhythm and pick up further nuances.
This one is the hardest riff in the song, and it's tricky for most beginners. Try it out and see how it feels to you.
Barre the four thickest strings at fret 2 with finger 1. Then put finger 3 down at 4:4. Pick strings 6, 4, and 3, then put finger 2 on 5:3 and lift it off to reveal 5:2. Then pick string 4.
When you pick 5:3 and 5:2, lightly touch the thumb of your fretting hand against string 6 to mute it. Most beginners will find this one really tough. One cheat is to pick 6:2 instead of string 4 at the end.
I highly recommend you learn riff 1. It's great for finger independence. You'll find it tricky to play notes with fingers 1 and 3 while keeping 2 and 4 stable. That's what NITSUJ spent most of his time on!
If you're a big Metallica fan, watch my full lesson on Enter Sandman. See which parts you can play and which you need to simplify.
๐ก Justin's Journey โ Nowadays, I'm pretty pedantic when it comes to learning songs. I want to get everything spot on! But when I was starting out, I was the opposite. I was out in bars, playing Dire Straits songs completely wrong! I was playing Rolling Stones riffs in the wrong tuning. But I still enjoyed myself, and it sounded good. That was all that mattered!
At this stage in your journey, you'll come across many songs that are beyond your level. If you really love a song, use your enthusiasm to keep you inspired. Being motivated is one of the most important elements at this stage.
๐ง Justin becomes Nitsuj โ After playing guitar for so many years, I'd forgotten what it was like at the beginning of the journey. So I did an experiment to test out my Beginner's Course worked and walk a mile in my students' shoes. See how Nitsuj got on. ;)
Some examples of simplifying songs are using power chords instead of barre chords, and two-note power chords instead of three-note power chords.
Don't be afraid to explore! Simplify other songs you dig if they feel too difficult. Your love for a song will motivate you to make it work no matter what.
Have loads of fun with Enter Sandman by Metallica. Come and tell me how you've simplified the song โ I'd love to know. See you for more guitar real soon. :)
