Quick Licks - Kirk Hammett: Master the Fiery Techniques of a Metal Guitar Legend

Guitarists who are eager to dive into the realm of heavy metal mastery, your search ends here with the "Quick Licks - Kirk Hammett" tutorial. This lesson package is your guide through the inferno of riffs and techniques that have cemented Kirk Hammett’s place in the pantheon of guitar legends. Each lick, meticulously crafted for learners, is a gateway to understanding not just the notes, but the raw energy and emotion that metal guitar playing requires. These lessons are brought to you by Andy James.

What You Will Learn In This Course

35 killer metal licks in the style of Kirk Hammett. This course also includes a backing track to play over. The techniques you will learn include:

• Using a Wah Pedal
• Fast Metal Licks
• Double Stop Bends
• Two Hand Tapping

Technique Breakdown

Using A Wah Pedal

The wah pedal, a timeless voice in the electric guitar's vocabulary, is used masterfully by Hammett. In these lessons, you’ll delve into the nuances of using a wah pedal to color your sound. It’s more than just a filter—it’s a dynamic tool that, when wielded correctly, injects life into licks, making them speak with a human-like quality. The ability to swell and recede gives your playing a sense of urgency and expression that is essential in metal music.

Fast Metal Licks

Speed is a hallmark of Hammett’s style. These fast metal licks are not just about playing notes at breakneck speeds; they’re about articulation, precision, and building the muscle memory and technique to execute quick passages cleanly. Whether it’s blistering runs through scales or ferocious repeated patterns, this section of the lesson pushes the boundaries of your fingers' agility and your picking hand’s stamina.

Double Stop Bends

Double stop bends are a powerful technique where two strings are bent simultaneously, often creating a screaming, soulful sound. The emotional impact of these bends can’t be understated—they're like a cry from the guitar itself. In these lessons, you’ll learn how to control your bends for maximum expressive potential, adding a layer of richness to your metal licks.

Two Hand Tapping

Dive into the electrifying world of two-handed tapping, a technique that Hammett uses to generate rapid-fire melodic sequences that are simply impossible with conventional picking techniques. This section will break down the mechanics of tapping with both hands, enabling you to orchestrate intricate licks and arpeggios across the fretboard.

Practicing Over a Backing Track: The Real-World Application

Practicing these licks over the provided backing track isn't just fun; it's fundamental. Playing along with music forces you to keep time, listen, and adapt—skills critical to performing. The backing track acts as your rhythm section, giving context to each lick and pushing you to make musical choices in real-time, preparing you for live scenarios.

Kirk Hammett’s Guitar Style

Kirk Hammett, the lead guitarist for Metallica, is renowned for his aggressively melodic solos and the seamless integration of techniques like the wah pedal and two-handed tapping into heavy metal. His playing, characterized by its high energy and emotional delivery, employs a broad palette of sounds and textures. By studying his style, you gain insight into constructing solos that are both technically impressive and musically compelling.

The Benefits of Learning These Techniques

Mastering these licks and techniques elevates your guitar playing by:

• Enhancing your expressive capabilities through the wah pedal.
• Increasing your precision and speed for fast metal licks.
• Incorporating the visceral impact of double stop bends.
• Expanding your creative horizons with two-handed tapping.

You'll not only capture the essence of Kirk Hammett’s style but also develop a versatile skill set that can be applied across many genres.

Guitar Techniques Used in "Quick Licks - Kirk Hammett"

At the end of your journey through the "Quick Licks - Kirk Hammett" lesson series, you will have acquired skills in the following techniques:

• Vibrato
• Alternate Picking
• Legato
• Double Stop Bends
• Two-Handed Tapping
• String Bending
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs

By integrating these techniques into your repertoire, you not only pay homage to a guitar great but also forge your path, armed with the tools to carve your musical expression. So plug in, crank up your amp, and let the spirit of Kirk Hammett guide your fingers across the fretboard with "Quick Licks - Kirk Hammett."