Tremolo Picking Techniques for Black Metal Music

Tremolo Picking Techniques for Black Metal Music

Anyone who’s listened to a little (or a lot) of black metal has heard the insanely fast, aggressive rhythms that drive so many of its songs. This frenetic nature wouldn’t be possible without tremolo picking. If you’re looking to graduate beyond simple strumming and down-picking, this guide to black metal tremolo picking will help you get started.

What is Tremolo Picking?

At its core, tremolo picking is a fast version of double picking, when you continuously alternate pick strokes back and forth (downstroke/upstroke) on a string. Not only does it let you play quick tempos and sixteenth notes easily, but tremolo lets you incorporate hammer-ons, pull-offs and other complex patterns. Most tremolo sequences are grouped in even numbers (2, 4, 6, etc.), so you end them ready for the next riff.

What Picks and Strings to Use

High-grip picks such as the Dunlop Max Grip allow guitarists to keep a firm hold during ultra-fast black metal tremolo picking. Some players use heavyweight picks for a focused, darker tone. Others prefer medium-weight picks that brighten things a bit and let them attack more.

As for black metal guitar strings, we recommend sizing up your gauges, especially if you’re down-tuning. Heavier strings play better at reduced tension and can take more abuse from the tremolo-picking style. You might need 11s or even 12s for extreme down-tuning such as Drop-B and Drop-A. A skinny top/heavy bottom set is another good option.

How to Hold the Pick

Although you can hold your pick the traditional way, many black metal players use different holds to further increase their grip. The common method is to place the thumb on one side of the pick and the index and middle fingers on the other side with all three digits pointing toward the tip. A variation on this is to place your index finger along the edge of the pick. Both options keep the pick secure during fast-paced sequences.

Pick Angle

You want to keep the pick slanted downward. If the pick is pointed straight, it’s more likely to get “stuck” as you’re playing through the strings, forcing you to rotate it out. If the pick is pointed upward, you engage your elbow much more, which can lead to repetitive stress injuries.

Arm and Wrist Position

On a related note, beginners should have as little arm, wrist and palm movement as possible. The more moving parts, the more you need to coordinate, which takes energy away from playing. A good method is to relax the upper arm and let your pick hand “slouch” against the body with the wrist straight. Not only does this release tension, which is another source of getting stuck in the strings, but it also naturally achieves the downward pick slant.

Above All, Stay Calm

It sounds counterintuitive for black metal, but you want to take it easy, at least when you’re starting. Aggressive picking increases the chances of getting sloppy, racing ahead of the rhythm, losing the music’s heavy feel and breaking strings.