Bass for Metal
Metal bass has to move fast and hit hard. Whether it's doubling the guitar riff note-for-note or adding raw low-end weight, speed and precision are the job.
Doubling the riff
A huge amount of metal bass playing is about doubling: playing the exact same riff as the guitar, note-for-note, an octave lower (or in unison). This tightens up the low end of the whole band and gives the riff extra weight and aggression, at the cost of the bass having much less melodic independence than in styles like Motown and soul.
Palm muting and fast picking
To keep up with fast riffs cleanly, metal bassists lean on two main techniques:
- Palm muting — resting the picking hand lightly on the strings near the bridge to dampen the sound, producing a tight, percussive "chug" instead of notes ringing out.
- Fast fingerstyle or pick playing — many metal bassists alternate two fingers rapidly (or use a pick) to keep up with fast, repeated 16th-note patterns without fatigue.
Common questions
Does metal bass just copy the guitar?
Often, yes — doubling the guitar riff note-for-note (usually an octave lower) is extremely common in metal, tightening the low end. It's not the only approach, but it's a defining one.
What is palm muting on bass?
Resting the picking hand lightly on the strings near the bridge while playing, which dampens the notes into a tight, percussive "chug" instead of letting them ring out.
Do metal bassists use a pick?
Some do, for extra attack and speed, while others use fast two-finger fingerstyle technique. Both approaches are common in metal, depending on the player and the tone wanted.
How important is speed in metal bass?
Very — many metal subgenres demand sustained fast tempos and rapid note repetition, so building clean technique at high speed is a core skill for the style.
Practice fast riffs against a click
Melody Monkey lets you loop riffs at any tempo and gradually ramp up speed as your technique improves.
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