So I joined a metal band. Drop D, pick and overdrive and I'm feeling like a jet engine. Luckily I still got a decent pick technique so I can double the guitar riffs. Next gig in ten days and I have to learn a 50 min set by then, all original material, some odd meters, tons of tight chuggy-chug quarter-note triplets. They all use in-ear monitors, no amps at all - that was new for me. I'll have to try it out too. Oh yeah and they're all 20-25 years younger than me...
We see a lot of younger ones at the Sunday jam I do. I've noticed many of the metal kids I thought were all dark and doomy turned out to be hilarious.
This could be a fun gig. The metal ones I know that do not use amps have serious pedal boards.
Cool! Got any existing recordings?
Well, I'm with you in one respect - I'm learning how to play with a pick. I avoided it since 1964, but my right hand is giving me some trouble when playing fingerstyle. I'm getting there but can't do alternate up and down picking at any speed yet, which is one of the reasons I need to use a pick. I'll get there.
Quote from: morrow on May 19, 2026, 07:12:44 AMThe metal ones I know that do not use amps have serious pedal boards.
They do!
I was designated as a cool old guy when I had on a Darkglass hoodie. The Darkglass stuff is appreciated by the metal crowd.
Despite zero tats and fairly short white hair.
Good luck with the gig and cutting through the mix. Wish the metal band I played in used in ears. They managed to peel some paint off the walls of the practice space with the outlandish amount of volume from the half stacks. It was fun and somewhat cathartic pounding out the aggressive music. Hope you have fun with it.