How to Get Your Guitar to Sound Metal

You're at the mercy of the gear you own when it comes to getting a metal sound. A Stratocaster probably won't get you there. Get the tone you need for a metal guitar sound require the right type of electric guitar, amp, and distortion source.

Here's how I would break down the ideal gear.

• Electric guitar with a Mahogany body and Maple top piece
• Dual humbucker pickup configuration (HH) and active pickups if possible
• Tube amp with heavy/high gain channel
• Or, a solid state amp with a heavy distortion model
• String gauge at .052 or higher
• Heavy pick gauge

I would call this a recipe for a heavy metal tone. All of it is meant to help you achieve the following metal-esque tone qualities:

• Heavy distortion
• Smooth but aggressive gain levels
• Thick, percussive tone
• Lots of sustain

The gear list is a means to an end. But can you get to a metal sound without it? This depends on your current guitar rig. If you have an electric guitar with dual humbuckers and a Mahogany body, but not a decent amp, that's where you'll have to fill in the gaps.

I'll go through each factor to consider.

Pickups (type, configuration, and brand)

You need to go for a guitar that has two humbuckers, and not the three (or two) single coil pickups.

This typically negates most Stratocasters and Telecasters, but if you want metal, you're going to be better off avoiding the Fender-style guitars altogether. Fender just doesn't do metal.

Jim Root is the exception, not the rule.

If possible, these humbuckers should have a distinctly modern style to them, and active pickups are better.

Here's a set of Fishman Fluence Matt Heafy humbuckers in my PRS CE 24.

If you want to read more about different pickup options and the different kinds available, it's all in our parent roundup.

Read more: Best humbuckers and pickups

Seymour Duncan, Fishman Fluence, DiMarzio, and EMG are all good pickup brands to explore.

Tonewood and top pieces

While there are a lot of tonewoods that can work for a wide variety of musical styles, Mahogany is the most commonly used tonewood for electric guitar bodies. It creates a bit of a darker and heavier response, which is why it's usually used for electric guitars that are designed for a hard rock or metal tone.

I also like to see a top piece on the guitar's body, as opposed to the single piece body design. In most cases, these top pieces are made out of Maple.

Distortion source (pedal or amp)

If at all possible, we recommend getting your distortion primarily from your amplifier. Especially if you have a decent high gain tube amp, you're better off using your amp directly for your distorted signal.

This is better than using a pedal to distort over an otherwise clean signal.

Here's some more info on the difference between using a pedal and or amp as your distortion source.

Read more: Distortion pedal or amp?

Now, if your amp doesn't put out a decent distorted tone, or at least one that's not heavy enough, you can downshift to a distortion pedal with high gain levels and a modern vibe.

We've covered all of our favorites.

Read more: Best Distortion Pedals Overall

Strings and String Gauge

There's going to be some distinction between lead metal and rhythm metal guitar styles.

Generally, I recommend a heavier gauge string for metal, because they produce a bigger, more punchy sound, and they're always better for lower tunings. However, that doesn't account for metal guitar players that are more on the lead side of the spectrum, something like speed metal.

Nita Strauss is a good example of a speed metal player.

And she uses a really light gauge string, .042 to .009.

If you're focusing on the rhythm side and more power chords, especially with lower tunings, I'd recommend at least a .052 string gauge.

Pick Gauge

Again, there's some preference that will vary, so this should be entirely based on your comfort.

But again, like the strings, I'd recommend a thicker pick for heavier styles.

Playing Style

You can't underestimate your playing style when it comes to getting a metal sound. In fact, with most popular metal guitar players, what makes them distinct is how they approach the fretboard and how they think through what they play.

Kerry King does not approach metal the same way Adam Jones approaches metal.

So you'll need to make sure that you are developing your own style and learning the features and systems of metal guitar.

In the end, that will have as much to do with your success as the gear you own.

Conclusion

There's a lot to consider about how gear can impact your ability to get a metal guitar sound. It definitely plays a significant role in determining the quality of the final product. But ultimately you have to decide what your budget permits and what works best for you.

From there, it's all about your skill, playing style, and how you approach the fretboard.

If you have questions about how to get your guitar to sound metal, drop them in the comments section below and I'll help out as much as possible.

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