Breaking Down Drop A

Hello GMC'ers! Today I shall take you into the amazing realm of modern metal. This is also a concept lesson from a series bearing the name "Modern Metal", which will offer you a detailed view on low tunings, rythimic formulas and a succesful combination between aggressive and melodic playing.

The phrase presented here, is actually the middle part or the "breakdown" of a song I wrote with my band, in such a way that it emulates the feeling of tension and release – through the aid of aggresive and melodic combinations.

The tuning is the result of my habit of playing a 7 stringed guitar for many years before switching to a baritone. and here it is: A E A D G B – you should regard it as a standard tuned 7 string guitar with the lowest string detuned to A and a missing high E string. It will create a bunch of unusual chord positions which I use and find very interesting.

Concepts/ Benifits:
* The development of rythmic playing
* Your right hand technique
* The tension-release technique
* Combining 3 different modes in a single phrase
* Controlled bending
* Creative and unusual chord positions – as a result of the special tuning used
* Combining aggressive and melodic playing

Listening Recommendations:
* Killswitch Engage
* Periphery
* Tesseract

Scales:
* Phrigyan harmonic minor (1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 7)
* Locrian (1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7)
* Aeolian (1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7)

Meter:
4/4

Tuning:
* Drop A
* A - E - A - D - G - B
(From thick to thin string)

Tempo:
120 BPM

If you have any questions:
* Give feedback (upper-right-corner)
* My Personal Board
* General Forum

All that being said, grab your axe and let’s break it down to drop A!/ Cosmin

--> More Modern Metal Lessons!