Kirk Hammet On His Solos

He the best!!! i wanna be like him

Kirk fukin' rules i saw him in bergen this summer, the best gig i've ever been to

every solo he makes is totally awesome

Hes amazing. I can't really imagine any famous guitarist sitting and patiently learning a load of scales or anything! xD

That's very ... I don't like it

theotherguy7145 wrote: Hes amazing. I can't really imagine any famous guitarist sitting and patiently learning a load of scales or anything! xD

they have to! almost all great guitarists know their theory. all but Hendrix and SRV

Shockingly bad vibrato and bends. Every time I hear him I can't believe that he is a professional guitarist.

woah ... this is a ver old video & has been around on youtube for a long time ...

This is really old... IT's been on youtube for years. Non the less... He's my idol

theotherguy7145 wrote: Hes amazing. I can't really imagine any famous guitarist sitting and patiently learning a load of scales or anything! xD

Theory is what makes guitarists great!

Go sit and study!

he's great! the very reason why i picked up a guitar in the first place...

CowboyUp wrote: Shockingly bad vibrato and bends. Every time I hear him I can't believe that he is a professional guitarist.

you don't know shit about guitar solo dude. get a life

You don't have to be famous to know bad guitar playing from good guitar playing.

Vibrato and bends are all part of a personal style of playing. Kirk's style dosent use either because he's not very good at them. He sticks to his guns, and there's nothing wrong with that.

But he does use lots of vibrato and bends. He has a very bluesy style.

tim_mop wrote: Theory is what makes guitarists great! Go sit and study!

No, it is not. 'nuff said.

Theory doesn't make you a good musician, but knowing theory helps you to be more comfortable navigating the fretboard and helps you to know what you are doing. Being a great guitarist requires creativity and style.

MASTER768 wrote: Vibrato and bends are all part of a personal style of playing. Kirk's style dosent use either because he's not very good at them. He sticks to his guns, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Are you serious? vibrato and bends are an integral part of MUSIC and expressiveness,every musician of every discipline uses them in some form or another, especially vocalists. they aren't a personal style. if everyone played straight notes all the time music would suck, just think about it.

I've always thought Kirk was a dreadful guitarist, never understood how he got the lead part in one of the most popular bands ever.

Why focus on that solo, to be honest it was boring. Would have been more interesting if the solo was more interesting

Kirk is my idol when it comes to guitar

I'm also sick of people bashing his guitar playing...if you're so great, go ahead and create a more memorable riff or solo than he has

mtllica wrote: Kirk is my idol when it comes to guitar I'm also sick of people bashing his guitar playing...if you're so great, go ahead and create a more memorable riff or solo than he has

That pretty much sums it up for me. I think he's a great guitarist.

I love Metallica, they're one of my favorite bands, but Kirk is an awful soloist. It's not that he's sloppy or anything but it's just mindless wanking, the licks are terrible and have no meaning.

I'm also sick of people bashing his guitar playing...if you're so great, go ahead and create a more memorable riff or solo than he has

All the good riffs were written by Hetfield, and Kirk's solos are never memorable, that's the thing. They're good with keeping the energy of the song but it's almost as if he's playing random notes in a scale.

You know, now that I think of it, James's solos were way more memorable and melodic. Like the first solo in MoP. They should've given him more solos.

kh is the ****ing greatest

Bending and vibrato are very personal. It all depends on what you call a good bend or a bad bend. A bend may sound off to you, but it may have been how he wanted it to sound. Its all about preference.

im a big metallica fan don't get me wrong, but kirk is the most overrated guitar player out there. i didnt realize it until i started playing myself tho. im not trying to hate on him either, he makes good use of the skills he has, but to say that he's the best is just flat out wrong. and anybody who's seen him live/heard live metallica recordings know how sloppy he plays....he just covers it up with a ton of wah.

All the good riffs were written by Hetfield, and Kirk's solos are never memorable, that's the thing. They're good with keeping the energy of the song but it's almost as if he's playing random notes in a scale.

Metallica's most well known riff (sandman) was writtern by kirk, doesnt that tell you somthing about his work? So he ain't the best technical guitarist in the world, but he does what needs doing and does it well. People love his music and will do long after the band are no-more.
People need to realise being technically gifted at soloing/riffing doesnt make the solo automatically amazing. Kurt kobain just plays the verse tune on smells like teenspirit but it still suits the song and goes better than any shedding ever would. Anyone agree???

Sonic Blast wrote: they have to! almost all great guitarists know their theory. all but Hendrix and SRV

They technically didn't study Scale Theory I don't think, but their playing styles show they studied rhythm and blues techniques. I don't mean that as if they opened a book, but listened to the playing, you know? The vast majority of guitar playing is from feel. That's still study to me.
From my standpoint, it looks as if Kirk studied a lot of blues licks, and puts them to use for his solos. I won't lie, i'm tired of him.

"Metallica's most well known riff (sandman) was writtern by kirk"
well-known != good, silly muppet. I think one of his few good solos was the ending solo in Fade to Black, altough it's not really memorable. Only a few of his solos are. Like MoP, One, RTL. Other than that? Nah.

Sonic Blast wrote: theotherguy7145 wrote: Hes amazing. I can't really imagine any famous guitarist sitting and patiently learning a load of scales or anything! xD they have to! almost all great guitarists know their theory. all but Hendrix and SRV

and kerry king.

Is it me or does his tone kinda suck? It's waaaayyyy to squealy. And I also don't think he2's one of the best guitarists. Not by a long shot

i swear this video looks newer than 2000 kirk looks like he did in 06. so why is newsted in this video?

theotherguy7145 wrote: Hes amazing. I can't really imagine any famous guitarist sitting and patiently learning a load of scales or anything! xD

John Petrucci

Arcaobord wrote: i swear this video looks newer than 2000 kirk looks like he did in 06. so why is newsted in this video?

probably maybe, MAYBE, might still talk with him, but i was thinking the same aye, really dont no when this was taken,

Martindecorum : Arcaobord wrote: i swear this video looks newer than 2000 kirk looks like he did in 06. so why is newsted in this video? probably maybe, MAYBE, might still talk with him, but i was thinking the same aye, really dont no when this was taken,

this video is from "a year and a half in the life of metallica" released in 1992 about the making of the black album

he appears as if he is on cocaine

he's not the best guitarist (far from it) but he seems like a pretty cool guy.

ldnovelo wrote: Martindecorum : Arcaobord wrote: i swear this video looks newer than 2000 kirk looks like he did in 06. so why is newsted in this video? probably maybe, MAYBE, might still talk with him, but i was thinking the same aye, really dont no when this was taken, this video is from "a year and a half in the life of metallica" released in 1992 about the making of the black album

no its not its from 2001 one its off the classic albums dvd

BOW DOWN!!!!

Sell your soul to kirk, he will set you free, and pacify your demons! Because your skills.. dodododo, they don't exist, can you resist, the flaming kiss! dododo, dododododo!

same here. then i got into iron maiden and metallica seems like a thing of the past to me

joshua029 wrote: he's great! the very reason why i picked up a guitar in the first place...

Metallica was the reason I picked up the guitar and kirk will always be my fav guitar player. Is he the best, no,but for me his solos will be the most memorable.

guys, y dont really get why ppl say Kirk Hammet sucks and all that, I love his playing and his lead work, and everything sounds very good to me

and about the wah pedal ... what the hell, the wah pedal rules!

I wish I had his skill

theotherguy7145 wrote: Hes amazing. I can't really imagine any famous guitarist sitting and patiently learning a load of scales or anything! xD

Marty Friedman? John Petrucci? Alexi Laiho? Zakk Wylde? Paul Gilbert? all of them?

Gacel wrote: theotherguy7145 wrote: Hes amazing. I can't really imagine any famous guitarist sitting and patiently learning a load of scales or anything! xD Marty Friedman? John Petrucci? Alexi Laiho? Zakk Wylde? Paul Gilbert? all of them?

lol yeppp all of them

Gacel wrote: theotherguy7145 wrote: Hes amazing. I can't really imagine any famous guitarist sitting and patiently learning a load of scales or anything! xD Marty Friedman? John Petrucci? Alexi Laiho? Zakk Wylde? Paul Gilbert? all of them?

i think you missed the joke.

whats up with his solos on Death Magnetic? Its like he's unlearned how to play the guitar

I need to clear up alot of things that people are writing on here.

First: Kirk is extremely well versed in music theory having been taught privately by Joe Satriani (a virtouso who bases everything on theoretical concepts to back up his playing)

Second: There are maybe one solo that I can think of out of his entire catalogue of music ("Hero of the Day") in which he doesn't use a vibrato constantly (he uses it briefly on the last note of the solo). His vibrato is actually very impressive in that he can bend a string with dead accuracy, sustain the note, and pull off some of the most wildest vibrato's while the note is still bent at a speed most guitarists only could dream of.

Third: Kirk Hammett's all time guitar idol is Jimi Hendrix. SO by default, Hammett has an engrain sense of classic rock/blues riffery within plenty of his solos. In Kirk's early days, his solos are really pentatonic and mode based patterns amped up on steroids. He was doing alot of the same things players before him did, only Hammett was able to add legato and speed playing to the classic blues riffs.

Fourth: Kirk is an intregal part of one of musics top selling four piece metal band's. Wih this being said, how can anyone claim that he hasn't had an impact on his band's music and sound. For one, Hammett is almost entirely credited with the creating the tone of Metallica's guitar sound, which is incredible.

Fifth: As far as my opinion is concerned. Everything Black Album and before is incedible to me. Everything Load to Reload is different and I appreciate what was going on with those albums. As a musician myself, I understand that a band as artists need to constantly reinvent themselves to stay fresh as long as the art is progressing and not regressing. Everything post Reload I am not a fan of primarily because I feel band scrapped their tone and most of all, their new songs don't showcase each of the player's talent. I feel as if they had gotten lazy and regressed in their playing as opposed to push their talents further.
My proof is in the fact that their new songs are based on more simple chord progressions, lazy and obnoxious drum patterns (as if Lars is banging on tin garbage cans), and virtually no guitar solo work which was what made Metallica unique. Back in their heyday Metallica's songs had refrains, memorable choruses, well placed lyrics, angst, and most of all musicianship to back it all up.

Completely agree mbartgen.

I agree, when you become a better guitarist, you realise that Kirks solo arent challenfing, and his vibrato and bends are terrible, if you new anything about guitar you would agree. Has no one heard his solos on Death Magnetic? They sound like Mustaine played (thats not a compliment), his best work was on AJFA..

dimebag84 wrote: I agree, when you become a better guitarist, you realise that Kirks solo arent challenfing, and his vibrato and bends are terrible, if you new anything about guitar you would agree. Has no one heard his solos on Death Magnetic? They sound like Mustaine played (thats not a compliment), his best work was on AJFA..

if your such a better guitarist, why arent you writing great music yet??, seriously, kirk is a great guitarist, one of the best in my opnion and i wouldnt be criticizing him cuz i dount your any better

dimebag84,

This is what I gather from your comment. Over the course of your musical experience, you've practiced plenty of Kirk Hammett solos as well as many dimebag and other metal guitarists solos. Now that you can copy them like Xerox machine, you feel as if they aren't worth anyhting anymore which is such a shame. You have used him to better youself and now you knock his talents and skills because they are not valuable to you anymore. If anything I would characterize you as a selfish and jealous musician that will hardly ever contribute a thing in a lifetime of studies.

wow this video is so old Jason was a member of 'Tallica then!

kirk iz just amazing hez the reason i started playing.clip would b better though if cry-baby jason waznt in it hahaha

tim_mop wrote: theotherguy7145 wrote: Hes amazing. I can't really imagine any famous guitarist sitting and patiently learning a load of scales or anything! xD Theory is what makes guitarists great! Go sit and study!

you are wrong.

Very old video...

mbartgen wrote: I need to clear up alot of things that people are writing on here. First: Kirk is extremely well versed in music theory having been taught privately by Joe Satriani (a virtouso who bases everything on theoretical concepts to back up his playing)

Theoretical concepts? :haha

You don't know what music theory is.

CowboyUp wrote: Shockingly bad vibrato and bends. Every time I hear him I can't believe that he is a professional guitarist.

Hahaha it's so true. Everyone goes crazy over him. Jeff Waters (Annihilator) is a much better guitarist and gets so little credit.

that video is old, jason was still in the band

Marrklarr wrote: MASTER768 wrote: Vibrato and bends are all part of a personal style of playing. Kirk's style dosent use either because he's not very good at them. He sticks to his guns, and there's nothing wrong with that. Are you serious? vibrato and bends are an integral part of MUSIC and expressiveness,every musician of every discipline uses them in some form or another, especially vocalists. they aren't a personal style. if everyone played straight notes all the time music would suck, just think about it. I've always thought Kirk was a dreadful guitarist, never understood how he got the lead part in one of the most popular bands ever.

wow your a dick...

mbartgen wrote: dimebag84, This is what I gather from your comment. Over the course of your musical experience, you've practiced plenty of Kirk Hammett solos as well as many dimebag and other metal guitarists solos. Now that you can copy them like Xerox machine, you feel as if they aren't worth anyhting anymore which is such a shame. You have used him to better youself and now you knock his talents and skills because they are not valuable to you anymore. If anything I would characterize you as a selfish and jealous musician that will hardly ever contribute a thing in a lifetime of studies.

Right on man!

SupermanIsDead wrote: CowboyUp wrote: Shockingly bad vibrato and bends. Every time I hear him I can't believe that he is a professional guitarist. you don't know shit about guitar solo dude. get a life

+1 for you supermanisdead

dimebag84 wrote: I agree, when you become a better guitarist, you realise that Kirks solo arent challenfing, and his vibrato and bends are terrible, if you new anything about guitar you would agree. Has no one heard his solos on Death Magnetic? They sound like Mustaine played (thats not a compliment), his best work was on AJFA..

hey man just wondering where i can buy a copy of ur albums, cause u sound like a person who rocks the world left right and centre but ive never seen a copy any where they must sell out every shipment

Sonic Blast wrote: theotherguy7145 wrote: Hes amazing. I can't really imagine any famous guitarist sitting and patiently learning a load of scales or anything! xD they have to! almost all great guitarists know their theory. all but Hendrix and SRV

which is kinda ironic, seeing as the very begining he stole from hendrix's little wing =P

i love learning theory, and definately agree when he says the Dominant Phrygian scale is the best for eastern sounding licks.

i didnt read all the stuff up there..but in case ur wondering this is from classic albums: the black album

man wish i can meet kirk hammet in personal

i mean i wanna see him play those solo

specially their song one

kirk you rock \m/

Kanthras wrote: "Metallica's most well known riff (sandman) was writtern by kirk" well-known != good, silly muppet. I think one of his few good solos was the ending solo in Fade to Black, altough it's not really memorable. Only a few of his solos are. Like MoP, One, RTL. Other than that? Nah.

I Think Ride the Lightning was a Mustaine solo...