Writing a good metal song is an art. It’s about more than just a fast riff or a guttural vocal; it’s about creating a journey. The greatest metal tracks are exercises in tension and release, atmosphere, and raw emotion. Whether you’re crafting brutal death metal, progressive epics, or classic thrash, the core principles of great songwriting remain the same.
If you’re stuck in a loop of writing riffs that never become finished songs, you’re not alone. Here are five essential tips to help you break through your creative blocks and become a better metal songwriter.
1. Master the Riff, Then Make It Evolve
In metal, the riff is king. It’s the foundation upon which your entire song is built. It’s the central theme, the main hook, and the part that will make listeners bang their heads.
But a common mistake is stringing together a “riff salad”, a random collection of cool-sounding parts with no connection. A great song treats a riff like a character in a story. It introduces it, develops it, and brings it back in new and interesting ways.
🚀 How to Do It:
- Start with One Great Riff: Don’t try to write five. Focus on one single, undeniable riff that you love. This is your “A” section, or your main verse riff.
- Create Variations: Once you have your main riff, ask yourself:
- What if I play it on a different string?
- What if I remove half the notes to create a “half-time” feel?
- What if I add a harmony or an octave layer on top?
- What if I change the palm-muting pattern?
- Use the Riff as a Home Base: This main riff is the anchor for your listener. After you depart to a chorus or a bridge, returning to that main riff (or a slight variation of it) feels like a powerful, satisfying resolution.
- Learn how to record yourself.
2. Build a Structure with Tension and Release
A song that is 100% brutal all the time is, paradoxically, not very brutal at all. Without contrast, “heavy” just becomes noise. Your song structure is your most powerful tool for creating dynamic impact. It’s how you guide the listener, build anticipation, and make the heavy parts hit even harder.
Think of your song as a movie. It needs an introduction, rising action, a climax, and a conclusion. The traditional Verse / Chorus / Verse / Chorus / Bridge / Chorus structure is a classic for a reason: it works.
🚀 How to Do It:
- Map It Out: Before you get lost in recording, draw a simple map of your song. (e.g., “Fast Intro -> Groovy Verse -> Melodic Chorus -> Fast Verse 2…”). This keeps you focused on the big picture.
- The Power of the Pre-Chorus: This is one of the most effective tools in metal. A good pre-chorus builds tension and signals to the listener that a big change (the chorus) is about to happen. It can be a simple chord progression or a rhythmic build-up that creates a “ramping up” effect.
- Make Your Bridge Different: The bridge is your song’s “plot twist.” It should introduce a new feeling or riff. This is the perfect place for a guitar solo, a clean atmospheric section, or a crushing, slow-motion breakdown. This contrast makes the final chorus’s return feel massive.
3. Write Riffs from Chords and Melodies (Not Just Fret-Wrangling)
Many metal guitarists write by noodling on the low E string until something sounds cool. While this can work, it often leads to riffs that are rhythmically interesting but harmonically flat.
Some of the most iconic metal riffs are just powerful chord progressions in disguise. Thinking about the underlying harmony will open up a new dimension of songwriting, especially for choruses and melodic sections.
🚀 How to Do It:
- Learn Basic Scales: You don’t need a music degree, but knowing the Natural Minor and Harmonic Minor scales is a game-changer. These scales are the blueprint for 90% of all metal.
- Find a Chord Progression: Start with a simple minor-key progression, like Am – G – C – E. Now, instead of strumming them, break them up. Play them as fast, palm-muted power chords. You just wrote an Iron Maiden-style riff.
- Hum a Melody First: Try to write a chorus by humming a vocal melody. Then, figure out the power chords or riffs on the guitar that would support that melody. This “vocal-first” approach almost guarantees a catchier, more memorable song.
4. Make Vocals and Lyrics a Weapon, Not an Afterthought
Vocals are the human element that connects your music to the listener. Too many bands treat them as a last-minute addition, simply screaming over finished instrumental tracks. This is a massive mistake.
The vocals are an instrument. The rhythm of the vocal patterns and the power of the lyrics are just as important as the main riff. A great vocal line can be the hook that makes your song unforgettable.
🚀 How to Do It:
- Find the Lyrical Theme: What is your song about? War? A personal struggle? A fantasy story? A clear theme (like those on albums by Amon Amarth, Gojira, or Slipknot) will guide your lyrics and the song’s overall mood.
- Write to the Riff: Pay attention to the rhythm of the guitar. Your vocal patterns should lock in with the kick drum and the main riff, creating a single, percussive machine.
- Leave Space: Don’t be afraid of silence. When you’re arranging your riffs, intentionally leave sections with less complex guitar work. This “sonic pocket” allows the vocals to step into the spotlight and deliver their message with maximum clarity and impact. For example, Buster Odeholm is a master of using space deliberately to make things heavier (as he goes over in his course, “How It’s Done w/ Buster Odeholm.”
5. Record Your Ideas and Listen Back Objectively
A riff or song section can feel incredible when you’re in the moment, playing it live in your room. But your perception is split between playing and listening. The single best way to become a better songwriter is to record your songs—even as rough demos—and listen back as a critic.
This process separates the creator from the listener. It gives you the clarity to hear your song the way a new fan would. You’ll instantly notice if a transition is awkward, if a riff repeats too many times, or if a section doesn’t have the impact you thought it did.
🚀 How to Do It:
- Use Simple Tools: You don’t need a professional studio. A simple audio interface and a free DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) are all you need. Even your smartphone’s voice memo app is a great starting point.
- Take Notes, Don’t Judge: As you listen back, don’t get discouraged. Just take objective notes. “Verse riff is 8 bars too long.” “The transition into the chorus is too abrupt.” “The clean section needs a melody.”
- Walk Away: After you’ve recorded a demo, wait a day before you listen to it. This “fresh ears” approach will give you an even clearer, more objective perspective on what needs to be fixed. This feedback loop—write, record, listen, revise—is the fastest way to improve.
