Deconstructing Metallica's Masterful Chord Progressions (with Musical Examples)

For over four decades, Metallica has reigned supreme as a titan of heavy metal, their sound synonymous with aggression, power, and intricate musicianship.

While their relentless riffs and thunderous drums are undeniable, a deeper dive into their music reveals a sophisticated understanding of harmony and composition. Beyond the sheer force, it's their ingenious use of chord progressions that truly sets them apart.

By Kreepin Deth - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6230336

Let's pull back the curtain and analyze the fundamental building blocks of Metallica's enduring sonic legacy, complete with specific musical examples.

The Foundation: Power Chords and Palm Muting

At the heart of Metallica's signature sound lies the ubiquitous power chord. Stripped down to just the root and fifth (e.g., E5 is E and B), these two-note wonders deliver maximum impact with minimal fuss. But it's not just the chord itself; it's the technique that truly defines their weight. Palm muting, the art of dampening the strings near the bridge, transforms these power chords into percussive, chugging beasts.

Example: The iconic intro to "Enter Sandman" (from Metallica, 1991) is a prime example. 

• The main riff predominantly uses E5 and F#5 power chords, heavily palm-muted, creating that instantly recognizable, driving rhythm.
• The verse has a bluesy minor pentatonic riff with a I-VII-VI-V progression in E minor: Em – D – C – B
• The D major chord (borrowed from Dorian mode) adds a brighter contrast to the dark E minor tonality.

Adding Color and Emotion: Modal Mixture and Chromaticism

Metallica isn't afraid to inject emotional depth and unexpected twists into their compositions. They frequently employ modal mixture, or borrowed chords, to add a sense of pathos or drama.

Example: A prime example is "Fade to Black" (from Ride the Lightning, 1984). The clean arpeggiated intro is in E minor. 

• The song involves a shift where a G major chord (III in E minor) is replaced by a G# diminished chord, leading to an A minor, and eventually the iconic E major chord in the solo section. This shift from E minor to E major, introducing the major tonic, creates a powerful emotional release and contrast, a clear instance of modal mixture.
• The intro uses arpeggiated chords in E minor: Em – C – G – D (i – VI – III – VII)  
• But the chorus introduces B major (V) instead of B minor, borrowing from harmonic minor for a stronger resolution: Em – G – D – B

This shift gives the chorus a more dramatic, uplifting quality. Furthermore, the band masterfully utilizes chromaticism – notes outside the primary scale – to build tension and dissonance.

Example: The chilling, descending chromatic riff in the intro of "One" (from ...And Justice for All, 1988) is a perfect illustration. 

• The guitar line moves chromatically downwards, often implying diminished or augmented sounds, such as E-Eb-D-Db, creating an immediate sense of dread and unease that perfectly mirrors the song's grim narrative.

Example: "The Unforgiven" (Verse Progression). 

• The verse alternates between E minor and C# minor, creating a chromatic mediant relationship: Em – C#m – Em – C#m – B – A
• The C#m (borrowed from E Dorian or E Phrygian) adds a haunting, unresolved tension.

Journeys Within a Song: Key Changes and Time Signature Shifts

For a band known for epic, multi-part compositions, key changes are a natural fit. In their longer and more complex works, these shifts add a profound sense of progression and development, guiding the listener through distinct musical landscapes within a single track.

While not always a direct modulation to an entirely new key signature for a long duration, Metallica often uses sudden tonal shifts that feel like key changes. 

Example: In "The Outlaw Torn" (from Load, 1996), there are sections that feel distinctly different tonally, moving through various temporary tonal centers around D minor, contributing to its epic scope.

Beyond harmonic shifts, Metallica also manipulates the very pulse of their music. Occasional time signature changes influence the rhythmic flow of their chord progressions. Metallica mostly uses 4/4, they occasionally experiment with odd meters and syncopation.

Example: "Blackened" (from ...And Justice for All, 1988) features notable shifts. While much of the song is in 4/4, sections like the main riff incorporate a measure of 6/4 or 5/4, adding an exciting layer of rhythmic complexity and preventing predictability. This directly impacts how the accompanying power chords are articulated.

Example: "One" (Bridge Section). The bridge shifts into 3/4 over a D5 – C5 – Bb5 – A5 riff, creating a disorienting, war-like feel.

Example: "Blackened" (Intro Riff). The intro riff is in 7/8, with a descending chromatic pattern: Eb5 – D5 – Db5 – C5 (repeated in 7/8)

This asymmetry adds to the song’s chaotic energy.

The Signature Sound: Harmonized Solos and Modal Harmony

A hallmark of Metallica's sound is their harmonized guitar solos. James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett, often playing different but complementary melodies simultaneously, create a rich, layered texture that is both technically impressive and emotionally resonant. These sections frequently weave in intricate chord progressions or arpeggios, showcasing their virtuosity and adding immense depth.

Example: The iconic twin-guitar harmonies in the mid-section of "Orion" (from Master of Puppets, 1986) are a testament to this technique. While not always strictly chord progressions, the underlying harmonic implications of their intertwined melodic lines are complex, often outlining arpeggiated chords that provide a rich sonic backdrop.

The band also demonstrates a strong understanding of modal harmony, building chord progressions and melodic lines using various scales and modes.

Example: "Ride the Lightning" (from Ride the Lightning, 1984) uses the inherent darkness of the harmonic minor scale. The main riff and many of the melodic lines heavily feature the raised 7th (G# in A minor), which is characteristic of the A harmonic minor scale, forging its intense and brooding mood. This influence extends to the implied chords as well.

Diatonic chords  in E major compared to E natural, harmonic, and melodic minor

In modal mixture diatonic chords from the major scale, any of the minor variations, and any of the modes can be mixed together to form new progressions and harmonies.

Structure and Innovation: Verse-Chorus, Instrumentals, and Open Strings

Despite their often-complex arrangements, Metallica frequently grounds their music in the familiar verse-chorus structure. This accessibility allows their powerful riffs and thematic explorations to reach a wider audience. Typically, verses feature more straightforward progressions, while choruses explode with intense, riff-based power.

Example: "Creeping Death" (from Ride the Lightning, 1984) exemplifies this. 

• The verse riffs are relatively direct power chord progressions (e.g., E5-D5-C5-B5)
• the chorus explodes with a more driving, iconic riff (E5-F#5-G5-F#5-E5-D5) that, while still power chords, feels more energetic and memorable.

Crucially, Metallica's willingness to embrace extensive instrumental sections within their songs allows for pure musical exploration. These segments often become a canvas for intricate guitar work, allowing for more experimental and complex harmonies to unfold without the constraints of lyrical narrative.

Example: Beyond "Orion," the instrumental sections of "The Call of Ktulu" (from Ride the Lightning, 1984) or "To Live Is to Die" (from ...And Justice for All, 1988) are rich with evolving chord progressions and interconnected melodic themes that demonstrate their compositional prowess.

Finally, a distinct sonic identifier for Metallica is their extensive use of open strings and pedal tones in their guitar riffs. This technique contributes significantly to their heavy and intense style, providing a resonant, droning quality that underpins many of their most iconic tracks.

Example: The crushing main riff of "Sad But True" (from Metallica, 1991) is a perfect example. Played in Drop D tuning, the riff heavily utilizes the open low D string as a pedal tone, while the other notes (like F, G, A) are played against it, creating an incredibly thick and impactful sound with a continuous low rumble.

Summary

• Core Sound: Heavily relies on power chords (root and fifth) combined with palm muting for a heavy, aggressive sound (e.g., "Enter Sandman").

• Emotional Depth: Employs modal mixture (borrowed chords) to add complexity and emotional depth (e.g., E minor to E major in "Fade to Black").
• Tension and Dissonance: Frequent use of chromaticism (notes outside the scale) to create tension and a dark atmosphere (e.g., descending chromatic riff in "One").
• Structural Development: Incorporates key changes for progression and development within longer, complex compositions (e.g., tonal shifts in "The Outlaw Torn").
Rhythmic Complexity: Features time signature changes to add rhythmic variety and unpredictability (e.g., 4/4 and 6/4 shifts in "Blackened").
• Signature Solos: Known for harmonized guitar solos where two guitars play complementary melodies, often outlining complex harmonies (e.g., "Orion").
• Mood and Scale: Utilizes modal harmony, employing specific scales to build mood and progressions (e.g., harmonic minor scale in "Ride the Lightning").
• Accessibility and Structure: Often maintains a verse-chorus structure to make complex music accessible, with straightforward verses and riff-based choruses (e.g., "Creeping Death").
• Experimentation: Includes extensive instrumental sections allowing for experimentation and complex harmonies (e.g., "The Call of Ktulu," "To Live Is to Die").
• Sonic Identity: Makes extensive use of open strings and pedal tones in riffs for a heavy, resonant sound (e.g., "Sad But True").
• Overall Impact: Metallica's songwriting is a blend of raw power and sophisticated design, contributing to their status as influential heavy metal innovators.

The Enduring Legacy

In essence, Metallica's chord progressions are a fascinating blend of raw power and sophisticated design. From the relentless attack of power chords and palm muting to the emotional nuances of modal mixture and chromaticism, their songwriting is a masterclass in heavy metal composition. 

The strategic deployment of key changes, harmonized guitar solos, and a keen sense of dissonance and tension has cemented their status as one of the most influential and innovative heavy metal bands in history, forever shaping the landscape of aggressive, yet artful, music.

As always we will go into each of these techniques in future articles, breaking them down and seeing how you can use them in your own songs and productions.