Extreme Britain - Cradle Of Filth

by Ben Higgins

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  • Welcome to my new lesson!

    This time I am looking at the dark, atmospheric, gothic metal of Cradle of Filth.

    "Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band that formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band's musical style evolved from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic black metal and other extreme metal styles. Their lyrical themes and imagery are heavily influenced by gothic literature, poetry, mythology and horror films." - Wikipedia

    Style:

    Cradle of Filth were influenced not only by the Scandinavian black metal scene of the early 90's but also more traditional metal bands such as Iron Maiden and Mercyful Fate, which can be heard in their harmonised guitar lines and chord structures which are more melodic and accessible than many of their contemporaries in the extreme metal scene.

    One key feature of music derived from black metal is the use of minor tonality chords that are a semitone apart. C.O.F. have used this a lot but it's their more melodic side that I wanted to showcase. Many of their chord progressions can be related the natural minor scale, for example a progression that uses Em, Bm, C & D can be directly related the E Minor scale. This enables them to create melodic guitar harmonies that are harmonised in 3rds, for example.

    Constant tremolo picking of single notes is another feature of C.O.F. music. Single note lines can be found in their songs alongside more regular power chord shapes.

    C.O.F. usually use tunings of D standard or lower but I'm using standard tuning to make this lesson more accessible to anyone.

    This lesson will work on:

    - Alternate picking
    - Creating harmonies
    - Palm muting
    - Use of down strokes in riffing
    - Playing over complicated drum rhythms

    Cruelty hath brought thee a guitar lesson so get it on !

    Tuning: E A D G B E - Standard Tuning

    Tempo: 135 bpm

    Gear:
    Ibanez RG7421, Nick Crow 8505 Amp Plugin, Guitar Suite Tube Screamer, Poulin LeCab 2.

    Scales:





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