advice on getting that heavy metal lead tone and how to mix tone to stand out.

[doofie84]

My title for this might be abit misleading, but Im having trouble with this..basiclly I want to know how to set up a guitar tone that is very lead oriantated and how to get that tone on track and mixed well.
I thought that it was just a case of adding more treble but I still cant get a tone that really stands out from my more standard rythm tone.
Im mainly into heavy metal and when Im playing power chords that go from root sixth string to root fifth string, I really want those higher chords to stand out.

Any advice on this either in regards to amp tone or recording mixing.

Cheers

Chris D

[RadioElectric]

Originally Posted by doofie84

My title for this might be abit misleading, but Im having trouble with this..basiclly I want to know how to set up a guitar tone that is very lead oriantated and how to get that tone on track and mixed well.
I thought that it was just a case of adding more treble but I still cant get a tone that really stands out from my more standard rythm tone.
Im mainly into heavy metal and when Im playing power chords that go from root sixth string to root fifth string, I really want those higher chords to stand out.

Any advice on this either in regards to amp tone or recording mixing.

Cheers

Chris D

Have you tried more mids?

Also check how much "dynamic range" or "swing" you're getting out of your tone. I know it's heavy metal but you could be using too much gain and that might be squashing your sound.

[thereformant]

A little delay and / or reverb

[MattANJH]

As said, more mids. I have the mids on my amp at 8, scooped sound is a bad idea since you'll just get lost. Bare in mind that most of the low impact of your bands sound will come from the kick drum and bass guitars, the electric guitars are there for the melody and the aggression rather than the heaviness. Also as said not too much gain, enough to give you the aggression you want, but too much and your sound will get lost. See if you can't hire a hall or something with a PA and get everything mic'd up and see how it sounds, then tweak from there.

I'd agree and disagree about the delay and reverb, they really help lead sounds I find, but it can turn rhythm work to sludge depending on what sort of heavy metal you're playing. For example, one with lots and lots of single note riffs the delay and reverb could add alot to, but if it's lots of power chordy stuff reverb and delay can make the chords blend into each other and so your rhythm sound turns to shit.

If you're still struggling look at sticking an OD pedal out front of the amp for a 2 stage gain instead of straight from the amp, or try changing speakers. I favour the Celestion Vintage 30, which cut fantastically.

Last thing to consider is presence on the amp if you have one, lets you add more high without making it too harsh, so that could help too.

[thereformant]

Originally Posted by MattANJH

As said, more mids. I have the mids on my amp at 8, scooped sound is a bad idea since you'll just get lost. Bare in mind that most of the low impact of your bands sound will come from the kick drum and bass guitars, the electric guitars are there for the melody and the aggression rather than the heaviness. Also as said not too much gain, enough to give you the aggression you want, but too much and your sound will get lost. See if you can't hire a hall or something with a PA and get everything mic'd up and see how it sounds, then tweak from there.

I think live engineers typically way over emphasise the bass in metal bands actually. I guess when 90% of the bands you see are indie twaddle the bass melodies are probably the only thing that distinguishes the bands. If the bass is masking the guitar dynamics then its too loud imho.

I'd agree and disagree about the delay and reverb, they really help lead sounds I find, but it can turn rhythm work to sludge depending on what sort of heavy metal you're playing. For example, one with lots and lots of single note riffs the delay and reverb could add alot to, but if it's lots of power chordy stuff reverb and delay can make the chords blend into each other and so your rhythm sound turns to shit.

Yes I meant on leads. Keep it off the rhythm but on that octave thingy he described it works fantastically. (As evidenced in Judith which I have recently been playing for example).

If you're still struggling look at sticking an OD pedal out front of the amp for a 2 stage gain instead of straight from the amp, or try changing speakers. I favour the Celestion Vintage 30, which cut fantastically.

Last thing to consider is presence on the amp if you have one, lets you add more high without making it too harsh, so that could help too.

Yep no arguments here. Have a marshall 1x12 with a celestion and it sounds head and shoulder better than my 4 x 12 behringer. I really need to get round to upgrading that.

[JaseMorris]

I find a good lead tone for metal, a different beast to a good rhythm tone, I'd add a little gain for lead - not a huge amount, but enough to turn the bite of a sharp rhythm tone slightly softer (I take it your rhythm gain setting is low, needs to be to get the right level of "Grrr"). Delay/reverb? Zilch on rhythm, I use as little as I can on leads, although some is advisable to fill a lead sound out, particularly if you're a sole guitarist. Defo keep mids, a treblefest of a lead tone will just sound shite.

Big +1 to thereformant re: sound engineers - metal bands need metal engineers, general venue engineers are absolutely clueless about mixing metal, they will turn your hard, worked out music to mush in a second.

I've found that my 5150 combo has a tighter sound to a 5150 4x12, as a personal note.

So, I really haven't added anything to what thereformant, MattANJH or RadioElectric have sagely advised, only to say, listen to them, they are right, they know their shit.

[MattANJH]

Originally Posted by JaseMorris

So, I really haven't added anything to what thereformant, MattANJH or RadioElectric have sagely advised, only to say, listen to them, they are right, they know their shit.

I do?? Fucking sweet!!