Metal Guitar Scales

Welcome to the complete guide to metal guitar scales. On this page you'll find out what guitar scales are used in metal, what they sound like and how they're played.

We've provided fretboard diagrams and tab, and we've also recorded some sample guitar solos so you can hear the scales being used.

Once you're familiar with the scale shapes and the sounds that they produce, experiment by playing your own solos over the metal backing track at the bottom of the page.

Metal Guitar Scales Introduction

Metal guitarists use many different guitar scales in their riffs and solos. The scales we've listed below are among the most widely used in metal. However, this list is by no means definitive and there are many more.

The scales on this page are shown as fretboard diagrams, and also in tab with C as the root note.

The fretboard diagrams can be used to play the scale with any root note. The root note of the scale is shown with a green circle on the diagrams.


  • Visit our main Guitar Scales Page to find even more sounds for your playing.
  • You can download and print a pdf eBook containing these and many more scales in multiple fretboard positions. Find out more here: Guitar Scales Chart Book.
  • If you want to practice these and other scales, you can download the backing track that we've used on this page here: Metal Backing Tracks.

When playing guitar scales, metal guitarists don't always stick to the basic shapes - they often link patterns together and embellish their solos with vibrato, string bends, slides and tremolo effects. Once you know the scale patterns below, it's time to get creative...


Metal Guitar Scales 1. Pentatonic Minor Scale

Pentatonic Minor Guitar Scale Fretboard Diagram
Pentatonic Minor Guitar Scale Fretboard Diagram: The 'foundation' of many metal solos. Click to see more pentatonic patterns.

Pentatonic Minor Metal Guitar Scale
C Pentatonic Minor Guitar Tab: Click to see more ways of playing this scale.

The pentatonic minor scale is widely used in many styles of music – not just in metal. It is a relatively simple scale, consisting of just five notes.

It sounds great over power chords and minor chord progressions.

Countless metal riffs use the pentatonic scale, and metal lead guitarists often use it in solos. Some guitarists base entire solos on it, while others use it as a fallback between licks using other scales.

Hear how the pentatonic minor scale sounds by playing the demo below:

  • Want to play the pentatonic minor scale in multiple fretboard positions? See more fretboard diagrams on this page: Pentatonic Scale Guitar.

Metal Guitar Scale #2. Blues Scale

Blues Scale Fretboard Diagram
The blues scale is often used in metal, rock and jazz, as well as blues. Click the pattern to see more ways of playing this scale.

Metal guitar scale blues tab
C Blues Scale Guitar Tab: Click image to see more ways of playing this scale.

The blues scale is basically the same scale as the pentatonic minor but with an additional note: the 'flat five', or 'blues note'. Play the two scales to compare the difference in sound the additional note makes.

The blues scale is widely used in metal. It adds a nice bluesy sound to solos. You can hear the blues scale being used in the sample below.


Guitar Scales Chart
Learning scales? Check out the Guitar Command Scales Chart Book - A comprehensive guide to guitar scales.


Metal Guitar Scales 3. Natural Minor (Aeolian Modal) Scale

Natural Minor Scale Fretboard Diagram
Natural Minor Scale Fretboard Diagram: Click image to see more patterns at our natural minor scale page.

Metal Guitar Scale tab Aeolian
C Natural Minor / Aeolian Modal Scale. Click image for more natural minor scale TABs.

One of the most useful guitar scales in metal, the natural minor scale (also called the Aeolian modal scale) can safely be used over most power chords and minor chords

  • Read more about the Aeolian modal scale and other modes here: Guitar Modes.

Metal Guitar Scales 4. Phrygian Modal Scale

Phrygian Modal Scale Guitar Diagram
Phrygian Modal Scale Diagram. Click the pattern to see more ways of playing this scale.

Phrygian Modal Scale Tab
C Phrygian Modal Scale. Click the TAB to see more Phrygian scale TABs.

Another modal guitar scale, the Phrygian contains the note a semitone above the scale root, making it a good sale to choose when the chord sequence features this kind of movement (i.e. ||: E | F | E | E :||, etc.). A very nice scale for shredding with!

Hear how it sounds in the audio sample below.


Metal Guitar Scales 5. Phrygian Dominant Scale

Phrygian Dominant Scale Guitar Diagram
Phrygian Dominant Scale Diagram: Click to see more ways of playing this scale.

C Phrygian Dominant Scale Tab
C Phrygian Dominant Scale Tab: Click image to see more ways of playing this scale.

This scale has become very popular with metal guitarists. Use it when you want to give your solos an 'Eastern' sound. You can also use the Phrygian dominant scale to create riffs and melodies – it has a very distinctive sound that you will hear on many tracks.


Metal Scale #6. Harmonic Minor Scale

Harmonic Minor Scale Diagram
Harmonic Minor Scale Fretboard Diagram. Click image to see more ways of playing this scale.

C Harmonic Minor Scale Tab
C Harmonic Minor Scale Tab: Click image to see more ways of playing this scale.

Another useful guitar scale is the harmonic minor scale. This scale produces a typically 'classical' sound – you can read more about how it is constructed here: Harmonic Minor Scale Guitar


Metal Guitar Scales Backing Track

Using the guitar scales shown above, create your own solos over this metal backing track. The track is called 'Solid Metal' and comes from the Guitar Command Metal Backing Tracks album, available for instant download here.

Guitar Backing Tracks Metal
Metal Backing Tracks - Click image for details


Conclusion

We hope that you have enjoyed this selection of metal guitar scales. You'll find even more scales to use in your lead playing here: Guitar Scales

For a downloadable eBook showing diagrams of guitar scales in multiple positions, see our Guitar Scales Chart book.

15 thoughts on “Metal Guitar Scales”

    • Hi Aleksandar,

      We’ve only provided TAB for playing the scales. Providing examples of them actually being used in solos, etc. is something we’re currently working on.

      Thank you for your comment,

      Regards,

      Guitar Command Admin

      Reply
  1. Yo thats killa dude, was trying them out as i was reading the sound great, i do have a quick question though i cant seem to find the answer to;

    Those scales are stated as being in E, if im playing a different tuning is is going to be the same since the order of tones and semitones is the same, im just using a different root note, should have learned scales 10 years ago 😕 hahah cheers man

    Reply
    • Hi Mundy,
      Good question. The diagrams will only work for standard tuning – i.e. E, A, D, G, B, E from lowest string to highest. If you’re using a different tuning, for example D, A, D, G, A, D, or dropped D, then the diagrams won’t work.
      However, if ALL of the strings are raised or lowered by the same amount then the diagrams WILL work, because as you correctly say the intervals between the notes / strings will be the same. The scales won’t be in E though: if you’ve lowered all of the strings by a whole note (for example), then they will be in D.
      Hope this helps!

      Reply
  2. This is top quality stuff – why would anyone buy a book when this kind of thing is on offer for free? Will be buying the backing tracks album soon.
    Sincere thanks.

    Reply

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