How Classical Music Influenced Heavy Metal

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Classical Music

Classical music has been around for centuries, and its melodies have been used in heavy metal songs since the genre’s inception. Some of the most famous heavy metal songs, such as “Iron Man” by Black Sabbath, “Enter Sandman” by Metallica, and “Paranoid” by Megadeth, have all been influenced by classical music.

Origins

Classical music is art music produced or rooted in the traditions of Western culture, including both liturgical (religious) and secular music. While a more precise term is also used to refer to the period from 1750 to 1820 (the Classical period), this article is about the broad span of time from before the 6th century AD to the present day, which includes the Classical period and various other periods. The central norms of this tradition became codified between 1550 and 1900, which is known as the common-practice period.

Elements

Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the United Kingdom and the United States. With roots in blues rock and psychedelic rock, the bands that created heavy metal developed a thick, massive sound, characterized by highly amplified distortion, extended guitar solos, emphatic beats, and overall loudness. The genre’s lyrics and performance styles are sometimes associated with aggression and machismo.

In 1968, three British groups, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple, released their debut albums. These bands were soon followed by other British groups such as Yes and Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP), which started to experiment with the sound that would later be known as progressive rock.

In October 1970 Black Sabbath’s Paranoid album was released. This record featured one of the first ever uses of a wah-wah pedal by a rock guitarist (Tony Iommi) on the track “Warning”. Other important early recordings included Deep Purple’s Fireball (1971) and Machine Head (1972), Led Zeppelin’s untitled fourth album commonly known as Led Zeppelin IV (1971) and ELP’s Tarkus (1971). Classical music had a considerable influence on heavy metal from its inception. Tony Iommi adopted classical blues progressions for much of Black Sabbath’s early work; Deep Purple used themes from Johann Sebastian Bach in their hit “Smoke on the Water”, as well as following releases; “Lazy” from Fireball contains bassist Roger Glover mimicking a cello line; Jon Lord used classical tapping techniques on his Hammond organ to generate sounds similar to those produced by guitarists; while Keith Emerson employed layers of keyboards to create surprisingly full sounding arrangements more akin to those found in large orchestras than in typical rock bands of the day.

Heavy Metal

Music has always been a huge part of my life. I grew up playing classical piano, and it wasn’t until I was introduced to heavy metal that I truly found my passion. I was immediately drawn to the aggressive sound and the complex arrangements.Heavy metal has always been a huge part of my life, and I’m so grateful to have found it.

Origins

The sound of heavy metal is heavily indebted to classical music, specifically Romantic-era composers such as Richard Wagner, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Franz Liszt, Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss. This is not surprising, considering the fact that many of the early heavy metal bands were made up of classically trained musicians.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, bands such as Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin were taking inspiration from classical music and infusing it with a heavier sound. This new style of music would come to be known as heavy metal.

While some may see heavy metal as a noise pollution, others appreciate the complex arrangements and technical virtuosity that goes into making this type of music. Regardless of your opinion on the genre, there is no denying that heavy metal would not exist without the influence of classical music.

Elements

Heavy metal music is often characterized by its aggressive, driving sound and its use of distorted guitars. But what many people don’t realize is that heavy metal has its roots in classical music. In fact, many of the earliest heavy metal bands were heavily influenced by classical composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Gustav Mahler.

One of the most important elements of heavy metal is the riff. A riff is a repeating guitar melody that forms the basis of a song. Riffs are often very complex, with multiple layers of guitar parts interacting with each other. Riffs usually have a strong rhythmic element, and they are often played at high volumes with distortion.

Many of the greatest riffs in heavy metal are based on classical themes. For example, the main riff in Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” is based on Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, and the main riff in Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” is based on Bach’s “Sleepers Awake.” The opening riff of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” is based on a theme from Wagner’s opera “Die Walkure.” And the main riff in Megadeth’s “Symphony of Destruction” is based on Mahler’s Symphony No. 5.

Classical music has also been an important influence on the melodic style of heavy metal. Heavy metal guitar solos often make use of wide interval leaps, which are more common in classical music than in other genres. Many heavy metal songs also make use of counterpoint, which is a technique in which two or more independent melodic lines are combined into one composition. Counterpoint was used extensively by Bach and other classical composers, and it can be heard in many heavy metal songs, such as Metallica’s “Orion.”

The drumming style used in heavy metal was also influenced by classical music. One of the most important innovations in drumming came from Gustav Holst’s “The Planets,” which featured a new way of playing fast triplet rhythms on the snare drum. This technique was later adopted by John Bonham of Led Zeppelin, who was one of the first rock drummers to use it extensively. Bonham was also known for his use of odd time signatures, another element that he borrowed from Holst’s work.

In short, without classical music there would be no heavy metal as we know it today. So if you’re a fan ofmetal, be sure to give some credit to Bach, Beethoven, and company!

Influence of Classical Music on Heavy Metal

Many people would never think to put classical music and heavy metal in the same sentence, but there is a very clear influence of classical music on heavy metal. This can be seen in the complex song structures, the use of counterpoint, and the similar instrumentation. If you listen closely, you can hear the influence of classical music in many heavy metal songs.

Rhythms

The rhythms of heavy metal are often complex, heavily syncopated and played at high speeds. This can be traced back to the influence of classical music, which often features similar rhythms.

In particular, the operas of Wagner and Richard Strauss are known for their use of fast-paced, heavily syncopated music. This style of music was later adopted by composers such as Dmitri Shostakovich and Sergei Prokofiev, who used it to create some of their most famous works.

While the fast-paced, complex rhythms of heavy metal may seem worlds away from the intricate melodies of classical music, there is no doubt that the two genres share a common ancestor.

Melodies

Classical music has had a profound influence on heavy metal, shaping its melodies and even dictating its harmony in some cases. The genre’s debt to classical music is most evident in the work of early metal guitarists, who borrowed liberally from the chromaticism of composers like Paganini and Bach. This influence can be heard in the work of Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads, and Yngwie Malmsteen, all of whom adapted classical melodies and harmonic progressions to create their own metal masterpieces.

Instrumentation

Classical instruments heavily influence the sound of metal, most notably in the Increased use of guitar feedback and distorted guitars. Metal bands often use classical arrangements, includingCounterpoint, polyphony, and atonality.These arrangements are sometimes done with diegetic instruments on stage to look like a full orchestra is playing, or it may be an overdub on the recording. Metal has also been influenced by non-Western music styles, such as sitars in psychedelic metal and world music-influenced metal.

Conclusion

It is safe to say that classical music has had a profound influence on the development of heavy metal. From the early days of Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, to the modern sounds of Metallica and Meshuggah, many of metal’s biggest bands have drawn inspiration from the great composers of the past. While some purists may balk at the idea of Beethoven being cited as an influence on metal, there can be no denyimg that classical music has played a major role in shaping the sound and style of heavy metal as we know it today.