Metallica Sad but true

We downtune our Gibson Explorers for a look at the classic track SadButTrue taken from Metallica’s eponymous ‘Black Album’. With huge riffs aplenty and some frenetic Kirk Hammett soloing on offer, what’s not to like?

This classic metal track from Metallica’s Black Album features downtuning: all the strings are tuned down by two semitones, to DGCFAD, aka ‘D standard’. The many benefits of down-tuning include a fatter tone, reduced string tension and it can make the guitar-friendly keys of E, A and D easier to sing over. Make sure to tune down when you’re ready to jam along to TG’s backing track.

The song contains some classic riffs that it is impossible not to nod your head to – just make sure to keep all the idle strings muted out as you switch between powerchords and single notes during the main riff.

There are also two Kirk Hammett solos, both based in classic blues-rock territory. Break them down into individual licks and practise them slowly.