Rockschool: Metallica - Enter Sandman

Try out Rockschool’s easy Grade Two arrangement of Hetfield and Hammett’s twin-riffing heavy metal classic

Probably Metallica’s most famous song, Enter Sandman begins with an acoustic guitar riff before a wash of wah wah chords come in. Here though, we dive straight in with the distorted riff that follows the opening line so all you need is your electric guitar. Ideally, you want to be using a guitar with a bridge position humbucker and an amplifier with a high gain tone with its midrange set low (aka a ‘scooped’ sound).

James Hetfield is famous for his tightly executed rhythm work, so aim to keep every note the same length as it’s written in Rockschool’s tab and make sure to lock in with the backing track. As you practise, keep an eye on both hands to ensure that unwanted notes don’t leap out. Aim for steady pick hand timing and swift, clean chord changes in your fretting hand. Finally, note that Rockschool’s tab is a simplified Grade Two arrangement – so it’s easy for most players to learn.