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What is it about?

This article explores how distortion affects the way guitar chords sound in metal music, especially when played with complex chords. Distortion is a key part of the ‘heaviness’ in metal, but it can also create roughness and tension in the sound. The study analyses why simpler chords like power chords are often used in distorted metal music and how these sounds contribute to the genre's emotional and powerful character. By focusing on the relationship between sound, distortion, and chord choices, the article provides new insights into how metal musicians achieve their distinctive style.

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Why is it important?

This article is unique in its focus on how distortion interacts with chord complexity to create the characteristic ‘heaviness’ of metal music. While distortion is widely recognised as a defining feature of the genre, its impact on specific musical structures, such as chords, has rarely been studied in depth. The research is timely as the growing use of digital amplification and effects continues to shape the sound of modern metal. By connecting the technical aspects of distortion to the emotional and aesthetic qualities of metal, this work offers fresh insights for musicians, producers, and scholars, contributing to a deeper understanding of the creative and sonic foundations of the genre.

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This page is a summary of: Heaviness and the electric guitar: Considering the interaction between distortion and harmonic structures, Metal Music Studies, March 2018, Intellect,
DOI: 10.1386/mms.4.1.95_1.
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