Nu Metal

[RSG]

Guitar
Unlike traditional metal, the overall defining trait of nu metal guitar-playing is the emphasis on mood and texture over melody or complex instrumentation, achieved largely through performance or effects. Generally speaking, the emphasis in the music is on either communicating feelings of angst and hostility, or motivating a crowd to move with the beat -- ideally, both at once. However, guitar-playing in nu metal still often varies vastly in complexity, sound and usage. Bands take elements from several forms of music when composing the riffs for their guitars, causing a high variance between the bands. One common trait of most nu metal bands however, is to emphasize the guitar as a rhythmic instrument. Riffs often consist of only a few different notes or power chords played in rhythmic, syncopated patterns. To emphasize this rhythmic nature, nu metal guitarists generally make liberal use of palm muting, that is often widely spaced out and blend easily into the surrounding riffs.

Another common technique with nu metal guitarists is the use of de-tuned strings whose lower pitch creates a thicker, more resonant sound. Strings 'de-tuned' in this way, are often drop-D or lower, sometimes adding a seventh string. Guitar solos are generally not part of nu metal songwriting, and when they do appear they are often short and uncomplex when compared to those of other metal genres. Some even consider these as more like melody lines for their short length.

Linkin Park, Spineshank and Static-X are three bands that may be considered to represent examples of many techniques common to nu metal. There are exceptions in the genre however, with some bands using few to none of these common traits, such as Korn.


Bass

Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu from KoЯnThe speed and skill of a bassist in traditional heavy metal plays a large part of outcome in the band's sound, complementing percussive tempos (and occasionally the guitar riffs) to add a strong rhythm to the tone.

In nu metal, the bass is often the main focus of the music, acting often as the lead instrument, setting the bands other instruments as acting as rhythm. The nu metal bass is often slow and reminscent of hip hop or pop music, strutting a funky, loud sound that would arguably compete with the presence of the band's vocalist.


Drums
Nu metal drumming usually consists of 4/4 beats, often believed to come from the genre's hip hop influence. These 4/4 beats are sometimes used as a sole drumming pattern, but some drummers often reach beyond traditional heavy metal patterns for more syncopated beats, such as Eastern dance rhythms, jazz drumming, and the complex breakbeats of hip hop. One of the most important aspects of nu metal drumming, is that tempo rises above the estabilished midtempo range on chorus lines and bridges. This is an almost universal rule, with a relatively small number of bands

[Ross]

Wow thank you for that very detailed explanation!!!! What source is this from?

Ross

[RSG]

Wikipedia.org