Quick Lick: Metallica - "Creeping Death"

Tuition
By published

In Quick Licks, we'll be bringing you short, bite-sized video lessons that show you how to play classic riffs from your favorite songs.

In the following video, Guitar World's Matt Scharfglass shows you how to play the main riff to "Creeping Death" from Metallica's 1983 album, Ride The Lightning.

Just a reminder that Metallica's Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield are currently featured -- along with members of Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth -- on the cover of the November issue of Guitar World. You can pick up your copy on newsstands now, or buy it in our online store.

Matt Scharfglass
More about techniques
Marcin Patrzalek

Marcin’s percussive fingerstyle is dropping jaws with its stunning mix of speed, complexity and explosive dynamics. The warm-ups that fuel his virtuosity are guaranteed to boost your own playing
Spanish musician Paco de Lucia (born Francisco Sanchez Gomez, 1947 - 2014) plays guitar during the World Music Institute 'Flamenco Festival New York 2004' concert at the Beacon Theater, New York, New York, February 27, 2004

It’s the flamenco technique that lit the rhythmic fire under Marcin and Paco de Lucía, and treats all four fingers and thumb as separate plectrums – why learning rasgueado will give your picking hand a huge turbo boost
A pair of Audio-Technica ATH-R70XA headphones on a brightly lit wooden table

"Brilliantly precise monitoring headphones with wide open-back sound": Audio-Technica ATH-R70XA review
See more latest
Most Popular
Marcin Patrzalek
Marcin’s percussive fingerstyle is dropping jaws with its stunning mix of speed, complexity and explosive dynamics. The warm-ups that fuel his virtuosity are guaranteed to boost your own playing
Spanish musician Paco de Lucia (born Francisco Sanchez Gomez, 1947 - 2014) plays guitar during the World Music Institute 'Flamenco Festival New York 2004' concert at the Beacon Theater, New York, New York, February 27, 2004
It’s the flamenco technique that lit the rhythmic fire under Marcin and Paco de Lucía, and treats all four fingers and thumb as separate plectrums – why learning rasgueado will give your picking hand a huge turbo boost
Jared James Nichols works the crowd in Nashville with his Goldtop Les Paul Standard. The stage is illuminated in purple.
“This is a technique that has been used to great effect by some of my biggest blues heroes”: By thumb-picking bass notes while playing a melody, you can be your own rhythm section – Jared James Nichols shows you how
The great Jimmy Reed wears a sharp suit and bow-tie and plays an Airline electric guitar in this archive live shot from 1960
Jimmy Reed was one of the most influential blues guitarists to ever live – and his fingerpicking style makes an incredible launching pad for improvisation
James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett performing live onstage, playing Gibson Flying V guitars
The gallop is the most important metal rhythm of them all – learn the breakneck guitar technique behind classic Metallica, Slayer and Iron Maiden riffs
Joe Bonamassa and Gary Moore: Bonamassa plays a '59 Les Paul Standard, wears a dark suit and shades, while this archive pick of the late Moore sees him embrace the '80s with a sleeveless red jacket and matching Strat.
“Gary’s approach to soloing was like placing a brick on a car’s gas pedal. Like SRV and Jimi Hendrix, he had infinite passion and musical ideas”: Joe Bonamassa explains the expressive soloing secrets of his hero Gary Moore
Parts of the guitar
What's a bridge? What's a headstock? What do we mean by a 'cutaway'? All the parts of a guitar explained
Joe Bonamassa plays a Gibson Les Paul Standard at the Grammys. He wears a dark suit, dark shirt and shade.s
“One of the hardest things about expanding our technique is going ‘against the grain’ of learned patterns”: Rewire your lead playing with four soloing ideas inspired by contemporary blues maestros
Eric Gales takes a solo on his signature Magneto electric guitar, with its gold pickguard matching his thick gold chain. He wears a ball-cap and tinted glasses.
“The skill is in choosing which notes to emphasize, or maybe skip entirely, while maintaining the alternate strokes”: Why rhythm is as important as the notes you play in a blues guitar solo
palm muting
“We often overlook this humble technique, yet it’s such an important tool for expressive rhythm and lead playing”: How to palm mute on guitar – and take it from beginner to pro