That riff from Fight Fire With Fire by Metallica you could never figure out! Weekend Wankshop 137

twitter/instagram @BenEllerGuitars
Hey kids! Remember that riff from Fight Fire With Fire by Metallica that you could never figure out? Pepperidge Farms remembers, just like Uncle Ben does. So on Weekend Wankshop 137, i'm gonna show you all the right way to play this SUPER MYSTERIOUS riff that i have seen played and transcribed incorrectly SO MANY times!
The tone on the original makes it REALLY hard to hear whats going on with this riff, but after listening to the isolated guitar track as well as Cliff Burton's bass track, as well as seeing a bunch of live videos, i think i've discovered what James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett were up to on this one.
Its tough! Be sure to wait to the end of the video for picking tips as well as play thru's with the original guitar track as several different speeds.

[xleatherfoot]

The major version of Kill Em All in the background tho

[kartikchandrasekhar]

To me, this is James's most difficult riff. He was around 19-20 when he wrote it too. He was always a rhythm machine from an early age.

[AndriyVasylenko]

You could do this with the main Blackened riff. The album and live versions are different, guys are often confused because of that

[RyanMaziarz]

The Leper Messiah intro could use this treatment too - no one gets it right.

[AndriyVasylenko]

Thanks man. One of the best gifts for my Birthday!

[bestboy]

you're doing God's work uncle Ben

[scottofsc]

It cracks me up that Kirk can apparently play this riff without issue but that one triplet riff from Some Kind of Monster gave him so much trouble. Great video Ben!

[skaruts]

When I read that title I knew instantly what riff you were talking about! :) Probably so did everyone else that ever tried to play that song.
I had the official tabs though...

[theywantuniquebodies]

Hetfield's rhythmic phrasing is insane, always has been. There's always just a little something shifted around to make it really interesting.

[AsherML]

bro thank you this riff actually drove me insane I could never play it right.

[arglbargl]

ok now do it at mid-80s coked out of their minds live metallica speed

[BearSharkDude]

Well timed video Uncle Ben. Yesterday I dusted off Ride the Lightning, it's refreshing to hear some standard tuning thrash after binging on so much drop tuned chugging lately.

[Dovahkiin]

Hardcore fans know what riff it was immediately

[burnsZY]

Now try playing this whilst singing. Hetfield is amazing.

[Yaroslav_Grohot]

Greetings from Kyiv! respect that you show slowly and how to play correctly. This is important today because many people play it wrong.

[cffeeJunk]

Thanks Uncle Ben! A day spent learning a metallica riff is never a day wasted :)

[AFXAcid]

Kinda funny, I actually decided to learn that riff about 2 weeks ago. It's way easier than it seems. Also, glad to see you do slide the power chords at the very end, it seems like no one else does it in any other video I've seen, yet you can clearly hear it on both the record and live performances. Kudos, good sir.

[a.j.garrett]

DUDE! I honestly can't believe you did this because, yeah...
I'm a bass player who likes to fool around on the guitar and this is one of those riffs that eludes me.
THANK YOU

[metfanl]

Very helpful video, thanks for doing these!

[Warlock]

I'm old school Metallica... So thank you for mentioning Cliff!! Also awesome lesson as always!