James Hetfield Plays Master of Puppets WRONG

James Hetfield from Metallica plays Master of Puppets wrong? This seems like such an absurd statement - it can't possibly be true! Or can it?

Well - Kind of.

Obviously James Hetfield wrote & composed the Metallica hit Master of Puppets so the chances he's playing it wrong are very slim. However, I did notice recently that he does play it differently live to how it's traditionally 'supposed' to be played.

That might not sound like a big deal (it's not) But we all know that the internet loves to point out when people play songs as famous and loved as Master of Puppets wrong - But, would those people say this to James Hetfield himself? I highly doubt it.

This if anything is great to see. if James can change how he plays it to either make it easier to play/perform or perhaps just for a tighter sound - then any guitar player can also be free to play it a similar way. Alternate picked, down picked, single notes or power chords - it doesn't matter, Play it however you like.

James Hetfield and the rest of Metallica would just be happy to see people playing their songs however it suits them.

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Metallica / master of puppets / james hetfield / kirk hammett / lars ulrich / robert trujillo / metallica live / master of puppets live / how to play master of puppets /

[TDLTDL]

Kirk is under estimated man. He keeps up with James and supports the chords when James takes a short cut. I’ve always played the intro to Master as down down up picked. It sounds just as good and gives you a break. Then the chords in the verse as alternate muted. If you can up pick hard enough it sounds exactly the same and easy to play.

Having played in a Metallica tribute band, I’d challenge people to try and play the likes of Master and Creeping Dearth and others all the way through in one sitting. Ha. These boys even at 60 have some stamina!!!!

[seefoe]

I always tell people they don't have to play those riffs 100% downpicked, but for whatever reason they don't believe me. It apparently "makes a big difference" in the sound 🤦‍♂. Even if it does, is it really worth the assache? Great vid.

[ryanmattie]

Good vid man! Sometimes us guitarists are hard on ourselves too. It's nice to see even the legends taking short cuts.

[matthewfrohlich]

He also sings it differently! Instead of saying “Fix Me” right before Kirk’s solo. To honor cliff who one day thought he said “pancakes”, he now always says pancake go.

[neco]

He definitely plays it differently now, but how can Anybody say that he is playing it 'Wrong'. If He decides to play it with notes then that's the way it is played now. It's His music.

[zzzmmmjjj]

James used to say that MOP was not so fun or effective to play live because the riff have a lot of movement. This was in early 90's and the interview was shared in the magazine.

[Sacrifice-Paid]

Let’s face it, James is a lot older as well now and he’s got such a big meaty sound, that if it still sounds great, then why not 🙂

[wiredwrong]

Age is catching up with him and it's likely catching up with his hands.

[mavhuntrx]

I started to notice this as well in live performances. Also, I've noticed that James is doing more economy picking lately... but hey, I hope I can still play guitar like that when I'm 60.

[archerdoubleO]

I think a difference would also be whether you present it as a conscious choice to play it differently from the album, despite knowing how it's done there, versus someone who plays it a different way and acts as if that's how you play the song. If someone did a guitar lesson of MoP and didn't play it as is on the album, it would, imo, be objectively wrong, no matter who plays it, because the pretense is to teach the song as it originally was. People's kneejerk reaction to say "wrong" might come from the fact that so many people do in fact play stuff "wrong" relative to what they are saying they're doing. Nevertheless, I like your overall point that 'playing something wrong' can be too rigid of a way to approach music, if I can paraphrase it as such.

[loman]

i noticed james played it like that at that show when i first started playing guitar, i must say, that way helps for getting the song down, and it worked until i could play the real part

[MrBonzoMan]

Well researched! I play covers in my own style... Keeping to the core song structure... 😊😎 🎸 🎶

[YHdzz]

Please make a slow lesson YT short how to play it :(

[trevorkolmatycki]

That riff is very challenging to play at speed with power chords. Also, Hetfield has to sing while doing it… and do so for an entire set!…
Simplifying parts to be more energy efficient and to enhance accuracy is smart.

Man… play the song however you want… purposely… just to trigger the metallica accuracy karens… just for fun.

[WhatTheFuzzzzz]

He does sometimes play their songs wrong, though. But yes, I saw them last year. and he didn't downpick all of it and used single root notes. Very interesting 👌 love your content. ♡

[donzkiediskartengpinoy]

so itspart of being an artist do what you must do as long as your comfortble doin it!

[jorgenmartensson]

They are getting older, with all repect 🤘

[lucetucru]

Interesting. But did you check how Kirk plays this riff live (throughout time)?

[GregAustin-ws]

He has been playing it that way for quit some time.

[MarkWitucke]

Hetfield is singing in the rain and playing double time after decades of three hour shows. Most people cant imagine what any of that means. Their opinions have no value.

You ever see Thelonius Monk play the piano? His horrible teqnique could not be more original and right.