Heavy Metal Dojo (Monthly Ongoing Class)

Heavy Metal Dojo is an ongoing class for intermediate to advanced guitarists who want to push their technique, speed, musical vocabulary, and understanding of heavy metal guitar.

This is not simply a class where we learn metal songs from beginning to end. Each month, we'll study a new song, artist, technique, or musical concept as a vehicle for deeper technical and theoretical exploration. We'll break down what makes the music work, identify the techniques being used, and apply those ideas to your own playing.

The goal is to help you move beyond simply memorizing riffs and solos. You'll develop the technical control, theoretical understanding, and musical vocabulary needed to understand, perform, and create heavy music at a higher level.


If you enjoy these styles of music, but aren't quite there in terms of techniques just yet, check out our Intro to Heavy Music class which is for upper beginner to intermediate players.

What to Expect

The featured music and learning objectives rotate each month, allowing you to continually build on your technique while exploring different eras, subgenres, and approaches to metal guitar.

Depending on the material we're studying, class may explore:

• Alternate picking

• Economy picking

• Hybrid picking

• Tapping

• Sweep picking

• Tremolo picking

• String skipping and cross-string techniques

• Fast single-note and scalar passages

• Tight rhythm guitar and precision picking

• Palm muting and rhythmic articulation

• Advanced riff construction

• Lead guitar phrasing and articulation

• Developing speed, endurance, and accuracy

• Playing consistently at 170+ BPM

• Moving beyond pentatonic scales into modes and exotic scales

• Understanding the theory behind riffs, melodies, and solos

• Applying scales and modes to metal harmony

• Developing improvisational vocabulary for heavier styles

• Analyzing how iconic guitar parts are constructed

All content is layered to meet you where you're at. Whether you're working toward your first truly fast alternate-picked passages or already comfortable playing at high tempos, we'll build on your existing skill set and challenge you appropriately.

Explore the Sounds That Shaped Heavy Metal

Throughout the course, we'll study music from a wide range of influential metal bands and guitarists, including:

Lamb of God, Metallica, Megadeth, Sepultura, Dethklok, Death, All That Remains, Black Sabbath, Slayer, Dissection, Arch Enemy, Iron Maiden, Venom, Testament, Pantera, Kreator, Mercyful Fate, Gojira, Castle Rat, Anthrax, Children of Bodom, King Diamond, Decapitated, Opeth, and many more.

We'll explore different eras and subgenres of metal, from the foundational riffs of Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden to the technical precision of Death and Necrophagist-influenced styles, the thrash vocabulary of Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Kreator, the groove and modern aggression of Pantera and Lamb of God, and the melodic, progressive, and extreme approaches found throughout the genre.

The goal isn't simply to reproduce these players' techniques. We'll study why they work, how they're constructed, and how you can incorporate those concepts into your own playing.

Technique Meets Theory

Heavy Metal Dojo combines technical development with a deeper understanding of the musical concepts behind metal guitar.

You'll learn to recognize the relationship between riffs, scales, modes, harmony, rhythm, and technique, giving you a stronger foundation for both playing and writing heavy music.

As we encounter riffs and solos in class, we'll break down questions like:

• Why does this riff sound so heavy?

• What scale, mode, or harmonic concept is being used?

• How does the picking technique affect the sound?

• How is the rhythm constructed?

• What makes this passage technically challenging?

• How can we practice it efficiently?

• How can we take this idea and use it somewhere else?

This approach helps you develop more than speed or dexterity. You're learning the musical language behind the technique.

A New Musical Deep Dive Every Month

Heavy Metal Dojo is designed as a monthly, ongoing class, with new songs, artists, techniques, and learning objectives introduced throughout the year.

Each month provides another opportunity to develop your technical abilities while expanding your understanding of the enormous range of sounds and approaches found within heavy music.

The material is designed to build progressively, so continuing with the class allows you to revisit familiar techniques at increasingly challenging tempos and musical applications.

Is This Class Right for You?

Heavy Metal Dojo is intended for intermediate to advanced guitarists.

You should already be comfortable with fundamental guitar techniques and have experience playing complete songs. This class moves into more demanding technical territory, including high-speed picking, advanced lead techniques, complex riffs, and playing consistently at faster tempos.

This is not a beginner guitar class. Students who are still developing fundamental guitar skills should first complete our Guitar Fundamentals program, also available through Rose City Guitar Company.

If you're unsure whether you're ready for Heavy Metal Dojo, reach out to us for a free assessment. We can help determine whether the class matches your current technical level and musical goals.

A Flexible Membership-Based Program

Heavy Metal Dojo is one of many specialty classes included in our monthly membership program. As a member of Rose City Guitar Company, you're not limited to one class—you can build a schedule around your goals and interests.

Want to combine Heavy Metal Dojo with Frets & Theory, Rockin' n Rollin', Blues, or another specialty class? You can mix and match classes throughout the month to create a personalized learning path.

Memberships include 4, 6, 8, or up to 12 classes per month, with pricing based on how many classes you'd like to attend. This gives you the flexibility to explore multiple styles while learning alongside a supportive community of fellow musicians.

What Happens After I Purchase?

Heavy Metal Dojo is offered Wednesdays at 7:30 PM. Your monthly membership covers 4 classes in this class.

Once you sign up through our website, we'll send you a welcome packet along with instructions for accessing our online scheduling system.

Because classes are limited to just 5 students, you'll reserve your seat each week through our online calendar. If you ever need to miss a class, you can easily reschedule into another eligible class—such as Guided Practice—using the same booking system.

If you have questions about whether Heavy Metal Dojo is the right fit for your experience level or technical goals, reach out anytime at 971-300-4202 or rosecityguitarco@gmail.com. We'd be happy to help you find the class that's right for you.