Neo-classical metal
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Neo-classical metal is a subgenre of the heavy metal music heavily influenced by classical music.
"Neo-classical" is a term which refers to the style's use of classical-esque devices, harmonies, sounds and approaches. The following elements are common to both:
Techniques
- Pedal point (repetition of a note or group, with a scalic, melody line played alternately),
- ostinato (strict repetition of a single phrase or idea),
- scale sequence (a stylised way of ascending or descending through a scale or mode, where a set pattern is observed),
- arpeggio (the notes of a chord played individually as a line)
Sounds
- Harmonic minor scale (Aeolian mode with a raised 7th tone),
- Melodic minor which can be viewed two ways:
- Aeolian mode with a raised 6th and 7th tone or
- Ionian mode with a flattened 3rd),
- Diminished (a series of minor 3rd intervals stacked one on top of the next),
- cycle of fifths (a chord progression where each chord becomes the dominant of the next e.g.: Am, D, G, C, F, Bdim, E, Am),
- suspensions (cadences or "chord progression endings" where the true harmony chord is pushed out or "suspended" by another, non-harmony note and then reasserts itself. Examples: 4th replaces 3rd; 6th replaces 5th; 9th replace 8th or octave).
The chord progressions, arpeggios, broken chords, and speedy scale runs of neo-classical metal are borrowed for the most part from Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, Niccolo Paganini, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven. Most renowned neo-classical guitarists are classically trained virtuoso players and incorporate Harmonic Minor scale and the Phrygian mode. Such performers are sometimes dubbed "Guitar Gods"
Although Yngwie J. Malmsteen is probably the forms best known proponent, classical elements used in heavy metal and hard rock date back to Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple and Eddie Van Halen's innovations in the late 1970s.