How to Write Speed Metal Songs

You want songs that hit like a bullet with melody and muscle. You want riffs that make fingers bleed and choruses that make crowds jump and sing. Speed metal is the high energy cousin of traditional heavy metal. It moves fast and stays sharp. This guide gives you everything you need to write, rehearse, record, and finish speed metal songs that feel authentic and punch through speakers.

Everything here is written for working musicians who want results. Expect practical riff recipes, drum blueprints, vocal strategies, songwriting prompts, theory explained without the pretension, and practice drills that actually build speed without wrecking your technique. I will explain common terms and acronyms in plain language and give down to earth scenarios that make them real. By the time you finish this you will have a clear map to write complete speed metal tracks and a plan to practice the skills that matter.

What Is Speed Metal

Speed metal is a style of metal defined by fast tempos, aggressive picking, and a focus on tight riffs and high energy. It grew out of early heavy metal and punk energy in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Bands like Motörhead and Judas Priest pushed tempos up. Later bands carried that flame and added technical precision and melodic solos. Speed metal sits between classic metal and thrash metal. It borrows the speed of thrash but often keeps a melodic sensibility and cleaner production than extreme metal styles.

Real life scenario

You are at a tiny club. Someone drops a fast riff and the room goes from regular conversation to instant chaos. People start fist pumping. Everyone knows they are in for a short sharp blast. That visceral crowd reaction is the promise of speed metal. Your job when writing is to create that instant conversion from calm to controlled havoc.

Core Characteristics of Speed Metal

• Tempo and pulse Typically fast. Think 160 to 220 beats per minute for many songs. Tempo is a guideline not a rule.
• Riff focus Short, repeated guitar motifs that lock the song. Riffs often use palm muted chugs and quick alternate picking.
• Technical solos Fast scale runs, sweep arpeggios, and melodic phrasing that reward listening.
• Clear arrangements Verses and choruses separate by dynamic contrast. The chorus often stretches into big, singable lines.
• Vocal style Can range from high pitched metal vocals to gritty yells. Melodic elements are common.

Speed Metal Versus Thrash Metal

These styles overlap but are not the same. Thrash emphasizes aggressive rhythm and social anger. Speed metal emphasizes velocity and melodic clarity. Thrash often uses palm muted chugging as a weapon. Speed metal uses fast alternate picking with more focus on melody and harmonized leads.

Real life example

If your lyrical subject is about being fed up with society and you want a grinding machine like feel then you are leaning into thrash. If your focus is on speed, flying guitar lines, and high energy with heroic melodies then you are in speed metal territory.

Song Structure Templates That Work

Speed metal songs do not need complicated forms. Clear sections let the listener latch on. Here are three reliable maps you can steal.

Template A: Classic Blast

• Intro riff with drums into
• Verse one
• Pre chorus that lifts energy
• Chorus with a singable hook
• Verse two
• Chorus
• Solo section that trades with rhythm riff
• Final chorus repeated twice

Template B: Riff Assault

• Riff intro and immediate riff statement
• Verse built around riff
• Short bridge or breakdown for contrast
• Fast chorus with chant or call and response
• Solo over riff
• Instrumental run out featuring faster sections

Template C: Epic Speed

• Melodic intro that transitions to high tempo
• Verse one
• Pre chorus
• Chorus with harmonized vocals
• Verse two
• Bridge that drops to half tempo for drama
• Dual lead solo
• Return to chorus with a coda

Writing Riffs That Kill

The riff is the spine of a speed metal song. Great riffs are concise, repeatable, and designed to lock with the drums. Here are recipes you can apply immediately.

Riff Recipe One: Two Bar Punch

1. Pick one power chord as your base. A power chord is two or three notes played together that give a strong root and fifth interval. It is raw and punchy.
2. Make a palm muted chug pattern on beats one and three. Use down picking or alternate picking depending on speed.
3. Add a quick open string or power chord hit on the upbeat to break the monotony.
4. Repeat and vary the second bar with a short run of single note palm muted alternate picked notes.

Riff Recipe Two: Tremolo Attack

1. Choose a minor scale box for the tonality. Harmonic minor works well for sinister color.
2. Play a rapid sequence of single notes using alternate picking. Keep the attack tight and the palm lightly damping the string to control noise.
3. End the phrase with a short accented power chord hit to land the riff.

Riff Recipe Three: Chromatic Machine

1. Use chromatic steps to create aggression. Slide quickly between frets and use low strings for weight.
2. Sync a simple chromatic riff with double bass drum hits to create an unstoppable motor rhythm.

Practical tip

Record a two bar riff loop and play it at reduced volume with a click while you test small rhythmic changes. If the riff still works when the guitarist hums it, then it is memorable. Riffs that feel like a sentence are easier for listeners to repeat in a mosh pit than riffs that feel like a paragraph.

Drum Patterns and Groove

Drums in speed metal drive momentum. The drum kit is the engine that keeps the band from flying apart. Here are patterns and how to think about them.

Basic Pulse

At high tempo maintain a steady ride pattern on the cymbal that the rest of the band can lock to. The ride keeps time. The snare usually hits on two and four. The bass drum patterns vary from simple to extremely busy.

Double Bass and Single Pedal

Double bass drumming is common. It creates a rolling machine gun feel. Many drummers use one pedal fast to simulate double bass if they do not have two pedals. The technique is pedal control and heel position. Practice in small chunks and increase speed with a metronome.

Fills

Short sixteenth note fills are the bread and butter. Longer fills must serve the song. A clean short fill that hits the toms then returns to the ride gives maximum forward motion. At extreme tempos keep fills sparse and rhythmic rather than overly busy.

Vocal Styles and Delivery

Speed metal vocals can be melodic and high, gritty and shouted, or somewhere in between. The most effective performances balance power with diction. The audience needs to hear the hook even through intensity.

Writing Great Hooks

• Keep choruses short and repeat key lines.
• Use open vowels for high notes. Vowels like ah and oh carry in the mix.
• Double lines in the studio to thicken the vocal. Harmonize the second pass a third or fifth above for classic metal flavor.

Lyric Themes That Fit

Speed metal often uses themes of speed, battle, journey, rebellion, and existential defiance. Use vivid images and sharp verbs. Avoid cliches unless you subvert them. A line like I race the night with headlights for a heart uses a real image and feels immediate.

Harmony and Scale Choices

Speed metal borrows from minor tonalities and from traditional metal vocabulary. Here are common choices and why they work.

• Natural minor It gives a dark and familiar metal color.
• Harmonic minor Use it for classical sounding leads and to introduce a raised seventh that creates tension over chords.
• Phrygian and Phrygian dominant These modes sound exotic and heavy. They work great for main riff hooks.
• Pentatonic and minor pentatonic Useful for solos and vocal melodies. They are simple and singable at speed.

Practical example

Play a riff in E minor natural. For a solo, switch to E harmonic minor to use the raised D sharp that gives a darker, classical flavor. That quick modal twist sounds like a dramatic leap and is easy to execute while maintaining speed.

Solos That Sing at Speed

Soloing in speed metal blends technical ability with melodic sense. A solo that sounds like a shower of notes without direction will fail. Here is a roadmap.

1. Start with a motif that is memorable. A motif is a short musical idea you return to.
2. Develop the motif by repeating it at different pitch levels or with different rhythms.
3. Insert technical sections where you use scales or arpeggios. Keep them glue to the motif so the ear has a thread to follow.
4. End with a melodic statement that connects back to the chorus or main riff.

Technique focus

Alternating fast alternate picking with legato runs gives contrast. Include a sweep arpeggio as a highlight. Practice sweeps slowly and build up until they are clean. Use a metronome and small increments to avoid flailing fingers.

Lyrics and Prosody for Speed Metal

Prosody means making words fit the music. Fast music demands compact phrases and rhythmic words. Here is how to write with speed metal prosody in mind.

• Use short punchy lines. Long sentences slow the music.
• Place strong consonants on strong beats. Consonants like t and k add attack.
• Use alliteration and internal rhyme for drive. It reads like a drum pattern.
• Keep an emotional through line. Even aggressive songs need a central idea.

Real life lyric scenario

Imagine you are writing about being chased down an empty highway. Your second line might be I feel the engine talk in teeth and sparks. It is sensory, immediate, and fits tight rhythm. That will work better than a long exposition about why you are on the highway.

Guitar Tone and Production Tips

Speed metal guitars need clarity so fast notes do not blur into sludge. Here are production principles that deliver that clarity and aggression.

Amplifier and Distortion

Use a distortion with tight low end and strong mids. Too much bass will make fast picked notes turn to foam. Dial the low control down and let the mids cut through. A small amount of presence or high mids helps with articulation.

EQ and Tightness

High pass the rhythm guitars around 80 to 100 Hertz to remove mud. Boost around 1 to 3 kilohertz for picking attack. Cut unnecessary low mid frequencies that make busy passages indistinct.

Recording Techniques

• Double track rhythm guitars and pan left and right for width.
• Record a clean DI as a backup for reamping later.
• Use tight microphone placement on the cabinet cone for attack and a room mic for ambience. Blend them to taste.

Drum Production

Keep the kick and snare tight. Use sample augmentation if your recorded drums do not cut through. Samples can give consistent attack while the live kit retains feel. Be conservative to avoid a synthetic sound unless that is the aesthetic you want.

Practice Drills That Actually Make You Faster

Speed without control is noise. The following exercises build precision and stamina. Use a metronome and increase tempo by small steps. Nothing builds speed overnight. Progress is slow and measurable.

Alternate Picking Chromatic Run

1. Pick a four note chromatic pattern on one string starting at a comfortable fret.
2. Use strict alternate picking. Play 16th notes for one measure at a slow tempo.
3. Increase the tempo by five beats per minute only when you can play three clean repetitions without tension.

String Skipping Arpeggios

1. Choose a three string arpeggio pattern that skips a string between notes.
2. Practice slowly with a metronome and focus on clean string transitions.
3. Gradually add more notes and increase tempo.

Palm Mute Endurance

1. Play palm muted eighth notes on the low string for 30 seconds at moderate tempo.
2. Increase duration and tempo over multiple sessions.
3. Rest when the right hand tense. Tension leads to injury.

Putting a Song Together Step by Step

1. Find a hook riff. Spend an hour until it repeats naturally and you want to hear it many times in a row.
2. Lock a tempo with a click and record the riff loop for reference.
3. Write a verse that complements the riff by simplifying the rhythm or shifting to single notes.
4. Design a chorus that opens up the frequency and uses longer notes to contrast the riffy verse.
5. Write a short pre chorus or bridge to build tension into the chorus.
6. Create a solo section that begins with a motif from earlier and expands technically.
7. Arrange dynamics. Remove instruments before a chorus to make the arrival bigger. Add harmony lines on the final chorus to increase impact.
8. Demo the structure and test it live. If a part loses energy on stage, adjust lengths and transitions until the momentum stays true.

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

• Mistake Playing everything as fast as possible at all times. Fix Use contrast. Slow a section to half speed for drama and let the fast parts have meaning.
• Mistake Saturated muddy guitar tone. Fix Tighten low end and boost attack region. Double track and carve space for each instrument in the mix.
• Mistake Solos that are speed for the sake of speed. Fix Build motifs and return to them. Use tension and release to make the solo sing.
• Mistake Lyrics that do not fit the rhythm. Fix Speak lines over the riff and mark stressed syllables. Align stressed syllables with strong beats.

Songwriting Prompts to Start a Speed Metal Track

• Write a two bar riff that could be played for eight bars. Add a quick melodic fill at the end of bar two to push into the next loop.
• Write a chorus line that is eight syllables or fewer. Repeat it twice. That repeat becomes the chant that listeners pick up immediately.
• Take a slower ballad line and turn it into a fast statement. Keep the emotion but increase the rhythmic drive.

Finishing and Arranging for Maximum Impact

Finishing is where most songs fail. You need a plan to stop changing things forever. Use this finishing checklist.

1. Lock the main riff and tempo. Nothing moves without this reference.
2. Record a guide track with scratch vocals so the band can rehearse to the same map.
3. Decide on a single production character for the guitars. Stick to it across the song so the mix stays coherent.
4. Place the first chorus before the one minute mark if the song structure allows. Fast songs need quick payoff.
5. Mix with a reference song that has similar energy. Match perceived loudness and drum punch. Do not obsess about exact EQ curves. Focus on how the song hits the chest.
6. Test the final mix on small speakers, earbuds, and a car. If the riff disappears in a noisy environment you must fix the midrange clarity.

Examples and Before And After Lines

Before I race through the night and my heart is heavy.

After I burn the night down to spark and speed.

Before We are unstoppable and we fight for our right.

After We ride the razor and refuse to bow.

These edits show how speed metal benefits from concrete imagery and short sharp verbs. Replace phrases that sound like filler with immediate sensory details. Give your listener a picture that moves.

Business and Live Considerations

Speed metal songs often make great live set openers. Short, intense tracks warm a crowd fast. For streaming playlists keep songs tight and hook focused. A three minute speed metal track can be more effective than a five minute one if it never overstays its welcome.

Real life band scenario

Your drummer learns the song at practice but plays too many fills at the gig. The song loses momentum. The solution is a clear arrangement sheet that marks where fills are allowed and where the drummer must lock in. Rehearse with a click at least twice before playing a show to lock the tempo feel.

Resources and Next Steps

Practice daily with short focused sessions. Use the metronome religiously. Record your practice and listen back to identify where your technique breaks down. Work on one technical skill until it is reliable under pressure.

Combine the riff recipes with the practice drills and the production guidelines. Write three full song outlines in a month. Record rough demos. Play them to friends who do not play an instrument and ask which line they remember. That feedback is brutal and useful.

Speed Metal FAQ

What tempo should a speed metal song have

There is no strict rule. Many speed metal songs sit between 160 and 220 beats per minute. Choose a tempo that allows your riff to breathe while still feeling urgent. If you cannot perform a riff cleanly at your target tempo, slow down and build up speed with practice. Accuracy at speed matters more than raw tempo for listeners.

Do I need fancy theory to write speed metal

No. Basic knowledge of scales and minor key relationships is enough to write compelling music. Practical fretboard knowledge like knowing the minor pentatonic and natural minor shapes up and down the neck helps a lot. Learn a few modal flavors for color. Most of the power in speed metal comes from rhythm, articulation, and production rather than complex harmony.

Can a bass player just follow the guitar

Bass can follow the guitar or choose to lock with the drums and provide gravity. At high tempos a bass line that doubles the guitar power chords with slight rhythmic variation will add weight. Fingerstyle or pick choice changes the attack. Make choices based on the song needs. A busy bass line can add groove but must not clash with the guitar mids.

How do I record tight double tracked guitars

Play the part twice with similar feel and mic setup. Pan the two takes left and right for width. If timing differs slightly, use small nudges in the editor or keep the timing intact because tiny human differences can make a take feel alive. Avoid over quantizing. If you record only one guitar take, consider copying it and using subtle time shifting and EQ differences to simulate a second take. Reamping a DI through a different cabinet settings also works well.

How long should a speed metal song be

Most effective speed metal songs are between two and five minutes. The key is momentum. If the song keeps adding new energy and ideas it can be longer. If it repeats without meaningful contrast keep it short. Focus on giving listeners a clear journey that matches the intensity you want to convey.

How do I make my fast riffs audible in a mix

Articulation is the first step. Tight palm muting and precise picking reduce string noise. In the mix carve a small midrange boost where the picking attack lives. Use high pass filters on guitars to reduce mud. Double track rhythms and stereo pan them. Sidechain bass slightly to the kick if the low end becomes a wash. Compression on rhythm guitars should be conservative so transient attack remains intact.

What is the best practice to increase solo speed

Practice small phrases slowly and increase tempo with a metronome by small increments only after you can play three clean takes without tension. Use relaxation techniques. Break solos into sections and rehearse transitions. Work on economy picking and legato separately so you can combine them when the phrase calls for it.

Should vocals be double tracked

Yes for choruses and key lines. Double tracking thickens the vocal and makes it cut. For verses a single tracked vocal can provide intimacy and clarity. Harmonize a second line a third or fifth above in the chorus for classic metal character. Keep backing vocals tight rhythmically to avoid smear at high tempos.

Action Plan You Can Use Today

1. Create one two bar riff using a power chord base and a palm muted chug pattern. Loop it and play along with a metronome at a comfortable tempo.
2. Write a four line chorus with one strong repeatable hook line. Keep it under eight syllables if possible.
3. Practice a 30 second alternate picking drill at a tempo you can do cleanly. Increase by five beats per minute on good days.
4. Record a rough demo of your riff and chorus with a simple drum loop. Listen back and note two things that make the riff clearer. Fix them and rerecord.
5. Play your demo for two friends. Ask what line they remember. If they cannot repeat the chorus in one try, tighten the chorus language and record again.