Max Cavalera (Soulfly) interview about his guitar style (pt.2 of 2)

[sodaspider]

yes, riffing goes a whole lot farther than just a shit load of solo's and melodies

[Metallikid1]

i just wish that he would play his guitar live nowadays. from the looks and sounds of it, he has marc do everything from the lead to rhythm playing. personally, i think he's tired and may need some time off. in NO WAY do i think he should retire, but i think if he takes the time to lay low, practice his songs again, and become the awesome stage presence he was before...it would definitely be beneficial for the audience to see him perform that way than jump around and shout the lyrics imo.

[bloodySunday77]

@Metallikid1 Nice comment! :-)

[linchpin313]

i think what he is trying to say is that anyboby can shred hours and no one remembers the shit you have done, simplicity is the key in terms of groove... all the best riffs in rock are the most simplest.. smoke on the water, paranoid, roots bloody roots, blind.. all these songs are classics yet anyone who picked up the guitar 2 days ago can pay them, i mean yeah there are guitarist better than him that's reading this right now but they will never write a song like roots bloody roots.

[breedfk]

@linchpin313 nice and truth words... i saw soulfly in 2006 (sbsr06) and 1 time in 2009 or 2010 in coliseu lisboa i think... major difference, is in need to stop for a litlle time, take a breath and come fresh... we believe he can. this guy has a fucking energy ( not the jump and shit on stage) but the energy he puts on people when people see him and soulfly live. the vibe that just few can put out to the audience.

[jjallen1976]

I love Max Cavalera!!!!!

[0879186480]

max aint no genius on d guitar,not by a long shot..but if ur at a soulfly gig and the hairs on the back of ur neck dont wana leap off ur skin,then u aint a real fan..he seems to have a knack of putting 3 or 4 notes together and make them sound unique,unlike any other metal rhythm guitarist....any doudters that are fans,go to a gig and fucking wreck d place haha

[boss190]

please tell what song he plays at 1:02

is very good riff for me

[PhongLopez]

amos lee. i'm almost 2 percent shur of it yo.

[killfourme]

his style and the love he has for the music is great... he may not be the best soloist but his thundering riffs are badass...

[SepehrTura]

I love Soulfly,but this is Bullshit

[bloodySunday77]

I am dying to find out why.

[illtattoo]

dont u think max looks a bit like mark hunter in this vid? or mark hunter looks like max? lol

[TheRevSinner]

@illtattoo

i think the same lol

[TheWaterAintSafe]

@bloodySunday77 Just ignore those people man, Max is a straightforward guy, he doesn't play to impress, he plays what he wants and from the soul. That's why he's a legend. I know that. You know that. Others simply won't. Fuck them, they're bloody douches.

[bloodySunday77]

@TheWaterAintSafe Well thanks... I am only thinking whether people are seeing things in a different, more mature way when they grow up or not. I am 32 and I was listening to Sepultura ever since Beneath The Remains came out. Not so much with the new stuff. I am not crazy about Soulfly either, but I respect Max a lot.

[TheWaterAintSafe]

@bloodySunday77 Yeah, not a soulfy fan either. I am a fan of Max though lol. He even appeared in a rap song which i think is great. He does the chorus in the song "War is my destiny" by Immortal Technique and iLL BiLL. Awesome guy and i forgot to say this but thanks for uploading. :]

[obezyankanol191919]

hola max cavalera que viva el metal

[AwesomelyEpicMan]

I saw in an interview the reason he doesn't make ear-splitting solos is because he's a drummer at heart, so that's why he plays so technically. He's a really good drummer by what I've seen.

[mjok35]

wow he is horrible. how can you take a lesson from a guy who can barely remember an easy ass riff and only strings 4 strings

[bloodySunday77]

Yes, he can "barely remember an easy ass riff". He has been playing professionally for 25 years, he has done more shows than your knowledge in maths allows you to count, he was the leader of one of the most classic and influential metal bands in history, and yet he can "barely remember an easy ass riff". Epic.

[hugoshooter]

agree with you dude........ i actually think he is god

[MDethfan]

Marry that girl! : P

\m/

[metagore]

Max makes me want to break stuff...

Great technical skills don't make a great riff, a great imagination does.

[YorkshireMacduff]

People ripping Max are just blind. I've tried for years to be a 'shredder' but there comes a point when you realise you can't beat simplicity and passion.

Who gives a fuck if he can't do a 15 string sweep while sucking Steve Vai's dick. When's the last time any of those guys wrote a riff that people can actually rock out to.

[metalheadx316]

i definately agree with you brother!!!

steve vai cannot write a riff like - bring it or jumpdafuckup!!!

\m/ cavalera \m/

[anormalnick]

jajajaja..steve vai wrote that riff with his dick...

im a fan of max but you guys are talking about the most bigger shit ever...

[bloodySunday77]

Um... "biggest". And dicks can't write. Oh, maybe Vai's can do that because he rulz. Right?

I would recommend trying to listen to meaningful music and not counting notes per second, but I don't think it would do much good.

[sepulltallica]

you're fucking right

[fairlystupidjello]

@YorkshireMacduff I've been at the point where a good ass riff interests me more than a good lead, I never really try to work on solos always riffs

[K3NxRaiNsxBl00d]

@YorkshireMacduff very good comment im writing stuff too and simplicity and passion does sound better then a sweep. i rarley use solos in my songs cuz im one guitarist and i like rhythms more

[666Govnov666]

Sound is good, playing is too primitive

[beanchao]

listen to his cd "primitive" then. haha

Max rocks.

[MajkeTiTvoje]

I like your name. Hahahaha, govno jedno :)

[j4r0d144]

sorry but no...He is a legend because of song writing. Max's song writing is unlike any body else's and its real true metal!

[Deadlezz]

max's songwriting is absolutely common and nothing special...not one soulfly or cavalera conspiracy song with an interessing structure...all intro verse chorus verse chorus bridge and maybe another chorus...

just like millions of pop acts have...where is the specialty?

is it in the 3 or 4 notes riffs??

hes not great at all...no interessting songs...no good riffs...not a good phonetic at all and the same metrum in almost every song...

[bloodySunday77]

You know the other one about opinions and a$#holes?

[Deadlezz]

its not an opinion if he says his songwriting is unique and unlike everybody elses...

with that he pointed out a fact that is just plain wrong...

and thats all i said plus some prove for my points

and that makes me an a$#hole ?? interessting...

[bloodySunday77]

First of all, I didn't say you are an a$%hole, which would indeed be interesting. Secondly, he is saying completely the opposite than his songwriting being "unique and unlike everybody else's".

[duhdahluv]

LMAO at all you dorks talking smack about max's guitar skills. he's a legend because of the voice!

[juanojoker]

i can't believe ,,,max ,,i i like your band , in special sepultura and nailbomb , but what happened here ,, i saw that you are a bad teacher jajajajaj

[AirbornAndFriends]

Digitech metal master for the win.

[Coenas]

awesome when he sings along with roots bloody roots :p

[ertame]

that's not music at all!!! that's noise!!!!

[bloodySunday77]

Welcome to the real world, Neo.

[aileoz]

nice t-shirt...

where can i get someone like this one?

LoL!

[SleepingLeon]

Is this from a DVD?

Or did you interview Cavalera yourself??

Is there a version in better quality?

[bloodySunday77]

I am afraid not - it is from an old site - it was a streaming video.

[luiz0regis0bassist]

Um , dois , tres , quatro ...

[carlitoxtpn3]

un dos tres cua.

[bloodySunday77]

Go easy on the highs and gain on the Metal Zone, push the mids and the bass. Same thing more or less with the DS-1, but you can turn the gain up a little. But all of this advice is useless since we don't know your guitar & amp.

I would personally only use natural tube distortion on a good high gain amp and no pedals at all, plus high output humbuckers, especially active ones like EMGs.

[p00pcake]

Hye I have a Line 6 spider III amp and a Ibanez Xiphos, but I was thinking of getting a metal zone to get a good tone like that. Any advice?

[bloodySunday77]

Get a cheap, good tube amp like the Blackheart with 5 or 15 watts, and then try the Metal Zone. But there are far better pedals to get heavy distortion tones - just go to your local shops and listen to as many as you can. Experimentation is always the key...

[jruedew]

I bought a metal zone a while back, but found that it was rather tinny and was always to high in the trebel range and gave a sort a weird fuzz that was never powerful enough... its not bad, but yeah better pedals do exist

[bloodySunday77]

The Metal Zone is the last pedal on earth I would try in order to get a metal tone. As a matter of fact, I wouldn/t use any pedals at all - only high gain amps.

[jruedew]

yes, that is true, they suck

[RossWildish]

i use a line 6 uber metal and it has teh sickest tone ever. out does the metal core by miles

[holybullshitmf]

Imo. best metal pedal ever made is Metal Muff by EH... the best you can have.

[bloodySunday77]

No, not really... You should try some more expensive tube pedals or preamps. You'll realise what you have been missing.

[azambory]

try using an amps distortion learn your amp

[heavydiggari]

I have the same amp and I prefer the amps original sound, the distortion especially. I also have digitech Death Metal distortion pedal, but it's not as good and I use it just for gigs. Metal Zone and marshall's jackhammer pedals are classic and good, but they are pretty obvious so if you want to get some personality in your sound don't get them. ps. Sorry for my long comment :D

[Ballonboymanguy]

does anyone know how to get boss pedals to sound like his distortion?(i have a metal-zone,a DS-1 distortion and an ibanez smashbox)

[pentatribe666]

play with attitude,from the heart,

not for the sake of "trend"

[brainphreak]

Max is not the lead guitar player is why, he sings and writes the heavy riffs. The other guy is the lead guitar, thats why he gets people like rizzo. He doesnt play solos and lead for the same reason igor or the bass player does not play solo's. Its not his role in the band.

[Soulflymylife]

Dam right!!

[lespaulzrule]

I always liked this guys riffs, and his approach to guitar playing, he writes some killer riffs, and they are so easy as well, but they are really fucking meaty, and gut wrenching!!!

Awesome stuff, the new Cavalera Conspiracy album is bad ass to!!!

[bloodySunday77]

Why are you people so obsessed with leads? Leads, leads, leads!!! In the 90's it was the anti-solo movement, now it's a shred revival fest, what's it going to be in a few years? For God's sake, stop following trends and listen with your damn heart!

[bloodySunday77]

And I am sure Max would be the first to admit that he doesn't know how to play leads, anyway. So fucking what?

[killerwolf02]

Totally with you. What's with this whole glory hog ego movement? Just do your part and rock out at what you're good at. There's no need to change yourself to impress others. Max is a damn good musician and a great thinker. the nonly solo's most of these poster probably know are on that fake guitar hero B.S. Go Max for not turning yourself into a game.

[numpt2]

i think its drop d

[pasovi]

What is the tuning of Max guitar?

[Musicinmyvains]

Max says in part 1 that its B tuning, wich is

B-E-A-D-G-B from low to high, Throw on a 7-string string set and it will be perfect.

[numpt2]

it really pisses me of how people just think about how fast there lead player is, guitar playing has never been a sport, and anyway too much of the fast stuff is just really boring,some can be good because they play for the song like Andreas Kisser and Marc Rizzo, but a lot of the time, I think its just an excuse to show off, but thats just my opinion

[brainphreak]

I look at it as the difference between gymnastics or parkour compared to a man lifting waits and running in place. You can easily be super fast on that treadmill, but who will want to watch? its just mindless exercise. If you want something interesting to look at you wont want to see people lifting weights, you would much rather see someone dance. Fast arppegios and mindless shred is as fun as watching grass grow, Id rather get some heavy chunky feel... make me want to jump the fuck up!

[cletus1979]

secondo me e' un grandissimo simpaticone - Really smart and nice

[lokyanubis]

Good lesson men thanks

[jaridv]

who gives a shit if he isn't the most technically proficient guitarist and he isn't flying up and down the neck doing arpeggios and scales he is still a great rhythm player who writes great music and a founding member of sepultura

[Rock3music]

Check out our interviews with Max and Iggor Cavalera of Sepultura talking about their new band Cavalera Conspiracy

[Verwimp]

Max Cavalera, thank you for making those great riffs, i started playing 2 days ago and now im playing ROOTS BLOODY ROOTS, its pretty easy, but it gots a GREAT sound and VERY fun to play

[rancid1987]

i'm not a big fan of Max Cavalera, but after seeing this interview I noticed that he is a great man and a great artist...I really admire him :D

[grghephaestus]

I can't Understand What he say,but MAX CAVALERA RULEZZZZZZ!!!

Greetings from Greece,

Alexandroupoli

[bloodySunday77]

Geia sou patridaaaaaaa!!! :-)

[grghephaestus]

Geia sou kai sena file mou!!!!an exeis ki alla video Soulfly kanta upload!

[bloodySunday77]

Baaaaa... an vrw pantws kati pou den yparxei hdh edw gyrw tha ta anevasw... na'sai kala!

[ChinCGmR]

Max is great! he´s not the best guitar player but what da fuck!!! its all about feeling!

[grindcoreserbia]

hails from serbia. you love us and we worship you! the best!

[skrouch]

it`s all about feeling, and cavalera have many

[saintbill]

but ur not a founder of 2 great bands are ya? :P so who cares

[Sideler74]

This guy isn't talented at all. I mean think about it... He's playing a 4 string guitar that's dropped tuned! My 7 year old nephew can do what he's doing. That Is Truly Pathetic. LMAO!

[bloodySunday77]

OK, hand your 7 year old nephew a guitar like his (or even better, YOU do it) and try making the music he has for 24 years. When they made you, it seems they ran out of IQ...

[sanderchip]

that idiot sidler74 attacks max playing but on his profile he lists he grew up listening to a list of metal bands and low and behold sepultura is on that list i dont think that dumbass knew who he was

[Dereko1980]

So..if he played a 12 string guitar would he be more talented?

His playing style isn't all about blowing you away with thousands of notes and technicality, but he IS talented. He's a great song writer and plays from the heart with unparalleled heaviness...plus he can keep up with Igor.

[sanderchip]

yea he may not be a brilliant guitar player but i bet he has way more cash than u and hes doing wut he luvs to do unlike you who probably hates yer job and i bet max dont give a fuck wut yer nephew can do.the man is alegend

[hate13]

Yeah, thats not cool.

[dragon7590]

Max does a voice over in the scorpion king movie.

[nickssotw]

Holy Shit! dude, do you know what you just said? Its gonna suck to be you! No offense but you just insulted THE co-founder of Sepultura and his 10,000,0000+ fans. You are gonna hear about this from a lot of people I bet.Good Luck!

[Jaimequin]

Max is so dedicated to heavy brutal riffs, he only uses the 4 bass strings and takes off the bottom two. He should invent a new guitar bass combo with heavy ass strings. He may not be the fastest or the best guitarist, but he is the heaviest of all time!

[o0zeroeffect0o]

actually he can play very fast. check out the sepultura song called arise live performance from like 1991. its already fast on the album and live he played it twice as fast lol

[bloodySunday77]

Ι completely agree. I saw them at 91 in Athens, two days before the recorded show in Barcelona, and they were amazingly fast, even after travelling 500 km by bus (right after their Thessaloniki concert) and performing the same night in Athens. I couldn't believe my eyes and ears hearing the Arise album played so fast - and they didn't even miss a beat.

[lacipharius]

Damn it's obvious that Max ain't gutiar god but he's metal god... he found Sepultura... wrote Beneath the remains or Roots... so does it really matter whether he's good guitarplayer or not?

[mcgarnacle21]

I agree. I'm sick of hearing about people comparing guitarists saying, "oh he's not as technical as so and so" or "he's not as fast as blah blah". It's about the feeling of the riffs and what they give to the guitarist and the listener. Plain and simple. And max gives that feeling.

[HardToFindUserName]

Check out guitar riff at 5:30.

It sound strikingly similar to Nirvana's Scentless Aprentice (one of riffs from this song - brigde before each verse)

I think it's not intended in this case but it happens quite regularly to hear such similarities.

[wizzear]

he's a good artist! has his own style and it's all good! but dudes! Max aint a good guitar player!

[SwedeMetal]

I'll take a good songwriter over a good guitar player any day.

[OrielFilms]

Max is one of my idols :)

Funnily my bottem 2 strings broke and i havnt fixed them so now i play with 4 like him ^_^

[satsMM]

He's not the best guitar-player ;) But his voice rocks!

[marrocco74]

I like SEPULTURA,i like SOULFLy..... :)))))))