Description

The amazing Brandon Ellis is not just a great player but also a uniquely intuitive observer of his own technique. Our wide-ranging conversation touches on an array of mechanical subjects, from joint motion to escape motion and more. More often than not, the Magnet footage reveals that Brandon’s guesses are indeed what is actually happening, even when it comes to the kind of subtle changes that occur during high-speed, high-gain playing.

In the conversation we visit a number of Brandon’s inventive mechanical and musical ideas, from his opportunistic use of alternate and economy picking techniques to the use of major add2 arpeggios and the melodic minor mode in metal, to borrowed classical harmony like Neopolitan and augmented sixth chords, and more.

The 1-hour-and-twenty-minute interview features 67 musical examples with tablature, including a complete transcription of Brandon’s rhythm parts and solo on “How Very Dead” by the Black Dahlia Murder.