For whom the bell tolls challenge
- May 2
- 2 min read
Hey there JamChallengersđź‘‹! As May unfolds and the first pulse of summer starts to build, this challenge locks into a different kind of heat - the steady, unforgiving and precise toll of the rhythm. This month, we honor Metallica with For whom the bell tolls.
Your goal is simple: lock in to the rhythm of this epic song!
How it works
Watch the video below and learn to play this amazing song.
To keep this fun, let's split it in 3 phases, depending on your skill.
Phase 1: lock in the rhythm using only 2 chords for the first 50 seconds of the song with the Intro section (from the video).
Phase 2: continue with playing some palm muted power chords with the Break section (from the video).
Phase 3: continue with Solo1 and Interlude sections (from the video).
Start with Phase 1.
Once you finish Phase 1 and play it spot on, continue with Phase 2, then 3 to keep things interesting.
Feeling adventurous? Continue with the remaining of the song.
How to join
Record your takes - audio only is totally fine. Video if you want, but it's not required.
Post it on our Discord, on the appropriate channel for your instrument or level (beginner, intermediate, advanced).
We encourage you to start small:
Learn a few bars (5-10 seconds is enough for starters).
Record it.
Post on Discord.
Learn a bit more. Record again. Post again.
Repeat until you're happy with where you're at.
That's it! Each post is a checkpoint you'll actually build to see your progress in real time: that's the whole point of these challenges!
You can also post on your social media using #ForWhomTheBellTollsChallenge and tag us. We'll link your submission in our Discord challenge thread for you.
For whom the bell tolls backing track to practice with
What's in it for you
A structured reason to actually practice this month.
A clear, low-pressure way to see your own progress over several weeks.
Your best submissions get featured on our socials and spotlighted on jamchallenged.com for the whole month.
Practice with others the same pieces and learn from each other through feedback.
Level up your music skill.
About sounding "good enough"
Sounding "rough" is not an issue. This is the literally the point! Nobody's first 5-10 seconds of a new song sound polished and nobody here expects it to. Our challenges exist precisely for the messy, in-progress, "I'm figuring things out" stage. This is where the actual practicing happens and where progress is made obvious!
Post more rough stuff. That's what we're here for: progress, not perfection.
Post your first 5-10 seconds from your #ForWhomTheBellTollsChallenge today.
New musical challenges every month. See challenges from previous months.
