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Headbanging is a good way to get into heavy metal music, but when done incorrectly, it can leave you with a gnarly headache or whiplash. If you want to slam to some heavy riffs without battering your brain, stretch your neck before the show and start slowly. Bend your knees slightly and put your whole upper body into the headbang—not just your head and neck. Switch up your technique and add an air guitar to rock out like a pro.
How to Safely Headbang
- Headbang with your whole body, not just your neck. Keep your knees bent and bring your body down from the waist.
- Stretch your neck before the show by turning it to the side until you feel a stretch. Put your chin to your chest and hold it, then cup the back of your neck and look back.
- Headbang in short bursts and take breaks in between. Only bring your head down to a 75º angle, max, and headbang to every other beat if the music is too fast.
Steps
Basic Headbanging Technique
- Stand comfortably with your knees slightly bent. Set your feet a little wider than shoulder-width apart, with one slightly in front of the other. Lower your center of gravity by bending your knees. This stance helps you keep your balance and absorbs some of the force created by flinging your body around like an electrified metalcore beast.
- For maximum composure, stay poised on the balls of your feet.
- A solid foundation also helps you stand your ground in an out-of-control pit.
- Start with a slow, rhythmic nod. As the band launches into their first number, straighten your neck and stick out your chin and chest. Nod with your whole upper body, finishing the arc by nodding your head slightly forward, then bringing it backward as you come up like you’re turning a handle with your chin.
- This is the “warm up” phase of the show, so start slowly. The real headbanging will begin a few songs into the set once everybody cuts loose.
- Try to let the tempo guide you as much as possible. If the music is too fast, try nodding to every second beat.
- Headbanging can strain your neck or cause whiplash if you’re not careful, so consider stretching your neck before the show, drinking lots of water, and avoiding alcohol.
Advertisement - Bring your head back up by arcing it slightly at the bottom. Imagine that you're drawing a “J” at the bottom of each headbang. Most strains, pulls, cricks, jars, and rattles occur when metalheads reverse direction too quickly. By moving in an arc, you make the whole motion more fluid so your brain doesn't ricochet around inside your skull.
- Pick a direction for the “upswing” and keep it consistent.
- Switch up your technique every now and then to avoid putting undue stress on the same parts of your neck.
- Slam hard to the heavy riffs. During the song's main guitar line or chorus, start swinging your head down towards your knees.[1] Lean all the way down to about waist height before coming back up. To prevent injury, bend your neck at a 75º angle, max.[2]
- It may help to headbang along to the bass line if the drum beat is too fast to keep up with.
- As the tempo of the songs gets faster, swing your head at a shallower and shallower angle. The threshold for neck injuries at 180 BPM is a 45º angle.[3]
- Watch out for the person in front of you to avoid knockin' noggins while you're getting radical.
- Speed up to match the tempo of a breakdown. When the band unleashes a particularly savage solo, bend over at the waist and rapidly shake your head up and down. This technique is sometimes called the “whiplash.” The key here is to use small movements so you can go faster—you only want to lift your head a few inches at a time.[4]
- Give yourself extra leverage and support by putting your hands on your knees while you whip your head around.
- Headbanging at this velocity can quickly leave you exhausted and disoriented, so take a break for a few moments between songs. If you feel sick or dizzy, slow down to the head nod or take your chances in the mosh pit.
Community Q&A
- QuestionHow do I jump while headbanging?Community AnswerJump up and simultaneously drop your head down to waist height, then move back into a standing position when your feet hit the ground.
- QuestionHow does one headbang while playing an instrument?IncredibleGuinevereCommunity AnswerJust nod your head forward and back. You can't headbang if you are playing a wind instrument, though.
- QuestionHow do I know if I am headbanging correctly?Community AnswerTry watching several videos online, and record a video of yourself head-banging, to see if that is the same. You could also ask some friends or peers.
Video
Tips
- Classics like Slayer, Megadeth, Judas Priest, Venom, and Anthrax have catalogs full of great (but not too intense) tunes to practice headbanging to.Thanks
- Take a hot bath after the show to help soothe your sore muscles.Thanks
- If you need some help picking up the subtleties of the technique, watch music videos or live performances of your favorite metal band, or keep an eye on what the other fans around you are doing.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
- If you feel like headbanging straight down doesn’t suit the song, then try whipping your head back and forth in a half circle. This helps swing whatever you have on your head, too.
- Circular headbanging looks best with long hair, but it’s not absolutely necessary.
Warnings
- Don't drink and headbang. This is a disaster just waiting to happen.Thanks
- Headbanging may be all in good fun, but it's not without its risks. Slamming too hard, too fast, or for too long may increase your chances of injuries like whiplash, concussions, or even minor brain damage.[18]Thanks
References
- ↑ https://youtu.be/RIpMJ6SIgPs?t=52
- ↑ https://www.bmj.com/content/337/bmj.a2825
- ↑ https://www.bmj.com/content/337/bmj.a2825
- ↑ https://youtu.be/RIpMJ6SIgPs?t=99
- ↑ https://youtu.be/RIpMJ6SIgPs?t=61
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/do-habits-cause-your-neck-pain
- ↑ https://www.bmj.com/content/337/bmj.a2825
- ↑ https://youtu.be/RIpMJ6SIgPs?t=156
- ↑ https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/2/130219-heavy-metal-physics-particle-mosh-pit-science-music/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/RIpMJ6SIgPs?t=126
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/relief-dos-and-donts-for-that-nagging-neck-pain
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/multimedia/neck-stretches/vid-20084697
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/how-to-soothe-a-sore-neck
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7838928/
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/do-habits-cause-your-neck-pain
- ↑ https://www.self.com/gallery/stretches-relieve-sore-neck-sitting-all-day
- ↑ https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/health-encyclopedia/he.healthy-upper-back-exercises.zp4447
- ↑ http://time.com/2956673/heavy-metal-headbanging-motorhead-brain-damage/
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