- Guitars: Typically two electric guitars: a lead guitar and a rhythm guitar, sometimes referred to as a rhythm section. Both guitars are usually of the solid body type and played with a distortion effect to create the iconic metal sound.
- Bass: Almost always an electric bass guitar. In metal music, the bass guitar plays a prominent role, providing the low end and often outlining root notes and accents in the music's rhythm.
- Drums: Drums provide percussion, rhythm, and tempo for a metal band. A typical drum set consists of a kick drum, snare drum, hi-hats, tom-toms, and a ride cymbal.
- Vocals: Metal bands usually feature a vocalist who sings or screams the lyrics. The vocalist's style can vary from clean and melodic to aggressive and guttural.
- Amplifiers and PA system: Metal bands use electric instruments, so they require guitar amps, bass amp, and a vocal PA (public address) system to amplify their sound during performances.
- Cymbals: A complete drum set generally includes various cymbals, such as crash cymbals, splashes, and chinas, which are all played to create specific accents to drive the beats.
- Other instruments: Some metal bands may include keyboards, synthesizers, or additional percussion instruments to enhance their sound.