Cool Guitar Riffs #2
I’ve decided to start a series of videos for the guitar riff lessons. Hence the name “Cool Guitar Riffs #2.” Mostly because I’m running out of things to call them, so why not start giving them numbers?
I once had one of those Siamese fighting fish as a pet, and I wasn’t sure if he would live very long, so I named him Louis, in case I needed to start a dynasty…
Anyways, guitar riffs are a lot more fun than dead fish, so back on topic here! Today I’ve got one for you that uses fourths, and the A pentatonic minor scale. That’s the first riff in the video, and I’m sure you’ve heard this style of riff all over the place. It’s a pretty classic sound. Keep in mind that these riffs can sound very different if you simply turn off the talent button and play clean for a moment, or if you just change up the timing a little bit.
The second riff comes out of the A diatonic minor scale, root 5 -- also known as the Lydian scale if you like being technical about it. I find it more intuitive to talk about these scales in terms of what they are (A minor diatonic) and where they start (root 5 = 5th string… think about it… that means you’re starting on the 5th string, 12 fret, where you find the A). I’ve never related well to the technical terms like Lydian, Dorian and all the rest, and by and large I don’t find the terminology particularly helpful.
But there’s my rant for the day -- go ahead and hit play, watch the lesson, and then leave a comment below the video when you’re done!
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Thank You, Jon……………
Those are a couple a Cool Licks…….
Now its just Practice,Practice,Practice and a Budweiser or 2
Wal of the`RAPIDS` `CEDAR`that is……………………..
LATERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
[Reply]
Jonathan
I really love all the cool riffs and everything you teach!!!
You really make me love playing my guitar by watching makes me want to play more and more each day.
So don’t stop emailing me any thing you got going on!
Keep it sounding great like you already do. You really got it!!
Brandy
[Reply]
Thanks Brandy!!
[Reply]
Been playing a long time mainly as a rhythm guitarist doing some backup lead.When I started out a friend taught me this box pattern starting at the 6th string 3rd fret hitting the G then A notes, move to the 5th string hitting the C – D notes, slide up a whole note/step(2 frets) continuing the pattern and slide up again ending on the E note on the 1st string 12th fret. I then taught myself the Do, Re, Mi scale. I don’t know what it ‘s called (isn’t it the C maj. Chromatic?). I learned the five different positions up the neck. So my challenge is pulling melodic riffs from all that limited knowledge. When I heard your Pentatonic and Diatonic minor scales and how they lay on top of each other my mind exploded with the cravings of a sponge in the desert seeing water for the first time!! You pulling riffs out of these scales is exactly what I need and want.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Sir George
[Reply]
Jonathan Boettcher Reply:
August 19th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Now that is a very descriptive way of saying it! (sponge in the desert) I’m glad these videos are helpful for you…
[Reply]