Speed metal riffing lesson, More cool riffs Options

[Kristofer Dahl]

Speed metal riffing lesson

Here is a follow-up on the last riff lesson from Pavel. This one gives me Megadeth vibes.

Even though the topic of this lesson might seem frightening to the beginner - the basic rhythm of this riff is something any guitarist should be able get down. Lots of fun for everyone - in other words!

Make sure to spend some time jamming around - once you have got the basics down!

Kris

[Why]

It's a great riff and all, but is it really a lesson? I don't think so. It's just showing us the notes involved in how to play the particular riff and not exactly how to create a speed riff, or whats involved. That's the problem I have with it.

[Kristofer Dahl]

It's a great riff and all, but is it really a lesson? I don't think so. It's just showing us the notes involved in how to play the particular riff and not exactly how to create a speed riff, or whats involved. That's the problem I have with it.

Please let us know exactly what you would like in order to make it more of a lesson to you - that's exactly the kind of feedback we need!

[MickeM]

Please let us know exactly what you would like in order to make it more of a lesson to you - that's exactly the kind of feedback we need!

I'm very happy with this lesson and I like to see more. It's inspiring to watch and gives some fresh ideas! One of the movies even had the text section mention where to place your thumb (a problem I have)

A thing I miss is the graphic fretboard with the Phrygian mode printed.

[Ibanez_player]

Nice lesson. Lots of good ideas for riffing. I've never heard the term Phrygian Major. I've always heard people call it Phrygian Dominant since it is the 5th mode of the harmonic minor scale. Not saying it's wrong but I've just never heard it that way.

[Kristofer Dahl]

I'm very happy with this lesson and I like to see more. It's inspiring to watch and gives some fresh ideas! One of the movies even had the text section mention where to place your thumb (a problem I have)

A thing I miss is the graphic fretboard with the Phrygian mode printed.

Good point. Pavel - do you have photoshop?

[Pavel]

I use Corel software.

@Why: there is no recipe of creating riffs and songs, i can only give you tips on chords and scales - the rest is your imagination. If you learn this riff you'll notice how i incorporate scales and chords. it will also help you if you listen to speed-metal music, or power-metal bands. The more music and styles you get familiar with - the easier it will be for you to get into composing. Creating riffs is just like improvising a solo. Improvising is improved by constantly playing around with scales - so is riff-writing, you jut have to add chord progression and rhytm pattern.



@Ibanez_player: As you said - it is a mode of MINOR, but - if you replace the minor chord with a MAJOR chord than you get the PHRYGIAN MAJOR. Vinnie Moore has great lesson about modes, and that is where it is mentioned. If you play phrygian with MAJOR it sounds much more egyptian - i like that sound. Also it will be much easier to use Phrygian scales if you simply learn the pattern of it, than you won't have to count modes and notes every time.


Here is the text copied from Wikipedia:

"If the third note is augmented back to its major scale value, a Phrygian dominant scale, also known as Phrygian major and Jewish Scale results." - so Phrygian Major and Phrygian Dominant are actually the same scales!

This post has been edited by Pavel: Feb 9 2007, 01:45 PM

[Ikaros]

Great riff video lessons! I think it works well as an exercise and to get the feel for this style. I'd like to say too that Pavel is a great addition to this site. Keep it up. Thanks!

[Pavel]

Thanks Ikaros!

Talking about excercise and just to make something clear: a lot of videos will be created for you to practice certain technique, so it's not enough to see one video and think you can play that style/technique.

Thanks for the feedback!

[Why]

Well, Okay here's a trend I've noticed. I'm not making comparisons here but it's just something I happened to come across yesterday.

When watching Kris' video's they're very all rounded. First the scale will be shown, Then the techniques involved in the particular thing he is going to play (For example. In speedriffing it would be, Pinch harmonics, Palm muting, gallops etc.) and then slowly he'll get to chord combinations and how to create a cool riff instead of just a regular chord progression.

Pavels video's, despite being really great are very lick oriented. It's basically like having a tab, but a video with it too. What I'm saying is that Pavel's video's should add that 'Kris' element to it, and they'll be alot alot better. I don't mean to cause any offense here.

I'm saying this because from this lesson, people will simply just learn this riff. Many people here who are new to guitar might think to themselves 'that's great, I learnt a kickass riff!' but then when it comes to creation they'll have problems.

[Pavel]

And here we come again to our theories: Kris sais you can be a composer without having any talent, and i don't agree.

In my opinion if you don't have any imagionation you'll never be able to create some original riff. As i said - i can't teach you to write riffs because than all people in the world would have the same riffs. I can only give you tips, and riffs to practice. After you learn loads of riffs you will eventually find your way to writing riffs. The same happened to me after a few years of playing songs of Blind Guardian, Metallica, Vai, Satch and other bands. You are the one that will have to find your approach to that. And let's not make it a fight - just a discussion.

Btw. these riffs are not the beginners lessons - so i think when you want to learn some lesson - you first check it out and see if you'll be able to play it at all - than you decide to go see it or not. because palm muting and pinch harmonics are covered by Kris in older lessons so when you come to these riffs lessons i presume you already should know how to play with muting and pinch harmonics. Isn't it right?

This post has been edited by Pavel: Feb 9 2007, 07:21 PM

[Why]

And here we come again to our theories: Kris sais you can be a composer without having any talent, and i don't agree.

In my opinion if you don't have any imagionation you'll never be able to create some original riff. As i said - i can't teach you to write riffs because than all people in the world would have the same riffs. I can only give you tips, and riffs to practice. After you learn loads of riffs you will eventually find your way to writing riffs. The same happened to me after a few years of playing songs of Blind Guardian, Metallica, Vai, Satch and other bands. You are the one that will have to find your approach to that. And let's not make it a fight - just a discussion.

Btw. these riffs are not the beginners lessons - so i think when you want to learn some lesson - you first check it out and see if you'll be able to play it at all - than you decide to go see it or not. because palm muting and pinch harmonics are covered by Kris in older lessons so when you come to these riffs lessons i presume you already should know how to play with muting and pinch harmonics. Isn't it right?

However you want it, You might be right in assuming that, but I'd prefer one complete stacked video with all the techniques involved covered. The basics of riffs, how to create different riffs (Thrash, death, speed, power metal etc.) What to add to make them interesting. You're saying people discover this themselves but surely it'd be better to speed up the process a notch?

Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against the videos, It's just that they're too 'tab-with-video'. That's all.

[chainsbroken]

Well i guess I'm going to get in for just a sec and say that we do need a balance here at GMC. I really like the way Kris breaks everything down for us, and also give us something to pratice for days . but It is also nice to take a break from pratice (short break) and just learn some new riffs. I also find that learning new riffs helps me to be more creative when improvising. So if we just keep the balance of pratice and fun I think we will all benefit from it..

This post has been edited by chainsbroken: Feb 9 2007, 07:52 PM

[Ibanez_player]

I use Corel software.

@Why: there is no recipe of creating riffs and songs, i can only give you tips on chords and scales - the rest is your imagination. If you learn this riff you'll notice how i incorporate scales and chords. it will also help you if you listen to speed-metal music, or power-metal bands. The more music and styles you get familiar with - the easier it will be for you to get into composing. Creating riffs is just like improvising a solo. Improvising is improved by constantly playing around with scales - so is riff-writing, you jut have to add chord progression and rhytm pattern.
@Ibanez_player: As you said - it is a mode of MINOR, but - if you replace the minor chord with a MAJOR chord than you get the PHRYGIAN MAJOR. Vinnie Moore has great lesson about modes, and that is where it is mentioned. If you play phrygian with MAJOR it sounds much more egyptian - i like that sound. Also it will be much easier to use Phrygian scales if you simply learn the pattern of it, than you won't have to count modes and notes every time.
Here is the text copied from Wikipedia:

"If the third note is augmented back to its major scale value, a Phrygian dominant scale, also known as Phrygian major and Jewish Scale results." - so Phrygian Major and Phrygian Dominant are actually the same scales!

I see. Thanks for the explanation. I like the sound of that scale too.