You Know That Cool Riff Options

[michaelwalker]

I always to have a really cool but easy riff to play to impress people, anyone got one, you know teh one that always impressed you when a buddy's friend came over with him and played it and you said, man I wish I could do that?/
that's what I want, I learn scales but never seem to put together a cool riff of my own, anyone got any tabs to those cool riffs??

Which scale is the best, seems everyone is confusing me on this, G major, then a minor, then ??

I just want a really cool classic rock riff..

[Bossie]

Maybe something like this ..

[Dinaga]

I almost always start my way off on rehearsals or gigs warming up with Iron Maiden's The Wicker Man or Deep Purple's Burn riff It's just simple and in your face

I'd love to shoot all the metal riffs that come to my mind right now, but since you ask for classic rock, you can try Zeppelin's Black Dog... or Rainbow's Man on the Silver Mountain... Simple yet very very effective! Also, Bad to the Bone riff is pretty badass too

Actually, I found this site where you have lots of material to choose from
http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_guitarriff.html

About scales... well, there isn't such thing as the 'best' scale There are scales which are used more than others, but that shouldn't limit you because you can always find a song in a different scale (key), so you should know how they are formed.

Without going too much in theory, I'll just say that when you know one major scale, you pretty much know all of the major scales because you just change the position of that scale. If you want more detail about that just let me know

And when you know one minor scale, you can quickly generate all of them! So, the good news are - you only need to learn 2 scales - major and minor scale, and you can play a HUGE number of songs

To make it even easier - There is a relationship between major and minor scales too! But I won't go into that for now, I'd just recommend you to check this out if you want to learn more about scales:
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Beginn...-C-Major-Scale/

This post has been edited by Dinaga: Apr 22 2012, 08:59 PM

[michaelwalker]

Actually, I found this site where you have lots of material to choose from
http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_guitarriff.html

About scales... well, there isn't such thing as the 'best' scale There are scales which are used more than others, but that shouldn't limit you because you can always find a song in a different scale (key), so you should know how they are formed.

Without going too much in theory, I'll just say that when you know one major scale, you pretty much know all of the major scales because you just change the position of that scale. If you want more detail about that just let me know

And when you know one minor scale, you can quickly generate all of them! So, the good news are - you only need to learn 2 scales - major and minor scale, and you can play a HUGE number of songs

I liek this idea only need to learn 2 scales, yes please tell me more...so far this is the best answer i ever got..

[Dinaga]

Actually, I found this site where you have lots of material to choose from
http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_guitarriff.html

About scales... well, there isn't such thing as the 'best' scale There are scales which are used more than others, but that shouldn't limit you because you can always find a song in a different scale (key), so you should know how they are formed.

Without going too much in theory, I'll just say that when you know one major scale, you pretty much know all of the major scales because you just change the position of that scale. If you want more detail about that just let me know

And when you know one minor scale, you can quickly generate all of them! So, the good news are - you only need to learn 2 scales - major and minor scale, and you can play a HUGE number of songs

I liek this idea only need to learn 2 scales, yes please tell me more...so far this is the best answer i ever got..

Well, there's much more to scales than this simplified view I posted, but for starters it will do fine

I made these two for you using GMC's scale generator.

This is the A major scale:



This is the C major scale:



Now tell me, do you notice any similarities? See for yourself

This is A minor scale:



And this is C minor scale:



Now compare the first two scales and tell me your observations Then compare the last two scales and again, tell me what you noticed!

This post has been edited by Dinaga: Apr 22 2012, 09:41 PM

[michaelwalker]

Well, there's much more to scales than this simplified view I posted, but for starters it will do fine

I made these two for you using GMC's scale generator.

This is the A major scale:



This is the C major scale:



Now tell me, do you notice any similarities? See for yourself


They are the same shapes different Fret locations is all

This is A minor scale:



And this is C minor scale:



Now compare the first two scales and tell me your observations Then compare the last two scales and again, tell me what you noticed!

And by the way the Scorpions is my Favorite Band...I have the original Animal Magnetism album from Germany...

Love your scorpions, it is my Dream to play their music..

[Dinaga]

They are the same shapes different Fret locations is all

Yup, that's right Now you know the major and minor scale!
The next step is to learn more than just one shape!





Et cetera et cetera...
It's all same notes - the same C major scale, just in different positions. After you practice the positions, at the end you should be able to connect everything and see the full picture:



You love Scorpions? Then check out Ben's lessons - lots of awesome Scorpions material there! With enough practice and dedication you can play 'em
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/instructor/Ben-Higgins/

This post has been edited by Dinaga: Apr 22 2012, 11:14 PM

[michaelwalker]

Yup, that's right Now you know the major and minor scale!
The next step is to learn more than just one shape!





Et cetera et cetera...
It's all same notes - the same C major scale, just in different positions. After you practice the positions, at the end you should be able to connect everything and see the full picture:



You love Scorpions? Then check out Ben's lessons - lots of awesome Scorpions material there! With enough practice and dedication you can play 'em
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/instructor/Ben-Higgins/

I think this is where I get lost, what do I do now..How do I make my own riff out of that..

[Dinaga]

I think this is where I get lost, what do I do now..How do I make my own riff out of that..

Well the simplest answer I can give on that is - play with the notes in the scale a combine them using different techniques. That's called phrasing. It's not an easy task - but with time you'll be able to create better and better riffs. It's a matter of creativity, inspiration, musical knowledge and technique!

You can also listen to music you like and try to find out how those riffs are formed, then try to apply those ideas.

[Gabriel Leopardi]

What about this one?

[Cosmin Lupu]

I would go for this one



The intro riff sounds incredibly powerful and optimistic!

Cosmin

[RobinDutchZHero]

I keep checking this topic as well. Hmm... I might go with the Aerosmith clip and try that one! Cool!

[michaelwalker]

I would go for this one



The intro riff sounds incredibly powerful and optimistic!

Cosmin

Can't see it Cosmin, says not available in my Country LOl....can ya fix, I'm curious...

Well the simplest answer I can give on that is - play with the notes in the scale a combine them using different techniques. That's called phrasing. It's not an easy task - but with time you'll be able to create better and better riffs. It's a matter of creativity, inspiration, musical knowledge and technique!

You can also listen to music you like and try to find out how those riffs are formed, then try to apply those ideas.

Ok, how bout a Small Riff using those 2 Scales, or one of them?? you got something maybe already made up or simple? an Example would be nice a Tab maybe ?

Thanks for all the help, i'm on it today with those 2 scales, then I got a small e book 99 Rock Riffs.. famous ones and will prqactice those they are like one liners so that should give me some ideas!

Any more awesome Riffs I like the Eat the Rich! and Sprint of the radio even though it Fast.. can't See Cosmin's Lol..so can't say much....lol

[Dinaga]

Ok, how bout a Small Riff using those 2 Scales, or one of them?? you got something maybe already made up or simple? an Example would be nice a Tab maybe ?

OK mate, here it is. We'll be using the scale of E minor, in this position:



And we're going to play Iron Maiden's Hallowed be Thy Name riff.

Here's the tab:



If you have Guitar Pro 5, then download the tab in attachment and try it out. If not, then download the midi so you can listen to the timing of the riff. Notice that the whole riff is entirely inside this E minor shape.

This post has been edited by Dinaga: Apr 23 2012, 04:56 PM

Attached File(s)

 Iron_Maiden___Hallowed_Be_Thy_Name_riff.gp5 ( 3.82K ) Number of downloads: 15
 Iron_Maiden___Hallowed_Be_Thy_Name_riff.mid ( 4.11K ) Number of downloads: 10

 

[Gabriel Leopardi]

I keep checking this topic as well. Hmm... I might go with the Aerosmith clip and try that one! Cool!

Great! Aerosmith has really cool riffs.

Here you have other ideas:

[michaelwalker]

OK mate, here it is. We'll be using the scale of E minor, in this position:



And we're going to play Iron Maiden's Hallowed be Thy Name riff.

Here's the tab:



If you have Guitar Pro 5, then download the tab in attachment and try it out. If not, then download the midi so you can listen to the timing of the riff. Notice that the whole riff is entirely inside this E minor shape.

Ok awesome, I have GP 6 actually..it will work..Man I wish I knew what you did, it sucks starting out at 50, now i'm 51, it's just memory and patience for me, luckilyI am retired now thanks to my business I can practice everyday..if I want to..

[Dinaga]

Ok awesome, I have GP 6 actually..it will work..Man I wish I knew what you did, it sucks starting out at 50, now i'm 51, it's just memory and patience for me, luckilyI am retired now thanks to my business I can practice everyday..if I want to..

No problem mate, and don't worry It's all about playing what you love, with enough work it will come!

[Bossie]

You'll make it ..just go easy, try to relax when you learn riffs or licks...plenty of time to learn.
Age doesn't matter at all.... succes with it!

[Ben Higgins]

Classic riffs you say ?

Long Live Rock n Roll by Rainbow !

[Cosmin Lupu]

Sure thing man!