Time To Gallop Lesson

Time To Gallop

Post your take

now playing:

  • Lesson
  • My notes

  • Welcome!

    This time we're taking a very basic look at the gallop - a picking pattern made very popular by bands such as Iron Maiden.
    I can only guess that the reason it's called a gallop is because it brings to mind warriors riding into battle on horseback!

    For an audio example of gallop picking, check out something like "The Trooper" or "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Iron Maiden... both examples of the 'gallop' and at different extremes of speed!

    How to play it?
    Well, basically a gallop is one down stroke of 8th note duration, followed by another down stroke and an upstroke. These last two notes are 16th note duration.

    A more refined, tight and chunky gallop would actually have the first note as a 16th note, but followed by a 16th note rest (pause, no sound) and then the other 2 16th notes.

    But rather than getting too bogged down with the technicalities, acquaint yourself with how it sounds.. and then how it feels!

    Galloping is an essential rhythm skill for metal of any genre... if this is something you need, then don't delay, saddle up the steeds and let's go!

    Tempo: 120

    Key: F#

    Gear: Marshall JVM 410H, OD2 Channel, Orange setting.
  • Login to use my notes. No GMC account? Register here.
Scrubbing / forward / rewind: arrow right, arrow left keys
Jump to start: Home or `s` , you can also click/tap the lesson part again (the numbers above player)
Go to next part: PageUP or End.
Volume: ArrowUp / ArrowDown keys
Go to any part: Number keys (combinations also possible)
Pause or play: `k` or space key
Fullscreen: `f`, esc to close
Increase / decrease speed : `+` or `-`