Rock Riffs
Rock Riffs
How To Create A Blues Guitar Riff From Scratch
Looking to brew up some blues guitar hoodoo but don't know the mystical formula? Though the blues is a deceptively simple guitar style, you can get started creating your own classic blues guitar riffs with a few simple tools. Check it out..
I'm going to give you some of the basic tools here, as well as a little guidance on what you should look to learn next.
Tool #1: Your main squeeze, the big daddy, the mystical master of the blues, is the pentatonic minor scale. Not only do we use it in blues guitar, but also funk, jazz, rock, metal, and everywhere else.
Here's the formula for a minor pentatonic scale: 1 b3 4 5 b7
Just five simple little notes and a world of possibilities.
In a couple of different keys, the scale would be:
C minor pent: C Eb F G Bb
A minor pent: A C D E G
E minor pent: E G A B D
This is an easy scale to move around the neck for any key you need. Tab? Sure...
The tab on the left is E minor pentatonic in the open position. The second is A minor pentatonic in the 5th position. That pattern is movable to any of the frets.
------------------------------------0--3 -------------------------------------5--8---
-----------------------------0--3------- ------------------------------5--8----------
----------------------0--2-------------- -----------------------5--7-----------------
---------------0--2--------------------- ----------------5--7------------------------
--------0--2---------------------------- ---------5--7-------------------------------
-0--3----------------------------------- --5--8--------------------------------------
Where to go from here:
- Add the blue note, the b5. In the E pattern above that would be a Bb. In the A pattern it's an Eb.
- The minor pentatonic can be played in many different position patterns. Learn at least 3.
- Learn the major pentatonic pattern. You'll find there's a relationship between the major and minor pentatonics
Tool #2: The swing (or shuffled) 8th note. To really play the blues you need to swing like a drunk at the edge of a cliff. Normally when you play 8th notes, each note is exactly the same length. We call those "straight 8ths".
A swing 8th pattern is actually based on an 8th note triplet - 3 note inside one beat. Count it like "tri-ple-et, tri-ple-et" What we do though is tie the first two notes in the triplet together. So you're basically playing just the first and third notes of the triplet. That makes the first 8th note long and the second 8th note short. - Boom... Swing 8ths.
Where to go from here:
- Learn to mix regular triplets with your swing 8ths. Work with both chords and single notes.
- Listen to lots of blues and jazz to absorb the feel of playing these.
Now, you can start constructing riffs by using those pentatonic scales and swing 8ths. But here's a couple bonus ideas to bust them open a bit.
Tool #3: The sliding 3rd. In the blues we're allowed to mix our major and minor ideas together. "Blasphemy!", says Beethoven. Well, Beethoven's dead and BB King is still touring.
A great way to get into this idea is the sliding third. In your minor pentatonic scale you have the minor 3rd (b3). We can also add the major 3rd (natural 3), and use both. In the E scale above that would be a G#. In the A scale it's a C#. The two notes can be used right next to each other (hence the term 'sliding 3rd') or separate. Your choice.
Tool #4: The 6th riff aka the Boogie Riff. From Johnny B. Goode to countless Chicago style blues guitar classics, this is a must have riff. Play an open E power chord (E and B) with your first finger on the B on your 5th string. Pick that twice. Then, leaving your 1st finger where it is, put your 3rd finger on the C# on the 5th string. Pick that twice. Go back and forth between those two and you have your basic sixth riff. It's moveable and there are countless variations on the idea.
More bonus tips:
- The notes that really define the sound of a pentatonic blues scale are the b3, b7, and the b5 (the 'blue note'). Use the first two liberally in your riffs, and the last sparingly for flavor.
- Most blues songs are built around a 12 bar blues format with some small variations. Learn it well, but don't be afraid of veering away from it for some other forms as well.
- Lastly, do a ton of listening. The more you listen, the more you absorb the common traits of the blues. This will help you to know when you're playing something traditional or happily breaking every rule in the book.
About the Author
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What are some sweet lesser known more MODERN rock songs with just dirty guitar riffs?
I want to know some modern rock songs, with just some nasty electric guitar riffs and really upbeat songs
black label society-suicide messiah metal band but its really nasty nothing like crazy but a great rock song pretty much
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Dinosaur Pile-Up: Indie Rocks using 8-track recorder
For the past few years, electrifying new alternative rock bands come out that showcase truly fresh perspectives in music, which was not heard and presented before. Some music lovers believe that UK’s music scene is still as thrilling as it have ever been.
It is quite excited to acquire a Dinosaur Pile-Up’s music. If you’ve been hearing some buzzes about the band, try to find out what they have to offer for good. Although their music was not the type of groundbreaking sound you are hoping for, still their sounds are noteworthy enough to deserve a listen.
It is good to note that the band originated from Leed, which was headed by Matt Bigland. They are fond of the lo-fi songs that somewhat influenced their music. Bigland composes all lyrics of the band’s songs and records it on an 8-track recorder. This DIY philosophy is pretty obvious in how rough some of the songs can get when played. But you should take note that the roughness adds to the over-all appeal of the songs.
The band’s EP that was discreetly titled The Most Powerful EP in the Universe, contains five tracks. The appetizer Summer Hit Single made it very evident on why the band has been compared to Weezer. Its sweet melodies and power riffs bottled in a goofy package is a typical Weezer formula that the group has co-opted quite productively. The entire EP is what you would be expecting from lo-fi indie rock bands. In some angles Dinosaur Pile-up is a UK band that sounds like an American band. This maybe accounted to Bigland who frankly wears his influence to the band.
It is quite unsatisfactory for a five-song EP that is not a consistent endeavor. It could be noticed that the first two songs sound pretty diverse from the last three songs, which seems the strongest numbers. Of course, understanding an EP, maybe the songs were written at different times during the band’s life. Some fans would be missing the kind of a flawless cohesion of EP’s like the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s debut, which is a sensation of ripeness and laser care. It could be reviewed that the strongest song in Dinosaur Pile-Up’s offerings is the last piece, “Beach Bug”. May this group continually develop this kind of matured sound.
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