How To Write Guitar Riffs

Countless great songs are based on riffs—catchy guitar phrases that repeat until they’re seared into your brain forever—or snappy chord sequences as memorable as any melody. Riffs get people excited, whether they are musicians or listeners. Advertising agencies use riffs on television, internet videos, and cinema trailers. Riffs sell concert tickets, guitars, and downloads. Youtube is full of guitarists playing riffs. This book now in its third and updated edition digs deep into the world of the guitar riff, identifying 30 distinct types and illustrating them with reference to 150 examples: from Howlin Wolf to Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Chuck Berry to Limp Bizkit, the Kinks to the Strokes, Black Sabbath to the White Stripes, Coldplay and Kings of Leon. The book includes 56 tracks of audio, illustrating all types of riffs covered, plus notation and TAB for 40 original example riffs composed by the author. In the book you can trace the connections between riff types and the scales, modes, or chords from which they’re drawn learn the guitar tips and arranging techniques to get the best from your riffs read an exclusive interview with Led Zeppelin and Them Crooked Vultures bassist John Paul Jones, a multi-instrumentalist, writer, and arranger with 50 years experience in riff-based music.

RIFFS: HOW TO CREATE AND PLAY GREAT GUITAR RIFFS: UPDATED AND REVISED

Explains how to create songs to be played on guitar, including advice on such basics of songwriting as structure, rhythm, melody, and lyrics.

This “oral autobiography” of Jimmy Page, the intensely private mastermind behind Led Zeppelin—one of the most enduring bands in rock history—is the most complete and revelatory portrait of the legendary guitarist ever published. More than 30 years after disbanding in 1980, Led Zeppelin continues to be celebrated for its artistic achievements, broad musical influence, and commercial success. The band's notorious exploits have been chronicled in bestselling books; yet none of the individual members of the band has penned a memoir nor cooperated to any degree with the press or a biographer. In Light & Shade, Jimmy Page, the band’s most reticent and inscrutable member, opens up to journalist Brad Tolinski, for the first time exploring his remarkable life and musical journey in great depth and intimate detail. Based on extensive interviews conducted with the guitarist/producer over the past 20 years, Light & Shade encompasses Page’s entire career, beginning with his early years as England’s top session guitarist when he worked with artists ranging from Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, and Burt Bacharach to the Kinks, The Who, and Eric Clapton. Page speaks frankly about his decadent yet immensely creative years in Led Zeppelin, his synergistic relationships with band members Robert Plant, John Bonham, and John Paul Jones, and his notable post-Zeppelin pursuits. While examining every major track recorded by Zeppelin, including “Stairway to Heaven,” “Whole Lotta Love,” and “Kashmir,” Page reflects on the band’s sensational tours, the filming of the concert movie The Song Remains the Same, his fascination with the occult, meeting Elvis Presley, and the making of the rock masterpiece Led Zeppelin IV, about which he offers a complete behind-the-scenes account. Additionally, the book is peppered with “sidebar” chapters that include conversations between Page and other guitar greats, including his childhood friend Jeff Beck and hipster icon Jack White. Through Page’s own words, Light and Shade presents an unprecedented first-person view of one of the most important musicians of our era.

From Grammy-winning musical icon and legendary bassist Victor L. Wooten comes an inspiring parable of music, life, and the difference between playing all the right notes…and feeling them. The Music Lesson is the story of a struggling young musician who wanted music to be his life, and who wanted his life to be great. Then, from nowhere it seemed, a teacher arrived. Part musical genius, part philosopher, part eccentric wise man, the teacher would guide the young musician on a spiritual journey, and teach him that the gifts we get from music mirror those from life, and every movement, phrase, and chord has its own meaning...All you have to do is find the song inside. “The best book on music (and its connection to the mystic laws of life) that I've ever read. I learned so much on every level.”—Multiple Grammy Award–winning saxophonist Michael Brecker

Are you ready to master the Soul rhythm guitar skills that defined three generations? Discover where Gospel meets R&B Soul is one of the most important skills any guitarist can master. It's an essential genre that combines the best elements of Gospel, R&B and Jazz into the dance music that fuelled Motown, Atlantic and Stax records. In fact, Soul is still one of the most influential styles inspiring today's cutting-edge guitarists like Mark Lettieri and Cory Wong. The pioneers of Soul guitar carved out a unique style that combined well-crafted guitar parts with immense rhythm and groove. Learning these Soul guitar parts will not only make you an excellent rhythm player, it'll show you how the guitar should function in any tight band. The Soul Rhythm Guitar Book Playing like an authentic Soul guitarist means reaching for new voicings and learning how to sit perfectly in your band. Fortunately, Soul guitar maestro Stuart Ryan is here to show you how. Soul Guitar Skills You'll Master - Effective three-note chord shapes that will cut through a band mix - Essential "Drop 2" chords up and down the neck - The essential chord progressions of Soul, Pop, Funk and Motown - How to use richer 9th, 11th and 13 chords appropriately The Art of Soul Guitar Groove No guitarist gets hired just for their chord knowledge - you've got develop great feel and groove too. The Soul Rhythm Guitar Book teaches you the art of great chord phrasing and how to lock-in seamlessly with the band... In fact, you'll become the complete in the pocket guitarist player using space and syncopation to build the groove. Hooks and Fills Session guitar pro Stuart Ryan also gives you a wealth of chord embellishment tricks and techniques to spice up your rhythm parts. You'll master the iconic techniques of Soul guitar pioneers such as Steve Cropper, Cornell Dupree, Wah Wah Watson and Jimmy Nolan (James Brown) who have played on thousands of hits and billions of streams. Bring it on Home Along with over 120 musical examples, all your new skills are brought together in four original Soul tracks you can learn, along with complete backing tracks. In these pages you'll discover everything you need to become the complete Soul musician - from the essential chord voicings and groove of Soul, the 3rds and 6ths melodies of Steve Cropper, right through to the Funking rhythmic stylings of Jimmy Nolan. It's time to Get Ready, Move on Up, and become the ultimate Soul Man (or Woman!) with The Soul Rhythm Guitar Book. Buy It Now