Guitar and Banjo lessons

Free Guitar Lesson

Some Rock Riffs

The pick direction for these riffs is DU, DU, DU, DU [down up, down up, down up, down up].
Its important to get your pick direction right so you can easily put rhythm into your playing.
With your left hand use the 1st and 3rd fingers.

The G Riff.

Practise it until it’s smooth. you’ll need to do it about 100 times.

The C Riff.

The next riff is exactly the same only start on the C note (5th string 3rd fret).

The D Riff.

The next riff is exactly the same only start on the D note (2 notes above the C. 5th string 5th fret).

The 12 Bar Blues in G.

Now try them altogether in a song.

[G [G [G [G
[C [C [G [G
[D [C [G [G

(play g for the final time but D7 for repeats.)

Try this easy riff from ‘Paper Cut’ by Linkin Park

The pick direction can be DUDUDUDU or UDUDUDUD.

Here’s another easy lick from ‘By The Way’ by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers

The count for this is 1+2+3+4+ but the pick direction is DDDDDDDD. With your right hand use your 1st and 4th fingers for the first bar then slide your 1st finger down to the 7th fret for the 2nd bar.