Learn Guitar Riffs the Easy Way
How to Learn Guitar Riffs Without Knowing Scales
Do you wish to learn guitar riffs without learning complicated scales? Well it is possible but there are 2 sets of skills you have to master. One is learning technique and the other is learning how to play over a chord progression. Other than that, there is no way around it.
The first step to learn guitar riffs is to be familiar with techniques. What are they? It encompasses all skills necessary for lead guitar solos. When we talk about technique, we are basically referring to skills like string bend, bend/release, natural harmonic, pinch harmonic, hammer-on, pull off, picking, right hand tapping, two handed tapping, tremolo picking, sweep picking, slide, vibrato, palm muting and others. These are basic skills which you can easily pick up by reading information online.
Another set of lead guitar skills you must learn is how to play over a chord progression. This is where many beginners go wrong. They aren’t shown the proper way to progress over chords. While they know how to use the right notes, they do not really know about progression. Playing each scale up and down repeatedly is definitely not considered a “solo” act.
It all boils down to the music theory that beginners are taught. Music theory is usually the exception rather than the rule when you want to learn guitar riffs. There is always a misconception that scales and chords are 2 entirely different entities. That is a huge myth! The answer to “how can one play over a chord progression” lies in simply playing the notes in the chord. Melodic solos consist of steps (not the entire scale) and leaps (skipping steps). Having a good understanding of this will make it clear why you can learn lead guitar without scales at all.
Now when you play chord tones through a progression, you will pick a tone for each and then decorate it by playing before and after. In this way, the lines are connected. As for non-chord tones, play it in a CAGED design or shape. Basically, all major scales can be easily broken down into 5 shapes on the fretboard. This lets you visualize better and able to perform the notes around tones.
As a start, you may want to play the root notes of a chord progression, followed by thirds and fifths. A good mix of tones which are blended with notes will set the stage for a cool melodic solo. Now you are in a better shape to learn guitar riffs without scales and maybe even create your own!
Learning Guitar By Using Guitar Tab Sheet Music
If you aren’t concerned with creating your own riffs it’s possible to learn your favorite guitar riffs simply be learning how to read guitar tab. Guitar tab is basically a staff showing the fret and the string to be played. Take the intro for “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple for example. It’s simple to play and easily recognizable. Once you understand guitar tab the biggest obstacle is learning proper finger position.
For reading guitar tab, basically the lines on the staff are the strings and the numbers are the fret where your fingers should hold down those string. IT’S REALLY IS THAT SIMPLE!
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