Episode 13 - Hard, Fast, Heavy, Experimental

Piece of music (or something resembling it) written recently coming out of a strange part of my brain -- a part rushed and contrived, and needing tender love and care. What can I say? It's experimental...

Riff 1.1
e------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A--------------------------6-----------2-----------------------------------6-----------2---5---4-
D--0---0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-----0-0-0-0-----0-0-0-0-0---0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-----0-0-0-0-----------

Riff 1.2
e------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D--------------5-----------7-----------10----------9---------------------------------------
A------------------6-----------8-----------9-----------8-------------------------------3---
D--3---3-5-5-----------7-----------9-----------10----------9---6-6-6-6-6-6-7-7-7-7-7-7-3---

Repeat R1.1
Riff 1.3
e-------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------
D--------------5-----------------------5-----------7----------- --5-----------9-----------
A------------------6-----------------------6-----------8------- ------6-----------8-------
D--3---3-5-5-----------7---3---3-5-5-----------7-----------9--- + ----------7-----------9---


Riff 2
e---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D--9-----------10----------------------9-----------10-----------------------------------
A------8-----------9-----------------------8-----------9--------------------------------
D----------9-----------10--6-6-6-6-6-6---------9-----------10--6-6-6-6-6-6-7-7-7-7-7-7--

e--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------x\\---
D--9-----------10----------------------9-----------10----------------------------------x\\---
A------8-----------9-----------------------8-----------9-------------------------------x\\---
D----------9-----------10--6-6-6-6-6-6---------9-----------10--6-6-6-6-6-6-7-7-7-7-7-7-x\\---

e---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B--12----------13----------------------12----------13-----------------------------------
G------10----------11----------------------10----------11-------------------------------
D----------9-----------10--6-6-6-6-6-6---------9-----------10--6-6-6-6-6-6-7-7-7-7-7-7--
A---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

e--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B--12----------13----------------------12----------13----------------------------------------
G------10----------11----------------------10----------11-------------------------------x\\--
D----------9-----------10--6-6-6-6-6-6---------9-----------10--6-6-6-6-6-6-7-7-7-7-7-7--x\\--
A---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------x\\--
D---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------x\\--

Riff 3
e------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A--------------------------6-----------2-----------------------------------6-----------2---5---4-
D--0---0---0---0---0---0-------0---0-------0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0-------0---0-------------

e------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D--------------------------------------------------------------5/--6\--3---------------3/--4\--1-0
A--------------------------6-----------2---------------------------------------------------------0
D--0---0---0---0---0---0-------0---0-------0---0---3---3-3-3---------------1---1-1-1-------------0

Riff 4
e-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------7-----------------------7-----------7---9---10-
D--5-----------------------8---7---5---7---8\--10------------------------------8---10-------------
A--5----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D--5---5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-----------------------------8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8------------------------

e----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G--9-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D------10--------------------------------------------------------------3-------3---
A----------12--10--8---12--7~~~--------7-------7~~~--------10------8~~~3-------3---
D------------------------------8-8-8-8-----8-8-----7-7-7-7-----7-7-----3-------3---

Riff 5
e----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D--------------------------------------------------0-----------0---0-----------0---
A--------------------------------------------------0-----------0---0-----------0---
D--0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-1---1-1-1-1-1---1---1-1-1-1-1---

Solo

Getting there!!!
Check back soon!!

Working on new material in free time

It's hard to say exactly what to call this blog and the material I post here. These are not really guitar lessons, but they do offer perspective. They are pieces of music written for a specific purpose generally to accent a certain style of playing, but don't directly instruct. They are examples. Examples of my approach to writing, to song structure and technique.

I initially set out with this podcast and blog with the intent to post quantity over quality. Though I have hours upon hours, thousands upon thousands of riffs backlogged, every note of music written thus far for the blog has all been new -- and of course always original. Currently I'm working on some new metal song a bit longer than previous posts, the drums taking the longest to perfect (as always).

But what do you think -- those that consistently follow this blog (you know who you are) -- should I post more frequent, short podcasts with only a riff or two? Or should I continue writing full pieces complete with drums and backing tracks? Not that there can't be quality in quantity, but you can damn well guarantee that the more complete stuff sounds way better.

Being back in school, taking more than a full load, I can only do so much; however, I do want to continue offering free and interesting hard rock material.

So, quality or quantity?

Episode 10 - Advanced metal techniques and arrangements

After having listened to The Faceless for the past few weeks, I wrote this piece. It's difficult to play, and has quite a peculiar arrangement, being non-traditional in style. The drums are super technical and fast, which makes it so delicious ;)

Tuning D A D G B e

Intro riff                                                                                         q for "quick"
     pm  .   .   .   .   .           .   .       .       .         . . . . . . . . . . . .         . .         . .
e---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D----------------------------------------------------------1---4---------------------------4---5----------------
A--4---4---4---4---4---4---3-------4---4---3-------1-------1/s-4---------------------------4---5---1q1---------1
D----0---0---0---0---0---0---4-3-0---0---0---4-3-0---3-1-0-1/s-4---0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-4---5---1q1---------1

I--1-------.-------.-------.-------2-------.-------.-------.-------3-------.-------.-------.-------4-------.----
Riff 1a
         pm. . . . . . . .                               . . . . . . . . .
e--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A--1-----------------------4-4-4-3-3-3-------------1-----------------------4-4-4-3-3-3-7-7-7-6-6-6-
D--1-----0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-------------5-5-5-4-4-4-1-----0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-------------------------

I--1-----------.-----------.-----------.-----------2-----------.-----------.-----------.-----------
         . . . . . . . . .                                                                  *  quick mute
e----------------------------------------------------------------------------------10-11-13-14-----------
B--------------------------------------------------------------------------10-11-13----------------------
G--------------------------------------------------------5-7-8-------7-8-11------------------------------
D--------------------------------------------------5-7-8-------7-8-10------------------------------------
A--1-----------------------4-4-4-3-3-3-------------------------------------------------------------------
D--1-----0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-------------5-5-5-4-----------------------------------------------------------

I--3-----------.-----------.-----------.-----------4-----------.-----------.-----------------.-----------
Riff 1b
         pm. . . . . . . .                               . . . . . . . . .
e--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A--2-----------------------5-5-5-4-4-4-------------2-----------------------5-5-5-4-4-4-9-9-9-8-8-8-
D--2-----1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-------------6-6-6-5-5-5-2-----1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-------------------------

I--1-----------.-----------.-----------.-----------2-----------.-----------.-----------.-----------
         . . . . . . . . .                         . .               . .
e--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A--2-----------------------5-5-5-4-4-4-------------1q1---------------1q1---------------------------
D--2-----1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-------------6-6-6-5-5-5-1q1---------------1q1---------------------------

I--3-----------.-----------.-----------.-----------4-----------.-----------.-----------.-----------

Riff 2
   pm. . .     . . . .                             . . . .                 . . . . . . .
e--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D--1-1-1-1-----1-1-1-1-----------------------------1-1-1-1-----------------1-1-1-1-1-1-1-----------

I--1-----------.-----------.-----------.-----------2-----------.-----------.-----------.-----------
   .  .  .  .  .  .                          .  .
e--------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------
D--------------------------3--3--------------------
A--------------2--2--5--5--------5--5--2--2--------
D--1--1--4--4--------------------------------4--4--

I--3-----------.-----------.-----------.-----------

   pm. . .     . . . .                             . . . . . .             . . . . . . 
e--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A--------------------------4b1/2-------------------------------4b1/2-------------------1-----0-----
D--1-1-1-1-----2-2-2-2-----------------------------2-2-2-2-2-2-------------2-2-2-2-2-2-1-----0-----

I--1-----------.-----------.-----------.-----------2-----------.-----------.-----------.-----------
   pm. . .     . . . .                             . . . . . . . . . . . . 
e--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6h9p6-5h8p5-
A--------------------------4b1/2-------------------------------------------5-7-8-5-7-8-------------
D--2-2-2-2-----2-2-2-2-----------------------------3-3-3-3-3-3-6-6-6-6-6-6-------------------------

I--3-----------.-----------.-----------.-----------4-----------.-----------.-----------.-----------

Repeat riff 1b

Riff 3
       pm. . . . . . . . . . . . .     . . . . . . . . . .
e----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D--1-------------------------------1-----------------------------------------------
A--1---0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-1---0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-2-2-2-1-1-1-3-3-3-2-2-2-
D--1---0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-1---0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0------------------------- x2

I--1-------.-------.-------.-------2-------.-------.-------.-----------------------

Riff 4
         pm .              .  .              .  .        .  .              .  .  .  .  .
e--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A--11p8-----8--11p8--11p8-----8--11p8--11p8-----8--10p7-----7--10p7-----4-----------------4--5--6--
D--------9-----------------9-----------------9-----------8-----------8-----6--5--4--5--6----------- x2

I--1-----------.-----------.-----------.-----------2-----------.-----------.-----------.-----------

e--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D--9p-6-----6--9p-6--9p-6-----6--9p-6--9p-6-----6--8p-5-----5--8p-5-----6-----------------6--7--8--
A--------8-----------------8-----------------8-----------7-----------7-----8--7--6--7--8-----------
D--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I--1-----------.-----------.-----------.-----------1-----------.-----------.-----------.-----------

e--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------10~~~~~~~~~~------------9~~~~~~~~~~~x\----------
D--------------------8-----------------8-10-11p10p8------------------------------------x\----------
A-----------7--10-11----11-10-7--10-11-------------------------------------------------x\----------
D--6--9--10----------------------------------------------------------------------------x\----------

I--3-----------.-----------.-----------.-----------4-----------.-----------.-----------.-----------
Riff 5
e--------------------------     e--------------------------
B--------------------------     B--------------------------
G--------------------------     G--------------------------
D--------------------------     D--------------------------
A-----------4--8p-4--------     A-----------3--7p-3--------
D--5--7--8-----------8--7-- x4  D--4--6--7-----------7--6-- x3

I--1-----------.-----------     I--1-----------.-----------

Pre-solo lick
e--------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------
D--7--8--10-8--10-11-10-11-13-11-13-14--------\----
A--------------------------------------12~~~~~\----
D--------------------------------------------------

I--1-----------.-----------.-----------.-----------

Solo
e-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G--11p10p8---------11p10p8-11p10p8---------11p10p8-11p10p8---------10/14~~~~~~-------------8~~~~~~~---------
D----------11p10p8-----------------11p10p8-----------------11p10p8------------------------------------------
A-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I--1---------------.---------------.---------------.---------------2---------------.---------------.-------.

e------------------------------------------------------------------
B------------------------------------------------------------------
G----------------------------------------------------------x\------
D-/10----------9~~~--------------------6p5-6~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~x\------
A----------------------------------------------------------x\------
D------------------------------------------------------------------

I--1-------.-------.-------.-------2-------.-------.-------.-------

e--------------------------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------8--9--12-8--9--12-
G--------------------------------------6--7--10-6--7--10-------------------
D--------------------5--6--9--5--6--9--------------------------------------
A--4--5--8--4--5--8--------------------------------------------------------
D--------------------------------------------------------------------------

I--1-----------------.-----------------.-----------------.-----------------
                          *tap       *t         *t         *t         *t         *t
e--9---10--13--9--10--13--16p13p10p9-16p13p10p9-16p13p10p9-16p13p10p9-16p13p10p9-16p13p10p9--
B--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I--1----------------------.----------------------.---------------------.---------------------
   *t                          *at half bend then release, "r" for "release"
e--15b1/2---------------------p12r1/2~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--------
B------------------------------------------------------------------
G------------------------------------------------------------------
D------------------------------------------------------------------
A------------------------------------------------------------------
D------------------------------------------------------------------

I--1-------.-------.-------.-------2-------.-------.-------.-------

Episode 8 - Soloing techniques and writing melodies

Here's a nice, sweet melody showing many soloing techniques. It's a good demo on how to write melodies and how to combine best over your rhythm tracks.

Rhythm Chords

e----2-------2----

B----2-------0----

G----2-------0----

D----0-------0----

A----x-------x----

E----x-------3----

Solo

e----------------------------------------------------------17----------19--17~~~~~---------15h17p15-17

B--------------------------------------------------14--15------15--17---------------------------------

G----------------------------------14----------16-----------------------------------------------------

D--------------------------11--12------12--14---------------------------------------------------------

A----------12----------14-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

E--9---10------10--12---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I--1-------.-------.-------.-------2-------.-------.-------.-------3-------.-------.-------.--------4--

e----------------------------------14~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~10-----10h12p10-------------------------

B------------------------------12-------------------------------------------------------------------

G--------------------------11----------------------------------------------12p-11h-12p-11---9~~~~~--

D---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

E---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I--4---------------1---------------2---------------3---------------4---------------1---------------.

e--15p14p12-14-----------------------------------------------------

B------------------15p14p12-14-------------------------------------

G----------------------------------12p11p9--11---------------------

D--------------------------------------------------12p11p9--11-----

A------------------------------------------------------------------

E------------------------------------------------------------------

I--1---------------2---------------3---------------4---------------

e--------------------------------------------------------10----------------10-12-14-12~~~~~~~---

B-----------------------------------------------10-12-14----14-12-10-12-14----------------------

G--------------------7-----------------7--9--11-------------------------------------------------

D-----------7--9--11----11-9--7--9--11----------------------------------------------------------

A--7--9--10-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

E-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I--1-----------------2-----------------3-----------------4-----------------1-----------------2--3

e--------------------10-12-14-12~~~~~~-------------------------------------------------------

B-----------10-12-14-------------------------------------------------------------------------

G--9--11-12---------------------------------------------/19----18----18----18----18----18----

D-------------------------------------------------------/x-----x-----x-----x-----x-----x-----

A-------------------------------------------------------/17----16----16----16----16----16----

E--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I--4-----------------1-----------------2-----------------3-----------------4-----------------

e--------------------------------------------------------------------------

B--------------------------------------------------------------------------

G--18\---14----14----14----14----14----14\---12----12----12---/18----18----

D--x-\---x-----x-----x-----x-----x-----x-\---x-----x-----x----/x-----x-----

A--16\---12----12----12----12----12----12\---10----10----10---/16----16----

E--------------------------------------------------------------------------

I--1-----------------2-----------------3-----------------4-----------------

e--------------------------------------------------------------------------

B--------------------------------------------------------------------------

G--18----14----14----14\---12---/14----12----------------------------------

D--x-\---x-----x-----x-\---x----/x-----x------(I think you get the idea)---

A--16\---12----12----12\---10---/12----10----------------------------------

E--------------------------------------------------------------------------

I--1-----------------2-----------------3-----------------4-----------------

Episode 7 - B Harmonic minor run

Short, fast harmonic minor lick in the style of Yngwie Malmsteen or any other classical-oriented guitar playing style.

e--------------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------9---------------9-11-12--
D----------------------8-9-11-9-11-12---12-11-9-11-12----------
A---------------7-9-10-----------------------------------------
E--6-7-9-7-9-10------------------------------------------------


e--------------------12----------------12-14-15-14-15-18-19~~~-
B--11-12-14-12-14-15----15-14-12-14-15-------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------------------
D--------------------------------------------------------------
A--------------------------------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------------------------

Episode 1 - Warmup Techniques

The first KillTheMusic Podcast episode has been approved and is currently available on iTunes. This one is about a warmup technique I often use to strengthen my picking hand as well as improve the accuracy of the fretting hand. Here's the tabs for the riff shown in the video Podcast:

e-------------------------------------------------

B-------------------------------------------------

G------9-8-7-------9-8-7-------9-8-7-------9-8-7--

D----8-------8---8-------8---8-------8---8-------8

A--7-----------9-----------7-----------9----------

E-------------------------------------------------

e-------------------------------------------------

B-------------------------------------------------

G-----9-8-7-------9-8-7-------9-8-7---------------

D---8-------8---8-------8---8-------8-------------

A-7-----------9-----------10----------7~~---------

E-------------------------------------------------

Remember to search for and subscribe to KillTheMusic (no spaces) on iTunes.

Thanks a lot, there's much more to come...