Lick Library - Learn To Play Classic Rock Riffs, Volume 2

Fear of the Dark by Iron Maiden
This Iron Maiden classic is an excellent place to start your journey. The song has a haunting quality, with its melody primarily in the harmonic minor scale. It features a mix of power chords and dual guitar harmonies, a signature of lead guitarist Dave Murray and Adrian Smith's style. The song starts with a clean, arpeggiated riff, which quickly transitions into the heavier palm-muted sections. This mix provides an excellent opportunity to practice various techniques such as legato and alternate picking.
You Really Got Me by The Kinks
Lead guitarist Dave Davies unleashed this iconic riff in the mid-60s, forever solidifying its place in the annals of rock history. The song mainly uses the blues scale, with an emphasis on power chords and barre chords, giving it that classic rock'n'roll feel. A fascinating aspect of the solo is its simplicity and rawness, achieved through the use of double stops, string bending, and slides, giving you a sense of the raw power of rock and roll in its early days.
Paperback Writer by The Beatles
George Harrison's contribution to this Beatles classic cannot be overstated. The main riff uses a syncopated rhythm with a simple chord progression. The melody draws from the major scale and is centered around an open-string riff that gives the song its distinctive sound. The song presents an excellent chance to work on open-string riffs, alternate picking, and syncopated rhythms.
Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Sweet Home Alabama is a quintessential example of the use of pentatonic scales in rock music. Lead guitarist Gary Rossington uses a mix of major and minor pentatonic scales throughout the song, particularly in the solos. This song will help you develop a keen understanding of mixing these scales to create a captivating lead guitar piece. Techniques to focus on include pull-offs, hammer-ons, and chord progressions.
Creep by Radiohead
Creep showcases the diversity of Jonny Greenwood's guitar skills, ranging from palm-muted arpeggios to aggressive bursts of tremolo picking. This song utilizes the mixolydian mode, and it's an excellent opportunity to work on the contrast between smooth, melodic playing and raw, energetic bursts of sound. The use of palm-muting and arpeggiated chord progressions provides a wonderful chance to work on your dynamics.
While each of these songs offers a unique look into the different techniques and scales, the course covers a broad range of other classics. Each lesson is presented in an easy-to-follow format, allowing guitarists of all levels to expand their knowledge and technical prowess.
In the end, the "Learn to Play Classic Rock Riffs Volume 2" is much more than just a guitar lesson. It's an exploration into the heart and soul of rock music, showcasing the creativity and innovation that these iconic musicians brought to the world. It's a journey through the annals of rock history, each riff and solo a testament to the indomitable spirit of rock 'n' roll.
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