Creating riffs/songs

RG462 · #1 06-21-2007, 12:56 AM

Hey guys. I've been playing guitar for about 3 years and am comfortable with were I am at with my ability. I've got a killer RG with Evos and a 2x12 fender amp. When I'm practicing and playing I often have trouble with were to start when making a riff. I understand a bit of music theory but I am not too strong with it. I listen to all the "guitar music" (Vai, Satriani, gilbert, etc.) I like a bit of heavy guitar but nothing like dropped tuning black metal. I just need somewhere to start for making some of my own riffs.

RG462 · #2 06-21-2007, 01:01 AM

I am getting the doug doppler dvd soon BTW

courtney2018 · #3 06-21-2007, 07:27 AM

Riffs are really just built off of scales or combination of scales based off the key of the chord progression. Although that might be diatonically correct it's not set in stone. Steve Vai will occasionally break outside the norms and do something crazy. That's music though - write your own rules when the diatonic rules don't suit you.

RG462 · #4 06-23-2007, 01:46 AM

Now how can I find out some good chord progressions to work with?

maestrocity91 · #5 06-23-2007, 01:56 AM

1st- find some cool chords you like
2nd- find an order in which you would like to play them
3rd- (and most important) find a killer groove, or something that will "bounce" off the other instruments involved.
Last- Find voicings you dig for each chord, and let it rip!

RG462 · #6 06-23-2007, 01:58 AM

so, it doesn't really matter what chords I play? I don't have to worry about them being in the right progression or key?

courtney2018 · #7 06-23-2007, 08:05 AM

The progression doesn't really matter, but the key does. However, I'd be willing to bet that if you stumbled across a progression that you liked it would actually be in a key, you just might not know which one until you write them all down and figure it out. Just works out that way.

markg5150 · #8 06-23-2007, 08:24 AM

The Doug Doppler DVD will help you put it into context - it helped me a lot

As Maestro said find some chords you like the sound of together, figure out the key you're in and have some fun playing around

Ki swordsman · #9 06-23-2007, 09:04 AM

i think writing anything starts with your EAR. not scales or keys or chords. those are all fantastic tools for making music and totally worth your time to learn. but never believe they are a prerequisite to writing. (infact you'll learn them easier with the experience and skills of writing) so just write!, doesn't matter what, just do it and you will improve.

learning to 'hear' what you want for each next step is a very important skill.
for instance you have three chords and you can almost 'hear' what the fourth could be like.. make sure that's happening a lot

to twist something said above- i think when Steve Vai makes something that 'breaks out of the box of theory' it's not that he broke out. it's that he didn't limit himself to sitting in the box in the first place. instead he just let his ear take him wherever while being AWARE of/ and using/and simply having experience and training(even just what you have now) in the structures and tools that theory also allow. but in the end 'theory' actually allows for everything anyway, all notes and all times are workable and there are no rules.

sure, start some things on theory and always use it, but for me to give advice for your specific situation- just realise you can also start things directly from your ear, and realise that's where 90% of all your favourite guitarist's music is coming from too. (Especially riffs!)

RG462 · #10 06-23-2007, 09:17 PM

Well im looking for kind of a rock sounding riff that is powerful but not too heavy but i just can't get ahold of anything and I honestly hate power chords.

newbieguitarmaker · #11 06-23-2007, 10:28 PM

I've been playing guitar, I guess it has been 3 years too! and I am going to buy the Doug Doppler Dvd because I have the same problem as you just I know a pretty good amt of music theory, I've studied music in general since I was 3 or 4, (I'm 16 btw) and I still have this problem at times. And ki I agree with your ear just I was born with a good ear and it is a gift but also a curse >_< I won't go into the details but since I can hear any song,note,chord, anything in my head I can make riffs just for the same reason I can also make a riff then I'll be able to pick a song out from what it is from and then I'll be pissed because I tried to be original but I wasn't >_>.

LuredMaul · #12 06-23-2007, 10:33 PM

Find a teacher that will teach you exactly opposite of your favorite style of Music......now.... learn every basic chord and scale form from him/her along with some music reading and rythmn studies........... After 5 yrs most of any question you will have you will have the answer too...If you don't go get anoteher teacher..

newbieguitarmaker · #13 06-23-2007, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuredMaul

Find a teacher that will teach you exactly opposite of your favorite style of Music......now.... learn every basic chord and scale form from him/her along with some music reading and rythmn studies........... After 5 yrs most of any question you will have you will have the answer too...If you don't go get anoteher teacher..

I've already done this with many teachers and I'm going to be starting up a program written by a good friend Jim Dale(grammy award winner, you'll see him conducting if u watch old episodes of the sunny and cher show) and I still have problems with it

RG462 · #14 06-24-2007, 12:53 AM

well i have had no lessons. I've studied out of my dads Berklee Modern Method of Guitar a bit and my dad has shown me a few stuff but there is so much more to learn. Hopefully the Doug Doppler is as good as everyone claims it to be.

CityofBlindingLights · #15 07-08-2007, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RG462

Hey guys. I've been playing guitar for about 3 years and am comfortable with were I am at with my ability. I've got a killer RG with Evos and a 2x12 fender amp. When I'm practicing and playing I often have trouble with were to start when making a riff. I understand a bit of music theory but I am not too strong with it. I listen to all the "guitar music" (Vai, Satriani, gilbert, etc.) I like a bit of heavy guitar but nothing like dropped tuning black metal. I just need somewhere to start for making some of my own riffs.

Actually writing your own music can actually have nothing to do (in most cases) with riffs in the first place. It all starts with chordal progression (think about it, that's what initially makes the song). IF you're just starting out, you could stick to the "three chords and the truth" theory, where you write an entire song using three chords (worked for the Clash and U2, and the Ramones, and most punk bands...). Once you have your progression down, you can then elaborate on melodies on various parts and incorporate guitar solos. I actually don't like Vai, Satch, and Gilbert for writing my own stuff, personally. I use their stuff in soloing, and am just starting to incorporate it into improv stuff (I mainly base all my improv off of the blues scale). For just writing, start with chords, then elaborate. Unless you have AMAZING chops (and I mean battling with Vai chops).