A really great, but not so common way of using riffs on your acoustic guitar is in a rhythm context. Replacing the chords of a progression you play with some really tasty acoustic rhythm riffs will leave your listeners wanting more and serves as a great alternative to simply strumming chords all the time.
In todays lesson I will show you exactly how to go about doing this. Keep in mind as you work your way through each rhythm guitar riff, that at no time are you playing a chord, yet you can clearly hear our chord progression. This is because the notes of each rhythm riff are targeting the notes that make up the chords they are implying.
In the example above you are simply generating each rhythm riff from arpeggio shapes based on the root 6 bar chord form for G, C, and D chords and the Root 5 form for the Em chord. If you are familiar with these shapes then you should find it easy enough to create your own rhythm riffs on the acoustic guitar.
Greatest Acoustic Intros
As you can hear, by simply adding a little rhythmic variation, as well as some hammer ons and pull offs, you can create much more killer sounding riffs for your rhythm guitar playing.
In the example above, I have used different arpeggio positions for the G, C, and D chords in which to create the rhythm riffs. I have also focused on using double stops for a really cool texture. This approach is very reminiscent of how Jimi Hendrix played his rhythm guitar riffs. His songs are well worth studying if you would like to take this idea of using riffs for your rhythm guitar playing further.
As you can see, using riffs on your acoustic guitar in a rhythm context provides a killer sounding alternative to always strumming, or even forming the chords of the progressions you play.
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I will leave you once again with an example of combining some of the approaches you have learned so far in this acoustic rhythm guitar mini course, including the riff concept.
The true test as to whether you have mastered a particular concept is in your ability to be able to use it freely, in any musical situation, at will. Playing the following example, and then creating your own variations, will go a long way in you being able to do this.
Here it is along with our original chord progression example just to show you how far you have come in your rhythm guitar playing:
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I hope you have enjoyed this mini course on how to totally transform your acoustic guitar rhythm playing. As you have learned there are many alternative ways to play a chord progression other than simply strumming.
Take each idea that I have presented to you in the last 5 days and really spend time on developing it and getting it into your rhythm guitar playing. Also, explore the songs, that I listed at the end of each day as examples of the rhythm ideas covered. Learning these songs, or parts there of, will further improve your rhythm guitar playing and understanding of how to apply these concepts into your own music.What better way to set the mood for a song than an intro on the acoustic guitar? Blazing solos and badass riffs are all nice and good, but nothing grabs the attention of a crowd quite like a few unplugged notes, an opening statement before the voice takes over, a few precious bars that invite the listener into the song’s universe yet doesn’t give you all the answers yet.
And of course, if you’re gonna play and sing a few songs for the Christmas, Hanukkah or New Year celebrations, your best bet is to do it on an acoustic guitar (no need to find a plug and dial your sound on an amp), and to know the intro of the song in question instantly turns you into a much more committed and believable interpreter. Plus song intros are always fun to work out, they allow you to get better while playing instantly recognizable and iconic guitar parts.
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All those tabs were taken from full songs on mySongBook, a service that hosts thousands of tabs and scores in every possible style and genre, and dozens get added every month. That full catalog is available on the Guitar Pro website.
So here are those twenty intros chosen from the mySongBook catalog, of course many other cool acoustic songs are available on there so dig in!
. The Seattle-based grunge band is more famous for their Black Sabbathesque massive electric riffs, but their acoustic side is just as dark and beautiful.
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On “I Stay Away”, guitarist Jerry Cantrell is in Drop D a half-step lower (technically Drop C# then), and he uses unconventional chord voicings as well as descending arpeggios, a nice move to get a riff moving.
Blind Faith was only active for a year in 1969, but its cast is spectacular: Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker are here in all their post-Cream glory, Steve Winwood’s angelic voice is there, along with Traffic basis Ric Grech.
Their only album contains many great songs, including that Winwood-penned ballad “Can’t Find My Way Home”. That classic has been covered many times but the original has an unmatched sense of yearning, thanks in part to the beautiful acoustic intro.
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The tab available here is an arrangement that compiles the two original guitar parts into one, and it’s in Drop D. Try to be precise when picking the strings, even when you’re skipping a few. Try that chord sequence as a loop to solo on too: it works wonders.
Boston is the brainchild of American genius guitarist / producer / songwriter Tom Scholz, and that FM-radio favorite from 1976 is the first single from the first album
. This is an epic 5-minute song that is part of the classic American songbook, and its 12-string acoustic intro is as iconic as it gets.
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This is a relatively easy song to tackle since the chords are not crazy, the tempo is not too fast and the descending arpeggios mostly use open strings. But it remains an extremely potent part, one that immediately commands any audience in-the-know.
Bruno Mars is one of the last true pop stars of the modern era, a larger-than-life persona that keeps churning great and interesting songs.
, and it has been co-written by producer Mark Ronson. That bone-fide hit will somehow sound familiar to fans of The Police’s first two albums, and the guitar intro used the classic bright and clean Andy Summers sound. But it also makes for a great acoustic cover with relatively simple chords. Your right hand will have to do most of the work there, so get groovin’!
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, they confirmed their status as one of the biggest pop bands in the world. Among the impeccably crafted songs on that beautifully-produced record was the single “Got Put A Smile Upon Your Face”.
That song starts with both acoustic and electric guitars setting the stage with an ominous melody waiting to explode into bombastic rock. This is played in a C# open tuning, which is the classic D major tuning a half-step down. This gives a deep resonant sound and also makes for pretty simple chords to play.
That classic acoustic intro to the album’s ultimate ballad bears all the trademarks of Vai’s playing, including legato playing, drop D tuning, beautiful unexpected chord voicings and a Coral sitar doubling the arpeggios. Even without the sitar, it is a very fun intro to play.
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British band Dire Straits were famous for their long epic songs that could take you on a full journey. “Private Investigations” is a great example of that. That single from their fourth album (
) starts off with synths, then a distant arpeggiated guitar that sets the mood for the intro before the spoken voice comes in.
Mark Knopfler is a true guitar great, and this intro is a tribute to how inventive and deep he can get with just a few chords.
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That classic acoustic cut was taken from Doc Watson’s self-titled 1964 debut album. Watson was one of the greatest country/blues/bluegrass players around, a true master of the acoustic both fingerpick and flatpick.
“Deep River Blues” falls into the first category so get your fingertips ready, this is gonna hurt! It is an acoustic fingerpicked blues with a capo on the first fret, and this intro alone will be a lot of work if you really want to get it right, both the bass line with your thumb and the melody with your second finger. But the sheer pleasure of playing that kind of music is absolutely worth the effort.
The intro itself is just as iconic as the rest of the song, and even though it was originally played on a nylon-string guitar it sounds just as good on a steel-string. It should be played fingerstyle to get the right balance between bass and treble strings as well as that typical softer sound.
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Fleetwood Mac is a band that started off as a typical British Blues Boom outfit featuring genius guitarist Peter
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