Blackout

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Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Metal

Excerpt: Welcome to the "Blackout" tutorial! With this song, we're going to look at some ideas focusing primarily on metal and Eastern styles. Also, note that this song is in Drop D tuning. If you aren't exactly sure what that is, click here. Once you check out the full video, head on over to the first lesson. Get ready to rock!

Media Length: 1:35

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Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Metal

Excerpt: This is my favorite riff in the tutorial. I love the atmospheric Eastern vibe it conveys. This riff has a time signature of 7/8. So that means we have seven 8th notes accounted for in each measure. If you wanted to count the measure out loud, you could count: "One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Sev". Notice how I said "Sev" instead of "Seven"? Doing that hel...

Media Length: 0:52

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Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Metal

Excerpt: Here, we continue the Eastern vibe with a more rhythmic and staccato approach. It's also an excellent exercise to help develop finger control. First thing to notice are the rests. You'll encounter 8th note rests as well as 16th note rests. Make those rests very prominent and clean sounding. If you do that succesfully, the note before each rest will sound ve...

Media Length: 0:45

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Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Metal

Excerpt: This exercise utilizes the open 6th string as well as octave chords. In bars 10-13, we'll be playing the 6th string ringing out, but then be sure to palm mute that string starting on bar 14. While you play the octave chords, make sure your fret-hand index finger mutes all of the unused strings. Since your pick-hand is doing a lot of strumming, it might be ...

Media Length: 0:51

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Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Metal

Excerpt: Just as in Exercise 2, we're going to be encountering some quick 16th note rests. When these rests occur, slap your fret-hand fingers down on the strings to ensure a solid mute. Watch closely how I do that in the video. In bars 18-21, the rhythm will take place exclusively on the 6th string. There's a mix of palm muted notes and non-palm muted notes. Most o...

Media Length: 0:55

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Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Metal

Excerpt: Okay, have fun with the backing track! If you record yourself playing along, be sure to post it in the forums!

Media Length: 1:34