Time Constraint

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

Excerpt: Welcome folks! In this tutorial, we're going to focus on metal rhythm playing as we learn a song called "Time Constraint". Once you've watched the video above, head on over to the next page for Exercise 1. Have fun!

Media Length: 1:22

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

Excerpt: To start the piece, we have an interesting rhythmic intro. The idea was to play something simple that sounded somewhat like a beeping alarm clock. Throughout this piece, you'll notice many "X" symbols on the strings. That symbol represents a dead note, to where you're playing the string but it's muted so no particular pitch is sounding. Let's take a look a...

Media Length: 2:10

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

Excerpt: In Exercise 2, we'll start out by playing an F octave chord on the A and G strings. Notice the "X" symbol on the D string? That simply means you'll be muting the D string while you strum the octave chords. Make sure your strumming stays relaxed as you switch between the 8th notes and 16th notes. Lastly, be mindful of the palm mutes throughout the riff. You...

Media Length: 1:45

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

Excerpt: In this exercise, we have a fast, eastern sounding legato lick. Accuracy is key here, so make sure you practice this part note by note. If you play it fast and some notes don't sound properly, slow it down. Only increase your speed as you gain more control.

Media Length: 1:16

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

Excerpt: This last part has a bit of a funky feel to it. In bars 24 through 27, you'll be playing an octave riff that somewhat plays off of the drum beat. Be mindul of the many 8th note rests as well. Make sure those rests are super clean so your rhythm sounds tight. In bar 32, you'll close out the song with a riff very similar to what we played in Exercise 3. The o...

Media Length: 1:48

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

Excerpt: Ready to play along to the backing track? Excellent. Be sure to warm up and stretch before you get started. If you ever record yourself playing along to the track, be sure to post it in the forums so we can all hear your skills!

Media Length: 1:22