Eluding the Mastermind

Go to Lesson

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

Excerpt: Welcome everyone! In this song tutorial, we'll be learning a modern metal piece entitled "Eluding the Mastermind". Please note that this song is in Drop D tuning. If you aren't exactly sure what that is, click here. Once you've finished checking out the above video, get ready for Exercise 1 on the next page!

Media Length: 1:42

Go to Lesson

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

Excerpt: The intro riff to this song is mainly comprised of sixteenth notes. Most of the notes will be palm muted as well. However, study the tablature closely to catch which notes aren't supposed to be palm muted. When you look at the tab, you'll notice a few "Harm" markings. Whenever you see those markings, it means we'll be playing the indicated note as a natural...

Media Length: 2:34

Go to Lesson

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

Excerpt: Now let's start getting more melodic! I especially like this riff as it's pretty fun to play. It may be a bit challenging at first though as there are many hand movements shifting back and forth on the fretboard. The trickiest part here may be the fingering. When you first learn this, try to use the fingering you see me using in the video. However, in the e...

Media Length: 2:10

Go to Lesson

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

Excerpt: Now we've come to the very fast and heavy rhythm section. Make sure you are especially warmed and stretched before playing this part! There is a lot of strain on your picking hand here, so be sure to gradually increase your speed as you practice. Don't kill yourself trying to play it up to speed right off the bat. Most of the notes we're dealing with here a...

Media Length: 2:59

Go to Lesson

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

Excerpt: We'll begin this section by strumming back and forth between two particular chords: Am(without the 5th) and A#(without the 5th). You'll also see a lot of 16th note rests between the strumming patterns. When you encounter these rests, make sure the palm of your picking hand is resting (no pun intended!) on the strings so no unnecessary noise rings out. In th...

Media Length: 1:12

Go to Lesson

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

Excerpt: Have fun with the backing track! Please note that there are two counts with the high hats before the guitar is supposed to start. You can hear this in action in the full video. If you ever make a recording of yourself playing along, be sure to post it in the forums so we can all hear your skills! See you next time!

Media Length: 1:41