6/8 Rock

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

Excerpt: Welcome folks! In this tutorial, we'll be focusing on a rock tune in 6/8 time, hence the amazingly creative title, "6/8 Rock". :) You can think of 6/8 as having a span of six eighth notes per measure. Listen for the high-hat count at the beginning of the video, and you'll hear six hits. Count along with those hits, then try to keep the count going as you li...

Media Length: 1:30

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

Excerpt: In the first exercise, we'll be doing some sweep arpeggios in the key of D Major. The first 2 bars highlight the Major feel, then in bars 3 and 4, we'll be playing in B minor (D Major's relative minor key). We'll then repeat a similar sequence in bars 5 through 8. There's a lot going on in these bars. You'll see a lot of sweep picking and legato. Keep your ...

Media Length: 2:17

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

Excerpt: In this section, we'll be playing a "call and answer" sequence. A "call and answer" sequence is when you have a brief musical theme that somewhat "leaves you hanging", then it's immediately followed by another brief theme that offers resolve. In this case, bars 9 and 10 are "calling out" a soft, sensitive riff. Then in bars 11 and 12, a louder and stronger r...

Media Length: 1:34

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

Excerpt: This is the slightly "metal" section of this seemingly upbeat rock tune. Be mindful of the palm mutes. Anytime you see the "P.M." markings in the tab, be sure to play solid palm mutes. Also, you might notice that I'm doing some brief downward slides in between a few of the notes. I like how it gives a somewhat sexy feel to the transition of one note to the...

Media Length: 1:41

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

Excerpt: We're now going to be doing some full out sweep picking. In bar 25, we'll be sweeping over an A Major triad. Then in bar 26, we'll be sweeping over a D Major triad. Bar 27 will go back to the A Major triad. Then lastly, in bar 28 we'll be sweeping over the D Major triad then a E Major triad. Watch out for the D Major triad. In the video, you'll notice I'm ...

Media Length: 1:25

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

Excerpt: This is the quiet part of the song and is pretty easy. You'll see a couple bars of only rests as well. In bars 35 and 36, be sure to gradually build the intensity of your playing as you transition back into the main chorus melody. Once you have all the exercises down, head on over to the next page for the backing track!

Media Length: 1:37

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

Excerpt: Here's the backing track. Have fun and practice hard. If you ever do a recording of yourself playing along, be sure to post it in the forum so we can check out your skills!

Media Length: 1:35