This rock guitar lesson will help you to move forward in your electric guitar playing. It includes different ways to riff with power chords and discusses the rhythm guitar techniques used by the rock guitar masters. It includes a free guitar lesson video and diagrams of the fingering shapes.
I remember back to when I learned my first Van Halen riff. I think it was "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" -- and I went to a drummer friend's garage to jam. That's when the whole concept of rock guitar really clicked. That's what this free guitar lesson online is all about! How to really put the "mojo" in your playing!
What's the Mojo, Daddy-O?
The mojo is the groove. The sizzle. The spark. The feel. Why do I discuss this so passionately? You may know some power chords and riffs. You may even know some leads and the minor pentatonic scale box. The main theme of this whole rock guitar lesson is to get a great FEEL. And some of the techniques the masters of rock guitar playing used. Ready? Let's go!
Pedal Tones
Pedal tones happen in music all the time. In rock music they help to propel the beat forward. It's the rock beat that makes the music irresistible to the listener! Of course, it starts with the rock drums -- but it's up to us guitar players to "lock in" with the drummer and the bass player in order to make it "cook".
The most commonly used pedal tones in rock guitar playing are the open E, open A and open D strings. They are often palm muted. Palm muting is done with the edge of the palm of the picking hand. I'll show you in the guitar lesson video below, so don't worry if you don't follow -- you will :-) The pedal tone I demonstrate in the guitar video lesson is open A, and the riff is designed from A minor pentatonic.
sidenote: This is only one rock guitar technique out of many. But it's something a lot of beginning and intermediate electric guitar players miss.
Why Is This Important?
What happens with a lot of players is they only hear the power chords when they listen to a song. They don't notice what the guitar is doing on the low end working with with the kick drum and bass.
How To Practice This Rock Guitar Lesson
Watch the guitar lesson video below and memorize the riff. Also see the diagrams outlined below for some of the shapes used.
Find a song you love and listen to it. Focus only on the drums. Try to find the kick drum in the mix. Then pick out the snare drum. Keep time by clapping or tapping along while you listen. Listen again, but pay more attention to what the guitar is doing. Practice listening to music like this in the coming days and weeks.
Apply this concept to all the rock songs you learn. Follow the drumming.
Repeat the following after me: Drumming. Strumming. Drumming. Strumming. Drumming…
I hope this rock guitar lesson was helpful. Thanks again for tuning in and tuning up!
