Lets talk about slides! Not the kind you get at the park because as everyone knows swings are way more fun. Today we’re talking about sliding technique.
Sliding involves plucking a note and then sliding your finger up, or down the fretboard to a new fret position, so for example we could play a G on the 5th fret D string and slide up one fret to the 6th, the note Ab.
Continue Reading
We’re back for another deep dive into some exotic sounds, this time through the mystical Neapolitan Minor Scale! If you’re looking to unleash some exotic flavours into your playing then check this out! We’ll be learning all the modes of this scale as well as the chord qualities that can be derived from each mode. Let’s get into it!
The Neapolitan minor scale is a really exciting one, you could think of it as harmonic minor with added chromaticism. Used in the right way, this scale and its related modes can really throw your listener off with dramatic effect! We’ll be sure to check out the modes of this scale as well as the corresponding chords that are available.
Continue Reading
Hello! Today we’re going to look at a few different ways you can add some extra interest to a solo, chord progression or riff by using a wah-wah pedal. The Wah is a truly classic pedal, however, even now, there’s still many reasons to have this formidable pedal in your effects arsenal!
There are various makes and models of ‘wah’ out there. The Dunlop ‘Crybaby’ is probably the best known. There’s also the Morley ‘Bad Horsie’, the Boss ‘V-wah’ and the Snarling Dogs ‘Fire Bawl’ (See cover image) to name just a few. I personally use an Ibanez ‘Weeping Demon’.
Let’s go through some examples of how the wah effect can be used, how it works and some examples of songs which use it.
Continue Reading
Welcome back! Today we’re going to be exploring the major scale modes in the baritonal jungle that is the Low F# 8 string guitar! By understanding how your scales work across these extended range instruments, you’ll build up an enviable arsenal of musical weaponry to have at your disposal.
These modes for 8 string guitar cover 4 octaves in just one position. The true milage that can be achieved on an 8 string guitar quickly becomes apparent! If you started your guitar journey on an 8 string then great! We are seeing a lot of new players get into extended range guitars from the beginning. There’s only more to be explored and realised with these extended range instruments so lets get into it!
Continue Reading
Imbue your 7th string with the exotic sounds of the Harmonic Minor modes! We’re back with another extended ra(n)ge scales and modes lesson, this time extending the exotic Harmonic Minor Scale into 3nps format for 7 String Guitar. We’ll look at how the 7 string modes reference the 3 octave and 6 string versions as well.
Let’s take a look at the 7 string Harmonic Minor Modes! If you know the harmonic minor modes for 6 string guitar then this will be made even easier since we can reference these. However if you started your guitar story on a 7 string then this will be a helpful starting point. If you don’t know the modes at all it might be worthwhile getting comfortable with these first before progressing into these more advanced ideas.
Continue Reading
Welcome to episode 2, if you missed episode 1 you can check it out here. In this part we will be combining string skipping with some tapping using our middle and ring fingers (T2 and T3).
We’ll be in the key of E minor and are going to learn 4 chords. We will play these using string skipping and tapping to create arpeggios in sequence to form a progression. Each pattern can be practiced individually until you get the hang of them and then we can link them together at the end.
Continue Reading
Today we’re going to look at some basic string skipping drills to help improve your speed and precision. The string skipping technique, as the name suggests, involves skipping over one or more strings to the next.
For example you might be playing on the low E string and then skip the A string and move straight to the D string. Remember to practice these string skipping basics slowly until you have built up your ‘muscle memory’. In this lesson we will be focusing on string skipping whilst alternate picking.
Continue Reading
Welcome to this 2nd instalment of exotic scales & modes. Today we’re heading to the far east to unearth some inspiration. This is a sound from the depths of ancient Japan. This Hirajoshi Scale is a 5 note scale which makes it a pentatonic scale. Penta meaning 5 in Greek.
These Japanese style pentatonic scales are easy to learn because they feel so similar to the traditional pentatonics and dominant pentatonics. This scale will open up new ideas therefore imbuing your playing with an exotic new sound. If you know your pentatonic scales then learning this Hirajoshi scale will be an exciting addition to your modal arsenal. Additionally if you know your 3nps Major Scale Modes then you can derive these scales from those as well.
Continue Reading
Today we’re going to look at some ways of playing chords with high gain amp settings.
With high gain, power chords sound great, basic triads can sound pretty good too depending on your tone.
7th Chords and beyond however, start to sound ‘muddy’ and unclear like this:
Continue Reading
Today we’re going to be adding some sweep picking into our heavy riffs. Note that I said “INTO” and not “over”. The difference is that these examples would be played on one guitar. Not a lead guitar playing over the top of a rhythm guitar.
In this lesson we’ll be looking at incorporating arpeggios into riffs. We’ll be looking at an example on an 8 string guitar and another on a 6 string. One of the reasons I like 7 and 8 string guitars is because you can get plenty of low end without losing any of the higher notes. Mixing lower riffs with arpeggios that go up into the higher notes can give your playing some really interesting dynamics. So, let’s check out these ideas with some examples.
Continue Reading
In this quick licks webisode we’re going to look at extending the basic 5 string sweep picked arpeggio shapes to make them sound much bigger and more interesting. This is a good exercise in beginning to advance your sweep picking ability. Lets look at some easy extensions you can add to the two most common sweep picked arpeggio shapes.
These will make your arpeggios sound much bigger and cover more of the neck. These extended sweep picking ideas are the next step in becoming an efficient sweep picker. The basic 5 string shapes now cover 6 strings, however we’ll do this in a way that still feels familiar. It’s important that you apply the correct fingering technique to ensure these sound as smooth as silk.
Continue Reading
Welcome guitar fans! In this webisode we’re going to learn to extend the modes of melodic minor into a 3 octave format. This will help you explore more of the guitar neck using these modes. We’ll also learn some modal theory to understand how to use these modes in practice.
If you’ve already checked out the three octave major scale modes or the three octave harmonic minor modes you’ll know how this three octave formatting works. However in this lesson we’ll be looking at the 3 octave melodic minor modes. Because this is a really simple formula you can apply it to any scale or mode and cover more fretboard. As a result you’ll add more diversity and possibility to your lead playing.
Continue Reading
In this lesson we’re going continue to build on our knowledge of music theory and learn how to use the Circle of Fifths to change keys.
Let’s take a simple chord progression and put it under the microscope. Analyzing an example like this using the circle of fifths will help you to write your own music and ideas using this concept. If you’ve started to learn about music theory the following progression might seem ‘wrong’:
E Major – D Major – G Major – D Major
This is because there is no Major key which contains all three of these chords. If you want to learn about which chords occur in each key check out this post.
If I play that progression E – D – G – D, it sounds like this:
Today we’re going to look at the ‘Circle of Fifths’. You may have come across the term before, or the ‘Circle of Fourths’, or just ‘The Circle’.
Check out the diagram below and then we’ll look at what it means and why its useful.
As you can see if we move clockwise in The Circle of Fifths we go up in fifths, e.g. C to G. If we move anti-clockwise we go up in fourths, e.g. C to F. The inner ring shows the relative minor key of each Major key. For example the relative minor to C Maj is Am. The relative minor of G Maj is Em etc.
Continue Reading
This episode we’re going to look at the 3nps modes for extended range 7 string guitar. The tuning will be B E A D G B E. If you want to know more about modal theory then check out this post for some extended ideas on how the modes for 7 string guitar work. Let’s Go!
Let’s take a look at the major scale modes for 7 string guitar. If you know the modes for 6 string guitar then this will be made even easier since we can reference these. However if you started your guitar story on a 7 string then this will be a helpful starting point. You can also check out the pentatonics for 7 string if you’re not ready for these yet. If you don’t know the modes at all it might be worthwhile getting comfortable with these first. You can check out the 6 string major scale modes here.
Continue Reading
Playing through a scale is a great way to warm up your fingers before going into an intense practice session or playing a gig. Today we’re going to look at a simple warmup sequence using the Mixolydian mode, the fifth mode of the Major scale.
You can play this warmup sequence across 6, 7 or 8 strings or extend it further if you have more.
Warming up is very important, especially if you are going to be playing fast, complex or intense riffs. The last thing you want is to strain the ligaments in your hand during practice. Warming up helps prevent repetitive strain injuries and the dreaded condition of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Continue Reading
In this lesson we’re going to breakdown this awesome melodic sweep picked arpeggio sequence by Iceferno. This creative sequence covers a few different chord tonalities, 7ths & inversions and ties them all together in one badass progression. If you want an overview of the lesson then you can just download the tab. Godspeed!
Here at Strings Of Rage we’re massive fans of the amazing songwriter Iceferno, who is also based in the UK. Like us Iceferno is also a huge fan of the Streets Of Rage series. We were super stoked to hear his interpretation of a Streets of Rage style album. His song ‘Vengeance II’ incorporates a sick melodic sweep picking progression that blew us away when we first heard it.
Melodic Sweep Picking: Arpeggio Sequence
Let’s take a listen to this arpeggio progression in it’s entirety so we know the desired result! Make sure you notice how many times each arpeggio is played. This caught us out a few times while we were transcribing this. Also be aware of the clever and subtle change from the minor 7 to the dominant 7 on the 2nd arpeggio.
Today I’m going to write a rhythm part for a metal song and explain the process I go through at each stage. I’ll go for a combination of Thrash and Melodic Death Metal.
I’ll assume that you have a “metal tone” for writing metal rhythm guitar, but in a future post we’ll cover some tips for getting a good tone. For now just remember that you want plenty of mids, and a decent amount of gain, but not too much. We want a nice tight rhythm not tons of crackly white noise and feedback.
Writing Metal Rhythm Guitar : First Steps
I’ll start by playing around with a combination of 8th notes and “gallops”. Below is a quick example of an E5 power chord played as 8th notes:
Today we’re going to look a little ripper of an alternate picking lick. This one ascends across all 6 strings from the low E string. This is an interesting idea because we’re using sequences across groupings of two strings. Let’s Go! Full Shred Ahead! If you want a quick overview of the lesson then Download the Tab.
This alternate picking lick is based around a little sequence that begins on fret 10. The lick starts with a descending idea. Once you’ve got the basic mechanics of the lick under your fingers it’s then simply a case of moving it through the positions.
Continue Reading
In this lesson we’re going to look at a creative way to approach sweep picking using the dorian mode as our road map. We’ll also take these ideas to make a blazing sequence across all six strings.
Conventionally a lot of players will tell you that sweep picking is essentially taking chords and playing them in a single note, or arpeggiated fashion. While this is true we can break out of the norm by using our mode shapes to create new and exciting possibilities for advanced sweep picking ideas.
Continue Reading
