Lick 002 Simple Funky Rhythm

Lick 002 Simple Funky Rhythm

Learn to create funky rhythms using muted strumming

This simple riff will help you learn to use muted strumming to create an interesting rhythmic sound. This style of strumming is often found in funk and similar styles. The chord used in this riff makes it very easy to mute the strings. Simply lift your fingers off slightly so they aren’t pushing down on the frets but still touching the strings.

When learning this riff, start very slow and count the beat out loud. It’s highly recommended you learn to play this riff with a metronome as it will make sure you learn to play the rhythm in proper time.

After you feel confident playing this riff, you should try to come up with slightly different rhythms and strumming patterns. Keep the chord the same but change your strumming. Change how often you play the chords and when they are played. As an example you could play each chord on every off-beat or you could play a chord every second and fourth beat. Try as many different options as you can think of.

If you have a wah pedal, use it while playing this riff. The wah effect works very well with this riff and can be used to create exciting changes in the sound. Experiment with the wah and how you play it during the riff.

Lick 002 Simple Funky Rhythm

Here are a few things you can try after you learn this simple funky rhythm based riff:

  • Try using different chords and come up with your own chords that fit the ‘funky’ sound
  • Try using different effects such as a wah pedal, phaser, flange, delay, reverb
  • Play the riff at different tempos and think about how the feel changes
  • Try changing the rhythm and adding in triplets to you strumming
  • Try adding some rests and use multiple chords

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TMC Lick 001 Octave Fun

Lick 001 Octaves Fun

Using Octaves in your riffs

This riff is a simple way you can practice octaves and create different melodies by sliding around to different positions. The notes on the sixth string are palm muted to improve the dynamics of the riff. Play the riff without palm muting then play it again using palm muting to understand how it changes the feel of the riff.

The basic idea behind this riff is to come up with an interesting melody by sliding around between different positions. There are four basic positions in this riff so it won’t take long to learn. The overall melody may sound a little strange, but that’s to teach you how certain intervals sound when played. The change from the 9th fret octave to the 4th fret octave has a dramatic sound. If you don’t like the sound of that change, try coming up with a different change. After you can play this riff try figuring out your own riff using the same basic idea.

TMC Lick 001 Octave Fun

TIP: You can click on the riff above to bring up a larger view.

Here are a few different things you can try after learning this riff:

  • Try sliding around using different positions
  • Try using octaves on different strings
  • Try using different intervals instead of octaves (eg: 5ths or 3rds)
  • After you come up with a good sounding riff, try to figure out the chords based on the notes used and play the chord progression.

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Licks and riffs – Improve your playing one lick at a time

Today we will start a new feature on the site to help you think outside of the box and grow as a guitarist. This new series of mini lessons is called ‘licks and riffs‘. As the name suggests, each post will contain a short lick or riff designed to get you thinking about a certain technique or concept.

Unlike other licks and riffs you would find on other sites, some of these licks won’t be usable in your playing. The whole point of all of these licks and riffs is to really get you thinking about music rather than just churning out licks in your playing. In other words these licks will force you to think about why certain notes work when jamming and why others don’t. As a result you will become a better player because you will really understand how to put together original licks that will work.

The best way to stay up to date with new licks and riffs is to like our Facebook page here or follow us on Twitter. Every time a new lick or riff is released we will let you know.