Write killer riffs! Free Lesson #2

[SignsPreyerTube]

the guitar is bigger then you

[SarahSpisak]

@SignsPreyerTube

Yes, it's enormous. ;-)

[wntersun666]

I don't like the distortion that much.

[bangurl86]

Sarah, thanks so much you helped me out allot! Your a great teacher/player. :)

[SarahSpisak]

@bangurl86

Thank YOU! With no student there can be no teacher.  :-)

[MetallicaRulesYeaaah]

can my band use one your riff to make a song ? pls :)

[SarahSpisak]

@MetallicaRulesYeaaah

Thanks for asking- I would love that!!! I "wrote" these riffs based on the music of my favorite artists, and now you will keep them alive with your own efforts. :-)

[DrSatanicShadow]

I learnt something new,...great. By the way, i really love your guitar..it looks EVIL!! GREAT!!

[SarahSpisak]

@DrSatanicShadow

Thanks!!! I'm glad the lesson was helpful. :-)

[RuxLexi1109]

the guitar looks like it would eat your face !!!!!!!

[onshrooms420]

Not the most metal looking person in the world, but you're a good teacher, something that was hard for me to find. I learned a lot!

[SarahSpisak]

@onshrooms420

Thanks. I might not "look" very metal but I sure do LOVE metal!!!!! :-)

[ppriess]

@SarahSpisak metal is inside. clothes people can buy, hair may grow, but true love 4 metal... \m/

[SarahSpisak]

@ppriess

Thanks! I was thinking about this and my choice of guitar, what I play on it and my chosen career (teaching music) speak for me and my love of metal. :-)

[ppriess]

@SarahSpisak \m/ by the way, your guitar is freaking awesome! if looks could kill...lol \m/

[SarahSpisak]

@ppriess

Thanks again! Most people seem to like it but some people think it's "ugly" and don't hesitate to say so.

[souperhart]

@onshrooms420 I might not look jazz, but I like jazz...

[onshrooms420]

@souperhart Usually I only come across longer haired male teenagers with a BC Rich guitar

[souperhart]

@onshrooms420 I go to Harvard.

[xXGodz123Xx]

awesome playin and sexy guitars



[SarahSpisak]

@xXGodz123Xx

Thanks!!!! :-)

[strikingjoe01]

what can i say really?, shes Brilliant! :D

[Robtron3030]

for some reason it sounds more brutal when it cuts to the tablature shots

[DistortedBrain]

gay cheesy riff

[utnacmit]

I enjoy watching you teach and play. There's none of that macho-metal nonsense. You seriously rock! 

[SarahSpisak]

@utnacmit

Thanks!!! I'm glad you enjoy the lessons. :-)

[febrezemuch]

i find it amazing how music theory basically turns into gibberish when trying to logically explain metal... IT CAN'T BE DONE! MUAHAHA! \m/

[Morbidjeff666]

were u in any bands?

[SarahSpisak]

@Morbidjeff666

No, I worked on other aspects of study, teaching, composition and production. :-)

[eljinete666]

wow 

[JonnyMan131]

Thanks so much i learn something from every video!

[SarahSpisak]

@JonnyMan131

I'm glad to know that! Thanks for watching. :-)

[djpiyushlast]

thnks for the lessons mam...

[djpiyushlast]

thnks for the lesspns mam...

[SarahSpisak]

@djpiyushlast

Thanks for watching!

[AlexSpeedReaper]

good work girl, very good riff

[SarahSpisak]

@AlexSpeedReaper

Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it. ;-)

[JGam1ng]

Is that a custom guitar? Looks so sick. Great playing too.

[SarahSpisak]

@JGam1ng

Thanks so much! yes, it's a custom built Spawn from Moser Custom Shop. :-)

[JGam1ng]

@SarahSpisak Sweet.

[XLmaoGenocideX]

@SarahSpisak Beautiful guitar.

[SarahSpisak]

@XLmaoGenocideX

Thanks! And thanks to Neal Moser, who made it. :-)

[Mladencinaa]

this is the most AWESOME guitar i ve ever seen!btw great lesson! \m/

[SarahSpisak]

@Mladencinaa

Thank you!!!!! :-)

[dunavidrava]

these riffs are incredible !! i think im gonna take some of these for writing my own song in a band.. NOT steal ! :D

[SarahSpisak]

@dunavidrava

Thanks!!!

[MrMetallicaforlife]

@SarahSpisak so.... we can take this riffs for making our own songs???

[SarahSpisak]

@MrMetallicaforlife

Yes- that would be great! Thanks for asking.

I would like to hear your songs. :-)

-Sarah

[MrMetallicaforlife]

@SarahSpisak awesome...thanks...!!!!

[bwhite890]

I find I play guitar bluesier when I am sober or drinking beer, I notice I roll into this style of playing when I am on the whiskey.

I also really like palm muting when I am stoned. Weird.

[musicjammers]

Hail from Demon Storm. Respect Woman! ALL THE WAY.

[SarahSpisak]

@musicjammers

Many, many thanks!!!!! :-)

[KalakalProduction]

you are really good at teaching this,, hope to see more sarah. take care

[SarahSpisak]

@KalakalProduction

Thanks so much! I recently released Volume I of "Melodic Principles for Rock Guitar", the perfect companion to Metal Riffology.

[KalakalProduction]

is this ur original page?

[SarahSpisak]

@KalakalProduction

Hello! Yes, these are my own videos. Thanks for watching!  :-) Sarah

[hollydolly666]

Sarah- you rock!! i don't know how else to show my joy ;) Really great teaching vid. I'm going to buy your dvds. Thanks for giving your time to help people learn how to play like this. And i have to say, both your spawn and the red one (whats its name again?) are awesome. Any chance a mortal-one like me can own a piece of art like the one you have? of course i refeer to the hand-built spawn;)

[SarahSpisak]

@hollydolly666

Thanks so much!!! I'm so glad that you like the lessons. :-)

The red guitar is now called the "Siren". The Spawn was discontinued but you might find an import for sale somewhere. Check out Moser Custom Shop for more info!

[desertdemon1993]

What tuning is that ?? Is it standard ??

[SarahSpisak]

@desertdemon1993

Thanks for asking! yes, all of Metal Riffology and Melodic Principles are in standard tuning. :-)

[M3talNov4]

Hey Sarah! Great lesson!... those riffs are pretty cool ;)

[SarahSpisak]

@M3talNov4

Thanks so much!!! :-)

[SarahSpisak]

@SuperStewartfan14

Thanks!!! My guitar is a custom hand-built Spawn from Moser Custom Shop. :-)

[NabeeltheThird]

damn nice lesson, simple and straight to the point

[SarahSpisak]

@NabeeltheThird

Thanks!  I really love to teach; I'm glad this was helpful!

[visualkeirockstar]

i like your riffs they sound like Moi dix mois

[SarahSpisak]

@visualkeirockstar

Thanks! I don't know that band.

[Enriquegg]

what's the intro song? :P

[SarahSpisak]

@Enriquegg

All of the music was written and played by me for the DVDs and is based on the riffs I teach in the lessons.

[Enriquegg]

@SarahSpisak in that case, you're an awesome riff writer

[SarahSpisak]

@Enriquegg

LOL- thanks! I have to give most of the credit to the great riff-writers that I studied carefully. The purpose of these lessons is to show how to learn from your favorite guitarists and then write your own riffs. :-)

[WhiteGrande93]

bout time a girl get at dis shit. good shit tho watchin yur other one #1 made me think of somethin real hot. and the thing is i already knew what yu were showing id done it lots of times using tha same tchnique but hearin someone else do it made a new light bulb pop on lol. next time yu n orianthi do somethin.

[SarahSpisak]

@WhiteGrande93

LOL- Thanks!!!! If I can inspire somebody to play something new, my work is successful. :-)

[j0eMiru]

you are making things look very clear from the camera angle + the tabs, thank you very much :D! these riffs give really great ideas !

[SarahSpisak]

@j0eMiru

Thank you! I'm glad you founds this helpful.  :-)

[Sixtosglez]

I want to know what strings are you using.

and in which tune is it

nice vid

[SarahSpisak]

@Sixtosglez

Thanks! I'm using a hybrid set; the top three from a set of .09s and the bottom of a set of .10s. I'm in standard tuning.

[scottiewayne03]

You are a very good teacher! Equally as important, I like to see women rock out!

[SarahSpisak]

@scottiewayne03

Thank you!!! I am about to shoot a new DVD set. Please subscribe to my channel if you would like to know when the new clips are posted. :-)

[SarahSpisak]

@BackStabber300

Thanks so much for your kind words! I'm glad that you like my videos. I am making a new set of DVDs and there will be some parts of them on YouTube so please be sure to subscribe to my channel! :-)

[zalen292]

Im sorry, but out of the first two free lessons, you dont even teach anyone about palm muting.. your going to confused people.

[SarahSpisak]

Thanks for watching my videos. These are excerpts chosen to demonstrate my full DVDs and represent a small fraction of the two hours of instruction.

[L9323]

@zalen292 hahaha she didnt even answer to your comment she was like just buy my dvd hahaha i dont like this woman theres better teachers out there

[zalen292]

@L9323 I know right? haha.. Even if they are just excerpts, the most basic of things she could teach you is palm muting. :P People are probably wondering how she is getting half the sounds shes playing, im sure other people wont even buy this DVD. I know i wont.

[ibanezrudi]

what is a 'chromatic descending fifth' and e pedal tone? can you suggest where i can get to know the roots and basics please? looking at how you play here and by listening i manage to make a riff or two but its just random guesswork.. i would really like to know basics and this advanced stuff youre telling here but my basics suck :(

[SarahSpisak]

Thanks for your message! Please keep in mind that this is only a short excerpt. I spend about two hours teaching how to understand this material!

Also, I am making a new DVD set that will cover even more basic material. It's based on my book "Melodic Principles for Rock Guitar". If you order Metal Riffology from my MetalRiffs web site you can get a free PDF of the original Melodic Principles book. That should cover what you want to learn!

:) Sarah

[ibanezrudi]

@SarahSpisak

olright, ill get the dvd.. :) thanks im lookig forward to it

[SarahSpisak]

Thanks! If you go to the MetalRiffs site and click on "Special Offers" you'll be able to order the DVDs with a free PDF. :-)

[GarrettX1991]

You can' have G and G sharp... I don't know that much about theory but I know enough that you can have two of the same letter making the G sharp an A flat. Am I right?

[SarahSpisak]

That's a good observation and is true in diatonic harmony. In chromatic harmony, however, you will often have two notes of the same letter name. If I change the G# to Ab, then the A has to be called Bbb (double flat). Then what do we call the other notes? See where this is going? ;-)

I have seen video lessons where the instructor did make the mistake you describe and it annoys me. LOL

Thanks for watching!

[IconW]

Sounds like newer Candlemass! Well...it's a bit suprising but it's definetly not bad.

[SarahSpisak]

I do love Candlemass! Surprising in what way?

:-)

[wolfslairDK]

Its nice for a new guy/girl who just bought a guitar,and know nothing about to handle an instrument and want to play metal :) its cool enough;-)

[SarahSpisak]

Thanks! There is material here for beginners and players with more experience. A new player can use these lessons for a long time. I cover some advanced concepts later in the DVDs, including complex time signatures and chromatic harmony.

[jacobtheguitarfreak]

Wow so I guess originality isn't covered in this DVD set. Nice farty over-saturated metal tone too, I love scooping all of the body out of my tone as well. Sounds "brutal"

[SarahSpisak]

Please explain how you are able to determine this by watching only a few minutes of a two hour program.

[jacobtheguitarfreak]

@SarahSpisak You're right, I don't know what your entire program contains. But judging from this demo video, my personal opinion is that these riffs are pretty bland and unoriginal. Its all the same chugging pedal tone shit thats so overdone. I mean, each riff has a slight tiny difference, but its all the same damn ballpark. I personally dont get anything emotional or musical from this, but its just my opinion.

[SarahSpisak]

OK. Well, there are actually many different kinds of riffs. They are not all the same. The riffs themselves are all demonstrating certain concepts and are not supposed to be original or artistic. They are study materials. Instead of just showing you a scale, for example, I demonstrate how that scale might sound in a riff.

[SarahSpisak]

P.S.

Jacob-Have you actually accomplished anything yourself or do you just criticize the works of others?

[jacobtheguitarfreak]

@SarahSpisak PS- It's my damn opinion. Don't get so worked up.

[SarahSpisak]

LOL! You're right. I thought you came across as snotty. Then I looked at your channel and didn't see anything impressive so I wrote that "P.S".

;D

[guitarsbunch347]

wat guitar is she using? someone please tell me!!! i want it so bad!!!!!!!

[SarahSpisak]

Thanks! It's a custom built Spawn by Neal Moser of Moser Custom Shop. :)

[metallica66man]

@SarahSpisak where is his custom store or what is the website where i can order one

[SarahSpisak]

I'm sorry to tell you that this model is no longer available. A limited number of import models were made (this one was custom built by Neal himself) and you might find somebody selling one of those somewhere. A similar model, the Spawn SV, is available. I can't post a link on YouTube but the web site is mosercustomshop.

:)

[varulv234]

2:04 Lol, that's SO Obituary.

[SarahSpisak]

Obituary?  I never hear of them! LOL

\m/ \m/

[varulv234]

@SarahSpisak Seriously?

[SarahSpisak]

Noooooo!!! NOT seriously! I love Obituary.

[varulv234]

@SarahSpisak Oooohhh...... They have some VEEERRYY nice riffs.

[SarahSpisak]

They certainly do! ;-)

[SarahSpisak]

Well, I was just sipping my latte and listening to Cause of Death and heard "Body Bag"... The riff in my video is almost exactly the same, with a slight rhythmic variation at the beginning. LOL I guess I swiped it unintentionally! So I'm writing this to make sure that Obituary gets credit for more than just influencing me on this riff. ;D

[perfectxinsanity1]

I would imagine that guitar is pretty brittle on the edges, I would stickto my jackson King V as a custom guitar

[SarahSpisak]

I'm not sure what you mean by "brittle". It's made of wood....

???

[cmajor28]

I'm an experienced metal guitarist and i did learn something. And something i did with the tri-tone was play a tri-tone E then add the 7th to the A# in the chord which makes an even darker sound than the tri-tone. I think i picked this up from a band named Evile.

[colosalguitarist]

great playing,is that a bc rich,?i think i saw joe perrry play a double neck version

[SarahSpisak]

Thanks! My guitar was made by Neal Moser, of Moser Custom Shop. Neal used to work for B.C. Rich and is a legendary luthier.

[Z1CC4]

This video is awesome

[SarahSpisak]

Thank you!!! The whole thing is almost two hours long- check it out. ;D

[ShittakeBukakke]

Nice guitar, what is it? Also, do you ever tell us how exactly to use things such as "chromatically descending licks" or the diminished scale? The half whole scale?

[SarahSpisak]

Thanks for your message. My guitar is a custom built Spawn from Neal Moser, who used to work for B.C. Rich.

The double DVD set is about riffs; I don't cover "chromatically descending licks" in this lesson but there are some cool riffs with the half-whole scale. My next DVD lessons will cover lead guitar. :)

[SarahSpisak]

Thank you! I'm glad you like the lesson. :)

[voldiz0]

OOOOOHH yeah of course im having a lot of fun :P

[voldiz0]

I started playing past 4 month and these riffs are killing the floor and easy to learn thank you !

[SarahSpisak]

Awesome!  I'm glad you are having fun. ;-)

[voldiz0]

I like when girl teach how to riffs , small hands let us see much clearly THANK YOU Sarah Spisak I Love Your riffs ! :D

[SarahSpisak]

Thank you!  Yes, I have small hands and my guitar is huge. LOL

I'm glad you like the riffs!!!

[BigJrLoc]

you help so much!!!! thanx!!!!

[SarahSpisak]

Thank you!!!!

[JIgSaw5581]

can we use the riffs in our own metal songs or do u technically own them?

[SarahSpisak]

You are welcome to use the riffs in your own songs! The lessons are copyrighted but I encourage you to make songs from the riffs. :)

[flamingpare12]

your freakin awesome !!!! wofgnpfqep xD

[SarahSpisak]

Thanks! I want EVERYBODY to be awesome... That's why I love to teach!

[flamingpare12]

@SarahSpisak hahaha

[Sk8boardfr3k09]

wut tuning is this in and are there free tabs for it

[SarahSpisak]

I'm in standard but it must sound heavy because people ask me if I'm detuned!

Free tabs? The tabs for this lesson are in the video... I'm not sure what you are asking!

[Sk8boardfr3k09]

@SarahSpisak i mean are there like tabs i can print off for those riffs

[SarahSpisak]

Oh, I see! There is a sample PDF for examples 1-7 on my web site. The rest of the exercises are in the PDF on the DVDs.

[Sk8boardfr3k09]

can you send me the link please,i'd really appreciate it

[SarahSpisak]

OK- message sent! :)

[Janekbydgoszcz]

These riffs are great, Do you have own metal band or not? ;]

[SarahSpisak]

Thanks! I'm glad you like the riffs.

I'm not playing in a band; I work for Metal Method- my dream job!

[bloodygore250]

Great stuff dude..really good. Check out some of my stuff and tell me what you think.

[jochiasson]

Do you show how to use scales to make riffs on your dvd? I always wonder how to put the scales to good use...Can you tell me what's on the dvd in general? Thanks a lot and awesome guitar!!!

[SarahSpisak]

Thanks for your post! I'm glad you like my guitar. :)

Yes, I DO teach how to use scales and modes to make great riffs. You can find a complete description of the DVD set by going to the MetalRiffs web site (link is in video info) and clicking on "Metal Riffology".

Thanks again!

[Hight3mp]

i want tabs for song in the beginning pleaese im dying to play that! XD

[SarahSpisak]

Thanks! I'm really glad that you like the music. :)

You'll learn the basic riffs in that music from the DVDs. I am working on a new DVD project that is more oriented to lead guitar and soloing. I'm basically using E phrygian dominant in that solo.

[asdfghjykl]

these riffs are killer !!!!!!!!

Im gunna learn these and become influenced by them, just like i do with metallica and megadeth riffs (dont wrry, i try my best not to completely copy)

AND, that guitar is god like, and ur asweome sound!!

[SarahSpisak]

Thanks!!! I'm glad that you like my guitar and riffs. Go ahead and plunder my riffs- that's how I got them in the first place. LOL

[asdfghjykl]

thanks, they just sound extremely metal lol, and thats wat we all need!!!!!!

and btw, just a question for one guitarist to the next, wat riff do u find more asweome,. Metallicas Master of puppets (the second riff after the intro riff), or Megadeths Holy Wars riff??

[SarahSpisak]

Sorry I didn't have time to compare these riffs; I have been working on a new DVD project based on my book, "Melodic Principles for Rock Guitar"!

:)

[Hight3mp]

Hello I just bought your DVD today hopefully i would get it here in 1 or 2 weeks i was wondering if in you dvds you teach us how to play the riff in the beginning of this video?

[SarahSpisak]

Thanks for buying Metal Riffology!

All of the music on the discs is based on riffs from the lessons, including the intro music. :)

[IKhaosS]

love the spawn

[SarahSpisak]

Thanks! So do I. ;D

[Ziggyflavel1]

I'll still can't figure can't make a riff :( is music theory needed to help make riffs?

[SarahSpisak]

Well, music theory has certainly helped ME to transcribe, learn and write riffs. That is why I teach it in these lessons! I show how to use different modes and scales to make riffs. :)

[looshkin69]

how do you get such amazing tone ive got a marshall 30 watt do i need any pedals

[SarahSpisak]

Thanks for asking! I'm glad you like that tone. :)

I plugged straight into an early model Line6 Pod and recorded the output directly (no mic). Some of the tone comes from my guitar itself and some from my hands.

[EvilDemonShadow]

i love the riff at o:59

[SarahSpisak]

Thanks! It's pretty demented- er, I mean diminished. ;-)

[ducky811]

I would absolutely love to have you for a guitar teacher. You are really knowledgeable

of your craft. Thanks for taking the time and best regards Sarah.

[SarahSpisak]

Wow, thanks! And I would love to be your teacher- that's why I made these DVDs.  ;-)

[elvisunder]

you are the best!!!!! what bc rich mode is that?never seen that sick guitar before....and thnx a lot for the videos.they are really inspiring(sorry for my rusty english)

[SarahSpisak]

Thank you!!! I am playing the guitar right now... ;-)

It's actually made by Neal Moser of Moser Custom Shop. Neal used to work for B.C. Rich. The guitar is called the "Spawn".

\m/

[xXxcreepingdethxXx]

ill give you 3.50 for it

[Calebyourdaddy727]

I'll give you 3 bucks for your guitar :P

[SarahSpisak]

What a generous offer! ;-)

[sk8fReak90]

i wrote a comment..but it's gone :/

i like your tutorial much !

is there a chance to get your dvd in germany ?

[SarahSpisak]

Hi! Your comment had to be approved. It's not gone! I'll answer it now...

;D

[MeleeRogue]

Thanks so much Saray stay cool :)

[SarahSpisak]

Thank you!!!

[metalheavyrockr]

i LOVE youre lessons, theyre very simple to understand, but yet good metal riffs, and, LOVE the guitar :)

[SarahSpisak]

Thanks! I'm glad you like the riffs and lessons- and my Moser Spawn!

[ramendra25]

u r a great guitarist. loved ur guitar ur lesson n u seems 2 be a good human being thats a great combination..

[SarahSpisak]

Thank you very much!!!! ;D

[negermatte]

OMG THATS THE NICEST GUITAR I EVER seen! so cool! and a girl that plays metal thats cool to not so useual

[SarahSpisak]

Thank you very much! Some people think my guitar is "horrible" so I'm always glad to hear from somebody who likes it. LOL

[pyrofreak24]

@SarahSpisak if its not too much trouble, do you mind telling me what effects your using on your amp and what tuning your in? It sounds very good.

Thank you!  I am in standard tuning for all of Metal Riffology. I recorded direct (no amp) with a Line6 Pod using fairly simple settings (distortion and a little delay). :)