Riffguy's cold weather warm up routine

[johnathonkuhn]

riff guy reminds me A LOT of Jeff Waters from the band Annahilator, in the way he moves his fingers and his facial expressions. look like they go to the same school of facial expressions for soloing.

[jewelrotti]

love the tone your attack and phrasing the best thing from canada since molsen

[loquito182]

WTF that is a warm up XD nice you should publicate some exercises to learn to play like you

[RNRDOLL]

Riffguy...you're the best fucking guitarist out there. You sound, abillity, and taste in licks is uncanny

[OldPink173]

rock on man!!! it sounded like u had an evil malmsteen kinda thing goin on there @ the beginin \m/

[Fr3etd4nc3r]

Geez, I would want you to be my master. I am so much into dirty blues/rock n roll, but I do not leck the sense of metal too. YOu seem to be an absolute pro...do you even miss anything (playing)? Be my tutor :D...woops, I dont have no money, sorry Im a beggar

Addie

[ChuckMullis]

I hate when that happens !!!!! Hahahahahaha phone calls !!!!! Hahahahaahahaa

[Kastralis]

hahaha 1:33

[MetalMillitia]

Mmmm, tasty noodles.

[jog55]

Is that improvisation? If it is tell me how you learned. and it would be a good thing if you did some lesson videos

[tjsr21]

been playing for bout 2 years, getting to the stage when i really need to learn to shred...

I have the left hand of some kinda machine, been playing violin since i was 2 1/2, so lightening, no problems.

But my picking hand is just shite. Everything im playing is really limited by the lack of a decent fast LH pick technique. Ideas, apart from the obvious practice, im doing that lots...

[dbikeguy]

do a lot of string skipping techniques and make sure you get good at them because if you are good at string skipping then you get pretty decent at picking in general. also just alternate pick for long periods of time as fast as you can, switching strings pretty often it will help you keep the speed and such.

[StrypedMaverick]

practice scales and what-not while alternate picking and try different techniques like string skipping. just keep doing that and getting faster each day and soon picking will be great. i have the very opposite problem than you though....

[RNRDOLL]

I had the same issue too...I started out on clarinet though. My best advice, is to REALLY work out licks slowly, get a metronome (or preferably drum machine or drum vst; which is what I use) and play everything as slowly and cleanly until you coordinate your left and right hand better. I usually raise the bpm 5-10 each time I feel comfortable. Alternate pick like hell too...thats where I TOTALLY bombed for a good portion of the years ive been playing

[dbikeguy]

i wish my warmups sounded this good hahah

[sicktkdchick]

how do i make your vibrato as good as yours?!

[riffguy]

In my opinion, developing a good vibrato is one of the most important aspects of lead guitar playing. It needs to be in time with the music and it can't be too faster or it will sound nervous. My vibrato comes mostly from my wrist rather than my fingers.

[xx55AC55xx]

@riffguy riff guy could u watch my mid night shred video on my chanel and tell me how im playing please i need some good advice

[ChuckMullis]

Practice ? Seems to be the key to sucess for me and I think Paul will agree with me.

[riffguy]

Definitely.

[megatop412]

That's a cold start??? Holy shit. Maybe I should step outside for a few minutes and try this. Somehow I think...it will sound like ass.

[jim03o]

Riffguy, when you started playing guitar, did you work on rhythm most, or practicing the scales and improvising most?

[riffguy]

I started playing rhythm, then gradually learned how to play simple pentatonic solos.

[MrPinkZeppelin]

Hey Riffguy, I see you are self taught but you took lessons at a later stage... For how long did you play without lessons? Are lessons really worth it? Oh and were you shredding like a mofo even before the lessons? Many thanks

[riffguy]

I attended the Musicians Institute in Hollywood when I was 20. I'd been playing for 11 years then. I enrolled there to broaden my theory knowledge and make some contacts. I was already able to do most of the stuff I do now. You can see this in the videos of when I was a teen.

Lessons are necessary for some people. It depends on how you learn, some people need to be taught, others learn by experimentation. I do better learning on my own, since it helps me to think "outside the box".

[MrPinkZeppelin]

Great! Thanks for the advice. I've been playing for nearly a year and so far I'm doing fine on my own :-) Thanks again

[RichardMova]

Great advice :))

[someasianguy911]

Does the Traditional have a more vintage feel and sound to it compared to a gibson les paul classic.

[alexledzepguy]

Yes, why spend $5000 on a 59 reissue when the traditional is basically the same. With a few budget changes you have yourself a 59 les paul.

[nate9522]

Thats a very good warmup.Keep up the great guitar playing.=)

[STBT]

How do you like the LP traditional? I'm thinkin of getting one myself.

[riffguy]

It's a very nice guitar and the PLEK system really does a nice job on the frets. The neck is a bit thick but it feels & sounds like an old school Les Paul. I think of it as a cheaper alternative to a '59 VOS reissue.

[Joyvinyl]

Dude - I see you have ads now - hope you are finally making some bill from your talents on line w/ youtube - if you are ever in NYC you have a place to chill - I have some crappy guitars and play a lousy bass but always open to some serious tunage.

Cheers,

Mike

[evilotto77cheese]

are there any particular scales you like to use when improvising?

Or is it more just licks you've picked up after years of playing?

[riffguy]

It's a combination really. I have a pile of different licks that I use but I'm mindful of what scale(s) they are composed from so I can adjust them to fit a different piece of music.

The main scales I use are the blues scale, minor scale, harmonic minor scale, phrygian mode, dorian mode, mixolydian mode, phrygian dominant mode, diminished scale & chromatic scale.

A cool trick is to take a common lick and use that particular phrasing with a different scale. It adds freshness to a solo.

[evilotto77cheese]

ok, thanks very much!

I'll have to check those out, see if i can add some more 'spice' to my playing

[crusTodd]

Hey Paul, Do you teach and play full time?

[riffguy]

Not at the moment.

[hendrixistheking]

hey dude! how tall are you?

[riffguy]

How tall do you think I am?

[DMac604]

5'10 what do I win?

[riffguy]

How about a used guitar pick?

[hendrixistheking]

hahahah. i'm gonna have to go with 6' or 6'1"

[riffguy]

Nope, 5'10. Think you can guess my weight?

[hendrixistheking]

Damn almost! I am about 6'3" and i have just been paying attention to how tall certain musicians are. P. Gilbert is about 6'3" and apparently Buckethead is 6'7"! I'll have to pass on that one. Keep on rockin', I'm loving every minute of it!

[DMac604]

175lbs

[rockerdude29]

Damnit Paul,I was so happy cause I just started picking up speed on this scale in A natural I figured out,and I had to go and watch one of your videos.Thanks alot,my happiness,right down the drain.haha just kidding,youre great.And I might try to steal some of your slower licks.Peace man.

[schl0tte]

A master of the fretboard! Why does your amp hum that much? I know you can fix tube amps, so....

[riffguy]

There is a lot of electrical interference in this room since it's near where the power line comes in to the house. The pickups & cord seem to pickup this hum.

[Soldano88]

80's here in Southern california: )

[thojyout23]

-35 over here

[caveyboy]

that was pretty good, your transitions from slow to heavy was weird sometimes but i could tell you were just improvising

[robocop1993]

-17 in jersey before my workout today. not too shabby

[kool98769]

That's -30 C though.

that's friggin cold.

[robocop1993]

I completely forgot about that! Your right that would be pretty damn frosty.

[FredrickVonDinkles]

4F here

[pr0n3]

So nice to be in AZ. Its a nice 75ºF outside. I think at -30 my hands would probably just fall off.

[Dreadlord67]

Yeah. I get some of those hot hands things and like sake them, I put my hands on them until they're warm and jam out! :)

[no66y666]

about 9 C (48 F) in the UK today :-)

[FyveWunFiddy]

-30F here in Southeast Michigan with the fancy Wind Chill.

I really need to start playing again, I haven't played guitar since August =0

[amarr1]

-30 F in northern Illinois.

[Agtronic]

-30C in Montreal. :D No comparison. My hands are frozen I can't even imagine playing guitar right now.

Thank god riffguy is burning some mahogany!

[pingo775]

rosewood

[cxd090]

Its just a little chilly in canada eh riff? haha!! Well I am in southern us and its freezing its ass off here so I can just imagine whats its like in canada.. stay warm riff!!!

[n2motocross]

Damn! -30C... It was 17C this morning in Alabama. and I thought that was cold!!

[muscletruckdude]

ive said it before and i'll say it again. riffguy is the best guitarist on youtube

[n2motocross]

muscletruckdude:

You hit the nail on the head my good man.

[littleredguitars1]

yeah it was -15F this morning. i wasnt very happy. and playing guitar when your hands are freezing just hurts

[Smokeater68]

Good thing our fingers didn't fall off....I would have taken them LOL. Ready for Spring?

[hvrock13]

wow thats impressive for being in -30 degree weather. i feel your pain, it was about -39C here in illinois today..

[jdrizd2]

PS. How do you get the Riffguy Banner? Do you have to win a you tube award?

[D0g63rt]

It is pretty sexy...

[techdeckin2day]

you have to be a partner which means everything in your video must be entirely owned by u like no music copyrights and you gotta regularly upload videos that get thousands of views and it helps to have at least 500- 1000 subscribers. its alot of work

[jdrizd2]

You must get some checking on the finish carrying around your axe in that extreme weather. Dude on phone: Hey is that freedom rock? Awesome!

[justplayman]

1. I remember in High school watching a band perform outside in the cold.

2. We all sat in the bleachers while the band played on the outdoor running track that circled the football field.

3. That memory comes to mind when I play in the cold.

4. I found out that it's the music in my mind the drives my fingers. I figure it had to be the same for that guitarist

[AndreasBusshart]

Paul just a jammin'are you playing a reissue les paul;peace[Freddie]

[riffguy]

This one is a Les Paul Traditional which is similar to the older ones.

[RobinStrower]

5*. At first I thought your neighbour called, then I read you used no Marshall.......

Serious warm up for beeing outside in -30C weather.

Robin :o)

[firebird116]

teach me your ways!

[aksgamewiz]

i'm sure, weather in canada makes the cold hear in VA laughable.

and you make the Las sound like a Strat when you start playing that Yngwie style stuff, its realy kinda cool.

[deathmetalben]

Jam some day?

[schnurr31]

your warmup is better than my best playing -_-

[mjd775]

...that section before the phone ringing was blisteringly good!! Who was the fool that rang you Paul? Disturbing our viewing pleasure!!lol. I fogive them if it was your Mom, or agent!! Keep up the brilliant work fella!! Awesome again!!

[riffguy]

It was Yngwie that called.....he asked me to join him for a donut....or two.

[mjd775]

..haha, thats funny.

[riffguy]

Not nearly as funny as what he called me when I told him donuts are bad for the waistline.

[lonerocker08]

do you rally know yngwie? (just curious)

[pabloguitar1]

it was a joke you idiot

nice warm up paul, lot of ice melting right there.

[lonerocker08]

first dont call me an idiot dude it was just a simple fucking question.

P.s. you rock riffguy \m/

[pabloguitar1]

i call you an idiot because you seem to be unable to comprehend a simple joke

[ktulujamesorion]

haha love ur stuff riffguy any chance of you posting a lesson video on some yngwie type licks ....i think all of us would love that:)

peace.

[mraggrovator]

Riffguy is hot hot hot HOT.

[coulsonsam87]

great stuff riffguy

[angelfaced1]

smokin' hot! from -30 to at least 100 degrees in the first 40 seconds...

[BRANSCOMBEx]

I use a heater but this works :)

Yo dude, check out my acoustics and tell me know what ya think!

A++