2/20/23 Single String Riffs Pedagogy STRINGS

Level 2 SS Riffs 1st note

Fret
Chords on A Chords on E
String String
1812 Overture
5th pos
0 D A
Addams Family Theme 0 D A A B
Blister in the Sun
4th
0 ADAD EAEA
Come as you are 0 Bm A F# m E
Dance Macabre 05 Dm E7 A7 Am B7 E7
Eine Klein Nachtmusic 5 D A7 A E7
Enter Sandman 0 Am D7 Em A7
Great Gates of Kyiv 5 DA AE
In the Hall of the Mountain King 0 Am B7/A Bb/A Em F#7/E F/E
James Bond #3
My Sharona 2 B5 E D F# 5 B A
Rock Lobster Am F E7 Em C B7
Position
Shift! 0

L2
2/20/23 “Single String Riffs” Pedagogy OVERVIEW
These are throw-away riffs which allow players to express a musical idea. I don’t teach a rock repertoire but these give
students a chance to play rock type riffs as well as other familiar phrases.
My goal is to make sure students are working on fingering technique and rhythm and also developing a sense of
harmonization. These are intended to get students playing melody with proper finger position. Of course these riffs all should
be played on multiple strings but we are going to play them as Single String challenges. This forces the student to develop
fingering technique.
These are intended to be played with a backup player since they really come alive that way. It can be a fun challenge to play
some of these riffs on all the strings since the chords are really ambitious. Timing is crucial
Two musicians should play the riff and then the chords switching back and forth. This is great for rhythm and dexterity It really
demonstrates the importance of proper technique since any sloppiness will destroy your ability quicky to get back and forth.

• You may NOT play these with just 1 finger!

• If you INSIST on playing with just one finger then it HAS TO BE THE FOURTH FINGER!
L2
2/18/23
Single String Riffs!
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

1812 Overture, SS RIFF

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky 1840-93
1880 Original in Eflat Transcribed By Brian Perkins

A
œ #œ œ œ œ #œ
4
&4 .. ‰ œ œ
œ œ ˙
..
2 4 2 2 4 1
1 1 1

.. ‰ ..
Tablature
Fret # 0 0 5 7 9 7 5 7 9 5 5

E string A C string F
B String E F String Bb
G String C

D String G

A String D

[Link]
L2
2/19/23
Single String Riffs!
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

Addams Family Theme, SS RIFF

Original in Bflat
Vic Mizzy 1916-2009
Composed by Vic Mizzy in 1964 Transcribed By Brian Perkins

A B A

4 œ # œ # œ .. œ Œ Œ # œ # œ # œ œ Œ Œ # œ # œ # œ œ # œ # œ # œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ Œ œ # œ # œ ..
&4
3 3 3 3 3 3

Tablature
Fret # 0 2 4 .. 5 ΠΠ2 4 6 7
ŒŒ 2 4 6 7 2 4 6 7 024 5
ŒŒ0 2 4 ..
3 3 3 3 3 3

E string A B
C string F G
B String E F#
F String C D
G String C D

D String G A

A String DE

[Link]
L2
2/18/23
Single String Riffs!
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

Blister in the Sun, SS RIFF

1983, Original in G
Gordon Gano 1963-
Violent Femmes
Transcribed By Brian Perkins

E A E A E A E
4
&4 .. œ # œ œ
2œ œ œ œ #œ œ œ œ œ
3 2 2 3 2
œ #œ œ œ œ œ Ó
2 3 2

Ó ..

Tablature
Fret # 0.. 4 0 5 4 0 0 4 4 0 5 4 0 4 0 5 4 0
Ó Ó ..

E string E A
C string C F
B String B E
F String F Bb
G String G C

D String D G

A String A D

[Link]
L2
2/18/23
Single String Riffs!
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

Come as You Are, SS RIFF

1992 Original in Emin (Tuned down a whole step)
Kurt Cobain (1967-94)
This riff is ridiculous to play on one string, but we are committed! Transcribed By Brian Perkins

#
F min E
4 œ œ œ1 œ œ œ œ œ1 n œ1 œ œ œ œ œ œ N œ ..
.. # œ œ
4

&4
4
1

Tablature
Fret # 0
J 0 1 .. 2 5 2 5 2 2 1 0 7 0 0 0 7 0 1 ..

E string F#m E
C string Dm C
B String C#m B
F String Gm F
G String Amin G

D String Emin D

A String Bmin A

[Link]
 L2 Single String Riffs!
2/19/23
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

Dance Macabre, SS RIFF

1874, Original in D or Gmin? Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921)
Chords NEED WORK Transcribed By Brian Perkins

A min B7 E7
3
&4
œ .. ˙ œ ˙ œ # ˙ œ ˙ œ œ # œ œ # œ # œ œ # ˙ œ # ˙ œ

Tablature
Fret # 0 .. 5 5 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 2 5 4 2 0 2 2 4 0

œ œ œ œ
A min B7 E7
˙ œ ˙ œ #˙ œ ˙ œ #œ œ #˙ #œ ˙ œ ..
&

5 5 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 5 8 7 4 0 4 2 0 0 ..

E string Amin B7 E7

B String Emin F#7 B7

G String Cmin D7 G7

D String Gmin A7 D7 C string Fmin G7 C7

A String Dmin E7 A7 F String Bbmin C7 F7

[Link]
L2
2/19/23 Single String Riffs!
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, SS RIFF

1787 Original in G
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-91)
Transcribed By Brian Perkins

A E7
3 œ œ4
4 œ œ œ œœ œ # œ œ2 œ œ2 œ œ2 # œ1 œ4 œ
4 4 4

œ ‰ J ‰ J
&4
1 1

‰J ‰J Œ Œ

Tablature
Fret # 5 ‰ 0J 5 ‰ 0J 5 0 5 9 12
Π10
‰ 7J 10 ‰ 7J 10 7 4 7 0
Œ

E string A E7 C string F C7

B String E B7 F String Bb F7

G String C G7

D String G D7

A String D A7

[Link]
 L2 Single String Riffs!
2/19/23
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

1991, Original in Emin

Enter Sandman, SS RIFF Kirk Hammett,
James Hetfield,
Lars Ulrich.
(Metallica)

œ A7 œ
7 Transcribed By Brian Perkins
E min E min A
4œ œ b œ œ œ b œ œ
&4 J .. œ œ œ œ œ œ ..

With CHEAT!
Fret # 0
J .. 0 0 3 6 5 12 0 0 0 3 6 5 12 0 ..

4
Without CHEAT!
Fret # 0
T
A
4 J .. 0 12 15 6 5 12 0 0 12 15 6 5 12 0 ..
B

E string Emin A5 This one is sort of ridiculous to

play as a single string riff. You
can still learn a lot by trying. I Have included
B String Bmin E5 an "Octave Cheat" to simplify.
I have also included the real way to play it
at the bottom. It is still tricky.
G String Gmin C5

D String Dmin G5 Note! To make this sound like a metal

riff and not like a jazz riff you have to
avoid any swing or backbeat.

A String Amin D5
Actual way it is played!

& .. œ œ bœ œ œ œ œ bœ œ œ
..
œ œ œ œ
.. ..
5 5
7 7 7 7
3 0 6 5 0 0 6 5 0

[Link]
 L2
2/18/23
Single String Riffs!
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

The Great Gate of Kiev, SS RIFF

Modest Mussorgsky 1839-1881
1880 Original in Eflat Transcribed By Brian Perkins

A E A E A E A E
˙ #œ œ œ œ #œ œ œ œ #œ #œ œ œ œ #œ
4
&4 ..
˙ œ œ œ ..
1 2 4 1 4 2 3 4 2 1 1

.. ..
Tablature Fret #
5 7 9 5 9 7 0 9 12 7 5 4 0 9 12 7 5 4 0

E string A

B String E C string F
G String C F String Bb
D String G

A String D

D E A E A E A E A
#œ œ œ œ œ #œ œ œ œ œ œ #œ ˙
& .
. ..
1 0 1 1 5 3 1 5 3 1 3 1

.. 2 0 5 7 12 9 7 12 9 5 7 2 0 ..

[Link]
L2
2/18/23
Single String Riffs!
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

In the Hall of the Mountain King, SS RIFF

Original in Bmin
Edvard Greig 1843-1907
1875 From Peer Gynt, Opus 20 Transcribed By Brian Perkins

#
F 7/ F/
E min
4 œ2 œ œ œ1 ˙ b œ b œ1
4 E
˙ œ4 œ1 ˙4
E
.. œ # œ
4 4

&4 ..
3
1

Tablature
Fret #
.. 0 2 3 5 7 3 7 6 2 6 5 1 5 ..

E string Emin F#7/E F/E

B String Bmin C#7/B C/B

G String Gmin A7/G Ab/G

D String Dmin E7/D Eb/D

A String Amin B7/A Bb/A

C string Cmin D7/C Db/C

F String Fmin G7/F Gb/F

[Link]
L2
2/18/23
Single String Riffs!
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

My Sharona, SS RIFF
1979 Original in G
Berton Averre and Doug Fieger
This riff is ridiculous to play on one string, but we are committed! The Knack
Transcribed By Brian Perkins

F
#5 B A
4
& 4 .. j j j ..
#œ œ œ #œ œ #œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ
#œ œ 4
œ #œ œ œ œ #œ œ œ 3
1 3 1
1

Tablature
.. j ..
Start this one on the Low E String since it is a bass riff
Fret #
jj
2 2 14 14 2 14 2 14 2 2 14 0 2 2 14 14 2 14 7
. 5 7 5 0

E string F#5 B A

B String C#5 F# E

G String A5 D C

D String E5 A G

A String B5 E D

C string D5 G F

F String G5 C Bb

[Link]
L2
2/18/23
Single String Riffs!
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Lingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

Rock Lobster-SS RIFF

1978, Original in Cmin
Orig on low tuned guitar. The B52s
Transcribed By Brian Perkins
CD Eb DC AbFAbG

E min C B7
œ4 œ3 œ4 œ3 œ . œ
4
&4 .. œ # œ
1 œ2
œ œ J ..

.. .
J ..
Tablature Fret # 0 2 3 2 0 8 7 8 7 7 7

E string Emin C B7 C string Cmin Ab G7

B String Bmin G F#7 F String Fmin Db C7

G String Gmin Eb D7

D String Dmin Bb A7

A String Amin F E7

[Link]
 L2 Single String Riffs!
2/19/23
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

Dance Macabre, SS RIFF

1874, Original in D or Gmin? Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921)
Chords NEED WORK Transcribed By Brian Perkins

A min B7 E7
3
&4
œ .. ˙ œ ˙ œ # ˙ œ ˙ œ œ # œ œ # œ # œ œ # ˙ œ # ˙ œ

Tablature
Fret # 0 .. 5 5 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 2 5 4 2 0 2 2 4 0

œ œ œ œ
A min B7 E7
˙ œ ˙ œ #˙ œ ˙ œ #œ œ #˙ #œ ˙ œ ..
&

5 5 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 5 8 7 4 0 4 2 0 0 ..

E string Amin B7 E7

B String Emin F#7 B7

G String Cmin D7 G7

D String Gmin A7 D7 C string Fmin G7 C7

A String Dmin E7 A7 F String Bbmin C7 F7

[Link]
L2
2/19/23 Single String Riffs!
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, SS RIFF

1787 Original in G
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-91)
Transcribed By Brian Perkins

A E7
3 œ œ4
4 œ œ œ œœ œ # œ œ2 œ œ2 œ œ2 # œ1 œ4 œ
4 4 4

œ ‰ J ‰ J
&4
1 1

‰J ‰J Œ Œ

Tablature
Fret # 5 ‰ 0J 5 ‰ 0J 5 0 5 9 12
Π10
‰ 7J 10 ‰ 7J 10 7 4 7 0
Œ

E string A E7 C string F C7

B String E B7 F String Bb F7

G String C G7

D String G D7

A String D A7

[Link]
 L2 Single String Riffs!
2/19/23
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

1991, Original in Emin

Enter Sandman, SS RIFF Kirk Hammett,
James Hetfield,
Lars Ulrich.
(Metallica)

œ A7 œ
7 Transcribed By Brian Perkins
E min E min A
4œ œ b œ œ œ b œ œ
&4 J .. œ œ œ œ œ œ ..

With CHEAT!
Fret # 0
J .. 0 0 3 6 5 12 0 0 0 3 6 5 12 0 ..

4
Without CHEAT!
Fret # 0
T
A
4 J .. 0 12 15 6 5 12 0 0 12 15 6 5 12 0 ..
B

E string Emin A5 This one is sort of ridiculous to

play as a single string riff. You
can still learn a lot by trying. I Have included
B String Bmin E5 an "Octave Cheat" to simplify.
I have also included the real way to play it
at the bottom. It is still tricky.
G String Gmin C5

D String Dmin G5 Note! To make this sound like a metal

riff and not like a jazz riff you have to
avoid any swing or backbeat.

A String Amin D5
Actual way it is played!

& .. œ œ bœ œ œ œ œ bœ œ œ
..
œ œ œ œ
.. ..
5 5
7 7 7 7
3 0 6 5 0 0 6 5 0

[Link]
 L2
2/18/23
Single String Riffs!
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

The Great Gate of Kiev, SS RIFF

Modest Mussorgsky 1839-1881
1880 Original in Eflat Transcribed By Brian Perkins

A E A E A E A E
˙ #œ œ œ œ #œ œ œ œ #œ #œ œ œ œ #œ
4
&4 ..
˙ œ œ œ ..
1 2 4 1 4 2 3 4 2 1 1

.. ..
Tablature Fret #
5 7 9 5 9 7 0 9 12 7 5 4 0 9 12 7 5 4 0

E string A

B String E C string F
G String C F String Bb
D String G

A String D

D E A E A E A E A
#œ œ œ œ œ #œ œ œ œ œ œ #œ ˙
& .
. ..
1 0 1 1 5 3 1 5 3 1 3 1

.. 2 0 5 7 12 9 7 12 9 5 7 2 0 ..

[Link]
L2
2/18/23
Single String Riffs!
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

In the Hall of the Mountain King, SS RIFF

Original in Bmin
Edvard Greig 1843-1907
1875 From Peer Gynt, Opus 20 Transcribed By Brian Perkins

#
F 7/ F/
E min
4 œ2 œ œ œ1 ˙ b œ b œ1
4 E
˙ œ4 œ1 ˙4
E
.. œ # œ
4 4

&4 ..
3
1

Tablature
Fret #
.. 0 2 3 5 7 3 7 6 2 6 5 1 5 ..

E string Emin F#7/E F/E

B String Bmin C#7/B C/B

G String Gmin A7/G Ab/G

D String Dmin E7/D Eb/D

A String Amin B7/A Bb/A

C string Cmin D7/C Db/C

F String Fmin G7/F Gb/F

[Link]
L2
2/18/23
Single String Riffs!
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

My Sharona, SS RIFF
1979 Original in G
Berton Averre and Doug Fieger
This riff is ridiculous to play on one string, but we are committed! The Knack
Transcribed By Brian Perkins

F
#5 B A
4
& 4 .. j j j ..
#œ œ œ #œ œ #œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ
#œ œ 4
œ #œ œ œ œ #œ œ œ 3
1 3 1
1

Tablature
.. j ..
Start this one on the Low E String since it is a bass riff
Fret #
jj
2 2 14 14 2 14 2 14 2 2 14 0 2 2 14 14 2 14 7
. 5 7 5 0

E string F#5 B A

B String C#5 F# E

G String A5 D C

D String E5 A G

A String B5 E D

C string D5 G F

F String G5 C Bb

[Link]
L2
2/18/23
Single String Riffs!
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Lingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

Rock Lobster-SS RIFF

1978, Original in Cmin
Orig on low tuned guitar. The B52s
Transcribed By Brian Perkins
CD Eb DC AbFAbG

E min C B7
œ4 œ3 œ4 œ3 œ . œ
4
&4 .. œ # œ
1 œ2
œ œ J ..

.. .
J ..
Tablature Fret # 0 2 3 2 0 8 7 8 7 7 7

E string Emin C B7 C string Cmin Ab G7

B String Bmin G F#7 F String Fmin Db C7

G String Gmin Eb D7

D String Dmin Bb A7

A String Amin F E7

[Link]