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Post subject: Playing riffs while being the only guitar player
Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 7:59 am
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Don't know if I am asking this right or not. I lead Worship on Sunday nights and we do a lot of Rock style contemporary songs. I am the only guitar player. I was wondering if some of you could explain how to do some riffs or something to add to the songs other than just the Chords I am playing...I like to add some filler solos, but I don't know how without making it sound strange. We play songs in G A and D mostly. I was just wondering where I could pull of some soloing riffs. I know my minor penatonic scale. Any advice would be great!

Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: Playing riffs while being the only guitar player
Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 12:21 pm
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adamym wrote:
Don't know if I am asking this right or not. I lead Worship on Sunday nights and we do a lot of Rock style contemporary songs. I am the only guitar player. I was wondering if some of you could explain how to do some riffs or something to add to the songs other than just the Chords I am playing...I like to add some filler solos, but I don't know how without making it sound strange. We play songs in G A and D mostly. I was just wondering where I could pull of some soloing riffs. I know my minor penatonic scale. Any advice would be great!

Thanks!

Sounds like you are talking about adding some fills into your rhythm playing. I think maybe the best way to do this is to practice playing the chords of the song and, while keeping the rhythm going, play little pentatonic riffs in places where there is a pause in the song's lyrics. So you might just start by playing part of the pentatonic scale while keeping up the chordal rhythm. Depending on the song you would use minor or major pentatonic which are essentially the same fingerings. As you continue to practice, start trying to be more melodic with your fills.

It's also nice to throw in little fills that lead one chord to the next chord.

A couple of good examples of the kind of fills I'm talking about would be Hendrix's "Wind Cries Mary" and "Little Wing".

Here's some good Arlen Roth lessons talking about fills. These are using R&B type fills but the concepts can be adapted to lots of different musical styles.

The Jimi Hendrix Rhythm Effect

Percussive Funk and R&B Fills

An Introduction to Double Stops

Soul and R&B Double Stops

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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 1:36 pm
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Is the problem that you don't know how to approach it, or that you think it will sound out of place?

As long as your bassist holds his (or her) own and keeps what he (or she) is playing on the bass in line with what the chord progression was, there should be plenty of rythm sound to back up your finger runs. It can even be used as an opportunity for your bassist to play a few more notes each measure to fill up the empty spaces.

Lots of one guitar bands did fine

Some examples of one guitar bands to consider:

Hendrix
The Who
Black Sabbath
Rush

Have fun with it

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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 2:22 pm
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It depends on the song, one whether there is some version of it you want to sound like, and just general taste. You can do lots of different versions of things.

Post an mp3 or youtube link of one of the songs if you can, so we can get a better idea of what exactly you mean.


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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 2:33 pm
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Not sure how to approach it would be one thing...alos don't want it to sound out of place. Plus I am not too familiar with Major scales. So if I am playing a G chord, how can I get some good fills in...I guess it depends on the song. I am just worried that it would sound weird. Our bass player is good and he can fill that, I guess its just in my mind...idk..we do songs like blessed be the name, not to us...contemporary worship we dont really sound like the recordings, but we try to come as close as we can.


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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 2:56 pm
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You need to learn your scales. If you are playing a G chord you need to move around the G scale with little riffs. Meanwhile for a quick fix, you could play arpeggios on your chords, makes a break from just strumming.


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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 4:09 pm
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Knowing your scales is a great place to start. For example, somebody throws you a rhythm in the key of Am, try doing an Am Blues Scale with a little extra rhythm. Although worship music is a bit different to me, I prefer not to throw in thrills and frills...that's just IMO though.

As far as the chords do, just make up your own rhythm behind the music, to stay in time. That's what I've been doing for a little while now, and things usually go pretty smooth. :)


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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 6:28 pm
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Two more biggies:
Led Zeppelin -- check out The Song Remains The Same
Van Halen

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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 8:51 pm
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Unless you can post a specific example to listen to, I'd approach everything differently.

But yea^^^ You're going to want to learn your scales to start playing little riffs here and there. There are some little open chord riffs and embellishments you could play without "knowing" scales, but WHEN you should play those depends totally on the song, the groove of it, and the chord structure.

I've played a lot of different gigs, and have even arranged/performed some guitar music for my friends Jewish temple. It's all just "music". Once you know music, and know different styles, you'll figure out what sounds good, and what people will want to hear. Learning your chords, scales, some basic music theory, and a good amount of songs to learn some musical vocabulary will all help with that.


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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 9:44 pm
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Whatever you do should SUPPORT the melody and the song, not be showing off.

Consider throwing in some suspended chords in longer passages.

Also consider doing chord fills and if there's key changes, work on modulations--that's where a little flourish can really sound good, and can help the singers get to the new key more easily.

Those will add some depth to what you're playing, and the song, but won't detract any attention from the words.

As a worship team your goal should be to support the melody and the singer(s), not to showcase your talent or show off. At least that's my take on it.

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Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 6:32 am
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Thanks guys,

The whole point is not to show off, I just want to add some color to the song, seeing as how I am the only guitar player. I know my minor pentatonic scales well, but I don't know the Major scales very well, so I suppose I shoud practice those. Again, just wanting to add some color...maybe even some interesting or new ways to play chords that I have never thought of?

Thanks!


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Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 8:00 am
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Perhaps some effects pedals might help things along, like a chorus or wah pedal, things like that can give colour without actually doing much else.


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Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 8:42 am
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I use a chorus pedal on almost everything..I did use a wah pedal a little this past time and it was ok. I just want to be able to fill it up a little too. I don't want to solo, but I want to add some fills or some variations on chords..the bad thing is I don't know a whole lot of variations on chords other than the three or four that most guitar players know. I know all my barre chords, and how to play some chords in different positions..but just some variety.


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Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 8:48 am
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If you're playing mostly with G, A, and D, throw in some little riffs based on the open chords and the scales - use them leading into a chord change.

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Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 11:49 am
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Yeh right, do you think it might help if you listen to some of the classic country guitarists, they do little riffs between chords all the time or maybe. if you're feeling adventurous, some jazz players. I think you're looking for ideas and these guys might provide some.


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