Master Brian May's Iconic Riffs with Ease

About the Course

Dive into the world of Brian May, the legendary guitarist from Queen, and discover how his unique approach to riffs can transform your playing. This course is designed to help you emulate May's iconic sound, focusing on techniques that are accessible to guitarists of all levels. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, you'll find that these riffs quickly become part of your musical vocabulary, allowing you to play with the same majesty and flair as Brian May himself.

This article focuses on Chapter 1, the starting point of the full course available inside the Gibson App. Here, you'll lay the foundation for mastering Brian May's style, setting the stage for the chapters that follow. By the end of this course, you'll be playing authentic Brian May-style riffs over a Queen-style backing track, feeling the thrill of capturing his sound.

Chapter 1

Introduction

Transforming Power Chords

In this lesson, we explore how to give your riffs a Brian May sound by transforming simple power chords. Instead of using the first and third fingers, refract the chord by holding it with your first and fourth fingers. Drop your first finger down by a semitone, and you'll instantly hear the transformation into a riff reminiscent of Brian May's style. This course will analyze the main concepts and approaches used by May, presenting them in the form of short riffs. By the end, you'll be playing over a Queen-style backing track, sounding authentically like Brian May.

Accessible Techniques for All Levels

Don't worry if you're new to guitar. The examples and riffs are level-specific, ensuring accessibility for beginners. We've taken some of Brian's most famous approaches to riff writing and made them approachable for those new to playing guitar. By the end of this course, you'll be playing authentic Brian May-style riffs over a Queen-style backing track.

Riff 1

Chord Extensions and A Sus Chords

Riff number one introduces the concept of chord extensions, a technique Brian May often uses to form riffs. Starting with an A major chord, you can achieve the same sound May gets by adding a D note to form an A sus chord. This technique is a big factor in May's playing, adding color and expression to his chord parts.

Chromatic Climbs and Partial Chords

Combine partial G5 chords with chromatic climbs to create a riff that outlines chords with single notes. This approach is a hallmark of May's style, allowing you to form complex riffs by altering basic shapes and adding extensions. Understanding these techniques is crucial for capturing the Brian May sound.

The Full Course

Chapter 1: Riff 1

In Chapter 1, you learn the foundational techniques of Brian May's riff creation, focusing on chord extensions that add depth and melody. These techniques are accessible to players of all levels, ensuring you can achieve an authentic Brian May sound.

Chapter 2: Riff 2

Chapter 2 delves into Brian May's use of moving triads, creating dynamic progressions with more movement than standard chords. This technique allows for expressive and dynamic chord progressions, reminiscent of songs like "Under Pressure."

Chapter 3: Riff 3

Explore the heavier side of Brian May's style, inspired by the post-opera riff in "Bohemian Rhapsody." This chapter emphasizes root and fifth notes over full chords, crafting a melodic yet powerful sound.

Chapter 4: Riff 4

Discover Brian May's signature power chord movement, where he shifts one finger while holding a static note. This technique creates smooth, driving riffs like those in "One Vision," showcasing close voice leading.

Chapter 5: Riff 5

Combine chords with bass notes to add drama and flow to your playing. Brian May uses root notes or passing tones to create melodic transitions between chords, adding a majestic sound to his progressions.

Chapter 6: Play A Full Song

In the final chapter, combine all the riffs you've learned to play a full song in the style of Brian May. This chapter brings together all the techniques, allowing you to perform over a Queen-style backing track.

By the end of this course, you'll have a comprehensive understanding of Brian May's techniques, enabling you to play with the same flair and majesty as the legendary guitarist himself. Each chapter builds on the last, ensuring a complete journey through May's iconic style.