Master Slash's Legendary Riffs: A Beginner's Guide

About the Course

Unlock the secrets of Slash's legendary rhythm guitar style with this comprehensive course. Whether you're a beginner or an intermediate player, you'll find this journey into Slash's world both exciting and achievable. From the unmistakable riffs of Guns N' Roses to his solo projects, Slash's style is a treasure trove of rock history waiting for you to explore. With this course, you'll learn to play riffs that echo the raw energy and melodic depth that define Slash's sound. You'll be surprised how quickly these techniques become part of your own musical vocabulary.

This article focuses on Chapter 1 — the starting point of the full course available inside the Gibson App. Chapter 1 lays the foundation for the chapters that follow, inviting you to continue the full experience in the app. Let's dive into the world of Slash and start your journey with these iconic riffs.

Chapter 1

Intro To This Course

Intro To This Course

The Iconic Rhythm Style

Welcome to an exploration of Slash's iconic rhythm guitar style. Known for his work with Guns N' Roses and other projects, Slash has crafted some of the most distinct riffs in rock history. This course is tailored for beginner to intermediate guitarists, offering a series of rhythm guitar concepts that introduce you to Slash's style. You'll learn about single note riffs, power chords, and open-position chords, all of which contribute to the unmistakable sound of Slash's rhythm guitar. By the end of this course, you'll be ready to perform a series of riffs over a Slash-style backing track.

Learn The Single Note Riff

Learn The Single Note Riff

Constructing Single Note Riffs

In this lesson, we delve into how Slash constructs riffs based around single notes. This approach is accessible for beginner to intermediate players, allowing you to achieve riffs that are stylistically true to Slash. Often, Slash's riffs are based around power chords, but here we focus on single notes. The riff is set in the key of A, blending major and minor qualities for a bluesy feel. Starting on the fifth fret of the low E string, you'll play a chromatic ascent back to the root note. The picking pattern is crucial, using alternate picking for economy and timing.

Adding Dynamics and Muting

To finish the riff, you'll move to the third and fifth frets of the A string. Alternate picking and muting are essential to maintain the riff's impact. Use your palm to mute strings, ensuring clarity and silence between notes. This technique captures the gritty rock sound of Slash. Practice this riff with a click track, focusing on your picking hand and muting for a true Slash-style single note riff.

The Full Course

Chapter 1: Single Note Riff

This chapter introduces you to the art of single-note riffs, as heard in iconic tracks like "Paradise City" and "Welcome to the Jungle." You'll learn how to construct riffs with a bluesy quality, blending major and minor tones. The focus is on alternate picking and muting techniques to capture Slash's gritty rock sound.

Chapter 2: Power Chord Riff

Unlock the raw energy of power chord riffs that Slash used to drive hits like "Paradise City" and "My Michelle." This chapter explores different types of power chords, including open position and two-string power chords. You'll learn to create dynamic progressions and apply rhythmic accents that define Slash's style.

Chapter 3: Open Position Chords

Explore the rich, open-position chords that add depth to songs like "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "Knockin' On Heaven's Door." This chapter introduces a consistent chord shape technique, allowing you to create melodic rhythm guitar parts with ease.

Chapter 4: Chord Extensions

Learn the chord extensions that define Slash’s melodic masterpieces, heard in "November Rain" and "Sweet Child O' Mine." This chapter focuses on adding notes to basic chords to create extended harmonies, enhancing your rhythm guitar playing with melodic color.

Chapter 5: Song: Verse Riff

Learn how to blend single-note riffs with power chords to craft a Slash-inspired verse that captures his iconic style. This chapter combines previous concepts into a cohesive riff, ready to be played over a Slash-style backing track.

Chapter 6: Song: Chorus Riff

Create a Slash-style chorus by combining open-position chords with chord extensions for a powerful and melodic sound. This chapter emphasizes dynamic contrast and melodic depth, key elements in Slash's songwriting.

Chapter 7: Song: Verse 2 Riff

Discover how to incorporate a signature Slash rhythm into the second verse, a hallmark of his style found in many of his iconic songs. This chapter builds on previous lessons, adding rhythmic complexity and dynamic variation.

Chapter 8: Play A Song In The Style Of Slash

Bring it all together in this final chapter, combining every technique to play a complete Slash-inspired song that showcases his iconic style. You'll apply all the skills learned throughout the course, culminating in a performance that echoes Slash's legendary sound.

By the end of this course, you'll have a deeper understanding of Slash's rhythm guitar style and the confidence to incorporate these techniques into your own playing. Whether you're jamming at home or performing on stage, these skills will enhance your musical expression and connect you to the spirit of rock and roll.