Riffs
Heavy metal bass guitarists often use a technique of playing "riffs" against a chord progression. A riff is a pattern of notes (usually one or two bars long) that is repeated throughout a progression (or song).
The following examples are riffs that use only arpeggio notes. They are all based on the same chord progression and illustrate how you can use different chord note combinations.
Chord Progression
Lick 44 uses only root notes.
The following riffs give you ideas on how else you can combine the chord notes. Memorize these riffs and use them on the above chord progression. Use also both versions of the chord movements with high F and G chords or low F and G chords. Make up your own riffs.
Lick 51 uses root notes only.
Lick 52 is a variation of Lick 51. It is based upon the same chord progression and uses arpeggio notes.
Lick 53 is a more melodic bass line using a dotted half note 2 (as in lick 19). eighth notes and a whole note in the last bar (as in Lick 28).
Lick 54 uses a descending scale run.
Lick 55 uses a "galloping" rhythm on the root note which is common in heavy metal music.
Lick 56 is a bass run around a G minor chord.
Lick 57 has a straight eighth note feel based on a B minor chord. The second half of the lick has the same riff pattern as the first, but is played starting on the E string.
C = an exact repeat of the previous bar.
Natural Sign
This sign is called a natural sign.
It cancels the effect of a sharp or flat e.g. in bar 1 of Lick 58 there is one B flat note followed by one B note (B natural).
Lick 58 uses chromatic runs.
Many of the chord progressions used in this book are used in other styles of music as well. Lick 59 is based upon a progression which appears more often in heavy metal music.
Lick 60 is a bass run which can be used in rock and blues as well as heavy metal.
Lick 62 has a natural sign in the first bar.
