acoustic chord riffs.pdf

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How To Use This Book

1 - 14 Chord Riffs in A and A Minor

pages 3 -16

15 / 16 Chord Riffs in C

pages 17 / 18

17 - 24 Chord Riffs in D and D Minor

pages 19 - 26

25 - 38 Chord Riffs in E

pages 27 - 37

39 - 50 Chord Riffs in G

pages 37 - 48 8/9Frith~~

257 Park Avenue South, New YOl1c, NYI

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This book features 50 different chord riffs (progressions) which are independent of each other. Each "Chord Riff' contains the

chord patterns used, the order in which they are played and whether they are strummed or plucked.

This is written on the "Rhythm & Sequence Track".

RHYTHM & SEQUENCE TRACK

The rhythm & sequence track is written in tablature form (each line represents a string). The numbers (j) @ @ written above the rhythm and sequence track indicate a particular version of the

chord to be played.

CHORO RIFF EXERCISE

For this exercise simply strum each chord down and up to a count of four. The i indicates a downward strum and

the t indicates an upward strum. Use a pick (or plectrum) to strum.

Am 07 G

t + + t ! and 3 4 and 1 2 and 3

G o o o

! :11 4

e as strumming chords, the individual notes of a chord can be struck with the pick or played with thumb and finge

e - V V

o e t:he note means strike down with the pick. e t:he note means strike up with the pick.

4 ~~-tt-~~~~~~ 4-7+-~~~~~~~~

t above (or below) the note means thumb i above (or below) the note means índex finge r m above (or below) the note means middle finge r a above (or below) the note means ring finger.

• 1 ------- ·~

Fmaj7 X X O

o Am ·

This riff could be played with

a plectrum but 1 think it's much

easier with the fingers.

CIG X O O

E7 O X X

EIG#(addC) CIG

-.., _ --. r 1

\,.; - ""

091F# X O O

a a Ll O b lg Ll D D lg Ll O b lg U O b 1 t i m r m i m i etc. e e

Fmaj7 E7 Am Am

Jazz players often join chords chromatically - i.e. they play passing chords one semitone (one fret) above and below the main

chords. Notice that the first five chord shapes are the sarne.

A~13 G13

A X O o

E o o o

* * * t 4 ~

This lick has been used in hundreds of tunes, particularly

rock 'n' roll songs of the late SO's and early 60's. Listen to Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochrane, etc.

BUDDY HOLLY

* 1 * t * tJ t * t :li ~ ~ ~ ~

Go back to the start of this sequence and play it again.

EYERL Y BROTHERS

* 777~ i + -!!

L-J L.......J

Using these three chords, this riff makes use of the 'ripple'

strum. Make sure to start the ripple immediately after the first

down strum.

! 1 * 777~

i L.......J L.......J

D o X X O

! ~ :11

A X O o

E7 X o o

This chord riff connects three simple chords - A, D and E,

and makes use of quasi-chords using open strings.

C#m/A X O O

F#m X o o

A Bm/A C#m/A D

~ i 1i 1 i1 i li 1 i

A E7 F#m E F#m

i 1 i 1 i 1 t 1 t 1 i

D X X O

E o o o

C#mlA Bm/A

CHORO RIFF IN

JOAN ARMATAADING

A Bm/A

* * * 4

Here's some modern sounding chords which are often used in contemporary folk/rock music

by players like Joan Armatrading, The Eagles and Tracy Chapman.

* * * 1 * * ~ ~ ~

í * ~

ROCK (PICK)

Bm/A o X O

C#m/A X O O

í * * : ·1 L......J

Many jazz chords use only 4 strings. lf you're using a plectrum it 's important to be able to damp out the unwanted strings. This is

usually done by the left hand touching but not fret ting the string.

A6 Adim X X X X

0 6/A X

4 ~'-'t"-~~--Lp,,~~-----.Lf-'~-.t'--.L.J-'----~-+t----Lµ-~~~~~~L__+-~~~___:+I 4 r----:t-~~--a-~~__,r--r--~--I-~-+---t------if--~-+-+-~~----'--+-~~~~---=--+I·

1st t ime

A X O X X

Bm/A X O X

This riff features a descending bass line. Look for notes in

common between the chords, e.g. in chords Bm, Bm/A E7/G# and E7. The 2nd and 4th fingers

remain in the sarne place.

AJG# F#m X

E7/G# X X

, RHYTHM & SEQUENCE TRACK

E7 O X X

A AJG# F#m Bm Bm/A E7/G# E7

t i m r etc. ar use plectrum

This chord is really Dadd4 (DaddG)

over an A bass note. lt is called sus for simplicity.

x 0 Dsus X

4 - -2 4 t:J

EJ - - 4

Try this mysterious riff. lt's really very simple.

lt sounds a bit like -The Doors, Suzanne Vega, -

New Age etc.

t:J EJ

THE DOORS

t:J [j :li

This riff features a pedal note and has a Genesis - Phil Collins feel about it. By varying the picking pattern and

speed you can get many different effects.

O X X O

E9/A X 9th r--T----.---...,----,--, 9th r--T----...~~--. 11th ,----..,~~-.----,

fret 1--t-+--""!"'~-1 fret 1-----1---"" ~~---j fret

o o o A E/A D/A A A E/A E9/A A

r t i m etc. or use plectrum

This is a sad sounding riff. Watch the timing on

this one, don't play on the third beat.

o Am Em

X O X O O X

X X O 5th r--r--.---::;....--::....--: .....

fret 1---+--+-~-"""--"'!"'"

/ 4 ---.-''---~~~-A-.<l<--Y-~-Y-~--~~~~----~~~~~---fb'-/~__,.___~_..,_~~~~~~~•H

4 -tt~r---c=r----+--t---.r-t-~~~---H~r----r-r----+--t-~~~----tt

r r m m

KEITH RICHARDS

This riff covers a lot of styles, from Dire Straits to the Rolling Stones. Hold the half barré for

the first two bars, don't lift your 3rd finger in bars 3 and 4.

A X X O X

G X X O O O X

D/A A DIA A D/AA CIG G CIG G CIG G

Am X X

Fmaj7 X X

Here's some well known changes in A minor used in

many songs e.g. -Stairway to Heaven, lf,

Something, etc. Change the R.H. pattern if you want to

get a different sound.

E71G# CIG X X X X

E~ G X X X X

r- - - ...... .. ,:, ""' -

091F# X X

Am E71G# CIG 09IF# Fmaj7 E~ G C

This eight bar sequence uses an

A7 riff plus a D7 riff.

Play with a swing feel.

Osus e A7

X O O O X O O O o o o

e Dsus A7 Osus

i iti w

e G/D 07 G/D

t ti t w

G/O X X O

o o o o e

o o o A7 Osus A7 Osus A7 A7 Osus A7 Osus A7 Osus A7 Osus A7

lilitJlt li i ili lililJli 1

WWW w L..J w

o o o o o o o 07 G/D 07 G/D 07 A7 Osus A7 Osus A7 Osus A7 Osus A7

1 t X t l í X í 1 i i i l i 1 t l t IJ l t li w w w L..J

-- :; '

ln this riff each main chord is approached chromatically

from 1 fret above or below.

86/9 C6/9 A7 X X

09 F#7 G7 X

86/9 C6/9 A#7 A7 0#9 09 F#7 G7 86/9 C6/9

t 1 li: 1 t t ! 11 t 1 t 1:11 í~fl li

e 4 [] d 4

Here's a 'cool' riff in the key of C. lt makes a good

introduction to many old standards. The F/G - G7 ~9

change can be used in many songs where only G7 is

indicated.

X X Dm7

F/G G7~9 X X X X

, RHYTHM & SEQUENCE TRACK

C#º Dm7 F/G

[j 1 [] 1 o § ,. m

- 1 -- r::"" -

1 :li ,. m i

JOHN DENVER

Although we've seen this D - A7 riff before, the addition

of the clawhammer style makes it sound more interesting.

Make sure to change exactly where indicated.

D X X O

Dsus X O X

o D A7 DsusA7 D A7 Dsus A7

u o a 2 1 u u u ~ 1 u o a 2

1 u a u : :11 m t t m t t m

t t m t m etc. t

18 This riff in D major is typical of

many styles of music -

George Harrison, The Edge,

etc. Keep your 2nd finger

down as long as possible.

06 Dsus2 Dsus2/4 DaddE A7

~ LJOOLJ I GEJ

Dsus2/4

This is an extended A7 - D r iff. Notice that there 's only two different shapes until the final D chord. Try it w ith different

rhythms and strums.

o X O 5th fret 1--t--+--+---+--<

X O X X O 9th ~~~~~ 12th .--r----:;;;m;;.---;=~-,

fret r---t--+--r-.......,.-1 f ret f---+---""'~~-l

X X o-

4·-'-f"~-=:--~+--v-~-+-~~--t#'--~-t---t----;r-----t~~~t---r--~-+-~--t---,-/ -+---t-~+----t-~-H / '

D X X O

G o o o

D DIC#

4 ± ~ t~ 8 4 4

This is a well known sequence linking D to Bm to G to Em. Try arpeggiating it instead of

strumming. Make sure to use a half-barré for the first D chord.

DIC# Bm X X X

GIF# Em X O O O o o o o

Bm Bm/A G GIF#

12 + ~ + ~

13 + ~

8 2 u u u

Bm/A X O

A7 X O O o

+ J 1 + ~ ± J :li 8 8

1 - "-"

ln this easy riffs using a 'pedal' bass note, a single bass note keeps ringing while the chords change above it.

X X O 1 Oth r--r----.----,--:;;,,

fret 1-----+---+-~

o -G/D

G/D X X O

7th ,----,-----.-----.-::--.-...... fret 1-----+----+--'~=-"""""

e /t\/D

X X O -

A/D X X O

9th r--r----.--~r-:;;;io,,. fret f--t---+--'~~

t 1í1~11í1111íu1í11 e ~ ~ L._j / L.j o ~ ~ D G/D A/D D

i1iU1í1111111 1 11

Dm X X O X

THE ROLLING STONES

Dm Dm/C

4 + 4 8 3

R.ock-a-billy, Spanish, Classical, 60's Rock, yes everybody's heard this one. Watch the

fingering for Dm. Nine times out of ten it's better to use your 4th finger for the 2nd

string, that way the 3rd finger is free to move elsewhere.

Dm/C 8~7 X

A7 X O o o

+ + :li e

A/D X X O

G/D X O O

Here's a riff using a pedal note. Note the 'gap' on the third

beat, this helps to emphasise the first string.

D X X O

o D Dsus D

4 + * 8 4

This D - A? riff is used by many folk guitarists.

This is it in it's simplest form.

o Dsus

Dsus e A7

X O o X O

RHYTHM & SEQUENCE TRACK 1

o o o Dsus D Dsus D A7

+ * + * 1 * ~ *

e Dsus

~ * l-.J l-.J

E7 O X X

12th t--t--:;;;;~t--:;;;;~

f ret 1--f--""pE-::;I~~

5th fret

The first bar is a descending chord riff - (the sarne chord shape moving down). The last three chords ascend -

(the sarne chord shape moving up). Play with a swing feel.

07 O X X O X X

1 Oth r--t--::;;~t--::;;i!E"-1

fret 1--t----"'~~""--l

fret 1--l---31'<--""!!'<-"'!..__.

11t h 1-----t-----=&.------t---..O~

6th fret

7th fret

E7 E~7 07 E A7 A#7 87

E- -- .

~ ==u =t==J==1[j=:1[j===I LJ===-[J=~EJ====l....J=' li

ROCK 'N' ROLL (PICK)

fret 1-----"1~-----l---l-------<

Quasi A

Sth ~-+--+--+--l------1

f ret ~--1--+--,,b..--+-----J

4 ~t===~-L=,~~~~;;jJ 4~+--~--~-+-~---------l~~

t t t t

o o o o w w

28 WAL TZ (PICK)

Now lets try a waltz using two standard chords E and A connected by two quasi-chords.

Play with a slight swing feel.

E o o o

E F#m G#m A

f=1=*=*=11=1=11=1 1

l 1. 11 2. F#mG#m E E

t * * 1 t t 1 r 1:11rrn 11 w w

(FINGERS ) This one can be played with a plecrrum ·::·s ez.s Br

using the fingering given below. T ry dampr g - : ~ strings with the right hand to give a 'coo! e.=ac::..

E C#m7 o o

AaddB B X O X X O X

E C#m7

J D 6 ~l 4 t:J i

r r t m t t

AaddB B

tJ [j 4

t:J [j r m t t

ED D IE COCHRANE

This 'Eddie Cochran Style' lick uses simple barré chords. Note the fingering for the E chord.

l 1. B E

E o o B

112. B E

4 4 t 11111 t 11 t 1 ] 1 ] 1 ] 1:11 ] 1 ] 111111

w w L..J L..J L..J L..J L..J L..J

X X X o o

Blues turnarounds and endings.

Here is a simple but

recognisable turnaround.

Edim X X X O

E~dim X X X O

e I E Edim E~dim E C9 89

~==t==f =f==f =f==f =f==f===*==*==*=·=*===ll

E7 X X X o

E X X X o o

E7 Edim

4 I J I J ~ l 4

- 3 - - 3 -

This blues outro can be played either with the fingers or a

plectrum. Make sure to damp the Sth string on the F9 chord by touching but not pressing it

with the left hand.

Edim X X X o

E~dim E

1 j J 1 l - 3 -

-'-"'-"---

E~dim X X X o

l t li

O X X O O

7th fret

E7/G# A

This is an ascending outro to be played with a swing feel. Y ou can make the shapes

simpler if you use your L.H. thumb to fret the 6th string! Hold the final E7 shape while you play the 6th string open.

E7/G# A X X X O X

f 7 X X

A#dim e E

"': = :- -._ _ -

A#dim X X

5th fret ~-+---+---o.o..--:'~.i..

E7 o o

COU NTRY /FOLK/ROCK (PICK OR FINGERS)

This well-known progression can be played either with a plectrum or with the fingers. Damp the bass

strings with the right hand.

E Eaug E6 Eaug

4 u Ois o Ll 1

4 ô s s E Eaug E6 E7

tJ Ll tJ Ll Is Ôs Ll li

COU NTR Y /FO LK/ROC K (PICK)

This simple riff uses some modern 'spacy' type chords. These quasi-chords, using lots of open

strings, are used in many types of modern music

e.g. Joni Mitchell, Susanne Vega, etc.

E Quasi F#m o o o X O O

i ! t * * * ~ ~

G#m F#m

* * * * * til ~ ~

4 4 e B

o E7 X

e E7 X

A good ending to a blues song. Slow the tempo at the very

end. lf you are using a plectrum and fingers together, use the

plectrum and middle finger for the pinches, use ring finger

for the 1 st string. Play with a triplet feel.

Edim X X X O

A X O X

e E~dim / E7

~ ' i ' 1 ~ 3

U=ã li ....__....,

slow strum

E o o o o

A7 X O O O

E Em E

* * 4 e

L......J

This riff has a real rock-a-billy

flavour, if you can get it going

fast enough.

A13 X O O

* * * * e e

* ~ ~ ~

t + t * * e e L......J L......J L......J

CHUCKBERRY

* * * 1 e ~ ~

t + t :li e L......J L......J

ROCK (P ICK)

Here's a haunting type of sequence in E minar. Make sure

not to hit the 1 st string. The

drag strum can last as longas you like.

Em A/E

* + 4 o o ~

Em7 A/E

~ ~ o o o

ROCK-A-B ILLY (FINGERS)

The ulitmate ro ck-a-billy lick. There 's really just o ne shape,

slide it up two frets. Many playe rs use a plectrum and

the ir middle and ring ftngers to play this one. Play it as fast as

yo u can.

G13 A13

~ ~ 15 § ~ g 3 SL 5

m m m t t t i t t t m

~ 1 5§ g ~ = 5 5

t t e··

Gmaj7 X X

Gmaj7 G#º

r t i m etc.

This long ascending and descending riff can be used for

many old standards, 'I Got Rhythm', 'Lets Call The

Whole Thing Off ', etc. Watch the L.H. fingering and try to move as smoothly as

possible between chords move.

8~7 X X

8m7 8~7

A~7 X X

Am7 A~7

G X O O O

4 + 4 3

1....--l

This riff shows how many players spice up a two bar sequence in G major by inserting the CIG chord on beat 4.

Play with a light shuffle feel.

PAUL SIMON

* + * + 3 3 3 * 1 ~

+ ~ li L.......J

G/B X X

A7~5 X X

ln th is descending riff the left hand fingering is designed to make it easier to slide from

one chord to the next. Watch out for the blocked

strings as well.

o B~dim Am7

Am11 X X X

G/B B~dim Am7 Am11 A7~5 G/B e

B~dim Am7 013

~ i i i t li i t i 1 i i i i 1 í í í l l li

l....J

Dsus X X O

Here's the o ld G - Em - C - D chord change w it h some

different shapes. Sounds a bit like the Eagles, James Taylor etc.

Em7 o o

44 Notice how the 'slash' chords

and the suspended chords give an 'airy' sound. This is really just a G - Em - C - 07 chord

change, but by picking the right shapes we can make it sound

much more interesting.

GIF# X X O

07sus 07 X X O X X O

C/E X X O

G G/F# C/E 07sus

- 1 ...

G/B X X O X O

G GIF# Em

This riff features a descending bass line, and a high 'G' held

almost throughout. Be careful to avoid hitting any strings not

indicated.

GIF# Em O X (0) O O

Am7 07sus o X X O

07 X X O

Am7 07sus 07

Here's a real Albert Lee/Jerry Reed type of roll using just 4 shapes.

Get your R.H. sorted out first!

A7 X O X

4~~~------,r---+---t~--a-A-~-----fr-~--'---Y-~-t-'T-r--9-~-9----4 4 ~~---t-~~-t--.1i'-----t--t-----.r-t----~~-y-tt-t-~--t--1ct-t-----r--tt:--i--t-t-T-ti----r--t--tt--+----i

G o o o X X

G/O X X O O

G G7 C/E

i t + * + * 4 4

L.....J L.....J L,__J

Don't let the strange chord names in this turnaround

confuse you. This riff really just moves from G to D.

G7 C/E o o X X o

E~7 G/O C#7

+ i L,__J L,__J L,__J

E~7 X X o

07 :;:> <:::

li ~ * L,__J L,__J

This 8 bar riff is based on a 'banjo' roll. lf you use a plectrum and fingers p ay -prm prm prm pick etc. Note that shapes 1 and 2 are almost the sarne. Just t Ht t.he first finger o

the 1 st string. The sarne goes for shapes 3 and 4 , and 5 and 6.

X X G6

fret f---+--+-~~"I""

7th l--t-t-~-1----' fret 1--t~~.a..---1

07 X X O

5th 1--t--+~-+-c;;;il;.

f ret .___.--+-~--+------'""""

G6 o G

09 X X O O

6th r--+-+-~-+--1

fret f---+----+-~-+--

G6 o C9

fret f-----+-+-~~~

t 5D8 S1 8 D 8 315D8SILl8GS1 t m . i t m i t i etc.

o o e G G6 07 09 G G6 G

E9 X X X X

This 'roll' really only uses two shapes. E9 and D9 are the

sarne except that they're on different frets. The sarne goes for A6 and G6. So the shapes

are easy. The trick is to get the R.H. up to speed!

A6 09 X X

- - - -~ -=.., -

ª 8 3 5 IG G 3 51 Ll 8 8 S l s s s-s li

Riffs like this one are used a lot in country and rock-a-billy.

Practise the strumming pattern using just the G and D chords, then add in the extra chords.

G CIG X O O O X

D ~ X O

4 ~~~-=--t-~~~~-tt.------+-=--ttr~+-~~~=r-~~---j'----tlr-~-f----A+,,---! 4~~-----,7~~---~~~~--t--~~-=----T~~----,~--;

• •

-1----0&0000

933026 i=>-.:t:J!ÕC;maas Order No. AM90239

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