2/20/23 Single String Riffs Pedagogy STRINGS

Level 1 SS Riffs Starts Chords on Chords on

on Fret A string E string
1st pos
Another One Bites the Dust 5 Am Dm (D5) Em Am
Aqualung A (to Eb) E (to Bb)
3rd
7
Baby Shark D G Bm A7 A D F#m E7
2nd pos
0
Barracuda 0 A5 C E5 G
Big Ben Chimes, Westminster 9 DA A E
Climbing Up Falling Down Ext 0 A7 E7
Dueling Banjos 4 A E
Good the Bad and the Ugly 1 Am D Am G Em A Em D
How Dry I Am 0 D A D AEA
Iron Man A5 C5 D5 FEFEF E5 G5 A5 CBCBC GG AA
3 stretch
0
C C DD
James Bond Theme #2
5th pos
5! Dm Am
Peter Gunn Theme A7 omit 3rd E7 omit 3rd
2nd pos
0
Satisfaction (Stones)
1st pos
0 D5 C5 A5 G5
Seven Nation Army Riff
Position Shift !
5 D Bb A AFE
Smoke on the water
3rd pos
0 A5 D C A5 E5 A G E5
William Tell 0 D A AE

L1
2/20/23 “Single String Riffs” Pedagogy OVERVIEW
These are throw-away riffs which allow players to express a musical idea. I don’t teach a rock repertoire but these give
students a chance to play rock type riffs as well as other familiar phrases.
My goal is to make sure students are working on fingering technique and rhythm and also developing a sense of
harmonization. These are intended to get students playing melody with proper finger position. Of course these riffs all should
be played on multiple strings but we are going to play them as Single String challenges. This forces the student to develop
fingering technique.
These are intended to be played with a backup player since they really come alive that way. It can be a fun challenge to play
some of these riffs on all the strings since the chords are really ambitious. Timing is crucial
Two musicians should play the riff and then the chords switching back and forth. This is great for rhythm and dexterity It really
demonstrates the importance of proper technique since any sloppiness will destroy your ability quicky to get back and forth.

• You may NOT play these with just 1 finger!

• If you INSIST on playing with just one finger then it HAS TO BE THE FOURTH FINGER!
 L1
2/18/23
Single String Riffs!
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

Another One Bites the Dust, SS RIFF

1980 Original in Fmin
John Deacon 1951-
Queen
Transcribed By Brian Perkins

E min A min
4
&4
œ4 œ2 œ.
.. œ. œ. . .
‰ ≈ œR œ œ
œ
2 œ
œ Œ
4

‰
œœ
..
. . . . .
.. 0 ≈
‰ R Œ ‰ ..
Tablature
Fret # 5 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 5 5 3

E string Emin Amin

C string Cmin Fmin
B String Bmin Emin
F String Bmin Emin
G String Gmin Cmin

D String Dmin Gmin

A String Amin Dmin

Trivia: the first word of this song (other than "Let's Go) is "Steve walks warrily."
brianperkinsmusic.com
L1 Single String Riffs!
2/20/23
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

Aqualung, SS RIFF
1970 Original in Gmin
b
Ian Anderson 1947-
The intro modulates all over the place.
Transcribed By Brian Perkins
E min B

4 œ4 œ œ1 œ2 b œ3 œ2 b œ3 . œ ˙
&4 .. .. J

.. .. .
J6
Tablature
Fret # 7 0 3 5 6 5 6 6

E string Emin Bb

B String Bmin F C string Cmin Gb

G String Gmin Db F String Fmin B

D String Dmin Ab

A String Amin Eb

brianperkinsmusic.com
 L1 Single String Riffs!
2/19/23
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Uingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

Baby Shark-SS RIFF

The 2015-16 “Pink Fong” video is in G major (modulates to G#)
Shark Theme: D D# Main Theme: G C Em D7
Modulates to G# (that’s the only modulation.) Transcribed By Brian Perkins

#
A D F min E7
4
&4 .. ˙ # ˙
1 œ5 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ# œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ# œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ # œ4
ΠΠΠ..

Tablature
Fret# .. 0 2 55 5 5 5 5 5 50 2 55 5 5 5 5 5 50 2 55 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4
Œ Ó ..
# 7
E String - A D Fm E
# 7
B String - E A Cm B
7
G String - C F Am G
7
D String - G C Em D
7
A String - D G Bm A
7
C String - F Bb Dm C
7
F String - Bb Eb Gm F

There is serious dispute about this song. It probably was an American camp song and versions virtually
identical to the Pink Fong version are documented before the release of the Korean version. A different
version was started in Germany about 2007 by some kids. They sang “Kleiner Hai” which is the German
way of saying “Little Shark.” Their melody was based on the two note “Jaws” theme.
brianperkinsmusic.com
L1
2/18/23
Single String Riffs!
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

Barracuda-SS RIFF
1977, Original in E
Heart
Anne Wilson,
Roger Fisher,
Nancy Wilson
Transcribed By Brian Perkins

E5 G ˙ ˙ ˙
&4
4 .. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ # œ œ ˙ ..

.. ..
Tablature
Fret # 0 000 000 000 00 0 000 000 0 2 3 3 12 12 12

C string C Eb
E string E G
F String F Ab
B String B D

G String G Bb

D String D F

A String A C

brianperkinsmusic.com
L1
2/18/23
Single String Riffs!
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

Big Ben Chimes, Westminster, SS RIFF

1793 Currently in E Major Transcribed By Brian Perkins

A E A
#œ œ œ #œ ˙.
4
&4
œ œ ˙ œ
4 1 3 3 4 1

Tablature
Fret # 9 5 7 0 0 0 7 9 5
.

E string A E A C string F C F

B String E B E F String Bb F Bb

G String C G C

D String G D G

A String D A D

brianperkinsmusic.com
 L1
2/18/23
Single String Riffs!
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

Climbing Up, Falling Down, Extended-SS RIFF

Brian Perkins 1964-
Transcribed By Brian Perkins
E7
Finger #
4 ˙ #˙ #w #˙ #˙ w ˙ #˙ # ˙ ˙3 w4 w
.
&4 . ..
1 2 2 1 1 2

Fret Number # .. 0 2 4 4 2 0 0 2 4 5 7 7 ..
E string E7
B String B7
G String G7
D String D7
A String A7
C String C7
F String F7
Part #2 E7
˙ w4 ˙4 ˙2 ˙4 # ˙1 w2 w
# ˙ #w #˙ ˙
& .. ..
1 2 1 1 2

.. 4 5 7 7 5 4 4 5 7 9 10 10 ..
brianperkinsmusic.com
L1
2/18/23
Single String Riffs!
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

Dueling Banjos, SS RIFF

1954, Original in C
1972, Eric Weisberg Version in A Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith 1921-2014
Transcribed By Brian Perkins

4 # œ1 œ2 œ4 # œ1 œ2 # œ1 # œ3 œ # œ1 œ1 œ2
&4 .. ..

.. 7 ..
Tablature
Fret # 4 5 4 5 2 4 0 2 4 5

E string E C string C

B String B F String F

G String G

D String D

A String A

brianperkinsmusic.com
L1
2/18/23 Single String Riffs!
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, SS RIFF

1787 Original in G
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-91)
Transcribed By Brian Perkins

A E7
3 œ œ4
4 œ œ œ œœ œ # œ œ2 œ œ2 œ œ2 # œ1 œ4 œ
4 4 4

œ ‰ J ‰ J
&4
1 1

‰J ‰J Œ Œ

Tablature
Fret # 5 ‰ 0J 5 ‰ 0J 5 0 5 9 12
Π10
‰ 7J 10 ‰ 7J 10 7 4 7 0
Œ

E string A E7 C string F C7

B String E B7 F String Bb F7

G String C G7

D String G D7

A String D A7

brianperkinsmusic.com
 L1
2/19/23
Single String Riffs!
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

The Good, the Bad & the Ugly, SS RIFF

Original in Dminor
Ennio Morricone 1928-2020
Composed by Ennio Moricone for the 1966 movie "The Good the Bad and the Ugly Transcribed By Brian Perkins

E minœ
œ œœ ˙
E minœ
œ œœ œ ˙.
A D
4 œ œ ˙. ˙ œ
&4
1 4 1 1 0 1 1 1 3

Tablature
Fret # 7 12 7 12 7 3 5 0
. 7 12 7 12 7 3 5 10
.

E string Emin A Emin D C string Cmin F Cmin Bb

B String Bmin E Bmin A F String Fmin Bb Fmin Eb

G String Gmin C Gmin F

D String Dmin G Dmin C

A String Amin D Amin G

brianperkinsmusic.com
L1 Single String Riffs!
2/18/23

Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Ningerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

How Dry I Am, SS RIFF

This riff is older but Irving Berlin 1888-1989 ‫ישראל ביילין‬
used it in his 1919 song "The Near Future."
Transcribed By Brian Perkins
It is a standard musical shorthand indicating drunkeness.

E A
œ1 œ # œ w2
A
1 œ #w 1 œ #w œ1 # œ œ w1 1 œ
4 œ œ œ
4

œ œ œ
2 3 2 3 3 4 2 2

&4 Π.. ΠΠΠΠ..

Tablature
Fret #
Œ05 7 .. 9
Œ05 7 9
Π5 10 9 7
Œ5 9 7 5
Π0 5 7 ..

E string A E7 A
C string F C7 F
B String E B7 E
F String Bb F7 Bb
G String C G7 C

D String G D7 G

A String D A7 D

brianperkinsmusic.com
 L1
2/18/23
Single String Riffs!
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

Iron Man, SS RIFF

1970, Original in B
Black Sabbath
Transcribed By Brian Perkins

E5 G5 A5 C5 G5 A5
˙1 œ œ2 ˙ œ4 œ3 œ œ œ4 œ1 œ œ2 ˙
.. ˙ ..

Tablature

4
Fret #

& 4 .. ..
0 3 3 5 5 8 7 8 7 8 3 3 5 5

These are all POWER CHORDS!

E string E G A C G A

B String B D E G D E

G String G B C Eb Bb C

D String D F G Bb F G

A String A C D F C D

C string C Eb F Ab Eb F

F String F Ab Bb Db Ab Bb
brianperkinsmusic.com
L1
2/18/23
Single String Riffs!
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

James Bond Theme #2, SS RIFF

1962 Original in Emin
Monty Norman 1928-2022
Arr. John Barry 1933-2011
Transcribed By Brian Perkins

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ3 œ œ
A min
4 œ1 œ3 œ œ œ œ œ1 œ œ
4

& 4 .. ..

Tablature A min
Fret #
.. 5 7 7 7 7 7 5 5 5 5 8 8 8 8 8 7 7 7 ..

C string Fmin
E string Amin
F String Bbmin
B String Emin

G String Cmin
"Spy Chord"
D String Gmin Eminmaj9
0 10 9 8 7 X
A String Dmin
Aminmaj9
x 0 10 9 9 7
brianperkinsmusic.com
L1
2/18/23
Single String Riffs!
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

Peter Gunn Theme, SS RIFF

1958, Original in Fmin
Henry Mancini 1924-94
Transcribed By Brian Perkins

E5

&4
4 .. œ œ # œ
1
œ œ #
2 3
œ œ œ
4
œ
3
œ œ # œ
1
œ œ #
2 3
œ œ œ
4
œ3 .
.

.. ..
Tablature Fret #
0 0 2 0 3 4 0 5 4 0 0 2 0 3 4 0 5 4

E string Emin C string Cmin

B String Bmin F String Fmin

G String Gmin

D String Dmin

A String Amin

brianperkinsmusic.com
L1
2/18/23
Single String Riffs!
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

"Satisfaction" Riff, SS RIFF

1965 Original in E
Keith Richards & Mick Jagger
Transcribed By Brian Perkins

A G D
4
&4
œ œ œ œ #œ œ œ. œ œ #œ œ œ
J ..

. ..
J
Tablature
Fret # 0 0 0 0 2 3 3 3 3 2 2 0

E string AGD

B String EDA

G String C Bb F

D String GF C

A String DCG
C string F Eb Bb

F String Bb Ab Eb
brianperkinsmusic.com
L1
2/19/23
Single String Riffs!
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

Seven Nation Army, SS RIFF

Jack White 1975-
2003, Original in Emin Transcribed By Brian Perkins

A5 F E
œ
4 ˙ œ œ œ1 œ œ3 w1 w
4

& 4 .. ..
1

Tablatue Fret #
.. 5 5 5 8 5 5 3 1 0 ..

(A5)
E string Amin F E C string Fmin Db C

B String Emin C B F String Bbmin Gb F

G String Cmin Ab G

D String Gmin Eb F

A String Dmin Bb A

brianperkinsmusic.com
L1
2/18/23
Single String Riffs!
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

Smoke on the Water, SS RIFF

1971 Original in Gmin
Deep Purple/ Richie Blackmore
Transcribed By Brian Perkins

E min A G E min
4 .. œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ bœ ˙ œ œ œ. œ œœ œ ˙ ..
&4 J J

Tablature Fret #
.. . . ..
0 3 5 0
J 0 3 3 6 5 0 3 5
J
3 3 0 0 0

E string Emin A G Emin

B String Bmin E D Bmin

G String Gmin C Bb Gmin

D String Dmin G F Dmin

A String Amin D C Amin

C string Cmin F Eb Cmin

F String Fmin Bb Ab Fmin

brianperkinsmusic.com
 L1 Single String Riffs!
2/18/23
Everyone wants to rock! But I want you to learn good technique and theory so you can play and understand anything.
Here is the deal. I will teach you these riffs as SINGLE STRING EXERCISES. You have to play them perfectly using the right Gingerings.
This will massively improve your ability to play anything.
There are much easier ways for beginners to play these riffs. You are welcome to do that after you master the Single String Version.

William Tell Overture SS Riff

1829 orignally in E
Gioacchino Rossini 1792-1868
Transcribed By Brian Perkins

A E7
2 #œ 1 #œ
4 œ œ .. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ 4

œœ œ œœ œ
4
œ2 # œ1 œ œ œ
&4 ..
1

Tablature Fret # 0 0
.. 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 7 9 0 0 0 0 0 5 9 7 4 0 0 0 ..

E string A E7
C string F C7
B String E B7
F String Bb F7
G String C G7

D String G D7

A String D A7

The term "intellectual" has been defined as "a person who can listen to the William Tell Overture
without thinking of the Lone Ranger"
brianperkinsmusic.com