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What are riffs? (Iam a begginer) and how do to read them?

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(@athf_rules2)
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Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 51
Topic starter  

I really need to learn how to read and know what riffs are. Thanks peeps.


   
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 Mike
(@mike)
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You can start here: https://www.guitarnoise.com/article.php?id=206

If you don't understand something, come back and ask.


   
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(@musenfreund)
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Joined: 22 years ago
Posts: 5108
 

Welcome to the asylum for the musically insane! Tracker's given you a great place to start.

I would define a riff as a short lead or melodic passage that's repeated in a song and characterizes the song.

Well we all shine on--like the moon and the stars and the sun.
-- John Lennon


   
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(@athf_rules2)
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Topic starter  

what do the numbers mean


   
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(@sinister_hack)
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Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 38
 

Its tablature. The six lines represent the six strings of the guitar and the numbers represent the fret you need to play the string on.

There's a guide to TAB here: https://www.guitarnoise.com/tab_faq.php


   
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(@shabu)
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Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 7
 

the numbers are the fret numbers. the horizontal strings are the guitar strings (upside down though).

For example using the link several posts above you would put your fingers on the string that the 2's are marked and then put your fingers down to the 2nd fret.

I hope that clears atleast something up


   
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(@athf_rules2)
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Topic starter  

yes thanks alot!!


   
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(@athf_rules2)
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Topic starter  

one more thing how do u know which notes to play does the maker of the tab tell you which notes to play or what, dude i hope everyone else was this comfused when starting the guitar. So:

E--------------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------------------
D--------------------------------------------------------------
A--------------------------------------------------------------
E----0---1---2---3---4---5---6-------------------------------

means to play E F F# G G# A, but how do u know that that means to play those notes? like does 1=f and 2=f# and so on is it like that or what all i need to know is how do u know what notes to play, MAN IAM COMFUSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!


   
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(@audioslaveaddict)
Estimable Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 169
 

one more thing how do u know which notes to play does the maker of the tab tell you which notes to play or what, dude i hope everyone else was this comfused when starting the guitar. So:

E--------------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------------------
D--------------------------------------------------------------
A--------------------------------------------------------------
E----0---1---2---3---4---5---6-------------------------------

means to play E F F# G G# A, but how do u know that that means to play those notes? like does 1=f and 2=f# and so on is it like that or what all i need to know is how do u know what notes to play, MAN IAM COMFUSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is one of the down sides of TAB. It tells you what frets to play (which is what the numbers represent), but it does not tell you the notes and the timing for the piece of music. So it is near impossible to really nail a song using TAB if you have never heard the song.

Gun control is using both hands!!!


   
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(@athf_rules2)
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Topic starter  

can someone tell me the notes to smoke on the water as they go cause i want to play that song its cool just the main part that everyone knows or should know and also are there any sites with the notes of the songs and not just in TAB form?


   
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(@greybeard)
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Joined: 21 years ago
Posts: 5840
 

The best thing is to get powertabs and the powertab editor (it's free).

The tabs are stored in a format that allows them to be played, via the MIDI output on your PC - not HiFi, by any means, but useable. The editor also shows both tab and standard notation.

Powertabs Archive

Powertab Editor

I started with nothing - and I've still got most of it left.
Did you know that the word "gullible" is not in any dictionary?
Greybeard's Pages
My Articles & Reviews on GN


   
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(@snoogans775)
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Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 297
 

I know this is off-subject, but ATHF, if you really wanna play something that will impress people, learn the rest of Smoke on The Water, you'll be one of the 5 or some odd people that do

I don't follow my dreams, I just ask em' where they're going and catch up with them later.
-Mitch Hedburg
Did you see that!


   
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(@athf_rules2)
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Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 51
Topic starter  

i tried to download the zipped TABs from that site and none of them works whats the deal with that anyone know how to fix this problem? oh and i might learn the rest of smoke on the water if i have time.


   
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 Mike
(@mike)
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i tried to download the zipped TABs from that site and none of them works whats the deal with that anyone know how to fix this problem? oh and i might learn the rest of smoke on the water if i have time.

Did you download PTabEditor? If not, you need to download that first before you can start downloading the tabs.


   
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(@paul-donnelly)
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Joined: 21 years ago
Posts: 1066
 

Powertabs are pretty darn neat, and often accurate as well.


   
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