Writing Riffs In Alternative Tunings
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- Опубліковано 20 вер 2024
- I decided to try writing riffs in alternative tunings... you should try it yourself!
The tunings are:
Mensis: BF#BEF#B
PaleBlood: GDGA#DA
Enjoy!!
Video edited by John Hollingworth
#rabeaafro #tunings #riffs
⬇️⬇️⬇️ Feel free to read this ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Hey guys, I’m Rabea. I'm the lead guitarist in Toska, Frog Leap & Dorje where I write music, make songs and have a great time with my mates. I also have my own line of guitars with Chapman Guitars, and I’ve designed numerous products with some really cool companies, such as the Victory Amps VX Kraken. Anyway, i hope you enjoy my videos, thank you for watching!
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Try BEA BEA tuning, lol
Hahahah great idea
Haha, I was thinking this too.. it would be like a signature tuning :)
That's basically baritone 2x. :D
wrong channel!
Just tried it on Guitar Pro 4 cause I was curious but too lazy to do tune my guitar and I already come up with a new song almost instantly. Came back to watch the video and write a reply to you. Thanks
Full disclosure: Picked up on your stuff from Frog Leap, great styling, and you always look like you're having a blast. Jumped over here to check you out, and this was the first video I pulled out of the hat. Your name, face and accent don't match at all, at least in my head. Then you pull these wild ass tunings and just chew through, plus show some of that "trying to figure it out oops oops okay now I have it," which is always kind of humble and hard for anyone to show as a professional. Now my brain is fkn broken and I can't wait to put it back together. This IS the inspiration I've been looking for as a guitarist. Instantly subbed and can't wait to look over it all and see more. Thanks for the vids.
Alternate tunings are the way to go for originality, no question. Interesting post. Thx. Rabea
Facts. Sonic Youth's Rather Ripped came out in 2006, but their stuff never got old because of alternate tunings. 2 of their best songs came from that album, Pink Steam and Incinerate. For those 2 songs, The guitar is tuned to an Eb major when you play the open strings. Pink steam explores some divine sounds in the intro.... Definitely worth a listen
As far as I understand it. DADGAD is neither minor or major. Or something like that. I'm not super familiar but I know John Browne uses it a lot with monuments songs and its killer.
@@InfamouslyCantankerous You're right, there's no major or minor third to make it either of the two. For that there would have to be an f or f# in the open chord. The G makes a suspended fourth (pretty sure that's right...) :) Also, John Browne=one of many man crushes haha
Sweet you definitely have a better grasp then I do. I'm trying to learn theory I just started playing about 4 months ago. And yes john Browne= guitar crush for sure.
I spent a good 6 months playing in various versions of DADGAD on all of my guitars from nylon string, to steel string acoustic, to electric, and it really helped me "feel" the colour of chords rather than rely on existing shapes. I play mostly in Drop C/C# these days, but that experience has still carried over and I'm more consistently able to take a chord colour that I hear in my head and apply it to the fretboard. This used to be a huge struggle for me, but trying alternate tunings has really connected my ears and fingers.
Please turn that riff at 11:56 into a full song. It sounds awesome! EDIT: And those ambient-sounding arpeggios in the second alternate tuning!
Holy crap that riff at 20:33 is lethal. Looking forward to hearing it jammed out on the next grinding gear.
Your tones just absolutely wrecks anything on this planet.
you make everything sound so damn sick! Any chance we can get a part 2 of this? Maybe with the Mastodon Tuning (Drop A with D Standard on the other 5 strings)
I love trying different tunings. I actually tried to do DADGAD but in D standard as that's where I play but somehow missed it up. Turns out I ended up with Double Drop C. I instantly wrote a new song and I must say it slaps! My other favourite tuning is the Mastodon Drop A(D standard with low D down to A)
D standard is pretty tasty. Baroness play it if I remember right. Haven't done any double drop before though might have to try it out later
You're always a great inspiration for all of us and what a tone Rabea, what a tone!!!!!
It's refreshing to witness someone who I respect so much, discovering and learning and taking us along on that journey.
I'm glad I'm not the only one still obsessed with Bloodborne! Fear the Old Blood
I'm not a guitarist, but I am a musician, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching you explore the spaces within these tunings. It really made me wish I had learned guitar when I was younger! Super talented! I love it, thanks for sharing!
Bea! You are seriously one of the top RIFF KINGS!!!
I would recommend taking a look at Ian Thornley's tunings in both Big Wreck and Thornley (Band). One of the least known guitar maniacs who still tours presently, and he's done some crazy stuff with alternate tunings. Also just an all-round great front-man.
Did someone say DADGAD? *John Browne has entered the chat*
Yeah Browne is the DADGAD King. Absolute beast of a player.
Andy McKee has entered the chat
But have you tried this tuning? ua-cam.com/video/z7K8Vjm8jLU/v-deo.html
@@pedroabdala7232 very cool stuff, never heard anything like it
@@pedroabdala7232 you got me laughing like hell bro😂😂
Instantly clicked because i just wrote a song in EBEF#BE tuning, and it turned out to be an Indie-Major-Key Banger.
Little different from my usual Metal and Hard Rock
danza fan spotted
@@tfwnoyandere No clue what that is tbh
tony danza tapdance extravaganza tuned ebebef#be on 8 strings
@@tfwnoyandere Oh cool, will have to check them out
@@VioletSerenade i recommend their track this is forever, as a demonstration of that tuning lol
Glad to see the baritone m9 tuning stuck with you for Vower :)
I've always found alternate tunings to promote creativity when you get in a rut (epecially for cool new chord progressions), but man is it hard to solo on the fly. All your usual shapes are gone and muscle memory wants to take over, but you have to fight it.
very very cool to know you dont have a huge knowledge of theory, it svery inspiring that you can find these amazing riffs and phrases using your ear. pure talent. keep it real man
Try B F# B D F# A - It’s a bittersweet palate that you can get lost in.
fan of B and D tuning and drop A here, never tried those you perform here, let's give it a go.. thanks for a great video as always !
Hi! I'm Rabea! Wherever I put my fingers on the guitar, it sounds good!! Cheers!! LOL!! Love this Guy!!
B F# B D F# B (D) is my favorite. Open Bmin, with the extra high D on 7 strings, basically a lowered version of DADFAD. It's really dark and evil sounding at first glance because of the huge open minor chord, but I've written some really nice chordal/melodic stuff with it, and a lot of cool riffs that bounce between those big 7 string barre chords and cool legato fills. It's a really cool alternative to drop tunings, since you keep the same one finger power chord shape, but can barre it for a minor chord or make it a normal major chord with one finger, and you have the open strings that are all in key with each other
Dude I've been using DADGAD but in A for ages, I'm completely taken by that tuning it's so cool.
Great explanation. I'm trying this out.
I can already see it now. Next time Bea does a live show, he'll bring 10 guitars all in different tunings
I started tuning my Guitar to CGCGCe half a year ago because of Devin Townsend and Strapping Young Lad, and now it's basically everything I use. It's so convenient and allows me to keep my high 3 strings standard (even though the B is a half step higher than usual) while having a Drop C on the Bottom 3. As soon as my custom 7-String Explorer is done, it'll have the corresponding 7-String tuning (with a low G on the bottom)
I've been messing around in Tiny Moving Parts' tuning (DAEAC#E) and I've been writing some cool stuff I wouldn't have been able to come up with otherwise
Hey Rab hope you are doing great. Love your riffs bro. Rock on \m/
I really enjoyed this so far I've only learned dropped guitar tuning
I could honestly listen to Rabea nibble for hours
Love your playing , riffing , music and thought behind this video!!
Wish we could see more of this from you!!
Also I would like to see the construction of a song ,"real time" with this kind of tunings or whatever you want!!
Cheers Bea!!!
you describe perfectly, how i play guitar ... on EVERY tuning! LOL Dude, you're amazing, good too hear new stuff!
You my good sir are a musical genius, I vibed hard listening to you noodling over those deep, dark and wicked chords, cheers from Argentina Bea!
I play in DAEAC#E a lot and it's great
Stay where you are my friend! You made my whole world with your close to music.By the way, your song, prayermonger sounds interesting. Altough original hit my religion. DROP any is our world! :)
ah, the world of alternate tunings,they can sound so great when performed by the right people. alas, I suck at all tunings, barely even novice at standard, lol. but I still like to hear them. I'll tell you a couple of reallly good musicians on YT that have done and continue to do some really great content in alternate tunings - CharlesBerthoud(mainly does it on base, wild on the the le-fay detuners) and Ichika Nito(mainly on guitar with his hand breaking songs).
Bea, keep it up, let's see what else you can come up with on some alternate tunings!
love your sick unique style brother.
duuuude you have the most soothing voice ever. I could listen to you all day.
You have become one of my main inspirations on playing guitar, I've played for years but your style has changed my playing big time. Would you happen to have any cool ambient settings for a boss katana??
Great video. This is exactly what I wanted to see. It was interesting to watch how you adapted and how you changed your approach. DADGAD is a very rewarding tuning to play in.
Man Bea this has really inspired me to delve into alternate tunings further. Thanks for inspiring brother!!!!
I have a question. You say you don't have much knowledge on music theory, so what did you study at ACM? I'm currently enrolled at Berklee and I'm completely surrounded by music theory and I can't really imagine what else a music school would teach. Is ACM more focused on production? Or maybe just building connections? I'm really curious because I've always thought you had a good amount of theory knowledge, and that you just didn't think about it too much when writing.
Also, you should try New Standard Tuning sometime. It's super weird but its really cool once you get used to it. Keep up the great work man!
Very awesome! Just goes to show what one can do by "taking those chances", theory or not. I think theory at times can really detract from the excitement of "just finding" great new sounds. Fighting through the dark! Yes!
I love “drop E”, I do drop D and capo on the 2nd fret. Drop D style riffs sound fresh in E tuning!
Beautiful. I can hear your Tool influence bleeding through like it got stabbed in the jugular. 😂
Really great video, as someone who knows quite a bit of theory, hearing your approach and thoughts behind what you are doing is extremely interesting and valuable!
one of my favorite alternative tunings is one that i thought of where you tune it to standard, drop the second lowest down a half step, and raise the 3rd lowest up a half step. then when you bar the 3 strings you get a major 7th triad. its really cool sounding.
Dude it's always a big pleasure to watch and hear you play. Always excited about the tone you get out of that guitars and amps and I always get a smile on my face knowing why I bought a Super Kraken myself.
Here's a question I have about the new standard range models you play. How do they compare to your older sig models. Is the new standard range more like your old pro and the new pro way up? I really liked the old red baritone and this new standard range is tickling me.
Thanks mate! Cheers
Hey thank you so much! Really appreciate it.
Yeah so with the standard range they’re all about playability. The necks are great!
The main thing was because Chapman said I can bring out standard versions, I thought to myself I’m just gonna go hog wild on the pro line. Which is why they’re super high spec parts and woods and cost a lot more.
I knew the standard range would be more affordable for people so I wanted to make sure they got the most valuable part of the guitar for the money, and I think that’s in the necks. They look great and the pickups are really good, but what I love most about the standard range is the playability and stability of them. They’re solid. So I’m really glad aboht that
B-F sharp- C sharp-D-A-B is a tuning I'll use, mainly on acoustic or cleaner electric, for some interesting harmonic complexity. Super easy to sound bad on but when you get it right it's gorgeous.
Hi Bea! Before even watching more than the intro..... You look great man! Good job on whatever you are currently doing to get so fit^^, You are a great inspiration on many fronts
Great intro Riff Rabea , this is a great vid , I went off on a discovery using new tunings , and it just opens up the guitar into a whole new world .
I'm lucky to have a few guitars that dont have Floyd Rose bridges , which makes doing this a lot easier.
Also to pick up on what you said about not having any theory knowledge I've got by without having any real in depth knowledge, also i read an article yesterday about how Tony Iommi met and got on with Eddie Van Halen and it was really good to hear Tony and Eddie say that they both do not have any guitar Theory Knowledge during a conversation , so to read that makes me feel good and gives me inspiration to just carry on learning new songs a riffs without in depth Knowledge.
I just tuned to the KARNIVOOL tuning to learn C.O.T.E. and I love it.
Hi Rabea, this was a GREAT episode, catching up on the UA-cam s on my day off. I've been delving into open timings on electric lately after years of only really using them on acoustic guitars. My latest fave is CGCGCE (low to high) it's amaze balls. Skate on!
Really is a great way of getting new riff inspirations whilst exploring alternative tunings. Trying to transcribe it back into a tuning one is more comfortable with afterwards, quite a mind opener as well for musical creativity. John Browne of Monuments/Flux Conduct is a great example of using DADGAD guitar tuning.
Cheers from Montreal! Always enjoy your videos.
Heh.. I don't even play guitar I just love listening to you noodling around and chatting about it. Thanks Bea :D
ive been playing in the mark holcomb tuning for about 2 years its on of my favorite sounds ever
« Some of them will sound bad » me see Rabea nailed it .... yeah right gonna sound bad ahah nice video as always!
Hey man, haven't watched one of your videos in a while. Lookin' good with the weight loss! Amazing work! Great video also.
Hi Rabea, I would love to see a video on how you record your guitar while making videos and when creating music. Really like your videos!
Song name: Fighting Through The Dark
Great video! Loved seeing the process and the stuff you came up with was awesome.
That was fire. keep it up. Also, love those reaction videos.
I have a fun tuning for you to try but I did it on my 8 string E G D A E G B C! Wrote an ep in this tuning and had lots of fun with the new chord structures and harmonics of this tuning!
I am so GASing at that Mensis guitar, can't wait to get one, hopefuilly start of the year!
so awesome sounds
Great educational video!
Nice Rabea !!!
Great vid. I think that the beginner approach is going to become a wider knowledge of the fret with time, but the first feeling is that new discovering of the guitar and a simpler way of playing that throw away the tics that we get when playing for sometime. I use to move between d shapes: Drop d, double drop d, open d major, open d m, dadgad, so I keep some part recognizable and some new. Really interesting topic for me at this moment and walking throught the mist the darkness and the jungle into the unknown is exciting.
Amazing content.. Thank you so much.. Inspiring lesson for upcoming guitarists like myself..
I kinda wish you had done the first track from the last Toska album I love that song... A Tall Order!
Looking Great Rabea, Keep it up man!!
immensely cool man!! such an inspiration as always, cheers bro
Rabea MAAAN you got very FIT man. Cheers)
So good to see how healthy and happy he looks and how comfortable he is with himself nowadays.
I love messing around with open tunings. I actually primarily stay in an open C (C-G-C-G-C-E) sort of tuning (I tune it up to C#), which comes from Devin Townsend being my favorite artist. I've also messed around with both the major and minor add9 sorts of tunings, which comes from Periphery's Scarlett (the major version) and Haunted Shores (the minor version), and I liked those quite a bit too. I have a 7 string that I'm tuning to open A# (just the open C intervals tuned down to A#) with an F on the highest string (which adds a minor 3rd interval on top of the open A# tuning). I personally did't quite like the DADGAD sort of interval tuning as much when I tried it, but maybe I should give it another chance and experiment with it again.
Sounded so good, baritone is a beaut. Thanks for the riffs.
The Last progression was amazing, I have dabbled in several alternate tunings and had lots of fun with it, one you may want to try just for the sake of experimentation is New Standard Tuning(Robert Fripp).. They definitely get you thinking outside the box, I have 7 guitars at my disposal and I have tuned to various open tunings and some to Drop tunings. Have fun with it, the experimenting is a blast and with your noodling ideas you are sure to make more killer riffs! :)
IMHO....This is why some of the best songs ever, were written by people who don't know theory. You never know what you will find, when you go "Fighting through the dark" as you put it. When you have rules, it does give you more tools but it also tends to make people fall into a state of almost being "trapped" by the rules and the tools, so to speak. Sometimes you gotta be unafraid to hit some ugly notes to find the beautiful ones.
100% agreed
I entirely agree. I've taught myself instruments and even in school. To me its best to stumble your way to success by being like a rat in a maze finding the perfect way to the cheese as you know it's there you just have to find your path for the maze of your life.
Personally, I don't think it matters whether you know theory or not. Theory gives you the explanation of why those notes sound the way they do. It's not a set of rules, or even a guideline, to think that would be to misunderstand the point of theory entirely.
People who "don't know theory" actually do, they just know the sounds instead of the names as well. Theory follows the music, never the other way around.
Rabea your a riff god mate
The sound was great I’ll try it. Thanks man to show this for us
F A# F A# D# G C is the tuning I use on my 7 string now.
It's like Drop A#, but it also has hints of F standard.
Model is Cort KX500MS SDB (it doesn't have the natural back, so it can be considered as a prototype or a demo product. Heh...lucky me.)
I also considered tuning it a half step up (F# B F# B E G# C#), so I can learn some Mnemic riffs without using a pitch shifter.
I also used these tunings on my 7 string:
F F A# D# G C F (Drop F in C std. variant - 7 string version)
F D# G# C# F A# D# (F std. in A# std. var.)
Rabea I'd love to see a video on how to count proggy sounding riffs to better comunícate with other players. It'd be really useful to me to be able to explain it drummers I jam with. I'm sure you have plenty of knowledge in this area given your drumming background and ability to create songs with Toska in odd time
I would love to own a ML3 modern one day. Not a huge tele fan but that rainforest one is gorgeous 😍
I first got into DADGAD tuning thanks to Darron Korb and the soundtrack he made for the video game Bastion. I love how easy it is to have drone note noodling on the higher strings while having familiarity to a dropped tuning from the lower strings for chugging and such.
Drop F# alternative: F# F# B E G# C#. The tuning architects are using very often.
Major 9th tuning chord riff was intro to “limp bizkit- it’ll be OK”
Great stuff as usual my dude!
The furthest I've ventured so far is into Drop C#, so I think it's safe to say I need to explore a bit more!
This could be a cool series of videos. I would LOVE to see you write in open C tuning. That was one I got from mark holcomb as well
Great insight on an interesting topic. I recently discovered that Joe from Black Peaks has come up with very unique chord voicing in standard tuning which sound totally new to my ears. Just to say that sometimes it’s just a matter of changing the approach in what we already have, but I agree with you that this could be difficult if you are doing the same things for so long...
You’ve entered an awesome place. Don’t let the pharisees at the temple of syrinx deny you your priesthood.
Alternate tunings are such a good creative tool, I watched that rig rundown with phil form Caspian and he was talking about all the weird tunings they used. Also, did you already put a whole in that mensis' top? :D
"I don't know that tuning very well" - plays like he knows only that tuning 😄
Great way to mix up what you know !! 👍
Wrote my whole album in alt. tuning opened up a raft of riffs!! Sugar by Wild Crow music.apple.com/gb/album/sugar/517989549
Ever since Opeth released Ghost Reveries in open A minor tuning, I've enjoyed listening to Ghost Reveries by Opeth lol
next toska album is going to be fire
John Browne writes in DADGAD, great tuning.
would love to watch you take this concept and turn it into a song, taking us on your journey.
WE NEED MORE LIKE THIS