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Guest Column: Mixing Scales For Great Riffs g9 Line
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pix Mixing Scales For Great Riffs pix
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pix pix by Dan Keller  

Page added in August, 2004

 
pix About the Author    
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Dan Keller, Switzerland's Sultan of String, is a guitarist whose original compositions showcase his exotic metal fretwork.

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His debut CD is entitled "Electric Storm".

Send comments or questions to Dan Keller.



© Dan Keller
Welcome riffing lovers!

Astonishing, what powerful riffs you can produce mixing different scales!

Today I'll present to you one of the most interesting metal riffs off my Exotic Metal album "Electric Storm", in it's original version, plus a very soft version of exactly the same melody, reminiscent of an Indian sitar style!

OK, let's analyze the riff first. You'll see that this strange and Eastern sounding riff has been composed of some (more or less) known scales. Listen to the original riff on my Exotic Metal version (note: my guitar is tuned one full step down to D for all examples):

MP3 - "Slaves Of Pyramid" - main riff

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With "Indication of ingredients", i.e. the scales used:

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Scale Structure
Phrygian dominant  (RED circle) 1 - b2-  3   - 4 - 5   - b6 - b7
Phrygian (BLACK circle, just one note) 1 - b2 - b3 - 4 - 5   - b6 - b7
Locrian (GREEN circle) 1 - b2 - b3 - 4 - b5 - b6 - b7
Algerian 3rd mode (BLUE circle) 1 - b2 - 3   - 4 - 5   - b6 - 7


Here the riff in his original context:

MP3 - "Slaves Of Pyramid" - intro, riff and theme

And NOW... close your eyes and listen to a totally different interpretation, using exactly the same melody!

MP3 - Same riif and melody, played softly

Astonishing, isn't it? 

Try out your own version. Any feedback about these two interpretations are very much appreciated!

Note: All sound samples are taken from my exotic metal album "Electric Storm".

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me.

pix Additional Columns by Dan Keller pix
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