The crowning guitar tricks of guitarist Keith Richards

Keith Richards with Mick Jagger. was at the helm of The Rolling Stones for nearly six decades, thus falling into the category of guitarist, longer all playing in the same group.

He is author a number of the greatest guitar riffs: because of this, the musician became one of the pioneers of alternative guitar tunings in rock music, along with Jimmy Page of LZ and other popular musicians.

He also introduced the world to the pedal. distortion. Yes, yes, the very same Maestro Fuzz-Tone that Keith endorses and which, thanks to him, got the recognition among guitarists around the world.

Many young musicians, especially guitarists, inspired The Rolling Stones and musician Keith Richards in particular, and aspire to play the same kind of driving music that he does. What's more, some people learn to play electronic guitar just to play the immortal songs of the Stones.

If you are one of these musicians, then this article perfectly It's good for you, because here we've tried to find out how Keith Richards managed to achieve that unusual guitar sound we've heard in the band's hits.

Rip out all the excess

Keith made a move that put him in the "geeky guitarist" category - he's a withdrawn the sixth string off his guitar and got an open G-string. A brilliant idea that saved him from having to drown out the rarely used sixth string. To keep the sixth string out of the sound where it doesn't belong, you just have to use it uproot out of a guitar, which the video below demonstrates beautifully.

By the way, Keith Richards wasn't the only musician who got the idea to pluck the strings out of a guitar, but rockers usually did others strings. The open G-string was a novelty and allowed The Rolling Stones to achieve a distinctive, recognisable sound.

The Open G setting revolutionised The Stones' sound: without it. not would be or Honky Tonk Women, or Brown Sugar, or Start Me Up.

The 1960s will be over and this signature Keith setup will lead band to what Richards called "the old art of swing" - two independent but interlocking rhythm parts he played with Mick Taylor and, from 1974, with Ronnie Wood.

Next up is Keith's riff style, both in open G and standard tuning, and then the example of how Keith and Ronnie create a signature rhythm from two Stones guitars.

Keith's riffing style: play like The Rolling Stones

Riff 1 uses an open G-string (D-G-D-G-B-D), so you will need to retune your guitar. This is easy to do: release the first, fifth, and sixth strings by one tone (two frets).

Keith plays a lot of riffs using two main chord forms: a major form (e.g., D major in measure 3) that you clamp with your first finger on the barre; and another major form that looks like a minor septacord in standard tuning (e.g., G/D in measure 3 looks like Em7 in standard tuning).

Riff 1 (open G-string)

To play notes on the first and third strings at the same time, use Chicken picking (a combination of plectrum and finger playing). Strike the plectrum on the third string and simultaneously pluck the first string with one of your free fingers.

Riff 2 (standard formation)

This example demonstrates the alternating chords and arpeggios that are characteristic of a Stones rock ballad. The 16th notes in the first measure are best played with alternating strokes, like the shown in the illustration. During the arpeggio in measure 3, the notes of the Fsus2 chord should overlap each other.

Stones two rhythm guitar style

These two examples show how Keith creates interlocking rhythm parts with Ronnie Wood.

Riff 3 is the main riff and is played in an open G-string in the style of Keith Richards. Here no new chord forms, the same major forms are used as in riff 1, only in a different position on the fingerboard.

Riff 4 - is the second rhythm part, played in a standard Ronnie Wood-style string. Note that the pauses of the two guitars occur in different places - this gives space for each guitar to sound and forms a branded rockin' Stones style.

To play a C chord, simply place your index finger on the fifth fret. Hold your first finger in place, and then add your second and third fingers to form an F/C chord (in bars 1 and 2). In bars 3 and 4. add with the third finger to add an extra note to the B-flat chord.

When you play the F chord, keep your first finger on the barre at the 5th fret, then you can just pluck your second and third fingers to play the C chord. Quickly alternate two chords, pull-off and hammer-on.