New Discovery!
This isn’t really a lesson, nor is it a ‘new’ discovery, but more of a tip, a review possibly, but anyways.
I have found via listening to AC/DC records, watching them play and practise, that creating an Angus Young style riff or style of playing is fairly simple. Play a catchy sequence of power chords without going past fret 4, and then follow that up with a short, snappy solo line going anywhere up to fret 7, which can be repeated simultaneously. The Back in Black riff is a great example of this.
This probably isn’t how Angus himself works out his parts, but this is the way I use, and I thought I would share it. I would also add, it works kind of well. For example…
in the second bar just add a short solo type bit, then play bar 1 again only this time add a different solo after it. Then go back to bar 1, and then after that play the same sequence again. Include vibrato on some notes for an even more Angus sounding riff!
e|-------------------------------------|--------------3-0------------------|
B|------------------3-3-3--------------|--------------------3-0------------|
G|------------------2-2-2----------2-2-|2-----------------------2^(4)`2p0--|
D|-2----------------0-0-0----------2-2-|2----------------------------------|
A|-2-------------------------------0-0-|0----------------------------------|
E|-0-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
e|-------------------------------------|----------------------------------||
B|-----------------3-3-3---------------|----------------------------------||
G|-----------------2-2-2----------2-2--|2---------------------------------||
D|-2---------------0-0-0----------2-2--|2---------------------------------||
A|-2------------------------------0-0--|0---------------------------------||
E|-0-----------------------------------|------7-4-7-5-7-6-7-7-------------||
As we can see, there is just a simple bar of chords, with a short solo bar afterwards. This technique works great, and fans of Angus I would recommend it. A lot of you have probably already found out this technique, but I thought I’d share it anyway. Also, this is not an insult to Angus, it’s just my interpretation of thinking up similar sounding riffs/licks.
Anyway, have a go at this technique, and then if you feel more adventurous have a go at this technique below for thinking up Angus style chorus riffs.
If you study the chorus riffs of AC/DC’s music, they tend to consist of some chords or power chords, with a short melody, usually about 2-4 notes long, then reverting to the same chords moved down an octave or two. Sometimes, like in you shook me all night long, there is a single note played before the first power chord or chord of the chorus.
We can use the chorus of Thunderstruck as an example. Notice there is a short melody in the middle of the power chords/chords.
E--------------------|------------------------|
B--------------------|------------------------|
G--------------------|------------------------|
D-4---2--------------|-2----------------------|
A-2---0--------------|-0-------2--------------|
E---------------2-4--|---------0--------------|
Of course, we all know that not all AC/DC songs follow these guidelines. Songs for example like Thunderstruck and Money Talks. Both of which are still worthy of infinite greatness. For these, start anywhere up to fret 14 and include open strings often. A good example is the intro to Thunderstruck.
This is the intro to Thunderstruck;
E------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
B--0h4p0h7p0h4p0h7p0h4p0h7p0h4p0h7p0h|4p0h7p0h4p0h7p0h4p0h7p0h4p0h7p0h|
G------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
D------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
E------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
E----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
B--5p0h8p0h5p0h8p0h5p0h8p0h5p0h8p0h|5p0h8p0h5p0h8p0h5p0h8p0h5p0h8p0h|
G----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
D----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
E----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
E-------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
B--12p0h10p0h9p0h10p0h9p0h7p0h9p0h5p0h|7p0h4p0h5p0h4p0h5p0h4p0h5p0h4p0h|
G-------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
D-------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A-------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
E-------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
That’s all for now really.
I might post a video lesson soon.
©Steve Lawson 2008.
/ my profile 
