Transplanting Riffs (with Evermore, Solution, The Time Has Come)

One good way to start improvising is to learn as many riffs as you can, and then use them in other songs. Here's one overly obvious example:



The riffs fit together very well because all three songs use the same chord progression, which is VIm IV I V, or the sixth, fourth, first, and fifth chord. Evermore, which is in G, uses Em C G D, while Solution and The Time Has Come are in A, and use F#m, D A E.

Tabs

Evermore
(somewhat simplified)
-------------10---10-|---------------------

---8-------8----8----|---8---8-7-7---7b8r7-
-9-------------------|-7---7-------7-------
------9-10-----------|---------------------
---------------------|---------------------
---------------------|---------------------

To play this in A, shift everything up by two frets, and vice versa to shift the A songs in G.

Solution
----------14-14-14-14-----------14-14-14-14-
-12-11-12--------------12-11-12-------------
--------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------

----------14-14-14-14--12-12-11-11-------------
-12-11-12--------------------------14-14-11-11-
-----------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------
The above is tabbed in the original key (B), shift everything lower by two frets to play in A.


The Time Has Come
-------------------------------------------------
-------14----14---------14----14-------14----14--
-11-11----11-------------------------------------
------------------12-12----12----14-14----14-----
-------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------

----------------------------
-14-------------12-12-------
----14-14-14-14-------14----
----------------------------
----------------------------
----------------------------

If you have two guitarists, try playing the Time Has Come & Solution riffs together, they fit together pretty nicely!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wanted to say this ages ago, but the tabs to the time has come are wrong, the guitarist doesn't go dow to the 12 on the 4th string. Instead he stays on the 11 on the third string as he's playing over an A then an F*m. As this is the relative minor he keeps the riff the same, and lets the other instruments , such as the bass play the note.

Tim Shu said...

the video has been taken off...why?

Unknown said...

how would i get the tone with just pedals? like whats your general setting to get that really fat tone with just single notes? i try with delay and such and i just dont get something that sounds that big

Anonymous said...

yeah what effects are you using ? and pedals

user said...

Brian: it really depends alot on what pedals you have.. and the guitar too. Try the forum for further discussion.

Anon: I'm using a pod xtl.

Anonymous said...

Wow, amazing I never thought of doing that! Keep up the awesome work!

Anonymous said...

you're amazing

lsmurp said...

Hi Kenny, just curious about your comments regarding buying gear from the states. Brilliant blog by the way. So insightful. Is musicians friend a good site to buy from, will they ship to Australia? And also, will customs be a problem, like taxes? Was wondering have you ever ordered a guitar from o/s and had it shipped. Thanks in advance for any advice. Luke.

user said...

hey luke
i've never bought gear from the US before, so I'm not sure.. how abt asking around the forum?