This week’s riff is from the song MEANT TO LIVE by SWITCHFOOT. This one is a little more involved with bends, a solo, and alternate tuning. I had a chance to see Switchfoot perform live several times and they are absolutely amazing!
The riff is in drop “D” and sounds awesome. Like I always say, these riffs are fun exercises that sound great and are the perfect way to get your fingers moving around the fretboard. They’re a guaranteed way to help you improve as a guitarist as you encounter different playing techniques. So grab your guitar, turn up your amp, drop that low “E” string, and lets dive in!
In this lesson you will learn:
Meant To Live By Switchfoot Video Concepts
1. Some background info on the riff.
2. How to play the riff with proper fingerings.
3. Opportunity to play along as practice.
Chapters
0:30 Song info
2:13 How To Play The Riff
5:02 Play Along
Action Steps
Be sure to watch the video again to make sure you grasp all of the concepts.
Step 1. Like I was saying in the video, this song is in “drop D” so tune your low “E” string down one full step.
Step 2. Work on the bend which is the key part of this riff. Put your third finger on the “D” string, fourth fret. Bend that string up a half step or until the note sounds like a “G” note. At the same time, pick the open “G” string. This will create that cool dissonant sound you hear on the album. Work on this bend until you can play it in a clean smooth style.
Step 3. Work on the chords starting with the “B” power chord. Move on to the “A”, and then the chords on the drop “D” string. With the drop “D” string, the power chord shapes change. Don’t worry they are a lot easier to play. You just barre, or hold down the fifth and sixth strings. The second fret becomes and “E” chord, the third fret becomes an “F” chord, the fifth fret becomes a “G” chord, and the seventh fret becomes an “A” chord.
Step 4. Learn the solo part. Work through playing the whole riff slowly. Once you feel comfortable play along with me in the video. Find a friend and practice playing the call and response style with two guitars! It’s really fun!
Check out Switchfoot playing the full song here! Check out another great one of my riff of the month’s tutorial here!
Have fun with this Month’s riff
Happy Playing!