Here’s one of the coolest rapid-fire guitar riffs from the 2000s…

It’s a song guitarists often spend months trying to master.

The flurry of hammer-ons and pull-offs make it quite exciting and challenging.

Below, I want to share with you some insider tips on the guitar style behind it.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Snow” chords and guitar lesson!

Who wrote Snow (Hey Oh)?

“Snow (Hey Oh)” was originally written by the four members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers — Anthony Kiedis, John Frusciante, Flea, and Chad Smith.

 It’s all based around a simple guitar riff played by Frusciante. It’s a flurry of notes and instantly recognizable.

“Snow” first appeared on the band’s double album Stadium Arcadium released in 2006.

The song is about personal transformation and a clean slate. Given the band’s long history with addiction and recovery, many listeners interpret the song as reflecting those experiences, although its message is broad enough to apply to anyone trying to re...

Here’s one of the biggest one-hit wonders of all time.

It has quite an interesting backstory to it.

Below, I want to share with you some insider tips on the guitar style behind it.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “What's Up?” chords and guitar lesson!

Who wrote What's Up?

“What’s Up?” was originally written by Linda Perry. It was recorded by the San Francisco rock band 4 Non Blondes for their only studio album, Bigger, Better, Faster, More! 

Interestingly, the song never sings the lyrics “What’s Up?”, instead it sings over and over “What’s going on?”. However, Perry didn’t want to name it that because she was afraid the song would be too close to Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On?”. The title became “What’s Up?” as a practical way to distinguish the two songs.

The origins of the song go back to Linda Perry's struggling musician days in San Francisco, California. This was well before 4 Non Blondes had a record deal. Perry has recalled playing early versions of the song...

Anthony Kiedis sang:

===

Sometimes I feel like I don't have a partner

Sometimes I feel like my only friend

Is the city I live in, The City of Angels

Lonely as I am, together we cry...

===

Look, it ain’t easy out here! I get it.

And this song has some dark undertones.

But I think loneliness is good for a human.

In fact, I’d say it’s even mandatory.

It’s mandatory to embrace, because chances are, for long periods of life, you might be alone physically.

Now, guess what can make this whole process easier?

Yup!

You guessed it!

Guitar.

That’s right.

(Joey the Juggernaut sits to my left and nods with excitement…)

So below, I want to share with you some insider tips on one of the most monumental Red Hot Chili Peppers tunes. 

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Under the Bridge” chords and guitar lesson!

Who wrote Under the Bridge?

“Under the Bridge” was originally written by the 4 members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers –  Anthony Kiedis, Flea, John Frusciante, and...

 Here’s a haunting blues song about a hitchhiking killer.

It all started with a jam.

Robby Krieger was riffing on "Ghost Riders In The Sky" on the guitar.

And Jim Morrison said, "I got lyrics for that."

Then Ray Manzarek said, "Let me see what I can do with this."

And instead of keeping it cow-poke, he put some jazz to it.

He made it dark and came up with a bass line groove in his left hand that goes:

Em → A

Em → A

What came next was one of the most haunting songs I've ever heard.

It begins with thunder and rain sounds.

Then this groove.

I’ve always enjoyed it.

In this post, I want to share with you some insider tips on the guitar style behind it — including how to play what Manzarek calls “the rain lick.”

It’s a giant cascading run from the high notes on the piano all the way down to the low.

It sounds like falling rain. 

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Riders on the Storm” chords and guitar lesson!

Who wrote Riders on the Storm?

“Riders on the Storm” ...

One thing I love about the best rock artists out there is their...

SHOWMANSHIP.

Yes, I spend a ton of time talking about the minutiae of guitar playing like chords, scales, techniques, and so on.

These are important.

But don’t forget your SHOWMANSHIP.

Yesterday, I shared an example of how Kiss did this with the lesson on “Rock and Roll All Nite”.

Today, I’ve got another example from the great Bryan Adams. 

This was one of the songs that made him a star.

So, if you’re a fan of classic rock... then I think you might enjoy this.

Jon MacLennan