Riff Lord Masterclass (Patreon)

I'm starting a new series based on a suggestion from my Discord chat on how to connect musical ideas.

So you've got a smoking riff....but how do you make it work with another idea to form a full song?

Music is defined as "Repetition and Development." In other words, you have to repeat an idea, then take it somewhere interesting to make music. Action movies sell the best because it's not boring. Try to make your music like an action film. There's always something interesting happening! Below is one way you can inject ACTION into your music.

PEDAL TONES

A "pedal tone" is a repeated note. Let's choose the note G, for example. The note "G" could be used to connect the distantly related keys of F minor and E minor.  The first 4 bars of the attached tab below show a riff in F minor. The theme is stated, using the repeating "G" pedal tone for context. Next, let's create some ACTION to develop the idea. The next 4 bars modulate to the key of E minor. Just abruptly derailing a riff half way across the circle of 5ths would be a catastrophe. Maintaining the common note "G" between the keys makes it seem smooth though. "G" is the 2nd degree in the key of F minor and the 3rd degree in the key of E minor. This basically tricks our ears into accepting musical intercourse with no lube.

Try using this concept in your own music and let me know if it works. Grab the tab below and suggest other topics you'd like lessons on muhahaha!