Riff using half notes
With
Tommy WebbTommy Webb builds a simple riff on the open E and the G at the third fret, using half notes so you feel how a two-beat note changes the rhythm.
What's in the course
47 lessons (1h 40m) · 1 free
01. Welcome to the Course
1:41
02. Meet Your Teacher
0:40
03. Guide to the Guitar
6:52
04. Sitting with Your Guitar (Acoustic)
3:29
05. Sitting with Your Guitar (Electric)
0:49
06. How to Tune Your Guitar
4:57
07. How to Use a Guitar Pick
2:49
08. Make Your First Sound on the Guitar
2:45
09. How to Strum a Guitar
2:02
10. How to Read Music - Tab
Free lesson1:52
11. How to Read Music - Notation
3:03
12. Note Values and Rhythm
5:08
01. Introduction to Rock riffs and melodies
1:47
02. How to get a clean fretted sound
3:19
03. Riff using the E&G notes
3:30
04. Riff using the E&G notes (performance)
1:10
05. Riff accenting the strong note
1:34
06. Riff accenting the strong note (performance)
0:58
07. Riff using half notes
You are here1:44
08. Riff using half notes (performance)
0:50
01. Intro to Rock pt2 and my Gibson Les Paul
1:10
02. Riff combining half notes & quarter notes
1:36
03. Riff combining half notes & quarter notes (performance)
0:56
04. Melody A combining 4 notes
4:00
05. Melody A combining 4 notes (performance)
0:57
06. Melody B combining 4 notes
2:32
07. Melody B combining 4 notes (performance)
0:55
08. Rock City - bars 3&4
2:18
09. Rock City - bars 3&4 (performance)
0:58
10. Well done on the Rock section
0:17
01. Intro to the pop section and rests
1:14
02. Riff with rest on beat 3
3:36
03. Riff with rest on beat 3 (performance)
1:04
04. Riff using F note with rests
2:53
05. Riff using F note with rests (performance)
1:05
06. Melody using C note and rests
4:59
07. Melody using C note and rests (performance)
0:54
08. Summary of Pop part 1
0:55
01. What is a Fender Telecaster
1:05
02. Melody with a D note
3:51
03. Melody with a D note (performance)
1:10
04. Melody using whole notes
2:34
05. Melody using whole notes (performance)
0:57
06. Riff combining note values
2:32
07. Riff combining note values (performance)
1:03
08. Party People bars 13-16
2:23
09. Party People bars 13-16 (performance)
1:22
Lesson transcript
Lesson Example Three: Notation and Rhythm
In this example, we're sticking with the same pitches: the open E string and the G on the third fret. However, what changes is the length of the note.
Half Notes Explained
- Half Notes: These are represented by heads that are not colored in, but still have a stem coming off them.
- As mentioned previously, half notes last for two beats:
1, 2; 1, 2.
Bars Overview
- Bar 1: Two open E strings played in half notes.
- Bar 2: Third fret (G note) followed by an open E string.
Playing the First Two Bars:
When played together, it sounds like:
1, 2; 1, 2; 1, 2; 1, 2.
This pattern is then repeated in bars 3 and 4, taking the first two bars and copying them into the second two.
Practicing the Rhythm
Before we start playing the track, it's a good idea to practice switching between quarter notes and half notes. This can be done just on the open E string.
Suggested Practice Pattern
- Four Open Quarter Notes
- Two Half Notes
- Repeat: Four Quarter Notes and Two Half Notes
It would sound like this:
1, 2, 3, 4; 1, 2; 1, T; 1, 2, 3, 4; 1, 2; 1, T.
This exercise is designed to help us feel how those different notes interact and to get used to playing at various speeds.
Tempo Adjustment
You'll notice this example is set at 100 BPM, up from the 90 BPM we were looking at before. Therefore, the counting and the music will be a bit quicker.
Recommendation
You may want to practice this a few more times before trying with the backing track, just to familiarize yourself with the phrase and to build up your speed.
47 lessons
1h 40m of structured video lessons
Advanced video features
Slow down, loop a passage, follow along
Mobile, tablet & desktop
Practise wherever you are
100% satisfaction guarantee
30-day money-back guarantee
Meet your guru
Meet your guru
Tommy Webb is a London-based guitarist who completed a BA(Hons) Degree in guitar at the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford, studying under Sandy Beales (One Direction, Wheatus) and Nicolas Meier (Jeff Beck). His own playing moves freely across rock, pop, indie, hip-hop, country and metal - the exact ground his guitar methods cover.
Tommy has worked with a wide range of artists and bands across the country, including Jarki Monno and Indira May, sharing stages and sessions with guitarists Paul Murray (Jess Glynne, Zak Abel) and Adam Chetwood (Paolo Nutini, Mark Ronson), and drummers Alex Woodward (Black Honey), Luke Robinson and “Bambi Music” (N-Dubz, Lethal Bizzle, Wretch 32, Tinie Tempah).
On stage, he has performed at the Jazz Cafe opening for soul singer Jocelyn Brown, plus venues and festivals including Ronnie Scott's, Troy Bar, The Watford Colosseum, Camden Assembly, Kensington Roof Gardens, Notting Hill Arts Club, Meraki Festival and Sundown Festival.
On record and radio, Tommy has played live sessions for BBC Three Counties Introducing, Vibe FM and Pulse 88, with tracks featured on BBC Radio 1 and Radio 2. He has recorded at studios including South Lanes Brighton, Hempstead Road and Titan Studios with producers such as Steph Carter (Gallows, Lyoness) and TMS / Froe Barnes (Lewis Capaldi, Dua Lipa).
In his guitar methods, Tommy passes all of that working-musician know-how on to you - teaching the techniques, tones and feel behind real styles, from rock and pop to indie, hip-hop, country and metal, so you can play the music you actually love.
