Riff Lords: Eric Peterson of Testament

Learn to play Testament riffs with guitarist and songwriter Eric Peterson, and learn more about his unique guitar tricks, techniques, chord phrasing, and playing style.

Horns up! Make your New Year’s resolution to shred a reality with Gibson TV. Start your year strong with this new episode of “Riff Lords” featuring Eric Peterson of Testament breaking down 30 years of epic riffs. Learn from the master himself and make 2025 the year you level up your playing.

Eric Peterson has been a thrash metal mainstay since co-founding Testament in 1983 and has influenced countless guitarists with his killer (and intricate) riffs, guitar techniques, and unique approach to chord phrasing, rhythm, and lead guitar. Grab your axe and hit play on this episode of “Riff Lords” to join Eric as he shows you how to play some of the most iconic Testament tracks that helped shape the metal scene.

In this episode of “Riff Lords,” watch and learn how Eric Peterson creates his thrash metal sound, his picking and riff writing techniques, plus some backstory on how he wrote these parts. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at his process while learning to play Testament classics like “Over the Wall” from The Legacy and “The Preacher” from The New Order. Eric also breaks down some of Testament’s heaviest songs, including “D.N.R. (Do Not Resuscitate)” from The Gathering and “Rise Up” from Dark Roots of Earth.

For acoustic fans, Eric plays stripped-down versions of “The Ballad” from Practice What You Preach, plus more classic Testament guitar lessons that show you the correct way to play each riff, slowed down so you can follow along easily.

Find out how he gets his riff tones and the techniques that have kept Testament at the top of the heavy metal heap for decades. These Testament guitar lessons from Eric Peterson are must-see for any Testament fan and thrash metal enthusiast.

0:00 Eric Peterson introduces Riff Lords
0:44 “Over the Wall” - The Legacy
8:10 The story of “The Preacher”
8:52 “The Preacher” - The New Order
17:37 “Practice What You Preach” - Practice What You Preach
26:17 “The Ballad” - Practice What You Preach (acoustic)
31:59 “Seven Days of May” - Souls of Black
41:05 “Electric Crown” - The Ritual
48:24 “Demonic Refusal” - Demonic
53:50 “D.N.R. (Do Not Resuscitate)” - The Gathering
59:58 “Rise Up” - Dark Roots of Earth
1:06:05 Final words and advice from Eric

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[sadboi]

Easily the most underrated thrash guitarist in history. Eric is THE master of riffs, without question.

[travisnoble-qdck]

True Riff Lord! What a nice surprise. 30 years of riffing one episode isn’t enough, bring him back for a second episode. Eric you held true haven’t let us down yet.

[JimG]

Happy to see that you have Eric on here. He is definitely an underrated guitarist. His right hand speed and technique is amazing!

[CIRCLEOFTONE]

YES! Massive influence on me. Whoever is new at Gibson is clued up. Eric wrote some of my fav Testament (and Lamb of God) riffs.

[narrowpathmartialarts]

Glad to see Eric Peterson get the recognition he deserves as one of the best riff writers in Metal.

[DanielSilva-ephf]

Absolute crazy snag for Gibson to get Eric on their roster

[C-Ro]

I bow down to this icon of Thrash Metal - Eric Peterson and the whole band TESTAMENT.

Absolutely unique style. Immediately recognizable. Already a legend for me.

[darthlalus]

The complexity of those riffs makes it even better

[MayaNeelakantan]

Such an awesome lesson and I could learn so much from it! Thank you so much for breaking it down so nicely.

[nathanbolen]

Over the wall was the first song I’ve heard and learned to play, been my favorite band since 2002

[Faygo]

Since when has Peterson been with Gibson this is news to me but I'm stoked about it he's awesome

[강형태-yb]

It's great to see Eric Peterson at 'Riff Lords'! He's one of the greatest Riff Lords in thrash metal music.

[TweedTones]

Great to see Gibson showcase this style of playing instead of the typical blues 🥱 👍

[manuelaguilar]

Eric Peterson is a true scholar of riffing.

[josephkunath]

The New Order Record is what made me want to shred. I do quite well and it's awesome Testament is still killing it.

[panagiotisexplorer]

Please Gibson do an interview with John Sykes!!

[twifightsparkill]

Saw them years ago in Vancouver? I was too afraid to approach the stage - I blew him a kiss as he stood up once done throwing picks after the encore, and he returned it! THANK YOU ERIC! 🤟🦄💕

[craighanna]

Not only is Eric a riff master, he is a guitar tone master. Such a recognizable and utterly nasty guitar tone that’s ear candy to every guitarist who knows his playing. Easily in my top 5 guitarists of all time.

[STEWARTMDEAKIN]

I watched it and got inspired to write some of my own so thank you Gibson TV and Eric

[scorpions]

He’s such an excellent player and amazing person.