Common guitar riffs and licks - the 'building blocks of rock'

The most common riffs and licks in classic rock are found in more than one song, just like chords. And like chords, they can be shown as simple shapes.

If you're tired of just strumming chords and practicing scales, take the next step, by learning a few of these basic riffs and licks. This video will show you how to use my free web app for guitarists, "The Building Blocks of Rock", a visual library of hundreds of the most common riff, lick, and chord shapes. I'll also talk about how we learned these things back in the old days (the early 1970's), before computers, videos, even tab.

You can find the app here:

It's not an app like you download from the Apple app store or Android Play. It's just a web page, so all you have to do is open it.

Please leave comments or questions!
cheers, Kevin

0:00 intro
1:22 riff and lick examples
2:51 learning guitar in the 1970s
4:15 problem: learning common riffs and licks
5:05 solution: build an app
7:04 riffs, and how to use the app
10:08 chords
12:51 music theory
14:12 licks
18:03 scales
18:50 coda and more info

[Michael-cjuo]

'It's free, it's just a web page, you don't need to sign up for anything. Its a labour of love I've been work on for many years.' Instant subscribe, you're the man.

[dan_kay]

After watching "do this to improve your soloing", "do that to become faster", "this scale is all you need" for years, this video is what I was looking for, waiting for, longing for.

Thank you very much!

[alegutierrezmusic]

This is what the real school of rock looks like, Thanks good content.

[soulknight]

The fact that your doing all of this for free is a testament of the kindness of the older generation. A true musical veteran.

[andyhp]

I can't believe you give it to us for free. A saint

[xZAKx]

I will do everything I can to make your name be remembered as long as guitat exists. That's how much i'm grateful for your work

[wernervanderwalt]

You have filled a void in the guitar teaching community. Many teach but very few actually show how to incorporate what you see and learn into proper licks and riffs. Most people have to try and figure that out. Subscribed. Thanks

[tryptaminus]

Man I'm a programmer and there's just something so heartwarming about someone passionate making a cool web page about something they love, I can tell gathering and putting together all that info took a ton of time, kudos to you. Really informative video too, and I love the insights beyond just the strictly technical stuff. Rock on man.

[lauramcfarland]

the long suffering daughter is very proud!!! ❤️

[MaineVid]

I starting guitar at 52 and been playing everyday for two year. Needless to say, there's a lot of ground to make up. Your web app is a massive game changer for me. I just wanted to pass along a sincere thank you for sharing your years of knowledge with this old guy.

[danielpark]

Wow dude, so glad I came across this, doing this and putting it out for free, makes you a real guitar legend in my book, thanks man!

[jakebot]

This is just what I needed to start connecting some guitar concepts that I've been stuck on

[stgirat]

WTF?!? Holy mother of Rock n'Roll, you are unbelievable! A biggest thank you from your 100th subscriber!

[commemorative]

Youre so cool for doing this for free! I love that. I know not everyone can do these things for free but I really think that type of labour of love is what the internet is all about.

[renzeldayrit]

You can say that this video is made with heart.

[liquidamusica]

Man, you should put a "sort by player" option, then we could learn the vocabulary of an specific player! This is truly gold.

[Man_of_Oil]

Absolute legend, this may finally be what takes me out of my "campfire guitarist" phase. I feel like you covered everything ive ever wanted to know but felt like nobody would tell me!

[MusicManMisha]

I’m a guitar teacher myself. This has to be of the greatest resources ever created. Definitely going to be sharing with my students!

[ethane]

You are a saint among men, thank you.

[GuitarOnTheFly]

Sir, I don’t think some people fully comprehend or understand the magnitude/wealth of information you’ve magically bottled into a FREE app. I’m not a very big channel, but you have my word that I’ll be promoting it & pointing my Followers over to here. Thank you for the countless hours I’m sure you poured into this genius project.

You have my respect & Sub, Josh 🥂