How to Write Prog Riffs
Deepen your compositional approaches.
Advanced
For prog-curious guitarists and advanced players looking to deepen their compositional approaches.
10 days
Manuel will guide you through ten days of step-by-step instruction with interactive TAB and daily assignments.
New tools, fresh insight.
You'll leave this class with a new set of compositional techniques that'll seriously level up your prog playing.
Take the next step
Once you've mastered this course, keep learning with advanced Master Classes and guided practice plans.
What you'll learn
Over the next 10 days, Manuel will guide you through advanced prog techniques that fuel his playing.
- Learn transcending prog techniques – fuel your writing.
- Master complex rhythmic subdivisions.
- Work on hybrid picking, harmonics, percussive techniques, tapping, and more.
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Curriculum
Stay focused with this step-by-step learning program designed by our expert team of music educators.
Your guided learning pathway
This advanced course is designed to help you break new ground in your instrumental songwriting. Whether you're a seasoned prog guitarist, or an advanced guitarist who's looking for fresh inspiration, the dynamic techniques you'll tackle in this class will take your playing to the next level.
Simple Hybrid Picking Riff
We'll kick off the class with a riff that'll get you warmed up for what's to come.
Here, you'll use your picking hand to expand the guitar’s compositional possibilities via hybrid picking.
Rhythmic Harmonic Riff
Complex rhythmic subdivision is a hallmark of Manuel's mind-melting playing style.
Today, you'll add rhythmic complexity to the picking-hand patterns you’ll have developed in Day 1.
Percussive Riff
Manuel is a fierce guitarist with the heart of a percussionist.
On Day 3, you'll add muted notes into the mix to enhance your rhythmic propulsion. Then, on Day 4, you'll go even further by adding licks into the mix.
Day 5. Repeated fingerpicking riff
Explore a chicken pickin’ approach to prog composition.
Day 6. Repeated fingerpicking riff with tapping
Add melodic virtuosity with picking-hand tapping techniques.
Day 7. Thumping riff
Use your thumb like a pick for unique rhythmic creativity. Triplets will play a crucial role here.
Day 8. Roze Skin (Part 1)
Tackle sweep picking and more on the first half of Manuel’s original composition.
Day 9. Roze Skin (Part 2)
Employ harmonics amongst moving chord progressions to wrap up the technical lessons of the Master Class.
Day 10. Recap and Final Challenge
Your turn! Take a few techniques from this Master Class and conjure up your own original progressive riff.
Day 1. Simple hybrid picking riff
Brush up on your hybrid picking skills.
Today, you'll learn a simple hybrid picking riff that involves a repeated top note or melody note (hybrid picked) with moving power chords underneath. Manuel will start with a simple pattern and guide you through exercises to take things further by adding pentatonic slides into the mix.
Days 2-4
It's time to up the ante.
Days 2. Rhythmic harmonic riff
Today, you’ll build on Day 1’s harmonic mood with a more advanced rhythmic harmonic riff
We’re taking everything to the next level of complexity today with multi-string hybrid picking, wider chord shapes, hammer-on and pull-off licks between shapes, and more natural harmonics.
Days 3 & 4. Percussive riff
Day 3 has us exploring our plucking-hand technique with a short percussive riff. You can get a unique perspective on Day 3’s riff by thinking of your right hand as a percussion ensemble. Your thumb takes care of the bass drum and your fingers can act as cymbals and snare.
The work you put in on Day 3 will pay off in Day 4, as you fill in sonic gaps to achieve a non-stop flowing loop of rhythm and melody, almost like an arpeggiator.
Days 5 - 7
Put the focus on percussive elements in your playing.
Day 5. Repeated fingerpicking riff
Today we’ll keep the compositional fuel flowing with a repeated fingerpicking riff.
Originating from West Africa, Day 5’s style of constantly-rolling picking-hand plucking is something you might be familiar with from country-style guitar playing. It goes to show that any technique can be used and infused into a new sound in the hands of a riff-writer.
Day 6. Repeated fingerpicking riff with tapping
Here on Day 6, we’re going to augment the previous riff with some picking-hand tapping.
Fret tapping can seem really advanced at first glance, but by slowing things down, taking them apart, and meditating on the movements, the technique will unlock itself before your eyes.
Day 7. Thumping riff
Time to go deeper into the prog-zone. Day 7 will have us exploring the power of our thumb via the thumping technique. The guitar thumb-thumping technique was first popularized by Animals as Leaders guitarist Tobin Abassi well over a decade ago. There’s a unique paradox between the aggressive sound and the finesse required to achieve it.
Days 8-10
Cap off the class with one of Manuel's original tunes and an original prog riff of your own.
Days 8 & 9. Rose Skin (Parts 1 & 2)
Over the next two lesson days, we’ll go under the hood of Manuel’s song Roze Skin. Get ready to add even more maneuvers to your overflowing fountain of riffage when learning this tune.
Inspiration can come from anywhere. It’s not always a linear or clear-cut process. For Roze Skin, Manuel’s unique combination of inspirations stemmed from his time playing Call of Duty: Warzone and the rosy color of his Stratocaster's body
Day 10. Write your own prog riff
Time for your prog guitar graduation! Manuel provides a backing track for you to mold a melody over top of, then it's over to you to compose.
You can pen a strong single-note line, a hybrid-picking lead, a thumb-thumping rhythmic accompaniment, or even a fully orchestrated guitar part There’s no wrong way to create. Once you have your idea down, film the whole thing and upload it.
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What guitarists love about this course
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Your Instructor
Manuel G. Fernandes
Manuel Gardner Fernandes is a trailblazing musician who's redefining the limits of guitar. In his advanced Master Classes, you'll learn genre-defying techniques that will take your playing to new heights.
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Frequently asked questions
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