Manuel G. Fernandes
PRESENTS

How to Write Prog Riffs

Deepen your compositional approaches.

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WHo it's for

Advanced

For prog-curious guitarists and advanced players looking to deepen their compositional approaches.

Time

10 days

Manuel will guide you through ten days of step-by-step instruction with interactive TAB and daily assignments.

Outcome

New tools, fresh insight.

You'll leave this class with a new set of compositional techniques that'll seriously level up your prog playing.

Make it musical

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.
How it works

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.

Curriculum

Stay focused with this step-by-step learning program designed by our expert team of music educators.

10-Day Plan

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.

Student stories

Learn how How to Write Prog Riffs has helped real guitarists break through their playing plateau and realize their potential.

“My favorite part about pickup music is probably nerding out in the forum with everyone. Just knowing you have a creative community to reach out to if you have any questions or you're stuck in a rut.”

Vicki Huang

United States

"I would highly recommend Pickup Music to pretty much anyone who has been playing for a few years and doesn't feel like they are getting better any more."

James Harrod

United Kingdom

“One of the things that's been the most fun for me has been the SongSquad challenges... connecting with other people in the Pickup Music community on Instagram and just encouraging each other as we're learning songs and practicing.”

Vin Thomas

United States

"Pickup Music really helped me push my musical boundaries."

Wytse Hokwerda

Germany

Hear from REAL students

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Personalized feedback from pro instructors

Weekly live lessons

Monthly practice groups

800+ songs in modern styles

New releases every week

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Whichever approach you choose, we recommend building the exercises you learn into your daily practice schedule. The best way to improve as a guitarist is through a consistent practice routine rather than sporadic, longer  sessions. Learning guitar is a day-by-day, life-long journey!

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If you decide to cancel after that, you won't be charged at your next billing cycle
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