Nick S Bass Lessons, Riffs, Riffs and More Riffs

Riffs, Riffs and More Riffs

Today is the last day where we gotta chart out the song “Down From the Sky” from Trivium’s “Shogun” album. The last aspects of this song that still need charting out is the bridge, guitar solo, and the end of the song.

The bridge for the song is actually made up of a combination of riffs, all a little different in their own unique way. The first 2 riffs are a series of repeating 4 measure riffs, and the next two riffs are repeating 2 measure riffs. The first riff (dubbed in my transcription as ‘the elephant riff’) has a bend up on the F note that starts the fist and 3rd measure of the riff. The first measure and third measure are written out as half notes (so a half note bend on that F and a half note on the D). Then the 2nd and 4th measure are a chromatic riff that the guitar is playing. So to make it easier on us, we put chromatic riff!

The second riff is a lot easier. Again, it’s a repeating 4 measure pattern. The only note you are playing is B (the low B on a 5-string). First time through the pattern you just hold out the B note. The the repeat of the pattern is just an 8th note pulse.

The third and fourth riff are variations of each other and repeating 2 measure passages. The third riff is what I call a “reverse gallop”. I’ve taught that a gallop was an 8th note followed by two 16th notes. Riff three is two 16th notes followed by an 8th note, so a reverse gallop. You change notes every beat, so right out every note! The (8va) that’s in this riff and the next riff means you play 2 B notes. The second B note is an octave above the first note that you played. I play this riff starting on the low open B string, then the B on the E string on the 7th fret. The riff four you play this exact same passage but thump out a series of 16th notes to the same notes in the riff.

Then from here on out it becomes a copy and paste job. The guitar solo is the same as bridge riff 1, same as the outro. After the last chorus, bridge riffs 3&4 are played. The endings of bridge riff 1 in the guitar solo and outro are different rhythmically due to the guitar riff being just a little bit different. You obviously want to listen to how the riffs at these parts of the song will give you the insight and understanding that you need to play the riffs properly. Here’s what my end of the chart looks like, and what the end of your chart should look like. Tomorrow’s Friday, so then there will be über lesson videos:

Trivium – Down From The Sky

4/4

Intro: Follow Guitar for first rep of intro. Follow Drums for Second rep of Intro.

: B / / /

/ / / /

A / / /

G / / /

A / / /

E / / / :

Verse: Beats one of Measures 1, 3, 5, and 7, Follow guitar. 8^th note pulse rest of the time.

: B / / /

/ / / /

G / / /

/ / / /

E / / /

/ / / / :

Pre-Chorus: Each ¾ measure chord, named for riff. Last line in 4/4, 8^th note pulse

:¾ B / /

/ / /

G / /

/ / /

D / /

2/4 E C# :

4/4 G / / /

/ / / /

A / / /

/ / / /

Chorus: First 6 measures, 8^th note pulse. Different slightly from actual riff.

: B / / /

/ / / /

A / / /

/ / / /

Rhythm Guitar

Riff :

Verse: Beats one of Measures 1, 3, 5, and 7, Follow guitar. 8^th note pulse rest of the time.

: B / / /

/ / / /

G / / /

/ / / /

E / / /

/ / / / :

Pre-Chorus: Each ¾ measure chord, named for riff. Last line in 4/4, 8^th note pulse

:¾ B / /

/ / /

G / /

/ / /

D / /

2/4 E C# :

4/4 G / / /

/ / / /

A / / /

/ / / /

Chorus: First 6 measures, 8^th note pulse.

: B / / /

/ / / /

A / / /

/ / / /

Rhythm Guitar

Riff :

Bridge1: Reduce Tempo. Two Measure Silent. Repeat 3 times. Bend Up on F Half Step. Chromatic Riff, follow guitar.

: F D

Chromatic Riff

F D

Chromatic Riff :

Bridge2: First time through, hold open B. Second Time, 8^th note pulse.

: B / / /

/ / / /

/ / / / :

Bridge3: Reverse Gallop.

: B B(8VA) F# G

B D Bb Db :

Bridge4: Sixteenth note furry.

: B B(8VA) F# G

B D Bb Db :

Guitar Solo: Bridge 1 riff. Follow guitar. Different ending still follow guitar

: F D

Chromatic Riff

F D

Chromatic Riff :

Guitar

Pre-Chorus: Each ¾ measure chord, named for riff. Last line in 4/4, 8^th note pulse

:¾ B / /

/ / /

G / /

/ / /

D / /

2/4 E C# :

4/4 G / / /

/ / / /

A / / /

/ / / /

Chorus: First 6 measures, 8^th note pulse

: B / / /

/ / / /

A / / /

/ / / /

Rhythm Guitar

Riff :

Bridge3: Reverse Gallop.

: B B(8VA) F# G

B D Bb Db :

Bridge4: Sixteenth note furry.

: B B(8VA) F# G

B D Bb Db :

Outro: Bridge 1.

F D

Chromatic Riff

Guitar