Backroad Engine · level 2 · goal 115 bpm

Backroad Engine is an eight-bar classic rock riff in standard tuning: Classic hard rock, A, open position, straight eighths. This is level 2 of 3, played at 115 bpm; the three levels of the riff run from 100 to 130 bpm. It works on power chords, vibrato. The player loops the riff with drums and bass, starts at 70% speed and steps up 5% after every clean pass until you play it at full tempo.

Downstrokes on the beats, upstrokes on the "ands", and lean into the accented chord so the groove has a shape. The open-position lick in bar two uses only open strings and the first two frets.

The three levels

1. Level 1 · 100 bpm · Classic hard rock, A, open position, straight eighths. Four strums per bar, all downstrokes, and change chords on beat one.
2. Level 2 · 115 bpm · Classic hard rock, A, open position, straight eighths. Downstrokes on the beats, upstrokes on the "ands", and lean into the accented chord so the groove has a shape.
3. Level 3 · 130 bpm · Classic hard rock, A, open position, straight eighths. The sixteenth pickups are a quick down-up before the accented chord; keep the wrist loose.