Granite Column · level 2 · goal 138 bpm

Granite Column is an eight-bar gallop riff in standard tuning: NWOBHM riff in A minor, straight. This is level 2 of 3, played at 138 bpm; the three levels of the riff run from 108 to 160 bpm. It works on palm muting, power chords. 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.

Use alternate picking for the eighths, but start every gallop with a downstroke. In bars five and six, every stab lands on a downbeat with dead silence after it. Mute the rests with your fretting hand, not your palm.

The three levels

1. Level 1 · 108 bpm · NWOBHM riff in A minor, straight. Choke each chord with your fretting hand right on the rest.
2. Level 2 · 138 bpm · NWOBHM riff in A minor, straight. Use alternate picking for the eighths, but start every gallop with a downstroke.
3. Level 3 · 160 bpm · NWOBHM riff in A minor, straight. For the reverse gallops, think "ta-ka-TA" and accent the long note.