Granite Column (hard) · level 3 · goal 160 bpm

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

For the reverse gallops, think "ta-ka-TA" and accent the long note. In the stop-time bars, the two muted sixteenths at the end are pickups, so keep them tight and land the next chord exactly on beat one.

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.