This riff came from a Rory Gallagher recording, but I’ve heard it (or variations of it) in many songs over the years (CCR comes to mind, even though I can’t think of which song.)
It’s in E, and like many blues things in E, it’s based around the open position E minor box 1/box 2 scales.
Then, when it goes to the IV chord, the A, it just moves the whole thing up – which is an easy move to make.
Also cool is the turnaround, which goes up by 1/2 step to the C instead of down to the A7 so it’s kind of a nice variation to have in your hip pocket (think of songs like “Little Sister” which make the same move.)
Hope you dig it and feel free to share with any guitar playing friends.
37 replies to "Rory Gallagher Blues Rock Riff"
When you went up to the A, I heard some AC/DC for a bit there. Great stuff!
It is Green River but it’s not far removed from Suzy Q as well Good stuff Griff!
Hendrix ‘ ‘Come On’. neighborhood … head anyway…jd
Great one Griff–
Green River CCR me thinks—
Intermediate player here, and long time blues rock fan, thanks Griff, gives me some unplugged fun as well when not home(almost always have an acoustic with me)
CCR Green River
I seen Rory in concert in 1972 in Germany he was great it take me back when I was a kid good times
I saw him in the De Montfort Hall in Leicester when he was with ‘Taste’. They were the support band for Emerson, Lake and Palmer. I just wanted to continue listening to Rory all night.
Great little lesson! Gonna work on this today. I learned about Rory Gallagher since I’ve been watching your videos the past couple years. Wish I’d known of him when I was discovering my musical tastes as a teen back in the early ‘80s.
This is exactly the kind of lessons I need. I’m an early intermediate player and for me this is definitely doable but challenging. Thanks Griff! I’m about a 3rd of the way through your BGU lessons as well.
Not the same as, but reminiscent of EC’s “Roll It Over” riff with Derek and the Dominoes.
Good one Griff. I was a fan of Rory Gallagher way back when and this is a true classic.
If anyone is interested, this song can be found on Rory Gallagher, The BBC Sessions. And Griff is right, Rory’s take of this classic is like no other.
CCR Green River.
yes
Yup…Green River was the tune I was trying to remember…
Hey Griff this was good. Thanks..
Thank you Griff for the tip on Rory’s tone. If only I could equal Rory’s vibrato. Rory had a huge library of cool blues tunes equal to Calling Card. Give a listen to; Crest of a Wave, Roberta, Garbage Man Blues or all of his live recordings.
Cool lick!
I believe the CCR song you’re thinking of is “Born On The Bayou.” 🙂
My bad…I agree with other commenters…sounds like “Green River.” 🙂
REALLY LIKE THIS. GREAT FOR JUST JAMMING.
SOUNDS LIKE YOUR NECK NUT IS WORN DOWN. HERE A BUZZ ON AN OPEN STRING.
TRUSS ROD ALSO ?? NEW STRINGS, NEW NUT AND SET UP . THANKLS FOR THIS GRIFF.
Griff, that was fun. Thanks for the lesson.
I do not know about all of You folks ,but, I am seeing a version of Green river in a music book which makes me think that it could be played another way. A other teacher online did it basically the same but truer to the CCR tune . I know that not all is written the same way. It does beg the question can I play this in a way that sounds the same but not as it demonstrated . Take the song Here comes the sun by the Beatles You could play that all over the neck ,but , can you. With my aging ears something says this does not seem clear cut . There is a variable . I have loved C C R all my life heck I still have the old records . I did upgrade and got it all in cd .
Thanks Griff. This has kicked me out of my post-Christmas guitar playing lassitude. Sounds like ol’ Rory combined Green River with a bit of Badge by Cream!
I believe the CCR song you could not remember was “Green River.”
Griff, very good lesson as always think you just got me motivated to go play this morning. very catchy sound and i have been playing with my E minor blues scale lately this will be perfect to practice with. my new years resolution is to play everyday this year for at least 30 minutes. figured i would try a goal that is achievable
thanks for all the lessons next step for me is the all access pass 🙂
John A
Hi How can I print off the TAB to this lesson
on Rory Gallagher Style Blues/Rock Riff
Wow somebody else really recognizes one of the greatest unheralded blues guitarist that should have got more popularity in the US than he did. Love his stuff! Hope you can do more of his riff and licks.
I’m supposed to be working on a lot of other things, but I stuck this into the song “Lodi” — long story — for a solo in G and it worked out nicely. I figured it would go from one song Fogerty did to the othe other pretty well. I always liked John’s Guitar guitar playing and so much of it has that Country twang in it. Great little lesson, but I still have trouble with some of it around the pull offs.
Cool stuff! Thanks Griff!
5/22/19
Nice. Very useful to add in too a bunch of licks. Rory was a great player never got the credit. Calling Card was a simple song I learned from his playing. Check it out.
“Calling Card”
Very nice.
Ah! Just basking in the glory of a fine rhythm guitar riff. So much fun!
Awesome! Love it! The pulloffs and the turn from C into the B7 differentiate it from the CCR sound. Thanks Griff..
Griff, the CCR song that shares that lick is ‘Green River’.
I believe the CCR song you’re thinking of is Green River.