Let Rock 'n Roll History School You
Figure Out Super Famous Riffs By Ear
Playing great music is about standing on the shoulders of giants.
It’s what all the greatest musicians have in common.
They took the best of what their record collection had to offer and adopted what they liked, so they could create their own unique style.
This course is about doing exactly that.
It’s about tracing the footsteps of legendary guitar players all the way up to today.
From Duane Eddy, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin through Queen, Metallica and Rage Against the Machine, to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Muse and the Arctic Monkeys.
Along the way, we’ll explore the possibilities of the fretboard and absorb all the great musical ideas hidden in rock and roll history.
We’ll take the best of 70 years of music and make it part of your ‘musical vocabulary’.
Why should I learn these songs by ear?
While we’re talking about Rock and Roll history, consider this.
Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Santana, Eric Clapton all have something in common. They all didn’t use TABs or YouTube instructional videos to learn to play.
Nope, all the greats learned to play music by ear.
Here’s why this course helps you do the same:
- Figuring out the songs by ear helps you absord all the musical ideas in a much deeper way. When you figure something out by ear, it feels like you really ‘own’ it somehow. This helps you not just remember the songs, but also to start using fragments of what you learn when you’re improvising or playing solos.
- Learning music by ear is the most effective thing you can do to train your ears. It helps you hear music in greater detail, recognise musical elements, and it’s the foundation for the ability to come up with something in your musical mind and instantly playing it (i.e. playing by ear).
- Learning by ear develops your musicianship. And while picking up a cool song every now and then keeps you motivated in the short term, feeling that you’re growing as a musician keeps you motivated in the long term as well.
Now, this course is part of Make Your Ears Awesome series. That means I’ll help you figure out these songs with this interactive too:
New to figuring out songs by ear? Check out Make Your Ears Awesome: Kick-Starter!
- Michael
How you can pick the songs for this course
Right now, we’re at the start of this journey through the history of rock and roll. The first section of the course is out, focused on riffs from the 50s. Think Duane Eddy, Little Richard and Buddy Holly.
Each month, I’ll add more songs as we travel through time, decade by decade. How I decide what songs to put in the course? That’s where you come in! For every decade, I’m asking StringKick members for what their favourite riffs are.
In short, I’d love it if you enroll and join us all on this awesome trip!
It’ll make you into a better musician. And, even more important, it’ll be loads of fun!
Enroll Now
This course is exclusively available to StringKick All Access Members. Join today and get access to the Riff Hall of Fame, as well as every other course on the site!
- Joel
30-day No Questions Asked Money Back Guarantee
When you join StringKick you are fully protected by my 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. If you change your mind for literally any reason (don't like the colors on the site / decided you'd rather learn the trombone), simply let me know within 30 days and I'll give you a full and prompt refund. No hassles or hoops to jump through.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Make Your Ears Awesome: Riff Hall of Fame?
Make Your Ears Awesome: Riff Hall of Fame is an ear training course that takes you on a journey through 70 years of rock and roll history. You’ll figure out legendary riffs by ear from artists ranging from Duane Eddy, Jimi Hendrix, and Led Zeppelin to Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Arctic Monkeys. Using the interactive tab system, you’ll absorb the best musical ideas from rock history and make them part of your own playing.
Is this course suitable for beginners?
This course is part of the Make Your Ears Awesome series. If you’re brand new to ear training, go with Make Your Ears Awesome: Kick-Starter and Make Your Ears Awesome: Riffs and Melodies first, as they’re great preparation for this course! If you’re already somewhat comfortable figuring out songs by ear using your guitar but want to further develop that skill, this course is right for you!
How do I get access to this course?
This course is available to StringKick All Access members. When you join, you get instant access to this and all other courses on the site.
What if I don't like the membership?
Simple: if you decide the membership is not for you, you’ll get a full refund within 30 days. No matter the reason.
Why should I learn songs by ear instead of just using tabs?
Learning by ear not only sharpens your ability to hear music in more detail, it also helps you play guitar by ear! This is a core musical skill that helps you anytime you pick up a guitar, whether it’s with improvising, soloing, jamming with other musicians, writing songs or just playing in general.
How does the interactive tab system work?
The interactive tab guides you without spoiling the answer. It shows you how many notes you need to find and which strings they’re on. If you need help getting started, you can reveal the first note. Then you fill in what you think the notes are and check your answer. If you got something wrong, you can try to correct it or see the right answer.
Can I adjust the difficulty level?
Yes! The course offers three difficulty modes:
Normal Mode – Fill in all the notes first, then check your complete answer. This is the default setting and how the course was originally designed.
Note-by-Note Mode – Get immediate feedback after each note you fill in, so you know you’re on the right track. This mode also limits the answer options to just six choices, making it easier to get started.
Hard Mode – For advanced students who want an extra challenge. The tab doesn’t tell you which strings the notes are on: you have to figure out both the string and the fret yourself.
You can switch between difficulty modes at any time to match your current skill level.
Can I do this on my phone, tablet, or laptop?
Yes, the course works on any device with a web browser. You can login to StringKick on any device you own and switch between them whenever you want. The interactive tab system works great on mobile, so you can practice wherever you are.
How can I get in touch if I have any other questions?
Feel free to contact me here or email me at just(at)stringkick.com if you have any questions!
