Can someone tell me tips on writing punk riffs?
Question by keefemackenzie: Can someone tell me tips on writing punk riffs?
I’ve been looking for tips on writing punk rock (i mean early hardcore like Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, Bad Brains, etc.) online. the only thing is is that the only tutorials are on lyrics. For me, lyrics are the easiest part. I can’t seem to come up with guitar riffs for this genre. So, could someone please give me some advice on writing these riffs?
Best answer:
Answer by aha!
Punk riffs it’s all about rythm. (Mostly speedy and change in time signature (Not always four four four)
Mostly for a punk type of tone you should try playing chords on the A string. Just try to go around the fretboard, it takes time to find something good. Don’t expect to get a full song by 1 day, you’ll keep changing it over time.
Edited: It’s good to play guitar when you feel emotional, I usuallly come up with good stuff when being emotional lol. Good luck 
Give your answer to this question below!
Creating music is like falling in love. It’s got to come natural otherwise your audience aint gonna feel it like you want them to. It’s gonna come off all fake.
Want an aggressive riff? Get aggressive to feel aggression, mentally not fiscally obviously so you can express it THROUGH your music.
Stupid! < a little something to get you started with.
Hope this helps
Punk riffs don’t all revolve around power chords. Remember that. But also remember that if your stuck, come up with a really good rhythm and put some power chords to it just to get your flow going. Punk is usually about speed, and you also might wanna drop your tuning to D or even C sometimes (although Drop C is usually used for metal). Anyway the best way I come up with stuff if usually just playing around on the fretboard for a few minutes and usually stuff happens on accident. =P
If you want to write classic punk you’ve got two basic chord structures to choose from: two chord east coast punk (cf The Ramones and the whole CBGB scene) or three chord west coast punk (cf Greenday and the like). I suggest listening to samples of both to help you decide.
The next choice you want to make is form. A majority of punk songs follow the form ABABCB. That’s just a fancy way to say most songs go Verse 1, Chorus, Verse 2, Chorus, Bridge, Chorus.
You say you’ve got lyrics down, so that’s great. One less thing to worry about here.
Also, here are some common punk chord progressions to help you out:
B, D, G, A (‘A’ gets thrown in during the bridge);
C, F, G;
E, A
Hope that’s more like what you were looking for!
this may sound dumb, im not the smartest person out there…
very deep thoughts in humanity,philosophy, and phsycology. but not science or music, or anything like that.
ha i play bass in a local “punk” band.
and i dont know how to play bass, really..
but anyways there isnt rules to music and i hate how people tend to beleive something should sound a certain way, just play some stuff and if you like it write it down, if youre able too.
if you really wanna play with a simialar style, just listen to the bands alot and play some tabs. youll get used to it.