
Get rid of those rock cliches by cutting your hair, dressing conservatively, picking some 12-string arpeggios, and letting those open strings ring!
Intermediate
Intermediate
- Arpeggiate the uncommon chord
- Work open strings into your hooks and melodies
- Find the right tone for your college-rock experience
College rock started as a generic term meant to cover the bands or genres that were neglected by mainstream radio in the 1980s—bands like Hüsker Dü (punk), Bauhaus (goth), P.I.L. (post-punk), Violent Femmes (folk-punk), and countless other nonconformists—but who dominated college radio. Eventually, and ironically, the term came to define a genre of its own. In this lesson, we’ll highlight a few of college rock’s guitar hallmarks, explain the theory behind the harmony, and point out the necessities of tone.
One could easily argue that there are two college rock bands—one from America and one from England—who set the tone for all others: R.E.M. and the Smiths, featuring, respectively, guitarists Peter Buck and Johnny Marr. So, what better place to start than with some variations on their open-string hooks and unique chord voicings, both of which helped create the college rock sound.
It should also be noted that both Buck and Marr made extensive use of 12-string guitars, giving college rock a reputation for being “jangly.” Regrettably, this is by far the most cost-prohibitive aspect of the college rock sound. Never fear, some not-so-subtle use of a chorus pedal can get you … well, if not close, closer.
College Rock Figureheads
Ex. 1 is reminiscent of R.E.M.’s “Harborcoat” (and various other songs from their first four albums). While the chord progression implied by the bass is relatively simple (most of the examples in this lesson follow suit), the voicings of the arpeggios help to create unusual chords, most notably in measure two, where the major 7th (D#) and the root (E) ring against each other creating a tension that resolves into the next measure.
In the second half of Ex. 1, chords are strummed with the top two open strings ringing throughout (excepting during the C#m chord), once again creating uncommon harmonies. Note, in particular, the last measure, which includes an A(add9, add#11) chord!
Ex. 2, inspired by R.E.M.’s “Orange Crush,” finds a common college-rock technique: taking a simple open-chord shape, in this case C, and moving it around the neck, even if just up two frets. This simple move creates a D(add4, add9) chord. These “add” chords—wherein you add the intervals 2 or 4 (or 9 and 11, depending on your point of view) to a triad—are heard frequently in this style of guitar playing. In measure three, the shape is moved down, into “normal” C position, but without the first finger, thus creating a melancholic Cmaj7. If you’re going to play college rock, 50 percent of it better be bittersweet.
With R.E.M. accounted for, let’s move on to Johnny Marr and the Smiths. Leaving the open-string moves aside for a few measures, Ex. 3 pays homage to “This Charming Man,” which will challenge almost any player with its unique use of dyads, or double-stops. This example moves down and up the fretboard, implying a myriad of exceptional harmonies while the bass pounds out the root notes. Is it a solo or a chord progression? Why not both?
Ex. 4 adds a swing feel to the college-rock sound and includes an unexpected syncopation by starting on the “and” of 1 instead of the downbeat. The unique rhythm recurs at the repeat, with the open D note tying itself over the bar on the “and” of 4. The Smith’s “What Difference Does It Make?” serves as a point of reference here.
Quintessentially American
With the college-rock figureheads accounted for, at this point we could move in any direction. So, let’s look at a couple of the heavier American bands—Pixies and the Replacements.
Ex. 5 comes to us via Pixies’ “Brick Is Red.” While this example sounds markedly different from the first four, you’ll notice that, once again, open strings play a central role in this quirky etude. Also, pay attention to the use of starts and stops, as well as dynamics. These two characteristics went on to inspire not only other college-rock bands but the alternative-rock scene that was to follow shortly thereafter. Frequently, as in this example, Pixies guitarists Black Francis (aka Frank Black) and Joey Santiago would double such an idea on acoustic guitar and electric respectively.
More open strings are heard in Ex. 6, which imitates the Replacements’ “Bastards of Young,” featuring Paul Westerberg and Bob Stinson on guitars. What makes this hook distinctive is how it is played over four different bass, root notes, implying four different chords, which are essentially Badd9–C#m9–Emaj7–F#6. Speaking of the Replacements, have a listen to their song “Color Me Impressed” and compare the opening riff to “Chartered Trips” by fellow Minnesotans Hüsker Dü. Coincidence?
Characteristically British
Our final three examples were all inspired by British bands and lead us into a brief discussion on college-rock tone.
Ex. 7 plays off Siouxsie and the Banshees’ “Israel” (featuring John McGeoch on guitar), which is an ideal song for beginners working on fingering barres. As you’ll see, the chords are made by lying one finger flat across the top four strings (I suggest the index). The simplicity of this idea is belied by the complexity of the harmonies created, in this case Em7–C#m7–G#m7–B6. In the second part of the example, natural harmonics are employed, once again with one finger lightly placed on the strings. Regarding the obvious change in tone, compared to all the other examples, this part was recorded through a chorus pedal with the level at 100 percent, the rate at 50 percent, and the depth at 25 percent. Yes, the effect is doing much of the work here! That is not uncommon in the world of college rock, where sound is every bit as important as technique.
Be sure to check out more great guitar playing on Siouxsie and the Banshees records (Siouxsie featured several guitar players over the years), in particular John McGeoch’s playing on “Eve White, Eve Black,” which uses the whole-tone scale in a way more reminiscent of King Crimson than you’d expect.
The seemingly mundane E–A–B chord progression (I–IV–V) of Ex. 8 is enhanced considerably with both sus and add chords. Unlike add chords, sus chords replace the third in a triad with a second or fourth. Thanks to the inversions in this example, the chords never remain static. Look to Ian McCulloch and Will Sergeant of Echo & the Bunnymen for use of such chords, “Crystal Days” in particular. The 12-string guitar makes another appearance here.
Our last example was inspired by one of the numerous crossover hits that came out of the college rock genre, in this case, the Cure’s “Just Like Heaven.” Ex. 9’s open-string chords (reminiscent of Ex. 1) create a lush foundation over which the open-string hook is played. Both guitars are heavily chorused, though Robert Smith and Porl Thompson of the Cure frequently do play 12-string guitars.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention another iconic college rock group, Dinosaur Jr., and their fantastic cover version of “Just Like Heaven.” Here we get the best of both worlds, the Cure’s romantic atmosphere and J Mascis’ brutal yet playful guitar playing.
Who Did We Skip? Almost Everyone!
Like most genres, college-rock has a seemingly endless number of bands to draw from. Thus, this lesson could have easily filled a book. And there is no doubt, thanks to the rabid nature of legions of college rock fans, that many will claim I overlooked an incalculable number of bands and guitarists. They are correct. So, let this lesson serve as a primer. Take it upon yourself to seek out other inventive musicians in this genre, no degree required!
The author, middle, with bassist Ross Valory (left) and Steve Smith (right) of Journey.
Do you know who’s hanging around your gigs? Our columnist shares a story about the time Journey’s bassist was in the audience during soundcheck.
I’ve always loved what I do for a living. Even long before it became a career, doing the work every day to get better was something I fell in love with right away. As a result, I’ve never had any issues with stage fright or nerves when it comes to performing—even if there are some mega-influential or important musical people in the room.
Luckily, throughout my career, I usually only find out if there’s been someone major in the audience after the show. I’m not very social on tour these days. I’m the last one to soundcheck or show and the first one out of the venue afterwards. I’m often asleep in the hotel before some of the rest of the band have even left the venue.
But once in a while, I do get caught off guard—and this little story from a night on tour last week highlights how you just never know who’s listening … or watching.
I’ve been playing with Steve Smith (former drummer of Journey and inductee of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame) for over 10 years, first as sidemen with Mike Stern in a band with Randy Brecker, and for the past five years as a member of Steve’s band Vital Information. Throughout that entire time—hundreds of shows, rehearsals, soundchecks, recording sessions, and clinics—I haven’t once played a Journey bass line around him.
It’s that thing of being way too on the nose to even hint at. Knowing that the Journey chapter of Steve’s life is musically very much in the past, it honestly just never crossed my mind. So, what on earth possessed me to start playing the bass line to “Any Way You Want It” during soundcheck in Oakland last week?!
I don’t even get through the first two bars of the song when I hear, “Looks like I’ve been rumbled….” I look up, and there’s Ross Valory, the original bass player for Journey.
I had never met him. I had no idea anyone besides the band and the crew were even in the venue during soundcheck. Aside from the embarrassment of doing that in front of one of your bass heroes, it really got me thinking about how you just never know who is listening.
I don’t know who the phrase “be ready when the luck happens” should be credited to—or if that’s exactly how it was originally said—but I’ve thought about little else since my Ross Valory moment. If you’re considering a career in music, or working to further the one you already have, it might be something worth thinking about for yourself.
“I had no idea anyone besides the band and the crew were even in the venue during soundcheck. Aside from the embarrassment of doing that in front of one of your bass heroes, it really got me thinking about how you just never know who is listening.”
Like I said before, I’ve been in love with the work since the beginning. I still set aside vast amounts of time every day to practice and work on my music. I’m constantly tinkering with my goals, large and small. I’m realistic about the time it will take to reach them, the work I need to do to get there, and the fact that some goals may well change over time—and I have to be totally okay with that and adapt as quickly as possible.
The success of the work and the attainment of the goal is also going to rely at least a little bit (and if I’m being honest, sometimes a lot) on luck. Being ready to capitalize on luck involves constantly updating my daily routine. I have to find the balance between working on very specific elements of my playing for long periods of time, and letting them go once I know they’re an internal part of my vocabulary.
Jazz pianist Chick Corea talked about memorizing versus knowing a piece of music. When you read through a chart and start to memorize it, you’re essentially just taking the music from the sheet and creating a picture of it in your brain. You then end up looking for that picture the next time you want to play it—and all you’ve done is take away the physical paper while keeping the concept of reading. That’s not knowing the material like it’s a natural part of your vocabulary. The repetition I aim for in my daily routine is what helps me play the language of music as fluently as I speak English.
The confidence gained by putting in the work can make you so much more ready for your moment than you’ve ever been before.
Set goals, love the work, and always be ready.
You never know who’s listening….
The veteran Florida-born metalcore outfit proves that you don’t need humbuckers to pull off high gain.
Last August, metalcore giants Poison the Well gave the world a gift: They announced they were working on their first studio album in 15 years. They unleashed the first taste, single “Trembling Level,” back in January, and set off on a spring North American tour during which they played their debut record, The Opposite of December… A Season of Separation, in full every night.
PG’s Perry Bean caught up with guitarists Ryan Primack and Vadim Taver, and bassist Noah Harmon, ahead of the band’s show at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl for this new Rig Rundown.
Brought to you by D’Addario.Not-So-Quiet As a Mouse
Primack started his playing career on Telecasters, then switched to Les Pauls, but when his prized LPs were stolen, he jumped back to Teles, and now owns nine of them.
His No. 1 is this white one (left). Seymour Duncan made him a JB Model pickup in a single-coil size for the bridge position, while the neck is a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Staggered. He ripped out all the electronics, added a Gibson-style toggle switch, flipped the control plate orientation thanks to an obsession with Danny Gatton, and included just one steel knob to control tone. Primack also installed string trees with foam to control extra noise.
This one has Ernie Ball Papa Het’s Hardwired strings, .011–.050.
Here, Kitty, Kitty
Primack runs both a PRS Archon and a Bad Cat Lynx at the same time, covering both 6L6 and EL34 territories. The Lynx goes into a Friedman 4x12 cab that’s been rebadged in honor of its nickname, “Donkey,” while the Archon, which is like a “refined 5150,” runs through an Orange 4x12.
Ryan Primack’s Pedalboard
Primack’s board sports a Saturnworks True Bypass Multi Looper, plus two Saturnworks boost pedals. The rest includes a Boss TU-3w, DOD Bifet Boost 410, Caroline Electronics Hawaiian Pizza, Fortin ZUUL +, MXR Phase 100, JHS Series 3 Tremolo, Boss DM-2w, DOD Rubberneck, MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe, Walrus Slo, and SolidGoldFX Surf Rider III.
Taver’s Teles
Vadim Taver’s go-to is this cherryburst Fender Telecaster, which he scored in the early 2000s and has been upgraded to Seymour Duncan pickups on Primack’s recommendation. His white Balaguer T-style has been treated to the same upgrade. The Balaguer is tuned to drop C, and the Fender stays in D standard. Both have D’Addario strings, with a slightly heavier gauge on the Balaguer.
Dual-Channel Chugger
Taver loves his 2-channel Orange Rockerverb 100s, one of which lives in a case made right in Nashville.
Vadim Taver’s Pedalboard
Taver’s board includes an MXR Joshua, MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe, Empress Tremolo, Walrus ARP-87, Old Blood Noise Endeavors Reflector, MXR Phase 90, Boss CE-2w, and Sonic Research Turbo Tuner ST-200, all powered by a Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus.
Big Duff
Harmon’s favorite these days is this Fender Duff McKagan Deluxe Precision Bass, which he’s outfitted with a Leo Quan Badass bridge. His backup is a Mexico-made Fender Classic Series ’70s Jazz Bass. This one also sports Primack-picked pickups.
Rental Rockers
Harmon rented this Orange AD200B MK III head, which runs through a 1x15 cab on top and a 4x10 on the bottom.
Noah Harmon’s Pedalboard
Harmon’s board carries a Boss TU-2, Boss ODB-3, MXR Dyna Comp, Darkglass Electronics Vintage Ultra, and a Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus. His signal from the Vintage Ultra runs right to the front-of-house, and Harmon estimates that that signal accounts for about half of what people hear on any given night.
Kiesel Guitars has introduced their newest solid body electric guitar: the Kyber.
With its modern performance specs and competitive pricing, the Kyber is Kiesel's most forward-thinking design yet, engineered for comfort, quick playing, and precision with every note.
Introducing the Kiesel Kyber Guitar
- Engineered with a lightweight body to reduce fatigue during long performances without sacrificing tone. Six-string Kybers, configured with the standard woods and a fixed bridge, weigh in at 6 pounds or under on average
- Unique shape made for ergonomic comfort in any playing position and enhanced classical position
- The Kyber features Kiesel's most extreme arm contour and a uniquely shaped body that enhances classical position support while still excelling in standard position.
- The new minimalist yet aggressive headstock pairs perfectly with the body's sleek lines, giving the Kyber a balanced, modern silhouette.
- Hidden strap buttons mounted on rear for excellent balance while giving a clean, ultra-modern look to the front
- Lower horn cutaway design for maximum access to the upper frets
- Sculpted neck heel for seamless playing
- Available in 6 or 7 strings, fixed or tremolo in both standard and multiscale configurations Choose between fixed bridges, tremolos, or multiscale configurations for your perfect setup.
Pricing for the Kyber starts at $1599 and will vary depending on options and features. Learn more about Kiesel’s new Kyber model at kieselguitars.com
The Sunset is a fully analog, zero latency bass amplifier simulator. It features a ¼” input, XLR and ¼” outputs, gain and volume controls and extensive equalization. It’s intended to replace your bass amp both live and in the studio.
If you need a full sounding amp simulator with a lot of EQ, the Sunset is for you. It features a five band equalizer with Treble, Bass, Parametric Midrange (with frequency and level controls), Resonance (for ultra lows), and Presence (for ultra highs). All are carefully tuned for bass guitar. But don’t let that hold you back if you’re a keyboard player. Pianos and synthesizers sound great with the Sunset!
The Sunset includes Gain and master Volume controls which allow you to add compression and classic tube amp growl. It has both ¼” phone and balanced XLR outputs - which lets you use it as a high quality active direct box. Finally, the Sunset features zero latency all analog circuitry – important for the instrument most responsible for the band’s groove.
Introducing the Sunset Bass Amp Simulator
- Zero Latency bass amp simulator.
- Go direct into the PA or DAW.
- Five Band EQ:
- Treble and Bass controls.
- Parametric midrange with level and frequency controls.
- Presence control for extreme highs.
- Resonance control for extreme lows.
- Gain control to add compression and harmonics.
- Master Volume.
- XLR and 1/4" outputs.
- Full bypass.
- 9VDC, 200mA.
Artwork by Aaron Cheney
MAP price: $210 USD ($299 CAD).