Start on one string
In standard tuning, play the high e string open, at fret 1, at fret 3, then open again. These notes are E, F, G and E. Use one note per beat at 50–60 BPM. This exercise was written for this guide and is not a transcription of a commercial song.
Make each note clear
Place your fingertip close behind the fret. Pick once and let the note ring until the next beat. Listen for buzzing and for accidental contact with the B string. Relax between repetitions; you do not need to hold every finger down throughout the whole phrase.
Give the phrase an ending
Play the four notes, then leave four beats of silence. Repeat. Next, hold the final open E for two beats. Compare the two endings. A riff becomes recognisable through timing and repetition as well as the notes themselves.
Change one detail
Try E–G–F–E instead, or play the first E twice and leave out F. Keep the same pulse. Record the version you like and give it a name in your practice notes. You are making a musical decision, even if the phrase is very short.
Take it into tomorrow
Begin your next session with the version you chose. Try it quieter, then a little louder, while keeping the timing steady. Later, explore the same notes on another part of the neck. Familiarity with a tiny phrase is a useful bridge to learning longer music.
One Riff One Day editorial guide · Updated 31 October 2026