RF-001 • Don't Fear The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult

[justinguitar]

Questions...

Lesson Link: http://www.justinguitar.com/en/RF-001-DontFearTheReaper.php

[frankimahri]

Question:
You suggest an down up, down up picking, why ?
For example, when you play the 4 notes when holding a G chord. You play the 6th, 5th, 4th and third string, why should I play it down/up/down/up. It's easier to just play it down-down-down-down and it sounds the same (at least when I do it, lol :p)

Awesome riff, easy to play, and it sounds cool on acoustic to

[flyhead]

I don't thnik a raking technique would sound quite right compared to the original, and the picking of the ensuing chords requires string-skipping anyway. Alternate picking is a necessary skill to develop in any case, so skimping on the advised technique is ultimately self-defeating.

[Svenshinhan]

Alternate picking is usually more efficient movement as well. You spend more energy using all down picking, which might come at the cost of some accuracy.

I feel that things like these "flow" better if you use alternate picking. And, as stated above, it's an essential skill anyway.

[TheCrow]

Any chance there I can get the chord parts explained? I´m trying the powerchord version and I get the F G A thing and back to F, but E minor and A minor power chords?

Thanx for a awesome site. I spend hours surfing around here.

Regards
Freddo, Sweden

[shadowscott007]

By definition power chords do not contain a third they are the root and the fifth only...  so assuming you are playing at the open position:

The E power chord:
e - x
B - x
G - x
D - 2
A - 2
E - 0

The A power chord:
e - x
B - x
G - 2
D - 2
A - 0
E - x

Does that help?  I'm not sure I really understand your question.

Shadow

[TheCrow]

Hi again!

4.30 in the vid he goes F G A F power cord, then he goes to E minor, and I just asumed it was some kind of power cord. After sleeping on it I figure it to be just a regular E minor thats not played on all strings. And the last one is a normal A minor. But I´m still not sure.

I just thought it sound nice and looked fairly easy to play.

Regards
Freddo, Sweden

[shadowscott007]

I'm thinking he was playing (chugging) the power chords; but IF you were going to play the full chords I think the A would be an Am and the E would be an Em.

Hope that helps.

Shadow

[Newand(hopefully)willing]

Is there any particular reason to finger the partial G as one would Gmaj7 instead of a regular G? I'm finding it easier to change to that awkward middle part and back again using fingers 1 and 2 rather than 2 and 3.

[rfriday]

Too freakin' weird.  This thread hasn't been touched since 2011.  It pops up right now and the song is on the radio in St. Louis, MO.  I seriously thought you must have been listening to it here or something.  So strange.