10 Greatest Midwest Emo Riffs

[@noodlesawesomeface1802]

Midwest emo be like: the best instrumental you’ve ever heard followed by someone who’s literally never sung a song in their life

[@jccanizal6410]

Why is this so accurate

[@jccanizal6410]

Except for ttng tho

[@bobbirdsong6825]

that's how you get all that creamy emotion :)

[@jonetsu_lv]

wow, very accurate.

[@CottonHill91]

I laughed so hard at this. I love midwest emo. But I tell most people "yeah I just listen to shitty emo bullshit". It's too accurate.

[@totalrockfiend4472]

This video should be re-titled: "If you're not interested in de-tuning your guitar to a dozen different tunings, move along"

[@thelastwordisrejoice9440]

yes maybe :D

[@markbenjamin471]

but thats half the fun, telecaster isn't optional.

[@MarkOz]

Can someone give me hints on some of the tunings used in here 🙇

[@kingbumi3418]

@@MarkOz description of video.

[@stevenmorrissey1677]

@@MarkOz daeac#e or facgce

[@haiimharry]

alternate timeline where peter parker keeps the black suit and has a summer heart break

[@itsMrNoble]

Shaggy was it you?

[@somenothing7914]

great cooment

[@GenevaSevenfold]

Amazing 😂

[@MionMikan]

Amaz ingSpiderman

[@chadwickmcfaggins9734]

Legendary comment, made me sad

[@caseydilla5726]

i like how no matter which midwest emo band you like most, you always get excited to hear the never meant opening

[@RSpracticalshooting]

Because it's the emo riff of all emo riffs. It can't be topped even if something is better.

[@shortbread1818]

It’s the universal emo language

[@m0-m0597]

when the second guitar harmonics come in it's perfect

[@alvaromatteusoliveirarodri2847]

It's so unique

[@iralsmith]

_he's the last of a dying breed. the prehistoric emo only emerges from the depths of his studio apartment when his favorite bands reunite for one last show- and even then, he shows no sign of enthusiasm whatsoever._

[@guitarlbarker0537]

fuck what is this from

[@Sweggusenpai]

@@guitarlbarker0537 your scene sucks

[@daoyang223]

he'll come back when Uchu Conbini reunites. If not, perhaps when Yvette Young comes out with an Acoustic 3. Or a Toe concert in America.

[@iralsmith]

@@guitarlbarker0537 www.dobi.nu/yourscenesucks/prehistoric/index.htm

[@monikkc3015]

@@daoyang223 haha

[@JuanitoR77]

Midwest emo is one of the few genres my wife and I can agree on to play in the car together. Good stuff.

[@joshuagavaghan224]

Juan Rosas I felt this in my soul man. When I want “angst” but under the cover of a chimey telecaster tone, Midwest emo is it.

[@postmalort9267]

You guys okay?

[@68gmax71]

Kyler Reason I honestly would have no idea

[@marth_6126]

How do I get me a wife like that?

[@mist3325]

@@marth_6126 RIDE WIFE

[@sleeplvss]

God that pallet town riff is everything

[@alexk3393]

I wasn't watching, so at the beginning I thought that it was never meant demo or something

[@68gmax71]

It was amazing!

[@Crinbo]

Free Throw is great

[@OneLineDerek]

This video single handedly opened up a new genre of music to me, and I will forever be grateful for that.

[@thelastwordisrejoice9440]

I'm very glad to hear that, thanks!

[@matteoj226]

You and me both buddy

[@caiobarbosa8500]

Same here. Thanks a lot

[@adonaiyah2196]

Literally tried to search up Midwestern emo and found NOTHING

[@jakeeeGST]

i dont even think id be playing guitar if it wasnt for this vid

[@ianprescott7924]

So Midwest Emo is like a chilled out version of Math Rock

[@Jojo-yb4pt]

@PhantomBE tbh math rock can also lean towards post hardcore directions too (TFOT,Tera Melos,etc)

[@charohazard]

it's less mathy than math rock

[@someonesaidfire2018]

Made an account just to be pedantic... this is all stuff (apart from American Football who basically originated this specific sound) from what you might call fourth wave emo, which was a 2010s revival of the original wave of midwest emo that occurred in the 90s, and mixed the original sound with math rock. OG midwest emo bands include Split Lip/Chamberlain, Get Up Kids, Sunny Day Real Estate, Christie Front Drive, and yes, American Football.

[@floodstreet2961]

@Charle MIJ ok

[@user-dj6lj1dl1c]

Big Chillin whats the difference musically outside of the technical aspect? They honeslty sound the same to me except for the tappy stuff

[@jackoo666]

as someone super unfamiliar with this music it reminds me of Irish music a lot with all the trills and hammer ons. but just with jazzier chords. its really cool

[@saladhands1127]

"Midwest emo is just Irish jazz"

[@jackoo666]

@@saladhands1127 lol exactly

[@misterknightowlandco]

Well, most of us are either Scotch-Irish or German, soooo feeling comfortable only when it’s miserable and cold out, a sense of wit, liking to have a drink or two and a heavy caloric intake is par for the course.

[@skaldlouiscyphre2453]

@@saladhands1127 "Midwest emo is just Irish jazz" Congrats, you just named my post-mathcore band. Punctuation and all.

[@keelwn547]

@cw nah there’s quite a few tbf

[@spracketskooch]

Ahhh, the sounds of my adolescence. I've spent countless hours reading while listening to these bands. Now when I hear that riff from 'Never Meant' in particular, it floods me with all the otherworldly joy and awe I experienced while reading all those stories. If you've ever done mushrooms, it's like that; the feeling you get during the peak.

[@petivisti9681]

I was really having this exact feeling with never meant, and then a cop pulled me over so that feeling went away ☠️

[@PointerMusician]

What's awesome is that you didn't just take snippets of these songs and put them into like a compilation. You learned them and played them perfectly just to put them in a top 10 list and that's effort, my guy.

[@kadekchandra4298]

Pallet town just gave me a memory of a place I've never been.

[@smoothluke6151]

Pallet Town? Or the midwest?

[@vrrooooommmm123]

most definitely pallet town ain’t shit to do here in indiana

[@chrispeters1918]

I’ve never wanted a telecaster so bad

[@Hikikomoriband]

I was just thinking the same thing

[@thomasaantjes482]

Get one. Incredibly versatile guitars. I use mine from postrock to singer songwriter to hardcore punk.

[@stratocaster-dn7gt]

@Hephaestus strats are even better than telecasters IMO

[@thomasaantjes482]

@Hephaestus not my thing. I Just can't get used to the sound. They Just sound different. Although one with a humbucker at the bridge isnt too bad.

[@cheesist6998]

@@stratocaster-dn7gt strats are definitely better by versatility. Though they're not easier to play and they don't give off the midwest twinkle ✨

[@chairsmissing]

Americ anfootball

[@deliverus6856]

an

[@ethanrosen5517]

@@deliverus6856 football

[@nehemiahzo_]

American Rodeo

[@nehemiahzo_]

dipyaman roy Brazilian cricket

[@ScoCoda]

Ok fill me in I just discovered American Football today, what's this meme about splitting the name America Football like Americ Anfootball?

[@zp8955]

I live and breathe by that Pallet Town riff, jesus christ finding Free Throw changed my life lmao

[@seinmstudio3646]

Tracklist: 0:03 Marietta - You've Got the Map Backwards, Matt 0:40 Merchant Ships - Old Gray 0:52 Free Throw - Pallet Town 1:21 Brave Bird - I Don't Wanna Know 1:49 Algernon Cadwallader - Spit Fountain 2:18 Park Jefferson - Better Boy 2:37 American Football - Never Meant 3:20 Tiny Moving Parts - Always Focused 3:50 Sports - Words that Rhyme with Different, etc. 4:10 Midwest Pen Pals - Movies Like Juno

[@Danongorf]

my liege.

[@jaredharper5786]

This is proof you don't have to have an expensive guitar to sound good

[@thelastwordisrejoice9440]

That's right;)

[@aw2584]

What guitar is it, vintage squire? They're good guitars tho, you could go way way cheaper lmao

[@nv_johan8711]

​@@aw2584This is a Squier Affinity Telecaster I think. Go for about €250 definitely on the budget friendly end. But honestly beyond 200+€ the quality of tone you get out of it is gonna be mostly your AMP and other soundgear.

[@Vanillamangaro]

This video taught me something about myself. I live in the Midwest and use to be in a band that wrote riffs similar to these. Grew up loving emo tunes but never knew of the genre Midwest Emo. We never knew how to classify our sound but I think that wouldve worked nicely

[@chloerowing1]

what was the band. i need to know immediately

[@wienersmcbutts]

Probably because it wasn’t a genre for awhile. It was just a regional twist on emo. Like New York hardcore, or Chicago punk. Now you’ve got kids from Seattle saying they’re in Midwest emo bands

[@troidl90]

On Spotify?

[@Antomoxetine]

So this is where all the emo rappers get their riffs aha i've found the secret

[@birkknut276]

yeah exactly, i was watching this as inspiration for my emo rap beats lol

[@nicolasa.3192]

Exactly. It's a neat little callback to this genre, a big inspiration for a lot of emo rap. You hear so much of the influence in artists like fats'e

[@yungjuulgod]

@@nicolasa.3192 damn, never encountered anyone who's heard of fats'e

[@sparkkoo0]

Never Meant should be the greatest riff of all time

[@thelastwordisrejoice9440]

I completely agree

[@PurpleandStripes]

so overrated honestly

[@sparkkoo0]

@@PurpleandStripes not overrated. Perfectly balanced.

[@apenguinwithasign7572]

TTNG has cool riffs too

[@eyenbrows8188]

@@PurpleandStripes overrated my ass

[@cassinipanini]

how to have an emotional breakdown in less than 5 minutes

[@havilinhargraves9122]

Why is everything so sad in the mid west

[@jimmytwotimes1]

almost always cold, and boring.

[@bunyanchild8293]

Because the Midwest is depressing😂

[@morallygray6527]

Nothing to do, it's cold, people aren't friendly, run down towns, and corn

[@dragon-id5uj]

We simp hard in the midwest, it's like a religion of heartbreak. The autumn makes us think our fragility is powerful

[@jimmytwotimes1]

@@morallygray6527 I guess it depends on where you are in the midwest. People are super friendly in certain parts but from my experience, the closer you get to the east coast, the more rude people there are.

[@uelideschwart4056]

"always focused" reminds me a lot of "If I sit still maybe I'll get out of here"

[@MarcNeilson1]

The riff has similar notes since the tuning and capo placement make the same tuning notes just ttng is in a step down from tmp with a capo on 6 rather than 4.

[@AudibleVisibIe]

Ttng for the win

[@elluhmayoh]

Hell yeah, pumped to see sports. On here man, sweet band. Sad to see their disbanding tho, their lasts show is in may

[@thelastwordisrejoice9440]

Love this band too

[@everlastingflames]

thought it was march?

[@elluhmayoh]

could be man i cant remember

[@adam.9778]

rpcappell March 20

[@jamessisson1186]

Yes ! Sports is such a great band, Both albums are amazing

[@mitchfricano]

I never knew I loved Midwest Emo music. These sound nice.

[@jamessisson1186]

RIP sports. Playing the last show this march most criminally underrated band in the scene

[@atticusfinch3989]

James Sisson it’ll be my first and last Sports. show. Can’t wait

[@jamessisson1186]

Atticus Finch let me know how it is. I’d love to see them but just wont be able to drive across country wish they hit one last run of shows but I understand the grind that is on a person.

[@illicitsea7138]

TELL ME THAT IM DIFFERENT I KNOW IT DOESNT MAKE A DIFFERENCE THAT MY DIFFERENCE IS DIFFERENT ITS ALL THE SAME ANYWAYS BUT I TRY

[@slamjam7676]

Movies like juno sucked me into the genre bro

[@thelastwordisrejoice9440]

cult song in midwestemo revival

[@BrutalistJr]

? don't know if I could recall a single second-wave emo song in the Juno soundtrack

[@rivertam711]

@@BrutalistJr oh god Emo genre nerds are worse that punk or metal ones

[@kamalakaze]

@@BrutalistJr That's the name of one of the songs being played in the video. Movies Like Juno.

[@lichenrock9155]

lmao fr, movies like juno was one of the first emo songs i heard before i went down the midwest emo rabbit hole, and now im stuck here (certainly not complaining as it's pretty nice)

[@darrinujlaky6589]

I never realized how complicated emo stuff was!

[@subpar7404]

Nick Stutsman is such a legend that he wrote THREE of the guitar parts in this video

[@eri_8_8_]

For some reason is pleasantly comfortable knowing each one of this songs

[@joaotatyzap-xf1eg]

Park Jefferson is so underrated, actually one of the few midwest emo i still listen to

[@Mangox]

At 1:49 i dont know why but im like super obsessed with that drum effect and the riff is amazing too

[@skw1mp]

To this day I still find it funny that the Never Meant memes are what introduced me to American Football and eventually Midwest Emo as a whole.

[@SirFooplesTheThird]

TMP are the masters of tapping i swear to god

[@kungfusansu]

Tiny Moving Parts getting respect

[@pastabilities2116]

The fact that you included the tunings... Like, you a real one.

[@donnythei]

Man i'm so glad i found your channel

[@thelastwordisrejoice9440]

I,m glad too ;)

[@TheSpectreTom]

This is awesome. You should do full covers of these, especially free throw!

[@thelastwordisrejoice9440]

thanks;) Maybe I'll do it someday

[@JayBigDadyCy]

I came across this video about a week after it was put out 2 years ago or so. I'm 41, I lived through the emo scene. I hated it. But for some reason this video completely changed the way I felt about the genre, and as a musician felt like maybe I should give it a fair shake. I fucking LOVE emo now. And I have to give a ton of credit to this one random vid right here that popped up in my feed probably due to me watching guitar vids over the years. So ya...thanks!

[@vertrev]

Honestly AlgerCadwall's Spitfountain riff is the most legendary of all ❤️

[@roderickfennell7385]

I agree

[@xylh5085]

That Midwest Pen Pals riff always gets me right in the feels heh heh. It's such a perfect musical representation of childhood in the Midwest. It brings to mind the picnics of bologna sandwiches and canned coke at the park in early spring, or playing GBA on the bus ride home from school, or the April and May showers trickling on the windows and roof while reading a book.

[@tommoelbommo]

Actual emo, makes my heart sing

[@Onche518]

There should've been Little League by Cap'n' Jazz Most youthful and iconic emo riff

[@Ohnobito]

best 2 piece alive

[@saturatedneowax]

slatt

[@Finngrinder]

Oh messy life

[@Why2names]

There are no capn jazz tabs anywhere

[@indigo5577]

already enough representation of the Kinsellas with Americ an Football

[@1remghost]

HAD to be on the tele

[@MarcelVLafonde]

Laws of the midwest

[@madiserket2]

i play midwest emo on an Epiphone Les Paul, sue me.

[@trash4435]

Found a wild remghost

[@jakeeeGST]

remghost how are you!

[@1remghost]

@@jakeeeGST great!

[@Huberin0]

The vibe I get is “my life sucks but it’s not that bad, we’ll be alright.”

[@zachjollimore4339]

Midwest Emo is all about having your OWN open tuning

[@w0197]

I knew Movies Like Juno was going to last. And it doesn't look that hard it it just sounds so good! Great vid! Tons of work.

[@Twolliebollie]

1:58 LEMMETELLYOUWHATITHINKABOUTFROOOOOOOOOOOG SPIT

[@Shpooptypants13]

This needs more likes

[@ToTTiSkullHead]

I gotta thank u, this vid along with american football got me into midwest emo (like a year ago) and now i can't stop listening to it. PS: I also got my first tele (affinity) today and i LOVE IT

[@returnofthedoggo7994]

i respect the amount of spidey-related stickers on that guitar. also the jack skelly boi. all of its good

[@hateonaidan5837]

the stickers and the spiderman t make this video complete

[@jonhalliday7806]

This is a lovely find. Lots of stuff I’ve never heard, played really well.

[@jennacuna3674]

You nailed these. Something about Midwest Emo pulls at my heart strings

[@joshs5135]

Mmmmmmm this makes me feel so much, of just everything all at once. You nailed the feel man. Also love the tele and stickers :))

[@thelastwordisrejoice9440]

Thank you!)

[@facesplits6051]

Nick Stutsman made some of the most iconic riffs in midwestern emo bruh... (old gray, better boy, movies like juno) mans a god

[@nathanieljaymorello8557]

The lack of Snowing in this list is a travesty

[@bigmidget117]

Jay Morello Honestly, yeah.

[@isaiahlemmon51]

true

[@nathanieljaymorello8557]

@@univoxxx yes it is a travesty because their simply the best. Stfu pleb

[@iplayeddishonored2475]

Jay Morello overrated

[@XxXhEav3nbeL0wXxX]

@@univoxxx who pissed in ur cereal?

[@jessicawatson891]

As soon as I heard Free Throw, I instantly smiled. Thank you :)

[@nsanity5950]

I listened to words that rhyme with different before I was even in love with Midwest emo

[@tracy1210]

I love midwest emo... i'm glad that some people share their love :)

[@theratknownasbat]

I’ve been listening to lord huron for the past few years and before that hunny wallows and vampire weekend… Basically all these songs you showed are two of my favorite genres mixed

[@anyway5692]

1:21. finally, alex turner has been waiting for an answer since 2013

[@adamholmes91]

As an emo teen from 2002-2009 this sent chills up my spine

[@nicolasa.3192]

Free Throw brought my entire childhood into a riff with Pallet Town

[@spencerkaufman3257]

Its so odd to see so many of my favorite songs/bands recognized within the same vid lol. Midwest emo hits different.

[@ashleigh6192]

It really does

[@JG-ce3pu]

And now I have 4 new songs on Spotify, not counting Never Meant, that was already there. Awesome video! I’ll check more of this genre

[@At0micTiger]

3:21 That's probably the best riff I ever heard 🤘😎🤘

[@aidinexmachina4232]

That hammer-on into the 2 pull-offs is the most ambitious crossover in history.

[@ViniciosHC2010]

I just created a Playlist on Spotify based on these two videos of yours. It will help a lot in these quarantine times. Thanks!

[@trevb6395]

Marlus Vinicios ya imma need that playlist lol thanks

[@ejdelrosario]

Name of playlist?

[@alyosha119]

Guys I found it based on his name. It's "Greatest Midwest Emo Riffs".

[@ViniciosHC2010]

Oh, guys, I'm really sorry. I didn't see the notification asking for the playlist name. But it is exactly this playlist that Victor mentioned there! Here is the direct link to the playlist: open.spotify.com/playlist/1wUoS289NPxMEEAmhLKUA5?si=c8072536fef1416f

[@blurb245]

you just put me on to some really good music, thank you

[@fadedsun303]

I like how it narrows it down to a specific region haha. "Midwest EMO" I wonder what other genres I can find that list a region in the label. "Northwestern Metal" "Antarctic krautrock"

[@heyitsdarknessyouroldfrien3396]

Northwestern metal is Cascadian Black Metal.

[@MillCityQ]

Thank you for including Algernon Cadwallader: absolutely love them! Also, I prefer the "Birdhouse" riff over "Always focused" for Tiny Moving Parts, but that's definitely my own preference and don't expect many to agree lmao

[@smaller_cathedrals]

Quite a few bands I haven't heard of, gonna go and see if I find them on Spotify. Thanks for the suggestions! ✌🏾

[@FREESPIRITSTHEBAND]

Great riffs man, thanks for doing this video!

[@Chronic3913]

midwest emo = capo on 3rd or 4th fret with lots of guitar slides

[@skincells]

and messy tuning

[@gonzalooliveraalves]

and tapping

[@Chronic3913]

@@gonzalooliveraalves Don’t forget the weird time signature

[@gonzalooliveraalves]

@@Chronic3913 true!

[@MasterofMuppets02]

Huh just realized Night in the Woods has a fittingly midwestern emo soundtrack

[@Mystic-Midnight]

Shit thanks for showing me so many Midwest emo bands, only really knew of Marietta before this

[@beatsbybrazy]

Free throw

[@Privatepyle69]

Midwest pen pals

[@MisterDillPickle]

you seriously didn't know of Americ anfootball?

[@Mystic-Midnight]

@@MisterDillPickle I wasn't into Midwest Emo as never had a reason to be sad like that

[@MisterDillPickle]

@@Mystic-Midnight lmao good point - american football was a popular meme tho so you dont have to be sad to know them

[@YumeBasil]

I discovered this video in late July 2020, im so glad I did because through that time I discovered so many bands that I love. Thank you

[@Faulheit]

i dont really dig stickers on guitars but the way youve done it is sick

[@TingleTriggers]

These are lovely and I hadn't actually heard a number of them. Thanks for sharing!

[@arrestedeffort]

I'd personally include "Tiny Hands" by Jazz Hands in this list, but I gotta say those are some really great choices! And, of course, it would have been blasphemous not to include "Never Meant" in the list, so you made the right call.

[@thelastwordisrejoice9440]

Thank you! ;)

[@aisforapple2494]

Being a Hoosier, it sounds like new age jazz to me.

[@joshbrz8902]

So emo people in the Midwest like happy sounding music

[@radtrashmcradical8202]

The incel prefers bitter, the commoner prefers sweet. However, the Chad understands that bittersweet is ideal.

[@joshbrz8902]

Good for you

[@sqilltime2994]

How tf am I all the sudden starting to like this stuff

[@zotthedestroyer5190]

I feel like never meant is the new meme song/rick roll or is that just me

[@prodbxnto]

its definitely a rickroll type thing in the midwest emo scene

[@nicolasa.3192]

It's a less known "Anyway, here's Wonderwall." shitpost sort of thing to.

[@deathcup7102]

i cant believe this video is almost 3 years old. it feels like yesterday when i first watched this. it introduced me to midwest emo :')

[@alexmercer7530]

I love the Algernon cover!!

[@MarkDanteTroiano]

You are my new favorite KZbinr. Everything you post is absolutely brilliant, and done with such care. Thank you.

[@thelastwordisrejoice9440]

thank you!

[@apenguinwithasign7572]

Glad to see real emo riffs instead of MCR or BVB covers

[@thelastwordisrejoice9440]

Thanks;)

[@Icythot-m6i]

*WHERES THE BILLY EILISH COVER?!?!?!?!?! *

[@thelastwordisrejoice9440]

@@Icythot-m6i I'll record it down soon as this is a classic of modern emo I think

[@Gore171459]

mcr are real af

[@dronevil182]

MCR is emo; not at all, but they're more into emo-pop/pop punk. BVB is "scenecore" (basically post-hardcore/melodic metalcore from MySpace).

[@tobiascatalano9663]

Spit fountain makes me feel like I’m about to go on some crazy anime adventure lol

[@ozzy0174]

So no mom jeans? *hangs up phone and snaps skateboard *

[@Lung911]

finally this channel is getting the viewership it deserves, much love ❤️

[@trustthecurrent]

I first heard Midwest emo when Tiny Moving parts opened for the wonder years. Had no idea who they were and was fortunately towards the front of the pit already. Was totally blown away by what Dylan was playing while singing. The crowd went nuts for them. Only time I've seen a crowd respond to openers like that was if they already were big - Motion City Soundtrack - or wildly catchy - State Champs.

[@thornthornthorne4531]

Love to see Sports getting some recognition. I love that band

[@niceveraert1000]

is is just me or did like 3 of theses sound like nevermeant

[@mlegacyacc]

movies like juno sounds a bit like it, but that's just how the genre sounds most of the time.

[@jacobwright4653]

It’s the open guitar tuning along with open chords which make them sound similar.. I think

[@DRKeerl]

You open with one of my all-time favorites and I just have to stay for the rest.

[@lalalulu_]

oh god free throw - pallet town ... love that one, how do you learn songs ? do you look up tunings/tabs/learn by ear ? been playing for a while but still cant imagine how it would be possible to figure out alternate/open tunings just like that

[@thelastwordisrejoice9440]

Usually, I'm looking for tabs in internet or watching live sessions When I didn't find a tabs I did it by ear

[@thelastwordisrejoice9440]

Most commonly used FACGCE or DAEAC#E

[@lalalulu_]

@@thelastwordisrejoice9440 oh right, thx alot, i ll try to figure out "pallet town"

[@thelastwordisrejoice9440]

@@lalalulu_ good luck!

[@lalalulu_]

@@thelastwordisrejoice9440 i can play the melody! but not sure how to play the chords

[@declankilleen9128]

I keep coming back to this for inspiration, thank you!

[@MeanBeanComedy]

Why the hell do they all have such strange tunings?

[@morallygray6527]

Math rock boyyooooo

[@GreyPlaysTunes]

Because as Jared Dines once said, “Standard tuning is weak”

[@marleygoodfellow7965]

cause standard sucks

[@richardbaker2701]

Such a beautiful genre