9 Riffs That Are Also KILLER Warmup Exercises!

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Why always play random notes for warming up, why not use kick-ass riffs too? Here are my top 9 favorite warm up riffs of all time.
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[@samovarrarwinrar2095]

1:07 - Pretty Woman 1:59 - Crazy Train 2:24 - Root 3:22 - Erotomania 4:10 - Jump In The Fire 5:34 - Ashes In Your Mouth 6:40 - Message In a Bottle 8:21 - Thunderstruck 9:17 - Nice Dreams

[@michaellewchuk8272]

The citizens of Tamriel thank you

[@shardsmoker7646]

With that white and gold sg and white buttoned shirt you look like your in a Christan rock band

[@krzekil]

Faith +1

[@mathewkirkpatrick8004]

What christian rock bands do you listen to? lol

[@smn1085]

shit, someone already did the south park joke

[@MikeyLikey95]

He's praising the lord and stealing ur girl.

[@acoffeewithsatan]

*Check this riff, it's f...reaking holy!*

[@iamantonius]

The 6 levels of “Stealin Ya Girl”

[@TrentonHawk]

Sometimes you think you have found the perfect KZbin Chanel for Guitar lessons and technique and then you stumble upon The-Art-of-Guitar and are blown away. His demeanor and voice make what he is showing and teaching you seem possible for me as I am still a beginner. Have watched 5 today. Thank you for putting up such great content.

[@jimboslice9778]

One of my favorite warm ups is Hammett’s soloy part in for whom the bell tolls. It’s great to down pick or alternate, with or without palm muting.

[@Cabolt44]

Never really thought of using actual musical riffs as warm ups. I normally just go through scales and a few chord progressions. Thanks for the vid.

[@Amaru774]

Can you put the TAB bar little higher when you edit the video next time? The YT red bar covers the low E when I stop the video. That might be helpful for more viewers. Thanks Btw thanks for awesome tips :D Ive learn a lot from to you.

[@thebedroomrockstar960]

I was just about to say the same thing. I had to go to ultimateguitar.com to get it. YT banner/logo? blocked the tab when I paused :)lol. Good concept though, instead of just playing boring finger exercises.

[@rangamsarmah2061]

Breaking news: ^This man will steal your girlfriend, your views, and your Guitar tone!!

[@rangamsarmah2061]

Thanks, Mike!, love ur videos!!

[@TheArtofGuitar]

Yeah but I’ll give them back when I’m done. Haha. Well maybe not your views. 😂

[@rangamsarmah2061]

Heh, lol, you can keep em! 😁

[@paaapaass_1546]

Rangam Sarmah Veri sad

[@eagles_s]

If i can master these riffs he can have them

[@lala-everyonescrazyaunt]

Thanks! And you were cracking me up in the beginning. 😁

[@steveztube]

the 6 levels of shirts you wear: level 1: Fireball Whiskey level 2: Led Zeppelin level 3: San Junipero 1987 level 4: Red Hot Chili Peppers level 5: that white and black shirt with the black hand on it level 6: this shirt, that doesn't have an in-between button, but probably should, because yeah it says "i just hit on your girl at the club"

[@TheArtofGuitar]

This just made my week!

[@boysfromthebush2013]

Level 7 : Clif Burtons denim jacket

[@StatesEdge]

Rhcp and shirts are like an oxymoron

[@felipearchangelo1112]

I laughed out loud at the beginning when you explained your fancy shirt hahaha Keep it coming, you're awesome :)

[@crobj10]

I will be learning this “warm up” for 6 months 😂 Great video man, thanks for the tips!

[@333invitado]

Sameee 😭😂😂😂

[@griffinsdr1811]

Guns 'n' Roses greatest hit and signature riff was originally Slash's string skipping exercise... Cool shirt anyway though

[@serph2951]

Wow this is so convenient, today i have to play outside (its winter here) and i really have a hard time when trying to warmup, great videos as always!!

[@chaoticlighttv6207]

Papa Roach - Last Resort has a riff that is a decent warm up as well. The Trooper - Iron Maiden intro riff is fantastic for a quick, simple legato warm up Master Of Puppets - Metallica, the single notes riff is a decent warm up as well Rainmaker - Iron Maiden intro riff is also a good warm up

[@pav231]

master of downpicking if you will

[@andrewpappas9311]

Some other warmup riffs I can think of are Snow (Hey Oh) from Red Het Chili Peppers and the solo from Megadeth's Sweating Bullets

[@Walamonga1313]

Holy Wars is a great warmup riff. Edit: Holy shit, didn’t expect to see Ashes In Your Mouth! Underrated song! Subbed.

[@TheArtofGuitar]

I did a whole Megadeth video.

[@Walamonga1313]

The-Art-of-Guitar Will watch!

[@towlie337]

What's hilarious is that the ac/dc riff was actually a warm up exercise Angus used to do until his band heard it. Pretty cool.

[@benporterguitar]

This has broken me out of my stale warm up routine! Thank you!

[@truehorrorfacts]

The bridge riff to Back in Black by AC/DC is also an amazing warmup riff using all 4 fingers

[@brycepankiewich1553]

Life in the fast lane started as a warm up riff👌🏽

[@Peekadam]

I've never realized Floods was just like message in a bottle.

[@MetalJames1282]

Powermad was such a great and underrated band and "Nice Dreams" is one of my favorite metal songs of all-time. Saw them open for Overkill at the 9:30 club in D.C. back in the day.

[@noxiousbaz]

Shirt aside, this video is ingenious... I've seen similar ideas on YT before but this is far and away the best I've watched. Ten highly useful finger exercises in the can, along with ten great new riffs to jam on. So twenty new items for your guitar toolbox in just over ten mins. Wonderful stuff indeed.

[@benvasiljev2602]

The chromatic run in the sweating bullets solo really warms me up

[@MrEmual]

Excellent video. It's been long time i was searching this kind of exercice for stretching my fingers and getting more agility. Thanx a lot. Keep on going like that

[@nigelgregory7090]

This guy's lessons just make sense, best I've found on KZbin 👍

[@downhill240]

First riff is way cool! I will be working on these not only for the physical exercise but to develop my rhythm (or lack thereof).

[@nine9whitepony526]

You have the best warm-ups on all of KZbin.

[@ryan2000he]

I've been using the bluesy scale from "Jump in the Fire" as a wamup for a while now but haven't seen anyone on YT apply yet! it looks really challenging especially (as you mentioned) using alternate picking and palm muting together which is a really coordinated and difficult action. Your videos are amazing, fun and educating as always Mike! keep it up

[@tmills5608]

I love your videos so much. They really help me better develop my guitar skills and when I watch them it just makes me wanna pick up my guitar and play. Thank you!

[@architectinth]

Thank you. I really needed warm-up exercises that taught me more than just the exercise.

[@JawTooth]

Those are fun exercises/ Thanks for posting!

[@ancientdeeds6634]

pantera floods the ending riff is a great strech and pinky warmup

[@Ibroughtmycamera2]

I love that Jump in the Fire is on here because I've been using it as a warm-up for a while now!

[@sandilandi9801]

Great lesson I use the crazy on you riff from Heart as a warm up for anyone who isn’t into all the Heavy metal lol Love the Pretty woman and crazy train ones too ! Thanks and Rock on ....🎸💃

[@johnvmaguire5635]

One of my favourites to warm up with is snow hey oh

[@alanbique]

My hints: Jump in the fire, The Skull beneath the skin (intro), Master of puppets... and so more Megadeth and Metallica songs you can use as exercices

[@lucas11__]

Alan B Jump in the fire is an amazing warmup building up speed

[@Odie50000]

Alan B Take No Prisoners is literally a song of just warmups.

[@billyanggranesta8722]

Master of puppet...realy ?

[@chiggennucket1884]

Alan B Hiw about the opening guitar riff for for whom the bell tolls 😂

[@marcelltoth1996]

Try out the intro from Walk with Me in Hell by Lamb of God, it is kinda tricky to get down though.

[@Mickocarbomb]

message in a bottle has the same fretting pattern (almost) as pantera's floods outro which is also a great practicing riff

[@michaelgablecolvin7949]

Hey'as ... Just wanted to drop you a kudos, out of all the music instructors you are one of my faves, very clear and straight forward. Keep up the AWESOME work Bro !!!

[@m0nkstringz]

i just started learning and wanted to say that your videos are helping me sooo much!! i’m now aware of many things i probably wouldn’t be if it weren’t these videos. thank you!!

[@Xankill3r]

Great vid. I also like to use two riffs from The Devil's Orchard by Opeth. The first is the part right before the vocals kick in and the other is the diminished triplet riff underneath the held vocal notes in the main verses.

[@RandomTuber782]

Look at Mr. Stealyogurl over here.

[@joetumolo7550]

Mike, this is great. There are a number of things to take from this. Interesting exercise and ideas to take these riffs and repurpose them. Thank you so much for your great work. How rewarding it must be to know you are helping people be better musicians and get more joy out of their playing. So grateful...

[@_WetSand]

there's also some RHCP songs that i like to use as a warm up: - Can't stop - Whatchu Thinkin (the main bass riff, the guitar plays it on the middle of the song too) - Soul to squeeze - Under the bridge - Dark necessities (the solo) - Snow (But I can't play at full speed yet)

[@louisgauthier1889]

Great video! My warm ups will be much more interesting now. Thanks

[@albertarguelles3262]

I think you came upon a great way to warm up while using riffs that most guitar players would know. Hey people learn to give credit when it's due. Keep on Rockin'

[@not-a-user427]

2nd half of “Jacobs Ladder” by rush is another great repeating riff that’s complex and changes its position on neck a few times too

[@johnnysguitarcorner5510]

Awesome excercise, really makes the blood flow in my fingers. Cool songs choices as well

[@miggytenorio5360]

Sir ! Thank you so much ! Greetings from Philippines !

[@ericnessler9586]

Great vid, I like the little ascending run in "Nothing Else Matters" as a warmup, also.

[@nikitaperov6718]

Your SG is awesome! Great video by the way;)

[@shahalamkhanniazi3640]

Crazy Train riff (the way you play it) has been my warm-up exercise ever since I learned it on my acoustic. I did not have an electric but I still wanted to learn rock and metal. Now that I play an electric, it still remains as one of my most effective warm-up exercises because not only does it involves almost all fingers working but muting to make it sound cleaner. I start slow and then I keeps speeding it up. Great and effective content as always. Cheers!

[@Wiplash12345]

That sg is really nice, cool video!!

[@andrewpappas9311]

Fury It does look really nice, a friend of mine has a white SG as well

[@ares4076]

I'm not even done watching and can tell you I'm going home and trying this out, thanks man

[@funquickriddles101]

Smoke on the water is a great warm up too

[@avih]

Why you have only 0.25m subs? This quality content deserves more

[@gustiluca1]

Very cool lesson... Ps i love your white sg

[@EvaluateAssimilate]

Green grass and high tides is a fun one to start out with. Great video as always. Thank you!

[@warrenjoseph76]

This is so well thought out…seriously thank you! Great exercises

[@einbertalstein9611]

Nice exercises, thank you very much!

[@ABC-cw7zv]

Thanks this really helped me. Its fun to play and I'm getting better fast.

[@abraxasvoice440]

Good tips, exercises and productive scales are the only thing that really motivate. Great lesson brother..thank you😁🤘

[@thtavrgwhteguy8808]

Dude i wanna see a guitar collection video if there hasn’t been one i love all of ur gear dude 🖤🖤🖤

[@astronomy7911]

Best guitar lessons on KZbin by far!

[@RaaZVan99]

I love the Leper Messiah bridge riff, downpick it and it's a great exercise for both your hands

[@vladtheimpala4558]

I hope you're talking about the riff after the solo, right? I dont think anyone on earth can downpick the bridge riff with the fast open e strings. As far as I know

[@RaaZVan99]

@vlad the impala kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJ6aYn6eqppggs0 3:15 that riff

[@RecycledRocker2]

Having a blast with some of these. Thanks man...

[@lucwilson1]

What a great warmup idea! Thnx! Sweet SG btw!

[@kevinkohler7997]

Bass note breakdown towards the end of "Hey Joe" all the way up the neck works my fingers & brain

[@twinborn6028]

I play bass but paranoid works well for warming up those quick harmer-ons and you use 3 of the string just in the intro.

[@tarkus1056]

The intro to Behind The Wall of Sleep is also cool for bass

[@murraygoldberg2357]

Really enjoy your videos as a beginner you really make it easy to follow. Thank you

[@WiIIy_Wonka]

i think tornado of souls is an extremly good warmup :)

[@bilboswaggins7629]

All you are missing is a soul patch and some indoor sunglasses. Jokes aside, I love your videos dude and you have been such a great help for me in my journey. Keep doing what you are doing.

[@stephengreico2810]

Such a great tutorial man thank you....the only thing about exercises like this is that there’s SO many that there’re basically endless...which is see is good and bad if you’re like me and feel like you need to do all of them...

[@alexandremarchand8815]

The riff from Plug In Baby by Muse is a pretty nice warm-up too :)

[@jakepinkney]

my favorite warm-up is probably plug in baby by muse...really gets your fingers moving XD

[@alessandropileri4405]

Jake Pinkney I love it too, it's a good exercise and sounds amazing

[@nidhikih2451]

I was hoping someone would mention it, it's such a nice riff and simple riff to warm up, yet it's kinda hard to master

[@austinwoods466]

Love this channel. Help my fingers learn new moves!

[@md.niazomartorabee5439]

I usually play some of these riffs in my free time and I've been informed that these are killer warmup exercises

[@thormusique]

Thanks so much for sharing these great warmups!

[@negy4463]

REALLY REALLY HELPFUL! Thank you!

[@RC32Smiths01]

Thank ye for the upload on my Birthday! Great content as always

[@mara.j]

Those descriptions for the shirt were way to accurate 😂😂

[@javierhumbertowolnitzkywen4918]

Dude, good morning! You totally missed Bombtrack by RATM

[@TheArtofGuitar]

Good call. Saving it for part two. ;)

[@lorenzopinzone8307]

Anastasia by slash too

[@Verth_29]

I think, that a really good warmup is intro riff from "Constant Motion" by Dream Theater. It can be played with all 4 fingers, it can be played with downstrokes only or alternate picking, and it can be played in a loop. :)

[@ben_jamin4529]

Mike love your videos. I really am going to try hard to learn guitar this year. I've been on again and off again for about 7 years due to health problems. I really hope I can learn. I've always loved guitar and you really inspire me to continue.

[@libertydenied]

After those riffs there's one thing that comes to my mind: Angel Witch.

[@sangre_sani]

Hammer Smashed Face is kinda good for warm up.

[@epomahfudz]

great... your idea can be put into practice...thank you

[@robertkrista5551]

this is such a great video to get a kid into technicial practice! thx man

[@Tarkonomist]

youre easily my favorite youtube guitarist to take lessons from

[@anthonylambert71]

Powermad? Whoa, what a gem. Absolute Power is such a great album

[@davidalancoia389]

This is very helpful. Thanks!

[@barrypwalkerable]

Just discovered your channel, your videos are absolutely brilliant!!! Loads of usable stuff to learn!!!! Keep up the great work!!!!! Cheers 🤘🤘🤘

[@metalln3verdie]

Dude! Never expected to see powermad here in this video, I love that album and that song, of course

[@pizzarand]

Thank you very much! Great video

[@michaelenochs5024]

When you play it already the same way he tells you to play it :) 3rd riff is Deftones!!!!!! Love it!

[@mkmusic3652]

thank you for your videos man help me out a lot !!

[@renanmlopes]

The first riff after the clean intro in Anastasia is awesome either

[@bobbyshmudra9225]

I always thought Snow (Hey Oh) was a good warm up. Nothing like destroying your fingers before actually playing.

[@penguinista]

Finally, exercises that are musical and fun to play!! I dedicate this flask to Bacchus in your honor!