No-Stretch Ratt Riffs?!

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Wanna play RATT RIFFS but you're stuck with MOUSE MITTS?! You've come to the right place! You don't have to have huge hands like Warren Dimartini to play songs like Lay it Down or Round and Round... you've just gotta know how to use what you've got, and some handy ways to re-finger those stretchy chords to make you life easier! Uncle Ben Eller is gonna show you how!
Gear:
Gibson Les Pauls: 60's Standard Cardinal Red, Slash Victoria Gold Top
Synergy Friedman BE DLX
BB Preamp
UA OX
What's some other riffs you'd like to see simple alternatives for? Let me know in the comments!
#ratt #beneller #guitarlesson

[@BenEller]

Thanks for learning these no-stretch Ratt Riffs! Get the tabs for FREE over on my Patreon, even if you’re not a member (although it would be much cooler if you were 😉): www.patreon.com/posts/104893755?

[@bairrock42]

Your tone is killer! 🤘

[@BenEller]

@@bairrock42thanks dude!!!

[@sotirios6882]

Guess you had to go Ice that hand after that LOL

[@EjSinner13]

First time watching a video by you. Very cool. I liked and subscribed. Looking forward to digging into your channel. Peace out.

[@braxal6983]

Way Cool Jr. lesson?.....Please.

[@chrisboller46]

I'm convinced that when Warren and Jake E. Lee were roommates they had contests on who could come up with the stretchiest riffs to play.

[@BenEller]

I think you’re right!

[@mofutmma1]

I think you are right. I believe I read somewhere that is how Jake came up with the thumb trick is because Warrens hands were so big.

[@josephfelice601]

@@mofutmma1 It's straight from Cello technique.

[@SonicVR12]

They did. Straight from Jake's mouth

[@zachary_attackery]

Jake actually talked about this before, he said he and Warren would purposely try to out-do each other with how wide the stretches on the chords were.

[@jonathanmoran3512]

You gotta do a Lynch one soon

[@Anuduin]

Totally agree!

[@francescocagnacci]

ligthning strikes again comes to mind

[@Anuduin]

@@francescocagnacci or Tooth And Nail!

[@stellaspoochpitfeaturingro3522]

Finally, a Ratt Riff vid that will make my Ratt Riffs not sound like mouse poop....

[@BriBeast8566]

I learned "Your in Love" by watching Warren from the front row at the concert.

[@Spasmatic]

That's why we pay for the good seats, or binoculars...😉🤟

[@philfrank5601]

Your not kiddin

[@binkywarren21]

You're seats were terrific!

[@ShaelynneDFuller]

The stepmom comments made me giggle. Warren and Robin made an excellent guitar duo, RIP Robin. I remember an interview with Jake E. Lee where he mentioned Warren's playing and he had to literally use his thumb in order to make the chord stretch.

[@jillpettit4787]

Yes, the stepmom comment was the shit! 😂

[@codacreator6162]

Coming from Jake E. Lee, that’s saying a LOT!

[@mikeykimm6719]

Hey I just found your channel. I can't believe you youngsters would want to learn the old Ratt or any other music from my era. I appreciate you fellas keeping this genre of music alive.

[@BenEller]

Thanks for watching!!

[@aroobladeworks]

I’m with you on the barre chords, growing up learning guitar I always played them with the first and third finger because that is what you are “supposed to do“. Somewhere along the way I naturally started using my first and fourth finger. I don’t think I even realized it because several years ago I stopped playing looking at my hand, slightly confusedicated and asking myself “when the hell did I start doing that”? It just felt more natural.

[@tblx2675]

Index and pinky for me too 99% of the time. Always used index and ring starting out because that’s how it was also shown to me. Years and years later I went to using my pinky and it’s so much comfortable for me.

[@eljefeguapobarbon]

That red Les Paul is beautiful!

[@Incommunicado]

Great Band, Great Riffs.

[@maynardburger]

Figuring out different ways of playing something is very useful anyways, cuz it just helps your understanding of the fretboard and theory concepts and all. There's merit in learning something exactly as it's supposed to be played, but only assholes will care if you play it differently while still generally sounding right.

[@zefolantar]

Nothing like being funny 😆 and awesome at your craft at the same time! 🙌 You nailed it as always, Ben! You’re a Riff Master 👏 ❤️

[@BenEller]

You're the best!

[@usagi2988]

Yes! Leon Todd did something similar with some DiMartini riffs... I think it's absolutely essential to learn how the actual song/riff is played, but it's also nice to have some shortcut versions in your back pocket. Love it! \,,,/

[@ibbylancaster8981]

Lay It Down is one of my favorite riffs. Gonna be watching this one again and again. Much love from NC🤙🤙🤙

[@8KilgoreTrout4]

Love this! I actually had to accept that my hands aren't that big after all of these years. Makes sense why certain licks, and even guitars, are harder to play!

[@maynardburger]

You dont need huge hands to play most of this stuff. Bringing the guitar higher up makes everything easier, but also - your hands can be conditioned to stretch more. I dont have big hands either, but doing stretch exercises will, over time, help you reach farther and get more comfortable with moderate reaches. Sure, maybe you wont ever be able to play some wild Alan Holdsworth-esque chords, but 98% of guitar playing will be within your reach.

[@SchecterIsKING]

​@@maynardburger Alans the man!!

[@AES47670]

Placing your hand and fingers correctly when you play makes a big difference as well. I have small hands and my left hand can't stretch any more than my right even after many years of playing. I'm still able to do all but the most extreme stretches without getting too uncomfortable by simply being careful how I position my left hand. Sounds obvious, but it's easy to miss or screw up, and it makes a HUGE difference when you do it right. In combination with having the guitar at a reasonable height, of course! The "rockstar" height makes it much harder to play well for most people (even Nuno Bettencourt for instance admits to putting one leg on an amplifier to pull some stuff off on stage, which I think is a common trick), and to me it just looks like the guitarist is trying to pass the guitar off as a penis substitute, which I find more pathetic than cool. "Hey everybody, look at my huge d**k! Isn't it impressive? It's got strings on it too!"

[@8KilgoreTrout4]

@@AES47670 😜🤪🤣 Exactly dude. I’ve even seen John Petrucci in person with his little metal step he uses for certain parts of certain songs.

[@hawnick7234]

Ben's knack for guessing my stepmom's nicknames in high school is UNCANNY!

[@phlegmbeck9224]

I just reached up with my tiny little hands and dusted off the Ratt dreams I shelved long ago. Thank you sooo much!

[@ROKZLEON]

My eyes are up here! 🤣🤣🤣. Warren and Jake's licks are some of the stretchiest licks out there. Cool lesson man!

[@nickm2483]

Loving the little shreddy filler bits in between each song 👍

[@klauswigsmith]

This is TOTALLY AWESOME DUDE! I was a HUGE Ratt fan back in high school in the 80s. I even had a Ratt jacket patch, lol. Saw them headline with Bon Jovi for the Invasion of Your Privacy tour. Gettin to work on these right away. Thanks, Uncle, Ben!

[@tombock336]

Good lord, that TONE. 🤩

[@BenEller]

Loooove that Synergy stuff. And nobody ever lost a gig for showing up with a Les Paul!

[@tandybare]

Demartini live is just insane! That stepdad tone ya got there is quite tasty on this one.

[@tinman5322]

Wow Uncle Ben - I've been cheating Lay It down in yet another, completely different way for some 25 years (yes, a nephew can be older than his uncle) with almost as good results. None of the drunks in the dive bars I play have ever called me on it so I'm gonna keep running with it.

[@BenEller]

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

[@andrewbecker3700]

People can make fun of hair metal all they want. But Ratt and the Crue had some of the catchiest riffs in soo many songs. I don't think they ever get the recognition they deserve. Did I go to their concerts? No. But compared to the ying yang bullshit passing as prog or thrash/death metal nowadays. They at least had catchy melodies and songs with some substance. Other than maybe Tool, Chevelle, S.O.A.D.or Disturbed. I have a hard time with most other newish hard rock bands material. Just bores the life out of me. We'll just keep banging away the best stuff we know. Uncle Ben will gladly carry the torch. Excellent short video that tons of people will appreciate. Peace.

[@marks8437]

Nice Lay it Down is my go to riff for big spacious sounds. Interestingly enough I've always played it similarly to how you're doing it, but i pick it with my fingers. Thanks Uncle Ben!

[@trekuhl3966]

Warren is such an incredibly underrated guitarist and his stretches are ridiculous.

[@Kyush4]

Youre the goat Ben, putting respect on the legends like Sykes and Warren, hope for a Nuno, George and Jake vid next!

[@jimbo9344]

Thanks for another shred~tastic video. You rock.

[@StealthParrot]

Fantastic lesson Ben, I think even I might be able to play these riffs this way . They sound great to my ears!

[@travismiles5885]

I have an 87 Les Paul Studio in that same Ferrari Red color. It has dot in inlays.

[@AlternateKek]

its crazy, the YT algo almost knows. I'm playing Ratt songs and YT is like, here is a video to learn Ratt songs better. Thanks again Ben!!!

[@theaterdreamer]

This is like the best example ever on how fretboard fluency really makes all the difference in the world. That riff is a real killer, and even after stretching, I just can’t play it comfortably, even with my Ibanez on my lap. Thank you, Uncle Ben!

[@JohnVieto]

Great lesson Ben. I was trying to play that round and round riff the way they played it! Man no way!!! It's too hard when you have little hands so this lesson is so cool!

[@rosstapson]

Speaking as a stepdad, thanks for this. Also "dainty mitts" is my happy phrase of the week.

[@caveydl]

That synergy sounds incredible.

[@todds5956]

Kick ass sir!!

[@joaquinguerra7217]

Excellent video we hope more like that tutorials like iron Maiden stryper hammerfall Stratovarius

[@frishdaw]

Just recently revisited your original video on this riff and remembered how much that stretch hurts. Awesome timing!

I have very small hands for a guy and some scale and chord positions are just never gonna happen. Luckily, the guitar offers us alternative positions, and I like this approach. Very useful.

[@mygt8a4re]

So cool to run across this, and glad others find an easier way to play this riff!. I honestly can only play the original version if I'm sitting down or have my guitar so hiked up on my body when standing that I look like an idiot😅. I too have a similar alternative way I play it so I can be more comfortable when I'm playing standing. Great vid! 🤘

[@bakman2411]

I have been looking for this! Thank you! 🎸🎸🎸

[@BenEller]

Enjoy!

[@RayC234]

Seems I remember an interview or something with Warren where he said the he and Jake E Lee were friends and they would try to one up each other to see who could come up with the most stretchy riff, and Lay it Down will most definitely put the hurt on your arm hand for sure.

[@timmartin6035]

Warren D used a stainless steel pick I think...at least for one night in Nashville TN back in 1980-something...manage to catch one that he threw into the crowd. Couldn't wait to get home and play with it....then I got my guitar out and used the steel pick to see what kind of sound it made 😁

[@BenEller]

Man, I’ve NEVER gotten on with metal picks!!! Not one!

[@beforethunder4987]

1985 with Bon Jovi opening for Ratt? I was there . Our lead and myself messed with the metal picks but just wasn't into it. For a certain sound maybe but just wasn't our thing.

[@timmartin6035]

This would have been the 1987 tour. They were filming the video (or parts of one) for “Slip of the Lip”. They even played the song twice in a row. Caught the pick during one of those solos. Was very lucky. Happened to make it to the ground before the 10 others that piled on top of me LOL

[@crackerfoot]

I'm with you on the pinky for A shape barre chords. I always thought it was my upright bass playing dna that made me avoid the ring finger, but it's good to know I'm not the only one!

[@BenEller]

Same! Always thought it was just me.

[@JuanKGM]

Great vid! Thank you Ben!

[@Tognar]

I love the algorithm sometimes. I just learned Round and Round two days ago, and I was already worried about left hand endurance. And then this video pops in my feed. Magic. Thank you, bots! 😂

[@steveclark9934]

You lured me in with rat riffs now you got me with skank banger😂❤

[@Elletorryshred]

Thanks again uncle Ben!! Love your videos & I LOVE Ratt!!

[@BenEller]

Glad you like them!

[@julianschulz1620]

HUGE RATT/DEMARTINI (and Crosby, too) fan! My God, those guitar tones on INVASION are lethal (Never use love, Give it all, What you give....etc) They had such HUGE riffs, melodic yet mean, and man....that Warren legato/left hand, bends....

[@stricknine8623]

Warren was great at picking when he needed or wanted to be. However, yes, he had some fantastic legato, the best vibrato of any player I've ever heard and he just had a slippery style and a swaggering style that was like no other.

[@julianschulz1620]

@@stricknine8623 Oh yeah, i grew up with that LA school of slippery shred (Warren, Lynch, Jake, Vivian,,,even though he was Irish), and it was all that post EVH three note per string, pull off style at blazing speeds. I did love Yngwie & some neoclassical, but there was something about that LA school of blazing left hand.

[@stricknine8623]

@julianschulz1620 To me,..Warren and Lynch were different than the rest from that shred scene...They had more great phrasing, vibrato and sustaining notes in a musical way than the average awesome noodling shredder. Especially Warren DeMartini. The guy just had it all.

[@julianschulz1620]

@@stricknine8623 Completely agree, and Warren was my fave from that era!

[@SixStringsGeek]

Robbin Crosby from Ratt was like 2m tall, I guess that would explain huge hands to easily play these crazy riffs

[@Reid_Jorgensen]

Warren DeMartini is playing these.

[@stricknine8623]

​@Reid_Jorgensen Yes,.."Lay it Down" is Warren's riff and Crosby plays a simplified version of it that just supports what Warren is doing...Crosby plays fill chords in this song and many others. Warren DeMartini does have large hands for his stature though...I've seen him play up close. He is one of the most incredible players with a swagger to go with his slippery flare in his playing like no other.

[@supernothing77]

6'6"

[@ThePants2012]

2 miles, wow that is tall!

[@1HFMudd]

Ratt riffs with mouse mitts !! Brilliant

[@matheussantos9367]

Thank the good lord! Uncle Ben coming in clutch! Always tried learning these Ratt riffs, but with hands so small they’re impossible

[@BenEller]

Glad to help!!

[@soundbites1152]

Warren's fingers are at least 10" long. Spider hands! Super good stuff, Ben!

[@462rob]

Such a great teacher. And I would argue almost NO ONE would know the difference unless..... like he said, they have played it themselves and chose the exact true method. Even hearing it and the differences could be attributed to amp/studio nuances...

[@dantahoua]

I made myself a 23.5“ scale length semi hollow guitar for my small hand... This way of playing it is awesome!

[@chiasson65]

"my eyes are up here"..........fuckin hell dude....so hilarious! cheers, kev

[@RoofsHobbyGuitar]

Exactly what I needed lol. The stretches and awesome riffs of Warren are tough for me, being an older late beginner. Thanks Ben! 🤟🤟🎸

[@Guitarliano]

Ben u are bad ass bro. I love this riff and been struggling to play it the correct way. But this cheat way u r showing us works so well. thanks brotha

[@back4onemore]

Man this is perfect for me thank you!

[@BenEller]

Glad to hear it!

[@gitfiddlrx5312]

I always thought I had a hard time learning these songs because Robin and Warren were playing inversions, relative to one another. So, if you listen to isolated guitar tracks, you will find that Ben is correct, they play them slightly different. ✌❤🤘

[@matttobin9858]

This is incredible always struggled with these stretches

[@6Stringers]

Uncle Ben dropping the one liners today lol

[@ObiWanShinobi999]

That tone... 🤤

[@scorpionleader1967]

I'm finally going to attempt Ratt.🥰

[@jarrettfinney4882]

I feel like I’ve been waiting years for this video! Thanks man! Also, i appreciate all the stuff you do with the Ibanez 7 strings. I’ve got one from 99, Japanese, and that was my first seven string, but it was also the best guitar ever. It’s like a perfect guitar, idk what it is

[@doublepanthers3088]

RATT! Sweet lesson.

[@AudioAtmos]

I use to be able to do the stretches with no problem and always did form II bar chords with my middle finger without hitting and muting the high E. Now at 59 I have bad arthritis in my wrists and thumbs and get tendonitis easily. These are great videos. Thanks for doing them. I have always loved the Round & Round riff (think it’s one of the all time greats) and had started to hit the low C with the pinky like you. I never tried a different approach to Lay It Down so that is something new. Thanks again!👍

[@drockny]

Very cool lesson. "My eyes are up here" lmao. Ratt N' Roll brother.

[@TheStrykerProject]

Off the cuff, my favorite Ratt riff is a tie between "Round & Round" and "Lay It Down". Both so catchy and what I really loved about playing guitar, myself (though my 'mouse mittens' made for some sloppy playing!)

[@scorpionleader1967]

When I had a guitarist as a singer in a band, I didn't appreciate that he could play these songs. Now that I am trying to play guitar on my own, I only attempted Ratt once. Not even close to get the stretch.

[@bruceniblett959]

Sounds great

[@nick_daz]

Ha, lots of step mom action in this one! Rock on!!

[@stephengreen9663]

Brilliant teacher and fun with it.if you wanna play rock/metal well you have to stick with Ben,even if it feels impossible..keep perfecting little chunks. Get timing correct and practice practice practice. ❤

[@cc_1983]

Picked my mind! Been digging loads of Ratt Agata in recently

[@johnathondupuis1301]

That red LP!! My next guitar.

[@reckless-575]

Thanks for making it easier to play those riffs, uncle Ben! 👍

[@slates1969]

The video I've been waiting for. I near cripple myself trying to play the opening to play Lay It Down

[@christopherkamer3262]

Favorite Ratt Riff- the main riff of The Morning After

[@skirwan78]

This is awesome... NOW DO BARK AT THE MOON PLEASE !! Lol !!! Thanks so much Uncle Ben (been subbed to your Patreon for years)

[@michaelr.4878]

I totally agree about Ratt riffs being some of the greatest ever written..but also some of the hardest to comfortably play. Even when you get the riffs and the positions down, making them sound like Warren does is next to impossible. He has a great touch. I remember being very frustrating back in either 94 or 95 when I was trying to figure out how to play Round and Round. I was 12 or 13..and couldn't figure out why he sounded so thin when I played it. I was too stupid to understand that there was more than one guitar playing on the album. hehe.

[@cybersixx]

Thanks Ben great video , now we want some back for the attack riffs 😊

[@dallasbiggz7007]

This video is pure gold. A Huge Thanks, Ben. 🤘🎸

[@eearts]

Ben your humor is awesome 😎

[@jamiewilson6900]

Damn thanks man! That round and round 3 to 7 stretch or whatever it is is a killer

[@mrk4510]

I would be so confused if I saw you play these songs live like this. I'd be like what sorcery is this!

[@drekavac1683]

Hi Uncle Ben, you can easily play it original (with lowered guitar) if you switch ring finger with middle (Andy Summers style)... Btw in the ocean of lessons you realy helped me with alternate picking❤

[@salemyr]

Love the Pat Finnerty reference!

[@jrtmns]

Man that Standard just screaaaams!

[@russperry3000]

Never dawned on me that the rhythm chords of All She Wrote were pretty much copied from Round and Round until I saw your alternate shapes. Cool to watch :)

[@MetalHeadMarc]

Uncle Ben, how do you know so much stuff about our moms? Also, loved the little let-me-rip-a-quick-lick when bring out your guitar.

[@guitarsehole]

I've been playing in drop tunings since the 90s, and been a big fan of Ratt since the 80s... but didn't know this song was in drop D! 😄

[@Nuker54]

Love watching your videos. Always interesting and well explained👍

[@BenEller]

Glad you like them!

[@weicco]

I've rewritten tabs for decades just for my use so that I can play all the weird stretches and stuff. It is especially necessary for me to do so now because of psoriatic arthritis. My fingers really hurt when stretching and sometimes I can't play at all! Sometimes I also use tapping instead of hammerons just because I can't stretch so much.

[@brianhudson123]

Hey Ben. How about doing these 10 Motorhead songs: Iron Horse (Born to Lose), City Kids, (I Won't) Pay Your Price, Damage Case, Love Me Like A Reptile, Live To Win, Dead Men Tell No Tales, Shine, I Got Mine, and In the Name of Tragedy.

[@ey870]

Sick riff

[@AbComp870]

4:22 saving this for posterity. 🧠 🤯 😂

[@tpace6156]

Thanks for the lesson

[@Petruccifan77]

Excellent video, very useful and funny as all hell too

[@rickoleary]

this is killer! more Warren!

[@Guitarman333]

Ben that’s great I’m going to learn it that way and I see you read my moms autobiography LoL your mom jokes are great