Quick Riffs - LAY IT DOWN - RATT (Warren DeMartini). Guitar Lesson / Tutorial

tutorial correction: Apparently those double palm muted chugs after every pull off and chord strike are on the open E string (Not the fifth fret of the A). same note (both D), however an octave lower.
Sorry about that.
Hey everyone. Today by request we have simply one of the greatest hard rock guitar riffs of the eighties (if not of all time). The fantastic opening riff to Lay it Down by Warren DeMartini & Ratt. Gonna show ya how it's done here in this video.
Hope you enjoy and find it helpful.
Cheers, KDA
Paypal tip jar if you're so inclined paypal.me/kell...
support for my channel on Patreon is always greatly appreciated as well. / kellydeanallen

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Hey all, it's come to my attention that there is an error in this tutorial, and they would be correct. The double chugs that one keeps returning to after each chord strike, are NOT on the fifth fret D note on the A string. They are on the open E string which is tuned down to D. Same note, however it's to be played on the E string an octave lower than what I'm teaching.

[@bigbwatt7872]

That's ok. Appreciate the attention to detail. We are our own worst critics! I do it too! 😁

[@CC-qb9sm]

I know that I’m not alone when I say that I never get tired of this riff and this tune! Nicely taught KDA!

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Thanks CC! Yeah, this was a tough one to break down and teach properly. Hope it was pretty clear. Also tough getting through the tutorial without messing up, haha. A few edits here and there. Tough riff.

[@eddiejr540]

I’m not the only one who thinks this is THE greatest riff of 80’s hair metal….its got it all…groove, phrasing and its hard AF to play properly….excellent 👍

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Yep, agreed. Also agree with it not being easy to play properly. Really tough riff to nail.

[@juniorkong9587]

Nothing but love for this guy. KDA leaves about everyone else on YT at the curb.

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

You're too kind, thanks mate!

[@dougsteeleguitar]

That guitar is INSANELY in tune. You're a boss.

[@skyeditor1740]

Another great lesson! Rat was one of my favorite bands back in the day!

[@if6turnedouttobe9]

And how...Right on Kelly...One of the all-time great Riff's...like Stranglehold...

[@matthewmcguire5217]

Warren is under rated - saw that guy in concert back in the day and he was an absolute animal…ok, 135 pound animal but he shredded! 😂

[@patrickmoore1068]

He's definitely not underrated. He's widely considered one of the best guitarists of the genre. Warren is a beast!

[@GoodKarmaGuy]

Need to do hand yoga before tackling this riff. Definitely one of the very best 80s riffs. Thx KDA

[@user-tc5pl3zw3h]

And the Understatement of the decade award goes to... KELLY DEAN ALLEN!! When you said "Fair warning...", I laughed out loud, and actually said, "you're not kidding, brother!" I've been trying to learn this Martini stuff SINCE the 80s. But I haven't found anyone as methodical and clear as you in the descriptions of which fingers do what, and why. So now I have hope. Thanks!

[@4dmind]

One of the things I picked up early - and I'm so glad I did - was to have a strong, accurate and functional pinky finger. I picked that up from Warren, along with the love of Drop D, as well; as his tendency to use strange chord intervals. And still to this day, that rhythm part is one of the most masterful and iconic pieces across all decades.

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Totally agree on the pinky. You ABSOLUTELY need a strong pinky to play any kind of hard rock and metal effectively.

[@ronmorey3475]

So true! Having a strong, functional pinky is never a bad thing.

[@shakeyblues5128]

Wow Kelly I love Ratt. I saw them open up for Goddo in Whitby Ontario Canada at the Iroquois Park Arena in 1981 ♪♫♪♫♪

[@michaelfedoryk1196]

My God KDA! The tone! You nailed it again!!

[@ronmorey3475]

You did an absolutely superb job of this. Thank you!

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Thanks Ron!

[@davidhester9897]

One of my favorite bands in the 80s, mainly because of their guitar work, saw them a couple of times, Invasion of Your Privacy and Dancing Undercover tours, they were great live.

[@scooterfoust4361]

Thanks Kelly. I'm no shredder when it comes to soloing, but I really enjoy learning riffs like this. Cheers!

[@terjelindman6599]

Just love your tutorials the 80s were magic keep on sir

[@loveguitars]

Awesome KDA!! Thank you!🔥🎸🙏

[@dougvolinski5824]

Great lesson again Kelly!

[@StealthParrot]

Perfectly clear Kelly, fantastic. Love this riff!

[@dbrown6451]

Always liked Ratt riffs. Nice job!

[@tvtime1505]

Warren DeMartini is VASTLY underrated.

[@pete11970]

That sounds totally Awesome!

[@matthewmcguire5217]

Kelly, with Creed announcing a new tour, wonder if you could give a lesson on how to play “Weathered” - not a lot out there on this Tremonti piece.

[@MrKjohnson123]

Finally, someone does it RIGHT 😊

[@AnthonyTardugno-c4s]

Wow that's was a great job thanks😊

[@migbgold3191]

Another great riff - if you have a chance, I’d love to see your lesson/take on Bryan Adams’ Hearts On Fire

[@carlosmirandaplaza]

thanks

[@eddiejr540]

Kelly forgot to mention…ice your hand after playing this riff🤣

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Try sitting down for two hours trying to put a tutorial together for it, haha, and playing it over and over and over again.

[@PatJones82]

Wow! The riff itself and the TONE are spot on! Sounds incredible. Well done sir! Is there a quick answer to how you are getting that tone?

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6SZnWqXrZiSi6csi=e7zaavZFEPV1E_xR This bias FX2 preset that I use for Rush, is my go-to starting point for nearly everything, and the one I used for this tone. Normally for rhythm I would have the boost pedal off, but in this case I had it ON with gain at about 11 O'clock and the tone on full. A little more reverb than normal, and that was it.

[@PatJones82]

@@KellyDeanAllenGuitar THANK YOU so much for the response, the information, and the link to your other video! Heading to watch that right now! MUCH appreciated!

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

That guitar that I used also has a Seymour Duncan JB pickup in the bridge. That helps.

[@PatJones82]

@@KellyDeanAllenGuitar Ahh! Good to know! THANK YOU! :)

[@thomasandersson9605]

But he is teaching it wrong.

[@druchumley4571]

Warren's chord play has a lot in common with Jake E. Lee.

[@MaxTor2112]

When are you going to do some Anthony Gomes?

[@dallasbiggz7007]

Yeah but can you play it while you're running around stage? 🤣 given I can't play it while I'm sitting down, I don't know how Warren did this in concert 🤔

[@jbastin9365]

Kelly....I can't get my hand to stretch it out, any tips ???

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Ugh, I don't know, haha. It's a big stretch, and the whole riff is very pinky intensive. The only advice that I can give is to just keep hammering away at it. I was having difficulty with it when I first learned it as well. I held off on the tutorial for about a week and just kept at it until I had it nailed and could play it in my sleep. But like I said, it took me a number of days continuously working on it to get to that point.

[@jbastin9365]

It's like all songs that have that 4 bar stretch I have trouble with. Does the position of the wrist or forearm have anything to do with it ? @@KellyDeanAllenGuitar

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

@@jbastin9365 for this riff, you need to have your fingers perfectly vertical to the fretboard, which is not a common hand position to be in. I see a lot of beginner, intermediate players on KZbin and whatnot in this position all the time, and it's generally an incorrect hand position. There should be an angle into the fretboard with your left hand. However this riff pretty much demands that one plays it with fingers vertical to the fretboard.

[@jbastin9365]

I will keep practicing, thanx again Kelly. You have a great channel & you are an amazing guitarist. @@KellyDeanAllenGuitar

[@jbastin9365]

I'm gonna practice....I'm no HOSER !@@KellyDeanAllenGuitar

[@thomasandersson9605]

Sorry but that is not accurate. The Drop D low E string is essential for the main riff. . Check out Ben Ellers tutorial on this riff. I taught myself to play this riff already in the 80s. The low D makes all rhe difference in this riff.

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

You are correct. I got that wrong. Same note of course, but an octave lower on the E string with the chugs.

[@thomasandersson9605]

​@@KellyDeanAllenGuitarno big deal. Just wanted to point that out. Not easy to hear that Low D when you listen to it fast. If I should make a list of all the riffs I figured out to play the wrong way it would be a long list 😂😂 rock on 🙂

[@jeffallen3382]

Good catch!

[@alwaysright3718]

Shame Shame Shame would be good...