Revocation - "Deathless" - How to play the main riff with Dave Davidson

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In this month’s column, I’d like to discuss the diminished scale, which is a very useful scale for writing heavy, twisted-sounding riffs.
In fact, I used it for the primary riffs in the title track from the latest Revocation release, Deathless. There are two forms, or modes, of the diminished scale. One ascends in a repeating pattern of whole steps and half steps (whole, half, whole, half, and so on) and is referred to as the whole-half diminished scale.
The other form starts with a half step and ascends half, whole, half, whole, and so on, and is referred to as the half-whole diminished scale.

[@godfreyfrancesco5419]

I'm so glad that there are metal guitarists like Dave who understand how aspects of music theory fit on the guitar. It really aids pushing what we do beyond amateur music making.

[@zannall2699]

he better... he went to burkley one of the if not the best school for music

[@java8]

Wow. he seems to be a great teacher too. At this level, i thought he will not be bothered to explain but this is like note by note level. So cool Dave.

[@sarumadaki]

Am I the only one who wants to pick up their guitar immediately after watching these vids?

[@awkwardpizza]

slaughterofthesoul95 I just did that right now. I might learn the rest of this song today.

[@kennysarkadi4225]

fuck i love revocation, this dude is brilliant

[@luisdanielenator]

Watch out guys, He is in Eb

[@jeremebonesaw]

I thought so. I was really confused at first when I was playing it on my guitar. So the first note he is playing is not an F. It's an E.

[@SleepTheReaper]

I really like this guy's lessons \,,/ him and metal mike often teach fun riffs and techniques that help me out alot with my playing \,,/

[@Schatje79]

So glad my friend introduced me to Revocation. One of the best finds and couldn't have come at a better time. Was struggling to find new stuff to rock out to! :D

[@Icedsymphony7]

Love this guy's playing we need such players

[@MelficeSephiroth]

Watching him play this through makes me want to pick back up my guitar! XD

[@Lavabug]

Colored sands shirt. This guy is legit.

[@MetalAllDayAllNight]

Such an awesome album. Dat guitar...

[@JoeCavanaugh]

I'd only call the whole-half 'diminished' and the half-whole 'symmetrical' ? In other words, the F Diminished Scale is the E Symmetrical scale.

[@kl7360]

They're both diminished scales because they sit on a diminished 7 chord. Where did you get "symmetrical" from? Considering it's essentially the same pattern they're just as symmetrical as each other.

[@JoeCavanaugh]

Joe Satriani

[@kl7360]

You might want to re-check that cause I'm pretty sure what they call "symmetrical scales" are just the result of copying one pattern across several strings. But if that's what Satch says, then I'm not going to argue.

[@Twobarpsi]

Dave, when you play scales in songs/solos, do you think "note names", or "position/shapes only"? And.... When you are composing, do you improvise first, then go back to see what scale you used, or do you specifically pick a scale and only improvise in that key. Thanks.

[@tonedeafjeff465]

I was fortunate enough to take lessons with him before he went on his current tour, and I asked him nearly the same questions. His response was that as a musician it should be your goal to be fluent in thinking both ways. He said that scales were to music like colors are to painting. In order to improvise or compose well, you need to know what sound you're going for, what notes are available to you, and how you want to get there.

[@Twobarpsi]

When I'm soloing fast, I rely on my ear, shapes, and finger memory. I'm not trying to think, "Ok, I'm on D now I need to go to an F", it is more visual for me because I am looking where I'm playing, unless its something simple like blues, then I close my eyes lol and use my ear. If I'm writing a song, or need to solo over a rhythm, I will determine what key the rhythm is in, then select a scale from the chords being used. I just don't have the time when playing fast to think about the name of each note. If that makes sense? I also don't know the names of all the notes on the fretboard, even after 15 years of playing. I do for the common keys like E and A minor, but that's about it. For me it works because I only specialize in two styles, metal and blues based rock like AC/DC.

[@TerminalVelocity031]

Jeff Shock Jeff is right. I take lessons from Dave, and that's his exact response.

[@SantomPh]

it's better to think intervals between notes, which are what make up chords and scales. There is no point in going on scalar runs if half the notes don't work with the chords underneath. If you get your ear tuned to interval sounds you can get all sorts of cool sounds that fit with the chords (or not fit, if that's the style ).

[@ericjenkins8831]

just go learn about scale degrees and you'll see what intervals are in the chords you already know, and what can fit and won't fit the harmonic backdrop, just by knowing a short number system. it's worth knowing.

[@slyrez]

he's chill as fuck

[@Mizziri]

Fucking awesome. That trem riff sounds like Blotted Science.

[@SantiagoRebella]

GORGUTS COLORED SAND t-short!

[@Kaboom66613]

1:13 "the first riff is gonna be utilizing the f-hole"

[@christianmetal17]

I would smack someone in front of their own Mother JUST to get Dave's 7 String Warrior Guitar!

[@Beatdownkioskman]

I’d smack someone’s mother in front of them for it, it’s so beautiful

[@cesarperez-cardenas97]

Before I die, I want my own custom Jackson guitar.

[@danmcamis4887]

How many strings do I add for my lack of skill and practice?

[@MattHalcyon]

-6

[@infernapeDLS]

lmfao, actually you do have a point...If someone sucks with a 7 or 8 string you can see it more clearly than if someone just played a 6 string....Having said that....Dave Davidson is equally awesome with 6 or with 7 strings even with a banjo xd

[@SantomPh]

put the guitar down and play tambourine ;P

[@MelficeSephiroth]

YES!!!

[@jeremebonesaw]

Did anyone catch how the first note he names is F, when it is actually an E? I picked up my guitar to learn this, thought my guitar was out of tune. Then checked his notes on my piano. The first note is indeed an E. So either he is out of tune or he forgot he tunes to Eb. I don't know.

[@warlikesoad]

It's just easier to compare and teach speaking the notes position wise, as supposed to being musically correct. You'll find that they teach the same way regardless of tuning in metal or rock lessons.

[@CelestialEmber]

0:46 I guess Dave is so good he can play a C flat, WAT

[@Twiggyay]

Holy shit. What a god he is!

[@jeremebonesaw]

The note C flat does exist, depending on what key you are in.

[@ChilisauLP]

C flat = B, nothing special about that

[@JaFoste_Studio]

What kind of guitar is that? ...I mean, aside from being a Jackson, lol

[@jeremebonesaw]

I believe it is some type of Jackson Warrior.

[@ibz11]

It's a Jackson Custom Shop Warrior 7. Spalted maple top, looks to be mahogany body and neck, ebony fretboard, and Dimarzio pickups. Don't quote me on that, but it looks to be that way.

[@austinfailz]

I thought the most interesting thing shown in the video was the thing he says he didn't use.

[@a-jayantonio8065]

Okay then, I'm just going to play the triangle instead.

[@shaunbob5535]

A Jackson Kelly

[@xXxglassgowdreamxXx]

PVfreak999 Harsh choice of words for correcting someone on a guitar shape don't you think?

[@KaldDodeGitarist]

PVfreak999 that escalated quickly. I'm telling your mom and she's putting you in time out

[@darkcid22]

Shaun Bob Jackson Warrior 7 Strings custom Spalted Maple

[@FreakOnTheLeaf]

Deathless is without a doubt the weakest track on the new album, don't understand why it's the track that's getting marketed.

[@Lacertilian22]

It's the single, being the weakest track on Deathless is like being the weakest member of an olympic weightlifting team. It's still fucking STRONG.

[@slyrez]

+FreakOnTheLeaf its a fun song