The BEST 8 String Riffs Ever Written

[@robscallon]

Oh damn I know that one! Haha So honored 🙏 Thank you Pete :)

[@angeleocorrodead]

It would be nice if you could do a colab with mike tremonti. :)

[@dehasim]

@@angeleocorrodead Mark? From Alter Bridge?

[@Caderfixloxa]

which one though? :p

[@benjamartinezruvalcaba7282]

Rob, el mismisimo

[@ahmaddanial99]

Hey Rob, that song got me through some pretty tough times. Thank you.

[@BaenaCarcosa]

Naillllled it

[@zerotwo6114]

The king himself

[@cringeassdude1009]

Ayyy there he is

[@alexdjent5400]

Андрюха такое не пропускает

[@ponderosabones7803]

Jack Black: Just keep playing that one note. Every now and then, bend it. Meshuggah: All joking aside, I think you might be on to something.

[@MickeyFoley0105]

Mick Gordon Agrees.

[@michaellewis486]

Next song.

[@programmer1840]

Meshugga guitarist to the other one "I told you to do the bendy thing every once in a while!"

[@PorchBandit]

I think you mean Mick Gordon

[@nepntzerZer]

this isn't funny and is punishable by death in sweden.

[@borisgut559]

In the beginning: How tf is Demigure there, it's supposed to be Bleed? At the end: Oh...

[@joedamore7653]

Mick Gordon crushes.

[@aghastinagharta]

Unpopular opinion: Bleed itself is good, but overall kinda overrated.

[@DJENTISNTNOTAGENRE]

@@aghastinagharta I agree. I actually think Demiurge is the better song of the two.

[@oceantempleton5136]

@@aghastinagharta i wouldnt say its overrated, its an insane piece of music, but its the gateway meshuggah song and most people cant understand anything else by them so bleed is all they talk about

[@AgainstTheeWickedlyMusic]

@@aghastinagharta Agreed. I love Meshuggah, and Bleed is incredible rhythmically, but I honestly think it's one of their more monotonous songs. Songs like Clockworks, Do Not Look Down, Perpetual Black Second, and New Millenium Cyanide Christ are much more interesting to me

[@ArcienPlaysGames]

My favourite part of the BFG Division riff, is that it's so SO simple, yet it still hits so SO hard. It's all in the rhythmics and the groove, rather than the melodics. I love it so much.

[@TommyNitro]

Yeah, I also think they only thing they fear is you is really good.

[@Jopeymessmusic]

Man, everyone always talks about "Bleed". I need to spread the word about "Combustion" it's on the same album and is just as relentless. It's odd to consider that before the modern djent thing happened, Meshuggah were just rocking out.

[@Cephalotripsy1992]

Dancers to a discordant system is the best

[@mana20]

since the 90's

[@haddontube]

Broken cog is one of my favorites tbh it's not on the same album but it's still super good

[@var_guitar]

People are sleeping on Obzen’s riff, absolutely thunderous

[@spade8094]

New millennium cyanide Christ?!?!, Unless that Is from a 7 string

[@68able2]

any meshuggah riff is automatically god tier

[@sjn_]

+1 There still are so many underrated riffs that many people haven't heard of I think.

[@spaantz]

*muhshuhgguh

[@LeMichaelJordansPoleRiders]

boring and repetitive

[@yfz450rider39]

@@LeMichaelJordansPoleRiders just like your life.

[@alexandrdemidov4372]

+100

[@alexdavies6948]

I got an ad for a chiropractor right before 'Bleed', it's like the universe knew I would need one right after that.

[@akrilleer]

Archspire - The Mimic Well Meshuggah - Do Not Look Down Born Of Osiris - Silence the Echo Periphery - Ji, Stranger Things Terminal - The Edge of Time

[@talaynt2656]

New groove is a 7 string riff

[@akrilleer]

@@talaynt2656 thanks, I don’t know why I wrote it

[@tristianseguin3930]

Four lights by periphery is also just heavy as fuck

[@talaynt2656]

@@tristianseguin3930 four lights has some great riffs

[@floriyoo1036]

Silence the echo is a good one ✌🏻

[@ericsmith6633]

I’d say diamond eyes deftones. That was my 1st awesome song I heard on a 8 string. Bought one just to learn that album

[@kenny.m.olsen95]

Also my first song

[@accomplishedtheory9502]

how uncomfortable is an 8 string?

[@thehunterstruck]

@@accomplishedtheory9502 if you get one that doesn’t have a hella thick neck radius I heard it’s not bad at all. I bought a 7 string and automatically thought it was gonna be hard to play but it’s super comfortable and honestly more comfortable than any of my 6 strings. Neck radius is a lifesaver

[@madjentah]

1:06 DniwuGGah - Demiurge 2:30 Leaders as Animals - Waves of Babes 3:59 Mick Gondon - BFG Inquisition 5:44 Bored Scallon - Anchorage 7:18 DniwuGGha - Bleed

[@madjentah]

My faves are: Me Sugar - Rational Dayz Daddies as Animals - CAFFO Mick Gondon - The Only Thing They Fear is KZbin Babushka - Yekteniya 4 Me Sugar - Combustion (NG3) and last, but not least Pete CTRL - Regenerate

[@TTTTTTLOL]

Mick Gondon

[@datboi4216]

@@TTTTTTLOL BFG inquisition

[@a_makarov]

@@TTTTTTLOLDick Condom

[@harleymumford94]

Deftones have some groovy 8 string riffs, Rosemary being one of my personal favourites Great video as always Pete

[@northtimo666]

Genesis is actually played on a 7-string. It does sound like 8-string.

[@DJENTISNTNOTAGENRE]

@@northtimo666 Genesis is played on an 8 string if you watch the music video. Steph just never uses the bottom 8th string on that song. You could still technically play it on a 7 string, though!

[@BigTyronie]

Deftones are the shit. Steph is steph whether its 6 or 8. Or 9 lol.

[@TetraVaalBioSecurity]

@@DJENTISNTNOTAGENRE he actually uses the 8th string in the playthrough!

[@DJENTISNTNOTAGENRE]

@@TetraVaalBioSecurity I noticed that, too! He must have decided to switch up how he plays it. Probably likes the way it sounds/feels better. Either that or he played it "incorrectly" for the music video lol.

[@jorgebustos488]

I see Mick Gordon, I click like

[@StealthBeeKid]

Ah I see you're a man of cu- you know what, this is overused... -I see, you too are a gentleman of fine taste

[@BlaZe-pl4ym]

@@StealthBeeKid Djentleman.

[@jesseservin4012]

RIP AND TEAR!!!!!!!!!!!

[@nerdyism2523]

RIP AND TEAR!

[@JoeMaximiliano]

@@BlaZe-pl4ymEXACTLY

[@genericguitarist141]

The fast "breakdown" riff near the end of ObZen! (3:01) absolute banger Edit: timestamp does not refer to the video

[@KeithShelley1]

"Four Lights" by Periphery is what made me buy an 8-string :)

[@anthonyhaga7559]

I was going to say that too! Solid song.

[@user-tf2im9br3q]

"Stranger Things" and "Ji" also blow our minds off

[@marcusimbesi1421]

I was hoping someone would say it

[@thamuzino]

‘Frozen Lakes on Mars’ by Ihsahn is what inspired me to buy an 8 string.

[@peteplaysmusic]

Did I miss any, which riffs would you include on this list? :)

[@gakiddo8043]

Doomed user Or goon squad by deftones are neat 8string riffs

[@roadykin]

NO!

[@oleksandrkolomiiets4052]

After The Burial - Your Troubles Will Cease...

[@TheAverageGam3r]

Ji-Periphery

[@baibhabadhikari]

Periphery - Stranger things, is amazing!!

[@JVR10893]

Haken is by far my favorite band that uses 8 strings. I recommend the songs Falling Back to Earth, The Architect, and Messiah Complex for some real progressive metal 8 string deliciousness.

[@bohncm]

new to haken but i have to make a controversial comment...i used to be a big dream theatre fan so i assume i, at one time, could have apprectied their previous albums that aside, virus is their stand alone best work. Invasion is amazing. The messiah complex literally captures, masters and redefines djent as it were. Im a periphery junkie so it takes a lot to get my attention but virus did. Big fan but the silly prog metal is something ive kind of moved on from.

[@elliotjgc]

There is one 8 string song id say is extremely underrated and that is Frozen lakes of mars by Ihsahn. Use of it to create heavy weightiness to the intro and is what really got me into 8 string properly and personally the best example of utilizing a 8 string in heavy music.

[@WynterWoods]

Hell yes. Frozen Lakes on Mars is the song that still makes me want an eight string more than any other. Highly underrated.

[@nickdavids8573]

That is so true. Its really unfortunate that so few folks know about that song as a 8 string composition.

[@Khaled-bu4kh]

this song is a real masterpiece, Ihsahn is a music mastermind.

[@majesticpbjcat7707]

The huge and stomping riff in the middle of "I" from Meshuggah. Probably one of the heaviest riffs of all time. Surprised no one has even mentioned that one.

[@alphaclean3364]

Cause no one has listened that far into "I" without their brain melting

[@buffalothebison4850]

"Heaviest 8 string riffs" *laughs while playing them on my 6 string 30" scale baritone"

[@michaellewis486]

@Lukas H its about usable range, not how low you can tune.

[@drpibisback7680]

@@michaellewis486 A lot of extremely detuned metal makes very poor use of the high strings.

[@michaellewis486]

@@drpibisback7680 thats true, the same goes for any other tuning or number or strings paired with _ scale length. What you play on is all preference. Just play 😀🤘🖖

[@AndresGarcia-qk3sj]

@@michaellewis486 it's more about what I want to play, I don't feel like retuning every time I want to play a solo

[@georgebrett1738]

I prefer the 8 string for convenience, but my god I want a 30" bari

[@awakennomore]

yeah Bleed still confuses my hands, that timing is just so nuts.

[@rangamsarmah2061]

The rhythms themselves arent the most complicated, it's the way its arranged is probably what makes it sounds so cool and mind bending. But the riff itself, my picking arm almost breaks and falls off before I even hit the 2 minute mark lol.

[@notoriusdrifter40]

@@rangamsarmah2061 It's a more of an endurance thing than anything else, I'd say.

[@camdon5112]

I love when I'm trying to practice the 3-1 patten in bleed and I lose count in the middle, and I'm like "shit was that 6 or 7 times?, eh whatever, time to do the BEEEEEND!!!!!"

[@DJENTISNTNOTAGENRE]

@@camdon5112 This is me trying to play anything that I have to count out in my head while playing 🤣

[@ewxx5574]

Smash hit combo - Baka Polyphia - Look but don't touch These ones are really fun to play in my opinion

[@baraldobumpa3447]

Lbdt is such a fun song

[@MetalKeith666]

Cringe

[@UncleRJ]

The breakdown to Clockworks by Meshuggah had been one of their best in recent years.

[@zacharymicah]

Moonshine, Regenerate, and In Unison. Anything by Allaegeon. Extraneous from Periphery's "Clear EP." Rob Scallon's "The Dial." Djent Jazz Funk by Mike Le Rossetti

[@marcusimbesi1421]

That one fron extraneous is so fucking good

[@matiasmorales073]

"hello my name is pete and I play music" I really like the introduction, dunno works very well, also great video

[@ArikaStack]

I have to say it. I have to. Rareform by After the Burial.

[@reedsims5407]

Atb is a must have for any 8 string riff list

[@Seansquatch7]

Rareform (Reissue) 🙌 How about, “A Vicious Reforming of Features”

[@SixGorillion]

That's the song that made me get my first 8 string.

[@Xenbjorn]

That riff is sooo groovy! Always been one of my favorites.

[@ameralameddine]

Those are all very memorable riffs, they're stuck in your head right after hearing them! I would say Deftones have some really good 8 string riffs too, You've Seen The Butcher is a good example. Awesome video Pete! :)

[@davidallennorton]

Seeing the love and respect for Rob’s musicianship makes me so happy

[@connorcampbell144]

Next: the best 10 string riffs ever written

[@mattkodl3884]

Correction: the only 10 string riffs ever written

[@connorcampbell144]

@@mattkodl3884 Come on there is a few and at least more than 10 riffs, so maybe make a top 5 10 string riffs

[@SidMassiveXM]

The very second you started playing Bleed I realized that I actually know the lyrics by heart. Song for the ages.

[@tconolly]

As a photographer and video editor. I immediately got upset by the camera not being level haha. Just being sarcastically critical, great video mate!

[@AleArzMusic]

Awesome playing and video and hanging room from the right side

[@Zayin]

This tone is something else would like to see a tutorial on this one

[@luciferMorningstar666_____]

Never clicked so fast I see 8 string and pete I click 👀👀

[@peteplaysmusic]

Thanks for watching! :)

[@thepickle2535]

I love this list! I remember seeing Rob's song and thought "That's 8 strings??? Isn't that illegal or something? I thought 8 strings had to melt your face, not get you to be able to sit back and enjoy a great guitar riff like this!" Thanks, Pete!

[@colinstreck710]

The main riff from "The Woven Web" by AAL is my favorite riff. Honestly, anything written by Archspire is a good contender as well.

[@dannyfinch147]

Polyphia s song look but don't touch is one of the best 8-string guitar songs I've ever heard I love the use of the harmonics

[@arturorochoa9359]

I feel like the 8 string is it’s own instrument and that it’s worth the respect and awe of the beholders of the music that comes from it

[@Juni41]

Ah ! A few months ago I also made a "top 8 string riffs" video. Now I'm happy to see that we picked the same riffs ! xD I guess our heavy tastes do match. I also picked one of YOUR original riff because it's awesome too. :)

[@JoeyC4D]

Been a minutes since I watched one of your videos, now that I just got myself an 8 string ofc I had to come back to this one!

[@markkelly1977]

Deftones - Diamond Eyes. The main riff is an exercise in simplicity and off time groove

[@ThomasFarrow]

Good video, Pete!! I think Mattias lA Eklundh deserves to be mentioned!!! He writes some really cool 8 string stuff!

[@robcny74]

Your song moon shine should be on this list .. I understand why you didn't include it , but don't sell yourself short , thats is a 8 string work of art 😉.. brilliant man just brilliant 👏

[@hazzat83]

Unsuprisingly, Meshuggah! With basically the entirety of Lethargica, especially that breakdown.

[@christinam867]

Animals as Leaders👍👍...Tosin Abasi is def a fave of mine. Great video Pete!!!

[@ClikcerProductions]

These all would make my list for sure, a few others I'd consider would be You've seen the Butcher - Deftones, Ragnarok - Periphery and Look but Don't touch - Polyphia

[@sayrambaud858]

I waited this video so much dude that's sick!

[@Just-Michael]

After the Burial getting the cold shoulder. I learned a bit of Collapse recently and it's such a backwards way of playing but it's so cool. XD

[@ZeugmaP]

I would also include You've Seen the Butcher or Doomed User by Deftones. Even if these riffs are not as legendary, Deftones is one of the bands that made me buy an 8 string.

[@guitaristssuck8979]

Poltergeist!

[@ClikcerProductions]

Stephen is just a riff master, definitely one of the main reasons I got an 8 string, along side Meshuggah

[@kaozer666]

My favorite remains bfg division. Theres just something special about that soundtrack. I cant say exactly what makes it for me, but imo, that score will be remembered for a long time.

[@user-xx5cc4ws9z]

periphery - Dracul gras meshuggah - in death is death sleep token - take me back to eden erra - scorpion hymn (played on 7 string in 8 string tuning) architects - early grave (played on 6 string in tuning where the 6th string is downtuned to 8 standard tuning) vildhjarta - when no one walks with you (played on 7 string but tuned down a lot, so it's possible to play on 8 string guitar))) bleed from within - fracture (played on 7 string in 8 string tuning) periphery - hell below (played on 8 string and the 8th string is dropped down an octave) - my favorite :)

[@theunpretentiousvegan8593]

These riffs are so fire they dried his skin right out! Somebody get this guy done moisturizer!

[@starkiller34]

Real talk folks: I fucoing love Bleed, and Meshuggah in general. So much in fact that I strongly believe Catch 33 is being kinda forgotten. Dehumanization/Sum is probably the most brutal piece of music Ive ever heard. Its also my single favorite album closer of all time.

[@justchilling1169]

Thats very cool, that this video was uploaded a day after i got my first 8 string. Unfortunaly, i noticed it only today)

[@AgainstTheeWickedlyMusic]

After The Burial - Neo Seoul or Parise (So many sick ones though) Born of Osiris - Silence The Echo Basically every Meshuggah riff, as you said The Only Thing They Fear Is You - Mick Gordon

[@staz3014]

My personal best 8 string riff would be Vultures by Northlane. It's played on a 7 string tuned to Drop E but it sounds sick in my opinion and it really fits the 8 string writing style.

[@martysmetal]

Man that's so good love it thankyou

[@deftones_enjoyer]

Stephen Carpenter from Deftones uses an 8 string in most if not all of the songs from Diamond Eyes. “Rocket Skates” is probably the most complex, but my personal favorite is “You’ve Seen the Butcher”. Only Deftones can make an 8 string sound that sexy.

[@KevinelGamerlol]

That on riff in Backpfeifengesicht by Animals as Leaders

[@thed3m0n0id9]

DUDE! Anchor is the song that made me WANT an 8 string and was also my first @RobScallon track!

[@nikkmorse]

Killed it again pete, nice to hear from you 🤘🏼😈🤘🏼

[@impactQuake]

I like also riffs from Babymetal - Starlight and BxMxC

[@ripit.3457]

those are on 9 strings :)

[@impactQuake]

@@ripit.3457 Still playable on 8 :P (I tired) and most of the tabs are for 8 strings as well

[@impactQuake]

@@ripit.3457 And the play it on 8 strings? live

[@ripit.3457]

@@impactQuake yup! well, they do for starlight, not quite sure about BMC

[@rockonileva]

My favorite is Haken's The Architect ( the first chorus riff ) the one that made me want an extended range guitar!

[@idanshahar]

Dude amazing! Also- Shae butter for fingers when you have skin asthma is amazing (for me and others)

[@Convoy-16]

4 insane riffs you need to play on the 8 string are the first 4 riffs of Blood Swamps by Andrew Hulshult.

[@funnyguy4135]

That intro to blood soaked symphony😩😩

[@KaldDodeGitarist]

You're definitely going to need to check out black crown initiate

[@cpamiseso]

Pete, I'm amazed you could still put your thumb behind the neck. I'd have my hand floating (no thumb resting) for a neck that big.

[@Dillybillman1960]

You have got to check out black crown initate, they have some of the best 8 string riff i have ever heard. Super awesome stuff

[@tuxlector]

Fear Factory - Soul Hacker. That song has the most chubby and most gorgeous 8 string riff I have heard. The one that goes in the background during solo and before solo.

[@Anatley]

I know nothing about this but I enjoyed it a lot. I can listen to just rifts all day.

[@werewolf2003002]

As someone that has learned to play Demiurge, I'm only disappointed you didn't include the part of the riff directly after you stopped, it really closes out the feel of it! Otherwise great vid, might have put Lethargica in myself.

[@TheBudBoss]

Awesome video. I feel drunk looking at your desk.

[@bornindissonance]

I would have to say the mind-bending tapping part in Tempting Time (2.50-4.13min). I cannot control my bodily movements at the breakdown in there..

[@harveydjent_]

Meshuggah - Nebulous. If the universe were ever to implode, this would definitely be the soundtrack to that. Some others worth mentioning. Batushka - Yekteniya I Ihsahn - Frozen Lakes on Mars Deftones - Doomed User Monuments - Origin of Escape

[@eggsandbacon1838]

Duuuuuude! A wolf amongst ravens, and neo Seoul by after the burial. Those dudes are out of this world! 🤘

[@monstruonegro05]

Good choice, but, as you say, it could also have been a whole MessssH video 😁🤘🏽

[@JulianEmdon]

Great list! Yes every riff on Wave of Babies. Also check out Bad Code by Chimp Spanner.

[@mikeskeins1981]

that top string looks like a stand up bass floppin around :))

[@BumbleDump]

Stephen Carpenter of Deftones uses primarily 8 string now and his riffs are killer on Diamond Eyes and Koi no Yokan

[@travisbarnes4647]

Awesome sound and playing as always Pete, keep it up Man. I'm looking into buying a good 8 string. I'm stepping out of my comfort zone and trying out new things to try and find inspiration again. My guitars have been collecting dust lately because I just can't seem to get motivated to play and my creativity has gone and f**ked off somewhere lol.

[@abovethedownside2521]

Sometimes a different tuning does the trick. Have you tried it?

[@travisbarnes4647]

@@abovethedownside2521 yeah, tried a lot of different ways to get back into playing again. Been playing for 36years. It's gotten to the point where when I go pick up a guitar anymore, after about 20 minutes it feels like work and I get uninterested in it for a few weeks.

[@abovethedownside2521]

@@travisbarnes4647 oh, i didn't knew that... that sucks -.- im playing for 10 years now (i'm 24) so i guess i can't give you some usefull advice.

[@travisbarnes4647]

@@abovethedownside2521 I'll always take advice man, especially from younger players. Pete is I'm sure at least 20 years younger and I would definitely take some lessons from him. Along with Stevie T, Andy James, Rob Scallon, and Jared Dines. All younger than me and way way more talented. They've figured out tricks I probably never even heard of lol.

[@althejazzman]

I think of your song Kinetic as an iconic use of an 8-string.

[@michaellewis486]

After the Burial has some killer riffs, especially on Rareform.

[@dragonbalance7700]

"isn't a definitive list" "The BEST 8 String Riffs Ever Written."

[@x5492]

If i could only pick one song to add it would definitely be VOLA - Your Mind Is A Helpless Dreamer, got a little bit of everything in it

[@Mr_AlcoN]

Great list! My favorit Meshuggah has to be Pravus, especially the break down at 3:30, but whole song is just brutal!

[@whydoesstevietonlylikefema2973]

Haken-in memoriam Polyphia-look don’t touch Deftones-diamond eyes

[@GodlessSuns]

Great choices man

[@kingfierysaber3654]

Fun fact: Mick Gordon actually used a 9 string for the Doom Soundtrack

[@daneriach9712]

Definetly got to be Circles or Doves by Defamed, those guys know how to riff!

[@JimCyanide]

i definitely agree that everything you included should be on the list, but i would also throw in berserker by after the burial

[@HarryCaneNo1]

Bleed on drums easily explained: - The gallop is three fast bass or kick hits and one delayed over and over again > call it bcbs, bcb are the fast, s is the delayed > bcbs / bcbs / and so on - The pattern counts as a slow 1234 5678, each number being a hi-hat or similar, the 3 and 7 being a snare. On the gallop sound between each 1 and Snare or 5 and Snare are 10 gallop hits, thats why the pattern appears to be off after the first bar. The first bar (1 2 Snare 4 5 6 Snare 8) repeats after every 3rd bar. The capital letters are the snares >>> bcbs / bcbs / bcbS / bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / Bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / bcBs / bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / bcbS / bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / Bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / bcBs / bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / bcbS / bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / Bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / bcBs / bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / bcbS / bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / Bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / bcbs / bcBs / bcbs / bcbs Counting :Kick-2-Snare-4-Kick-6-Snare-8 Or: 1/ 3/ 5/ 7, 1b means the first b, 2b means the second b 1b/S/2b/1B s/2B/1b/S 2b/1B/s/2B Confused? #metoo Have fun! :D

[@capncrunch537]

Great list, I was hoping for some After the Burial or the Acacia Strain myself.

[@obbietron]

Kinetic belongs for sure. Deftones “Ceremony” has great 8 string, Stephen Carpenter isn’t crazy technical, but his play just sounds good in the ears.

[@JohnAldenDavis]

Wow, you really nailed the tone on the Mick Gordon one!!

[@TheDeadmandillon]

I would've thrown in an encore performance with the song Rip and Tear by Mick Gordon from the DOOM 2016 soundtrack. But then again I'm not that skilled on an eight string guitar.

[@terred999]

Epic list my dude, Id definitely add soil the still borne by infant annihilator, like eddie pickard is just a god on 8 string./

[@derreckossas4951]

Well my favorite 8-string riff that you and Rob wrote was the djenty metal town track. Definitely underrated.

[@user-qx9mu1us3s]

Ayee I just got an agile 727! They're rad