Slayer’s Gary Holt thinks that some modern guitarists don’t put enough “conviction” and “passion” into their riffs
Gary Holt of Exodus and Slayer has shared his thoughts on what makes a killer riff, noting that conviction is vital to make something that sticks.
During a Q&A with Rock City in celebration of his new memoir, A Fabulous Disaster: From The Garage To Madison Square Garden, The Hard Way, Holt reveals how he’s balanced his respective careers with both of his bands, and shares how passion prevails over complexity when it comes to some of his best work.
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“You just play until the riff speaks to you. I love riffs. I’m still a massive fan. It sounds really narcissistic to say I’m a super-fan of my riffs, but when I write a really good riff, I still get goosebumps,” he says (via Ultimate Guitar). “I love it. And when you’re recording it, and you hear it back with the savage guitars and drums, it’s like, ‘Oh yeah! It’s so awesome.’”
Offering up some sturdy advice, he continues: “There’s a limited number of notes on a guitar. There’s limited options on what you do with them, but it’s the passion you put into them. I mean, how many times can we go, E, E, F? Everybody could do it. But it’s the conviction you put in it.
“Try to bend notes, rhythm wise. People don’t do it enough. Dime [Dimebag Darrell] did it and everything. You can bend all over those riffs too, and just write riffs, have fun. Blacklist [by Exodus] is our number one streamed song in the world, and it’s four chords… It’s just about finding something that sticks,” he concludes.
Also in the interview, Holt explains that Slayer are taking things year by year, with no pressure or expectation to tour or record any music since their return to a live environment at a handful of select festivals. The shows took place after the band had previously completed a farewell tour in 2019.
“[Slayer] is not like a permanent commitment on my end anymore, and I’m able to focus on family number one, which is Exodus,” he says. “[They’re] my childhood friends. Slayer is my family as well, but they’re family number two. And at my age, I want to close my career out with the guys I started it with.”
Both Slayer and Exodus are playing at Louder Than Life festival and Hersheypark Stadium in September. Exodus are also due to play at Aftershock in October.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
