Mastering The Art Of Playing Breaking The Law Riff

Breaking the Law is a popular song by the English heavy metal band Judas Priest, and is known for its iconic guitar riff. The song was originally released on their 1980 album British Steel and has since become a staple at many of the band's performances. This paragraph will outline a step-by-step guide on how to play the famous riff, so grab your guitar and let's get started!

The song's minor-key opening riff

"Breaking the Law" by Judas Priest features a famous minor-key riff that opens the song and is also repeated throughout. This riff is instantly recognisable and has been described as "one of the most famous riffs in metal history".

To play the riff, you'll need to tune your guitar to a D standard tuning, which is a whole step down from the standard E tuning. This means that your strings will be tuned to D, G, C, F, A, D, instead of the usual E, A, D, G, B, E.

Once you're in the correct tuning, you can start by playing the riff. Here's a tab for the main riff:

[Riff 1]

E|------------------------------|-----------------------------|

B|------------------------------|-----------------------------|

G|------------------------------|-----------------------------|

D--7--9--10--7-9--10--7-9--10--|---------7--------7-----10--9--|

A------------------------------|--8--10-----8-10-----10--------|

E------------------------------|-----------------------------|

This riff is played a total of eight times throughout the song, usually after the chorus. It's a fairly simple pattern, but it's essential to get the timing right to capture the driving, insistent feel of the song.

The song "Breaking the Law" is a great example of how a simple, catchy riff can be used to create a powerful and memorable metal song. The minor key of the riff sets the tone for the song, reflecting the anger and frustration expressed in the lyrics.

The rhythmic chorus

To play the rhythmic chorus of "Breaking the Law" by Judas Priest, you'll need to know the chords and the strumming pattern.

The chords used in the chorus are A, E, and D. The A chord is played as a power chord, with the index finger fretting the 2nd fret of the A string and the ring finger fretting the 2nd fret of the D string. The E chord is also played as a power chord, with the index finger fretting the 2nd fret of the G string and the ring finger fretting the 4th fret of the B string. The D chord is played as a standard open chord.

The strumming pattern for the chorus is as follows: down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down (8 beats total). This pattern repeats throughout the chorus.

Here's how the chords and strumming pattern fit together:

"Breaking the law, breaking the law" - A chord (8 beats)

"Breaking the law, breaking the law" - E chord (8 beats)

"Breaking the law, breaking the law" - A chord (8 beats)

"Breaking the law, breaking the law" - E chord (8 beats)

This sequence repeats for the duration of the chorus. It's important to maintain a steady tempo and keep your strumming hand relaxed to achieve the driving, rhythmic feel of the chorus.

Additionally, you can incorporate palm muting into your strumming hand technique to get a tighter, more controlled sound. This is a crucial element of the heavy metal style and can be achieved by resting the edge of your palm on the bridge of the guitar and lightly pressing the strings as you strum. This will give your playing a more precise and focused tone.

The bridge

In more recent live performances, the bridge has featured a short guitar solo by K.K. Downing, adding a new layer of musical complexity to this section of the song.

The outro

The main riff is played repeatedly, and it's the same sequence of notes as the intro, but this time, it's played an octave higher. This creates a sense of closure and brings the song full circle. The guitarist can use power chords to add extra emphasis and drive to the outro.

To play the outro riff, you'll be using the notes from the A natural minor scale. Start with your index finger on the 5th fret of the low E string and play a short, repeating lick using the notes from that scale. This lick sets the mood and feel for the entire song. It's a great riff for beginners to learn as it's not too complicated but still has that classic heavy metal sound.

As the song builds to its conclusion, the band's performance becomes more intense and energetic. The repeated riff creates a driving rhythm that underpins the vocal melody, and the combination of the two is what makes this song so memorable. The outro is a key part of the song's structure, providing a satisfying resolution to the tension built up throughout the track.

The guitar tab

To start, you'll want to begin on the fifth string open, using your middle or ring finger. You might be tempted to use your pointer finger, but it's best to save it for the first fret, where you'll need it soon. This will ensure your pointer finger is already in position when you need it.

Next, get your pointer finger ready to move to the first fret of the sixth string. This part is a bit tricky as the rhythm changes slightly, so listen carefully and be ready to switch up your strumming pattern.

Now, we move to the sixth string, keeping the same rhythm but playing it twice. The third time, we'll switch it up again, so pay attention to those rhythm changes!

For the verse, you'll be playing the A5, C5, G5, and A5 chords. The chorus introduces the F5 and E5 chords. The song then repeats these chords throughout, with some variations in the second and third verses.

Remember to practice those finger positions and transitions to get the smooth, seamless sound you're aiming for. With a bit of work, you'll be rocking out to "Breaking the Law" in no time!

Frequently asked questions