Some guitar riffs are instantly recognisable from the very first few notes. Layla, Sweet Child O’ Mine, Life in the Fast Lane, Sweet Home Alabama, Pinball Wizard, Mr Brightside, Smoke on the Water, Back in Black and countless others have become part of guitar history – and they’re fantastic fun to play.
But great riffs are also brilliant practice exercises.
Join the Gary Dunn live online for an interactive lesson where you can play along, ask questions and learn in real time. Includes detailed course materials and access to the lesson recording afterwards, so you can revisit everything at your own pace.
ZOOM (3 x 1 hour)
Dates
Oct 5th at 7:30pm – Layla
Oct 26th at 7:30pm – Pinball Wizard
Nov 9th at 7:30pm – AC/DC night. You Shook Me All Night Long & Highway to Hell
Can’t attend one of the sessions? Don’t worry – just book in and you’ll receive the relevant materials.
Run by:
Gary Dunn
Venue:
ONLINE,
Throughout Riff Mastery, tutor Gary Dunn will teach some of the most iconic guitar riffs and parts ever recorded, showing you how to play them authentically and explaining the techniques that make them work.
As you learn each song, Gary will highlight why the riffs themselves make such great exercises. Without sitting down to practise a collection of dry technical studies, you’ll naturally work on skills including rhythm, timing, plectrum control, coordination, syncopation, fret muting, palm muting, dynamics, accents, bends, hammer-ons, pull-offs and slides.
The music comes first. The technique develops because you’re learning to play it properly.
Learn great songs. Master great riffs. Improve your technique without it feeling like practice.
Series 1 takes three very different approaches to classic guitar playing.
We’ll explore the five layered guitar parts of Layla, tackle the acoustic and electric rhythm guitar masterclass that is Pinball Wizard, and finish with a night of AC/DC, learning key parts from Highway to Hell and You Shook Me All Night Long.
Each session can be booked individually, or join Gary for the complete three-part series.
5 October 2026
Few guitar riffs are as instantly recognisable as the opening to Layla. But rather than being a single guitar part, the famous intro is built from five layered parts played by Eric Clapton and Duane Allman.
Gary will break down all five parts, showing you how they fit together and exploring the techniques needed to play them accurately.
You’ll also get a chord chart for the remainder of the song so you can play and jam along with the original track.
You’ll receive a detailed PDF containing all five opening guitar parts, together with a chord chart for the remainder of the song.
This is a fantastic lesson for developing lead technique, plectrum accuracy, coordination and the ability to move confidently between rhythm and lead guitar.
26 October 2026
Pinball Wizard is a masterclass in rhythm guitar, combining Pete Townshend’s distinctive acoustic playing with powerful electric guitar parts.
We’ll begin with the extended acoustic introduction, where changing chord shapes move around a repeating pedal note, before tackling the energetic 16th-note syncopated rhythm that drives the song.
From there, we’ll explore the electric guitar parts, power chords, transitions and key changes that make the arrangement work.
A detailed lesson PDF covering the parts studied during the session is included.
This is a superb workout for rhythm, syncopation, strumming accuracy, chord control and plectrum technique – all while learning one of rock’s great rhythm guitar performances.
9 November 2026
AC/DC’s guitar parts are a perfect demonstration that something doesn’t have to be complicated to require great timing, control and accuracy.
Gary will teach the classic riffs and rhythm parts from two AC/DC favourites – Highway to Hell and You Shook Me All Night Long.
The focus will be on getting the parts tight and convincing, while exploring the chord shapes, inversions, rhythmic ideas and picking techniques that make the originals work so well.
This is an excellent lesson for developing tight rhythm playing, plectrum control, timing and coordination.
A detailed lesson PDF covering the parts studied during the session is included.
Riff Mastery isn’t about taking famous riffs and turning them into technical exercises.
We’re going to learn the actual music.
As Gary teaches each part, he’ll also explain the techniques being used and why practising that particular riff can improve your playing.
Layla develops lead technique, articulation, picking and movement between rhythm and lead.
Pinball Wizard is an incredible workout for syncopation, chord control, strumming and rhythm guitar.
Highway to Hell and You Shook Me All Night Long demand precision, timing, plectrum control and groove.
Three very different lessons. Three sets of iconic guitar parts. And a huge amount of technique developed simply by learning great music and learning to play it properly.
Each session is a one-hour live and interactive online lesson with Gary Dunn.
Gary will teach the parts, break down difficult sections and explain the techniques involved. Because the sessions are live, you’ll also be able to ask questions and get help as the lesson progresses.
And there’s no pressure to master everything during the hour.
Afterwards, you’ll receive a recording link of the complete lesson, together with any further accompanying course materials, allowing you to pause, rewind and continue working through everything at your own pace.
✓ 1-hour live and interactive Zoom lesson
✓ Detailed lesson PDF with TAB & music notation
✓ Authentic guitar parts from the original songs
✓ Explanation of the techniques used within the riffs
✓ Practice guidance to help you master the parts
✓ Recording of the complete lesson for unlimited home practice
Riff Mastery is aimed at guitarists who already know the basics and want to build their repertoire while improving their technique through real music.
The difficulty varies between songs, so check the Difficulty Badge on each individual session for guidance. But in general lessons 1 & 2 are intermediate, but lesson 3 is Beginner plus to Intermediate.
As a general guide, you’ll benefit from being reasonably comfortable with:
You don’t need to be able to play everything before joining us – that’s why we’re teaching it!
Some parts will be challenging, but Gary will break them down and show you how to practise them effectively. And because you receive the complete lesson recording, you can continue working at your own pace afterwards.
Both electric and acoustic guitarists can benefit from the series, although the most appropriate guitar will depend on the particular session.
Each Riff Mastery session works as a standalone lesson, so if there’s one particular song you love, simply join us for that session.
For the greatest benefit, take the complete three-session Series 1 and work through a much broader range of rhythm, lead and technical challenges.
Session 1 – Layla
Derek and the Dominos
Session 2 – Pinball Wizard
The Who
Session 3 – A Night of AC/DC
Highway to Hell & You Shook Me All Night Long
Book individual sessions or save by purchasing the complete series.
You can still book the course.
Every student receives the complete recording of the live lesson and all accompanying materials, so if you can’t attend on the night – or simply want to go through something again – you can work through the session afterwards at your own pace.
This also means there’s no need to worry if Gary covers more material than you can absorb during the live hour.
Pause. Rewind. Practise. Come back to it whenever you need to.
BUT this shouldn’t put you off booking in as you’ll receive the full materials including the video of the complete live session.
Start slowly – if you decide to book just one session but then become interested in other sessions just buy them on the website.