Pick Up & Play Classic Riffs

Pick Up & Play Classic Riffs

Inspire, Explore, and Play — All in One Spiral-Bound Workbook

Every guitarist’s dream includes that moment when they can recognize their heroes in their own playing — the bending notes, the signature hooks, the riffs that stick in your head. Pick Up & Play Classic Riffs gives developing guitarists exactly that kind of playground: a hands-on, accessible route into the styles of guitar icons.

This 176-page, spiral-bound guide (with semi-concealed binding to lie flat) is organized by genre — think blues, heavy metal, punk/indie, country, and jazz. Each section begins with an artist spotlight (Ritchie Blackmore, Jimmy Page, Slash, Kurt Cobain, and others) and an approachable style overview. Then students jump right into notation or TAB examples of riffs “in the style of” those icons.

One of its standout features for homeschooling families is the QR-code audio support: simply point a smartphone or tablet at the code, and instantly hear the chord or scale as a strum, an arpeggio, or even as a piano chord. This gives your student aural reinforcement while they practice.

Why This Works for Homeschoolers

• Self-paced, skill-building format: Students can work through the genres and riffs in any order, revisit earlier pages, or zoom in on a favorite genre.
• Integrates listening, reading, and doing: The mix of notation, TAB, and audio cues appeals to a variety of learners and helps solidify ear training.
• Motivating by design: Seeing a riff in the style of Slash or Kurt Cobain gives students concrete, exciting goals.
• Minimal prep needed for parents: No complicated setup, lesson plans, or external materials required — just hand over the book and let the student explore.
• Cross-curricular possibilities: Pair it with music history or biography (research the artists), math (rhythms, counting), or even writing (students journal their favorite riffs).

How to Use It

• Start with the genre overview to introduce the musical style and its legendary players.
• Listen to the QR-code samples to internalize the sound.
• Play the riffs in TAB or notation, at slow tempo, then gradually accelerate.
• Encourage students to experiment — tweak a note, change timing, mix riffs across genres.
• Use in a weekly music block or as a “free-choice” enrichment tool for gifted or interested learners.

Pick Up & Play Classic Riffs gives your homeschool guitarist both structure and freedom — structure in the form of guided riffs, and freedom in the play, experimentation, and ear training. It’s a tool that marries instruction and joy, and helps students own the sounds they love.