Riff Lords: Pepper Keenan of Corrosion of Conformity and Down

Learn to play Corrosion of Conformity and Down riffs with guitarist and vocalist Pepper Keenan, and explore his guitar techniques, approach to writing riffs and learn the secrets behind his signature sound.

▶ Guitars Pepper Keenan is playing in the video:
Gibson SG™: https://bit.ly/4nbgl3k
Gibson SJ-200™: https://bit.ly/3VlMXLu
Gibson ES-335™: https://bit.ly/4ptrGxe
Gibson Firebird™: https://bit.ly/4nExzpJ

From the swampy heaviness of Corrosion of Conformity to the Southern sludge of Down, Pepper Keenan has shaped some of the most iconic riffs in heavy rock. In this episode of Riff Lords, Pepper breaks down the songs, tunings, and tones that defined records like Deliverance, Wiseblood, and In the Arms of God, as well as Down’s NOLA and Down II.

Pepper shows you how to play Corrosion of Conformity classics including “Albatross,” “Clean My Wounds,” “Senor Limpio,” “King of the Rotten,” “13 Angels,” “Paranoid Opioid,” and “Stare Too Long” — before switching gears to Down and teaching fan favorites like “Lifer,” “Ghost Along the Mississippi,” “Stone the Crow,” and “Bury Me in Smoke.” Along the way, he shares insights into groove, restraint, tone, and his unique approach to writing riffs.

These are essential guitar lessons for fans of Corrosion of Conformity, Down, and anyone who wants to learn how to capture Pepper’s crushing tone and heavy Southern groove.

For more about Corrosion of Conformity, visit: https://www.coc.com/
For more about Down, visit: https://down-nola.com/

To learn more killer riffs from your favorite artists, download the Gibson App: https://bit.ly/47QglRs

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:22 Pepper Keenan’s approach to songwriting
1:06 How to Play Corrosion of Conformity – “Albatross” (DGCFAD)
5:16 Full speed recap
6:30 How to Play Corrosion of Conformity – “Clean My Wounds” (Standard)
11:55 How to Play Corrosion of Conformity – “Senor Limpio”(CGCFAD)
17:44 Full speed recap
19:24 How to Play Corrosion of Conformity – “King of the Rotten” (CGCFAD)
21:47 Pepper reflects on recording the album Wiseblood and a Grammy® nomination
23:27 Full speed recap
24:42 How to Play Corrosion of Conformity – “13 Angels” (CGCFAD)
30:20 Full speed recap
32:00 How to Play Corrosion of Conformity – “Paranoid Opioid” (CGCFAD)
36:42 Full speed recap
38:08 How to Play Corrosion of Conformity – “Who’s Got the Fire” (CGCFAD)
40:35 Full speed recap
41:14 How to Play Corrosion of Conformity – “Redemption City” (DGCFAD)
45:50 Full speed recap
46:47 How to Play Corrosion of Conformity – “Stare Too Long” (DGCFAD)
51:10 Full speed recap
52:19 How to Play Down – “Lifer” (C Standard)
55:50 Pepper reflects on writing for Down vs Corrosion of Conformity
57:06 Full speed recap
58:58 How to Play Down – “Ghosts Along the Mississippi” (C# Standard)
1:02:17 Pepper reflects on recording the Down II album
1:03:23 Full speed recap
1:04:36 How to Play Down – “Stone the Crow” (C# Standard)
1:08:56 How to Play Down – “Bury Me in Smoke” (Drop B/C# Standard)
1:16:25 Full speed recap
1:18:20 Pepper Keenan’s advice for guitarists


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