John Fogerty used this riff constantly. It shows up in Green River, Suzy Q, and he even moves it around as a solo riff in Fortunate Son. It’s one of those patterns that, once you hear it, you recognize it everywhere in his catalog.
In this second Fogerty lesson, we’re looking at a minor third interval slide that combines two scales into one riff. It’s very moveable, and it gives you that raw, swampy sound Fogerty is known for.
The Minor Third Slide
We’re in E pentatonic minor. Use your second and third fingers together — third finger on the fourth fret third string, second finger on the third fret second string. That interval between those two notes is called a minor third. It’s a B note and a D note.
Now here’s the move: slide up to that position. It’s a random slide — I don’t think too hard about where I’m sliding from. Maybe a fret, maybe a tone. The point is landing on those two notes cleanly.
Slide up, strike it, then hit it again two or three more times with downstrokes. Let both notes ring out together each time. The first string should be muted — even though it looks like your fingers might be touching it, you’re not letting it sound.
The Walk-Down
After the slide and repeat hits, drop your first finger down to a bar at the second fret on the second and third strings. Same technique — kink the finger so the first string stays muted.
Then hit the open E bass note as a drone. After that first slide move, kill the bass string with your thumb and walk through the rest of the scale. The whole thing combines elements from two scale positions, but it flows as one continuous phrase.
Move It Anywhere
This is the best part. The minor third interval is completely moveable. Slide the whole shape up to A and you’ve got the same riff in a different key. That’s exactly what Fogerty does — he takes this one idea and shifts it around depending on the song.
In part 1, we covered the flatted fifth riff. Between these two licks, you’ve got the core of Fogerty’s guitar vocabulary. Add them to a 12-bar progression and you’ll sound like you just stepped out of a bayou roadhouse.
For more lick lessons, check out the guitar riffs collection.
Thanks for giving me some time. Come check me out at riffninja.com. Talk to you soon.
