In Short...
-Grasp that laid-back Neo Soul style rhythm
-Use syncopation and hammer-ons to add expression to your riffs
-Learn 3 essential licks perfect for the genre
New Soul is a genre that was dominant in the 1990's through the 2000's.
This style brought the Motown ballad vibe into the modern day.
Playing guitar in this style requires a soft touch and tasteful and intentional harmony and rhythm
Learn how to play guitar in the New Soul style!
Neo Soul Lick #1
The first riff sets the tone, bouncing between a D9 chord and a Gm7 chord.
It's a classic dominant-to-minor move, and the way it’s played—with fingerpicking, raking, and a chromatic melody on the B string—gives it that laid-back Neo Soul feel.
If you’re new to fingerstyle guitar, don’t worry; you can still play it with a pick.
Just focus on getting that swing sixteenth rhythm right, and feel the pocket.
Neo Soul Lick #2
Next, we stack on a quick chord stab that uses a different voicing of G minor 7.
This time with a slick hammer-on on the high E string.
It’s fast, choppy, and packed with R&B flavor.
The challenge here is keeping your hand shape steady while pulling off that hammer-on cleanly.
Start slow, then speed it up once it feels natural.
Neo Soul Lick #3
The third riff is the real showstopper.
It’s syncopated, full of major 7th voicings, and includes some juicy hammer-ons across E♭maj7 and A♭maj7 shapes.
You’ll be using slides, barres, and quick shifts to pull it all together—and when it clicks, it feels amazing.
This is where your rhythm guitar chops really start to shine.
All three riffs build on each other, so take your time and groove through them.
Once you’ve got them down, you’ll have a solid foundation for Neo Soul, R&B, and jazzy improvisation.
FAQ
Which guitar for neo-soul?
For neo-soul, players often reach for a guitar with single coil pickups and a clean sound, or a semi-hollow guitar like a Gibson ES-335. These guitars offer that clean, smooth, and slightly jazzy tone with lots of clarity, which is perfect for all the chord embellishments and mellow grooves neo-soul is known for.
What are neo-soul chords?
Neo-soul chords are usually extended or altered chords like 7ths, 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths—think jazzy, smooth, and rich. You’ll often hear chord voicings with added color tones and plenty of fingerpicking or muted strumming to create a laid-back, groove-heavy vibe.
What is the most famous guitar riff?
That’s a tough one, but “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple probably takes the crown—it’s iconic and instantly recognizable. Others like “Sunshine of Your Love” or “Seven Nation Army” are right up there too.
What is the easiest riff on guitar?
One of the easiest riffs for beginners is “Smoke on the Water.” It’s super simple, uses just a few frets on one or two strings, and sounds awesome from the start—even with just downstrokes.
What is a riff on a guitar?
A guitar riff is a short, catchy sequence of notes or chords that’s repeated throughout a song. It usually forms the backbone of a tune and gives it a recognizable identity—think of it as the musical hook.
What's the difference between a riff and a lick?
A riff is usually a repeating pattern that helps define the structure of a song, like a chorus or intro. A lick, on the other hand, is more like a short, expressive phrase often used in solos or fills—more spontaneous and less repetitive.
