Cool middle eastern sounding riff, Metallica's Wherever I may roam

I can't explain my fascination with middle eastern sounding guitar riffs in rock and roll but it is there.

I am familiar with Miserlou and Paint it back which are similar to each other in the way they both go up and down similar middle eastern musical scales or whatever. I don't remember playing Norwegian wood, but I love that song and should check out that great intro.


Forever I may roam is more complex than Miserlou and Paint it black, therefore I place it higher within my own development as a guitar player and understander of music theory.


Not a big fan of Metallica but I have lot of respect for their music and the guitar.



This is typical of the way I operate, I hear it on the radio and say hey, I should play that, I hear it on the radio again and I know I should play it so I pull up the tab, one of the biggest reasons why Internet is amazing.

Ever hear "Killing An Arab" by The Cure?
That song is the king of middle-eastern riffing on guitar.

I can't explain my fascination with middle eastern sounding guitar riffs in rock and roll but it is there.

I am familiar with Miserlou and Paint it back which are similar to each other in the way they both go up and down similar middle eastern musical scales or whatever. I don't remember playing Norwegian wood, but I love that song and should check out that great intro.


Forever I may roam is more complex than Miserlou and Paint it black, therefore I place it higher within my own development as a guitar player and understander of music theory.


Not a big fan of Metallica but I have lot of respect for their music and the guitar.



This is typical of the way I operate, I hear it on the radio and say hey, I should play that, I hear it on the radio again and I know I should play it so I pull up the tab, one of the biggest reasons why Internet is amazing.

I think the sound you're looking for is derived from the Harmonic Minor scale.

That's right, Killing of an Arab Is a good example. I remember that song. I just read that that was the Cures first single.


Yes, the harmonic minor is it, I will look closer at it's relation to the natural minor scale, I think I get it but I want to look closer.

Thanks

The Harmonic Minor Scale is the same as the Natural Minor, except it has a natural 7th. (Natural Minor has a flatted 7th)

A Harmonic Minor- A B C D E F G# A

A Natural Minor - A B C D E F G A