- Thinking you don't have talent
- Not enjoying time with your instrument
- Ultimately giving up on your dreams
You Don’t Need Talent
to Create Crushing
Heavy Metal Guitar Riffs
Do you feel deep down that you have something to say with music, but can’t seem to create those badass heavy metal guitar riffs like your heroes?
I’ve been there and know the frustration.
Purpose
Inspiration
Confidence
Writing great
heavy metal guitar riffs
can be tough
and leave you:
Let me show how
I can help you:
Develop your skills
to real music
Move beyond drills by developing your skills directly though the music you love. Focus on the purpose behind your playing, by connecting to the music that inspires you.
Find new
inspiration to play
Sometimes all it takes is a fresh perspective. By gaining new insights into music, you’ll uncover new possibilities and reignite your excitement to pick up the guitar and play.
Build confidence
in your abilities
With new insights into your playing, you’ll feel more confident in your abilities, breaking through self-doubt and fueling both motivation and growth as you progress on your musical journey.
I'm Jonny Mac
and I know what it’s like to feel stuck in a creative rut, thinking,
“I just don’t have the talent to write music like my heroes.”
In my early 20s, I was a decent guitarist. I could play along to my favorite songs with good timing and even jam with others, but when it came to creating my own music, I was blank. I knew what I liked to listen to and believed I could write good riffs if I could just get my ideas out—but I didn’t know how.
What I didn’t realize at the time was that I didn’t know what I didn’t know.
So, how did I develop my creative process? Honestly, it wasn’t glamorous—no divine insights, just trial, error, and necessity. I started recording my ideas, and at first, they were terrible. But when I began sequencing drum beats to go with my riffs, everything changed. The beats added another dimension, turning rough ideas into real music. It was inspiring.
Still, I knew very little.
When a friend showed interest in drumming, I started teaching him the basics of rhythm. To help him (and myself), I began analyzing drum patterns. That’s when I noticed recurring structures I now call Groove Schemas™. These patterns became a revelation—I started recognizing them everywhere and using them to create grooves effortlessly.
Today, Groove Schemas™ are at the heart of my Riff Craft Alchemy™ method, and they’ve completely transformed how I write music. I still play with them constantly—much to my wife’s annoyance. Once you learn them, you can’t unhear them. And you wouldn’t want to.
Of course, there’s more to music than drum beats, but every riff starts with a groove. Especially with heavy metal guitar riffs, where a ch-ch-chug can define everything.
If you’re ready to dive deeper into my process, keep reading.
Here are the first songs I wrote back in 2006 when I formed First In Charge.
They’re only now seeing the light of day and the originals didn’t sound this good. But the core ideas were there.
Check out all the tempo changes—I had no clue back then and wouldn’t write like this today. But hey, everyone starts somewhere.
Riff Craft Alchemy™
The Fretfury Process for Creating
Heavy Metal Guitar Riffs
Riff Craft Alchemy™ is my battle-tested, 3-step process for creating powerful music.
It’s a journey of transformation—where primal grooves are forged into cohesive compositions.
Now, let me share the secrets I’ve uncovered along the way.
Working with the Base Materials
This is where the forge begins—understanding the fundamental groove that fuels the lifeblood of any killer riff.
Using Groove Schemas™, we distill and internalize the core rhythmic template that drives your riff’s energy and pulse.
Groove Schemas™ are the easiest musical element to grasp, and you’ll quickly learn to recognize them by ear in almost any song you hear. Once mastered, you’ll find yourself creating grooves effortlessly, anytime, anywhere.
Harmonizing the Elements
We’ve laid the groove, now it’s time to shape the riff. By molding notes and chords to lock with the groove, we add depth and dimension—bringing the riff to life.
This phase is about blending the elements, bringing rhythm and harmony together into a unified force. It’s where the unrefined materials are shaped into a cohesive sound.
Here is were we also start to unlock the mysteries of the fretboard—the medium through which harmony manifests itself on guitar.
The Final Ascension
This is where the music begins to solidify. It’s not just a riff anymore—it’s the backbone of a complete, hard-hitting song.
Building on the groundwork of rhythm and harmony from Steps 1 and 2, we take the riff and start to push it further. This is where we shape its dynamics, twist its variations, and find the connections that turn standalone ideas into something monumental.
It’s not just about stacking riffs—it’s about crafting a structure with purpose. This is the phase where the magic of alchemy is realized—raw riffs become a cohesive creation.
You're just 3 steps away
from the progress you deserve
Book a FREE consultation
so I can gauge your
needs and ability
Confirm a time
to meet for lessons
via Zoom
Apply the lessons
in your own practice
and get results
The BAD NEWS is:
Riff Craft Alchemy™
Is NOT for Everyone
It’s NOT for:
- Narrow-minded guitarists: I believe my method has something to offer guitarists at all levels. Even if only a couple of concepts for advanced players. But if you’re closed to new ideas then I can’t help.
- Guitarists just wanting to practice technique: Technique is important, and through the internalization of Groove Schemas™ and creating riffs just outside your ability, you will improve, but it’s not the focus of my method.
- Djent and prog guitarists wanting to focus solely on time-bending rhythmic feats: I grew up on Tool and appreciate the complexity and skill of these styles. While I like incorporating some of these elements into my playing, my interests lie with speed, groove, and classic metal.
- 'Tire kickers': I’ve made some bold claims and stand by them. But if your not willing to put in the work, the results won’t just magically appear. End of story.
The GOOD NEWS is:
It's SPECIALLY designed for
open-minded, motivated guitarists,
that fit the following:
Skill Level
Beginner and intermediate guitarists will get the most from my method. However, I think advanced players could also gain new insights and perspective.
Music Style
Although my method would work for any riff-based music, my expertise is heavy metal. Specifcally speed/groove metal, but also hard rock and classic metal.
Ambition
Let’s be honest. The hurdle of learning something new can be difficult to overcome. If you’re prepared to put in a little effort, then you’re in the right place.
If you’re like me,
then you’re the kind of person who wants to
create powerful, expressive music
and unleash your voice through heavy metal guitar
To do that, we need to approach music composition as a process—where raw ideas are forged into hard-hitting riffs and transformed into the electrifying music you’ve always dreamed of creating.
The challenge is that many people don’t understand how to connect the pieces of the creative process, instead focusing on isolated skills. While those skills have value, they’re often taught without showing how they come together to create something meaningful and complete.
This can leave you feeling like you’re missing a crucial piece of the puzzle, doubting whether you’ll ever have what it takes to craft the kind of music that truly speaks to who you are.
I believe you deserve to see real results for your effort. The ability to create heavy, impactful music and find fulfillment through guitar shouldn’t be reserved for the so-called ‘naturally talented.’
That’s why I’m committed to breaking down my approach to playing and writing metal into a clear, actionable process that delivers results.
So, if you’d like me to help guide you on your own musical journey,
then follow these 3 steps:
- Book a FREE Consultation so I can gauge your needs and ability
- Confirm a time to meet for lessons via Zoom
- Apply the lessons in your own practice and get results