Understanding a little about how the song came about helps us in deciding our approach of how to play it. The song has very simple chords but a particular feel. Riders on the Storm was released in 1971 as the final track on L.A. Woman, the last album The Doors recorded with Jim Morrison before his death. The song is considered one of the band’s most atmospheric and haunting compositions, blending elements of blues, jazz, and psychedelic rock. The band talk about the song here

Lesson Plan: Riders on the Storm (The Doors)

• Level: Intermediate – Advanced
• Duration: Two 1-hour sessions

Gear Needed: 

• Electric Guitar
• Amp
• Optional: Bass Octaver Pedal (to double the bassline)
• Optional: Looper Pedal (for layering and improvisation)
• Delay Pedal & Vibrato/Tremolo Pedal (for Krieger’s lead sound)
• Optional: Electro-Harmonix B9/C9 Organ Pedal (for keyboard emulation)
• Metronome or Drum Loop (for practice)

1. Introduction & Listening Session 

Play the original recording of Riders on the Storm

• Student will actively listen and note:
  • The hypnotic feel of the bassline
  • The subtle guitar accompaniment
  • The descending organ line of the 'rain'
  • The reverb-heavy, vibrato lead guitar
• Discuss the atmosphere of the song and its jazzy/bluesy feel
• Work out the basic chords by ear

2. The Bassline on Guitar

• You'll learn the main bassline on the low E & A strings
• Optionally: Use the bass octaver pedal to get a deeper tone
• Explore the phrasing & feel:
• Play softly & legato, almost like a jazz bassist
• Work on Keeping a laid-back groove

Bassline in E Minor:

• E - B - G - B 

• E - A - C# - A

Practice Tips:

• Loop it at 60-70 BPM to get comfortable
• Try playing with thumb and fingers for a rounder tone

3. Chord Structure & Rhythm Guitar

The verses of the entire song alternates between E minor and A major. This remains the same for the intrumental parts too

• Learn different voicings for variety:

• Basic open chords: | Em | A |
• Barre voicings: | Em (x79987) | A (577655) |
• Jazzy Voicings: | Em7 (x79787) | A13 (575655) |
  • 9th Chords and guitar chord fragments used during the organ solo

Rhythm & Fingerpicking / Strumming:

• Soft downstrokes with light reverb
• Thumb fingers syncopation 

• Alternative approach: Pick the bass notes and arpeggiate

Exercise:

• You' ll play the bassline while the teacher strums the chords
• Switch roles after a few minutes

4. Organ Intro (Transposed for Guitar)

• Learn the descending pattern from the intro
• Play it high up the neck to mimic the Rhodes piano sound, try it in other positions

• Technique Tip:

• Use soft picking & delay for fluidity
• Vary dynamics to create a natural fade-in/out
• Experiment with effects

Homework for Next Session:

• Practice bassline & chords separately
• Try playing organ intro smoothly
• Listen to the song again and identify Robbie Krieger’s lead licks

1. Warm-Up & Recap (10 mins)

• Review bassline, chords, & organ intro
• Play them together in time
• Discuss any challenges the student faced in practice

2. Robbie Krieger’s Lead Guitar (15 mins)

• Teach main lead guitar motif over E minor chord
• Explain Krieger’s style:
• Smooth slides & vibrato
• Jazzy, understated phrasing

Main Lead Riff Example:

e|--7--7--5----------|
B|----------8--7-----|
G|----------------7--|

• Bend Notes subtly for a bluesy feel

• Use amp tremolo or vibrato pedal to get his signature sound

3. BONUS: Looping & Soloing Over the Chords (15 mins)

a. How to Loop the Bass & Chords

• Step 1: Record the bassline with a looper pedal
• Step 2: Layer Em - A chords on top
• Step 3: Improvise over it

b. Lead Improvisation Over the Loop

Scales to use:

• E Minor Pentatonic: (Classic bluesy feel)
• E Dorian Mode: (More jazzy, moody sound)

Example Solo Phrase:

e|------7----8-7---10b12----|
B|--8-10---10----------------|
G|---------------------------|

c. Applying Effects for Authentic Tone

• Reverb & Delay: Creates the song’s spacey feel
• Vibrato Pedal or Amp Tremolo: Mimics Krieger’s touch
• Electro-Harmonix Organ Pedal: Transforms chords into an organ-like sound

4. Play-Along & Student Jam Session (15 mins)

You will:

• Play the bassline while you add chords
• Switch roles (they play chords, you play lead)
• Loop bass + chords and improvise lead guitar over it
• End with a full play-through of the song

Final Wrap-Up & Takeaways:

By the end of these two sessions, you will:

• Understand the bassline, chord progression, & organ intro
• Be able to loop the bass & chords and play lead guitar over it
• Use effects & pedals to recreate The Doors’ signature sound
• Improve improvisation skills by jamming over a loop

Next Steps for the Student:

• Practice with a looper pedal to build confidence
• Experiment with effects to fine-tune the atmospheric tone
• Learn additional Krieger solos from L.A. Woman for more inspiration