String skipping

String skipping is a method of achieving a guitar sound that is different from more traditional solo riff styles. In more traditional styles, the guitarist will often play several notes on one string, then move to the adjacent one, improvising on the fretboard in a melodically linear manner. In string skipping (as the name implies), a string is often skipped during the riff. Essentially, this technique is used to introduce larger intervals than are usually common in guitar melodies, thereby creating melodic interest.

     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
e|-|-------------3---|---------------2-|-----------3-2---|-----------------| 
B|-|---------3-5---3-|-------------3---|---------------5-|-5---------------|
G|4|---2-4-5---------|-----------4-----|---------------^^^^^HOLD-----------|
D|4|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|

---------------|--------------7--|
------------5--|------7^8--10----|
---------2-----|-----------------|
---------------|----9------------|
------3--------|-5---------------|
---------------|-----------------|

Notice that not every note played represents a string-skip; it is usually the case that string skipping is interwoven with traditional adjacent riffing. Playing the above example, one can hear the difference; the string skipping makes the solo stand out.

One example of string skipping involves string bending on the 7th fret of the G string, then jumping to the 8th fret of the E string (skipping the B string). Another way to achieve the desired aesthetic is when playing a thrash riff while chugging open E's, to pick strings E, B, G, or D to play extra notes in the riff.