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Cat Scratch Fever by Ted Nugent

    Difficulty: Easy

    Learn to play Ted Nugent’s signature riff! The main riff from the song Cat Scratch Fever is tabbed out below. In Ted’s original recording of the song the riff is played by two guitars, so there are slight variations throughout. It’s a great riff to experiment with come up with your own modifications. Give it a try!

    It can be fingered several different ways. It’s really up to the individual. You can use one finger to barre the notes one the D and G strings, or you could use two fingers (like me). Take the time to work out your own fingerings.

    The key is to stick with the fingerings that you decide on throughout the entire riff. Don’t start out fingering the first part of the riff with one finger and then switch to 2 fingers. You will only confuse yourself.

    The notes at the end of the riff that are on the 5th fret of the B string and the 4th fret of the G string are both to be pre-bent (bend the notes up before you pick them!) and then released. It’s pretty tricky to do, but it can be done. Don’t worry too much if you can’t bend them up an entire full step or if you’re missing the pre-bend and bend them after you pick it. Just keep trying and eventually you’ll get it.

    I use my 3rd finger to bend the note on the 4th fret and my 4th finger to bend the note on the 5th fret.

    Riff Resources

    Complete Transcription To “Cat Scratch Fever” (PDF)

    Complete Transcription To “Cat Scratch Fever” (Power Tab)