Riff Lords: Billy Howerdel of A Perfect Circle

Learn to play A Perfect Circle riffs with guitarist and songwriter Billy Howerdel, and learn about his guitar techniques, tones, and playing style. ▶ Get YOUR own Gibson Les Paul here: Billy Howerdel has been at the forefront of the alt-metal scene since co-founding A Perfect Circle in 1999, influencing a generation with his songwriting and distinctive playing style. Grab your guitar and hit play on this new episode of “Riff Lords” to join Billy as he teaches us some of his favorite songs and guitar techniques. For more about Billy Howerdel, visit: To learn more killer riffs from your favorite artists, download the Gibson App: In this episode of “Riff Lords,” watch and learn how Billy Howerdel gets his signature sound using a unique setting on an octave fuzz pedal and learn about his unique approach to tuning guitars in C# and how it was inspired by Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains. Get insights into his songwriting process and learn how to play classic A Perfect Circle tracks, including “The Hollow,” “3 Libras,” “Pet,” “The Outsider,” and “Judith,” including the slide guitar solo. Billy also shares tone tips, including how he uses effects and certain guitar techniques to make each song sound unique. In addition, Billy shows us how to play “Poison Flowers” from his second solo album, “What Normal Was,” and teaches us some of the key guitar techniques that make Billy Howerdel so influential. These are essential guitar lessons for A Perfect Circle fans from one of the most innovative and unique songwriters in alt-rock. Chapters: 0:00 Billy Howerdel’s approach to songwriting 0:57 How to Play “The Hollow” - A Perfect Circle - Tuning C# - Guitar Parts A & B 3:45 Half Speed - “The Hollow” Guitar Parts & Tone Settings 15:44 Full Speed Recap 17:39 How to Play “3 Libras” - A Perfect Circle 19:34 Half Speed - “3 Libras” Guitar Parts & Tone Settings 24:44 Full Speed Recap 26:03 How to Play “The Outsider” - A Perfect Circle - Tuning C# / Open B 27:55 Half Speed - “The Outsider” Guitar Parts & Tone Settings 33:15 Full Speed Recap 34:41 How to Play “Poison Flowers” - Billy Howerdel - What Normal Was - Standard tuning 40:18 Half Speed 41:42 Full Speed Recap 43:21 How to Play “Pet” - A Perfect Circle - Tuning C# 46:32 Half Speed - “Pet” 47:30 Full Speed Recap 48:28 How To Play “Judith” - A Perfect Circle - Tuning C# 51:09 Half Speed - “Judith” Guitar Parts & Tone Settings 1:01:20 Full Speed Recap 1:03:27 Billy’s approach to songwriting #aperfectcircle #gibson 📼 Related Videos To Watch Next: ▶ Watch MORE Riff Lords videos: ▶ Sound Like Adam Jones from Tool: ▶ Watch ICONS with Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains: Find Your local Gibson Dealer: 📩 Get Gibson guitar news before ANYONE else: 📱Follow Us On Social Media For The latest Guitar Gear! ▶ ▶ ▶ 🔔 Subscribe To Our Channel: @gibsonguitar SHOP GIBSON BRANDS ABOUT GIBSON BRANDS Gibson, the leading iconic guitar brand, has shaped the sounds of generations of musicians and music lovers across genres for 127 years. Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Nashville, Gibson Brands has a legacy of world-class craftsmanship, legendary music partnerships, and progressive product evolution that is unrivaled among musical instrument companies. The Gibson Brands portfolio includes Gibson, the leading guitar brand, as well as many of the most beloved and recognizable music brands, including @OfficialEpiphone, which has been on every stage since 1873, Kramer, the original MADE TO ROCK HARD guitar brand, MESA/Boogie, the home of tone, and KRK, behind great music for over 30 years, and Maestro, the founder of effect pedals. Gibson Brands is dedicated to quality, innovation, and sound excellence so that music lovers for generations to come will continue to experience music shaped by Gibson Brands.