# The Building Blocks of Rock — Riff & lick shapes for guitar

> Visual guide to rock guitar riff and lick shapes with sound examples. (iPhone/iPad app by GuitarViz LLC.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-building-blocks-of-rock/id6743103559 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [GuitarViz LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1801356703)
- Category: Music, Education
- Price: $9.99
- Rating: 4.70/5 from 12 App Store ratings · 8 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.6 · 55 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2025-10-09
- Data updated: 2026-09-04
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-building-blocks-of-rock/id6743103559/reviews.md

## What is The Building Blocks of Rock?

Are you feeling stuck, not getting better at guitar? Now you can find new ideas quickly, in a visual guide to hundreds of the most-used riff and lick shapes in rock guitar.

RIFFS AND LICKS
Riffs and licks are key to building "vocabulary" on guitar -- things you can do besides just strumming chords or picking out scales. The most common riffs and licks are found in more than one song, just like chords and scales. But unlike chords and scales, they don't have names -- so a lot of guitarists never learn very many of them. 

The Building Blocks of Rock for guitar shows you hundreds of the most common riff, lick, chord and scale shapes. Over half are all new *riff* (rhythm guitar) and *lick* (lead guitar) shapes -- like chord and scale shapes, but with a few added symbols for things like barres and bent strings.

Each shape has:
* a visual diagram
* a detailed description
* a pro-quality sound example
* a list of famous song examples
* the music theory underneath it

HOW IT WORKS
Looking at a shape, you pick up your guitar and place your fingers to match it; using the root (red circle) as a reference point. For moveable shapes, the handy fretboard map under the shape shows you where the root lives, for any given note name, or song example.

Listening to the sound file, you try to copy what you hear there, or in the song references. Even if you don't get it right away, moving your hands in different ways, to different places on the neck, sparks new connections and muscle memory.

Scrolling through hundreds of shapes, you start to see patterns emerge -- ideal for visual learners and visualization. String together some of these "building block" shapes to create your own riffs or solos.

Tap any shape to toggle advanced mode (pitch display) in color, where you can see how far to bend strings, how chords are built, and why shapes sound the way they do. This is relative pitch; the secret to playing by ear, the way most guitarists do.

FEATURES
* over 500 shapes; a visual library of guitar patterns and diagrams
* view by shape "type" (riffs, licks, chords, scales)
* view by shape "family" (CAGED)
* view open vs. moveable shapes
* music theory under each shape
* hundreds of famous song examples
* some shapes have video links
* left-handed mode
* works offline (after initial download)

THINGS TO KNOW
* scale shapes don't include song examples or descriptions
* currently just one sound example per shape
* app is vertical; cannot be rotated, or zoomed in
* video links are to YouTube, where you may see ads

There's no tab included. The shapes won't tell you how many times to play each note, or the order to play them in. They're designed to be open-ended: what you do with them is up to you!

WHO IS IT FOR?
* you're learned some chords, maybe a few scales; and you're wondering, "now what?"
* you've hit that "intermediate plateau"; trying to improve, but not getting better
* you're stuck, not making progress; like something's missing

If you're just starting off, you should learn the basics first. But once you're ready to start moving up the neck (or even stay down by the nut, but learn some new tricks), this app is for you. And players of all levels will enjoy just scrolling the shapes and skimming the descriptions and "fun facts" (including some song secrets that most tabs and videos get wrong).

NO ADS OR SUBSCRIPTIONS
Buy it once and you're done. There's no ads to slow you down, or subscriptions to burn a hole in your wallet. You'll be set for the future too, as new shapes, sounds, and song examples are added on an ongoing basis, without you needing to update the app. This is an app that will grow along with you, on your guitar journey.

ABOUT GUITARVIZ LLC
Kevin McFarland (founder) has over 50 year's experience. He built a free web app that shows some of these "building block" shapes (without sound). You can see it at www.guitarviz.com. 

Learn more about these shapes by searching the web for "the building blocks of rock for guitar".

## Key features

- Hundreds of riff and lick shapes
- Visual diagrams and descriptions
- Pro-quality sound examples
- Famous song references
- Music theory explanations
- Offline functionality
- Left-handed mode

## Chart rankings

- #80 in Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

## Recent user reviews (8 of 8)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-building-blocks-of-rock/id6743103559/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Great after CAGED and 7 Modes

*2026-05-23*

This app is just what I needed. My playing sounded like scales and this app takes me to the next level. I love it! Thank you for this!!!🙏

### 1/5 — App not working

*2026-05-07*

This app doesn’t work on my iPad, it attempts to open then abruptly shuts down.

**Developer response:** Hi - can you please email me (support@guitarviz.com) and let me know what iOS version you have? The app doesn't work on really old versions (in which case I'll gladly refund your money). Thanks, Kevin

### 2/5 — Könnte so viel mehr sein

*2026-01-20*

Tolle Idee schlecht umgesetzt. Anzahl der Beispiele sehr begrenzt. Riffs und Licks nicht animiert. Grafik nicht zwischen Komponenten abgestimmt. Tonbeispiele nicht auf chromatische Verschiebungen abgestimmt, sondern immer gleich. Erklärungen banal. Geld nicht wert. Sorry!

### 5/5 — Great App, even better idea!

*2025-12-26*

Amazing concept! 
Really easy to navigate.
I’m hoping he’ll keep adding more Riff and Licks, it is nice to have some quick references in the phone.
It works perfectly fine and I have cero complains, unlike the Karen below

### 1/5 — Opens then close’s 🤦‍♂️

*2025-11-11*

This app opens then closes instantly. I tried getting help… crickets.
Would love a refund but the same response about that Apple … crickets.
I would stay clear until gets worked out.

**Developer response:** Hey, I'm really sorry for the late response! I'm still getting used to App Store and how I get notified of reviews. The latest don't always show up on my phone, seems I have to check the back end instead; and I never received any email. The app went through beta testing with dozens of users and there was only one user who had a similar problem, on a ten year old iPhone. I would love to troubleshoot this with you; can you email me at support@guitarviz.com? I will also gladly refund your money, or you can request it at reportaproblem.apple.com. Thanks, Kevin (owner).

### 5/5 — Fantastic app

*2025-10-20*

The app works perfectly!! So many different shapes and sounds, and the best part is no ads or subscriptions. Feels like a small fee for a service I’ll use for years. Thanks!

### 5/5 — Missing Puzzle Piece

*2025-10-14*

Most guitar lessons and apps are too specific (you learn one song but not how to apply it to others) or too general (scales that could apply to anything but don’t sound like what you want to play). THIS is the missing puzzle piece to help you see how rock is constructed on guitar, with usable chunks of chord/riffs that apply to lots of different songs and keys. 

Excellent!

### 5/5 — Simple, wonderful learning tool

*2025-10-11*

As someone who has been learning guitar for just under a year now, this app gives me exactly what I’m looking for in terms of just giving me the information I need to learn on my own, in a simple, easy way.

## Frequently asked questions about The Building Blocks of Rock

### What is The Building Blocks of Rock?

The Building Blocks of Rock is a music education app designed to help guitarists learn and master hundreds of common riff and lick shapes used in rock music. It offers visual diagrams, audio examples, and theoretical explanations to enhance playing skills.

### How much does The Building Blocks of Rock cost?

The Building Blocks of Rock is available for a one-time purchase price of $9.99. There are no subscription fees or in-app purchases required to access its full content.

### What devices is The Building Blocks of Rock available on?

The Building Blocks of Rock is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices. It is designed for iOS operating systems.

### Does The Building Blocks of Rock have ads?

No, The Building Blocks of Rock is ad-free. Users can enjoy the full learning experience without any advertisements interrupting their practice sessions.

### Can I use The Building Blocks of Rock offline?

Yes, The Building Blocks of Rock works offline after the initial download. This allows you to access all the shapes, diagrams, and sound examples without an internet connection.

### What kind of music theory is included in The Building Blocks of Rock?

The app provides music theory explanations underneath each shape, helping users understand why certain shapes sound the way they do. This includes concepts like relative pitch and how chords are built.

### Is The Building Blocks of Rock suitable for beginners?

While the app is primarily aimed at intermediate players stuck on a plateau, beginners who have learned some chords and scales might find it useful for expanding their vocabulary. However, it does not include basic strumming or scale exercises.

### How often is The Building Blocks of Rock updated?

The Building Blocks of Rock was last updated on October 9, 2025, with version 1.0. Future updates will likely focus on adding more content and features based on user feedback.

## Version history (last 1 release)

### 1.0 — 2025-10-09

No release notes.

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## Related topics

[the building blocks of rock](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/the-building-blocks-of-rock)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-04.*