In today's lesson, we are going to learn how to improve your guitar solos by learning guitar licks. For the serious guitarist, the quest to improve their guitar skills is an ongoing journey. One way to enhance your guitar playing is to learn and master guitar licks. These types of musical phrases can significantly impact your overall creativity, techniques, and understanding of musical concepts.
What Are Guitar Licks?
Guitar licks are short sequences of notes often used in guitar solos, riffs, and melody lines. They are building blocks of many famous songs and are essential in musical styles such as rock, jazz, blues, and country. These types of musical phrases can range from simple to complex and often embody the emotion inherent in the style from which they are derived.
Examples of Guitar Licks:
Example #1: Utilizing the bend
In this example, the string bend is utilized. Bend up at the 7th fret 3rd string and proceed to play the 5th fret on the 2nd and 1st strings. This is an example of a 3-note lick.
Example #2: Utilizing the pull-off
In this example, we use what is called a pull-off. Where you pick the 8th fret 2nd string and pull off to the 5th fret. Then proceed to the 7th fret, 3rd string, and back down to the 5th fret, 2nd string.
Example #3: Hammer-on & vibrato
In this example, we use a hammer-on and vibrato. You pick the 5th and 8th frets on the 6th string, then pick the note on the 5th fret 5th string and hammer-on to the 6th note 5th string while proceeding along the scale. You then pick the 5th fret on the 4th string, pick the 7th fret on the 4th string, bend it up, and proceed to the 7th and 5th frets on the 3rd string, ending the lick with vibrato.
Tips For Learning Guitar Licks
- Start Slow: Begin by practicing licks at a slow tempo, gradually increasing speed as you become more comfortable.
- Use A metronome: This extraordinary device helps you to develop and keep time. Ensuring that your licks are rhythmically precise
- Break It Down: Divide complex licks into smaller sections, mastering each part, nd then combining them to sound more coherent.
- Record Yourself: Listening to recordings of your practice sessions can help you track progress and identify areas that need improvement.
- Experiment: Don't hesitate to modify guitar licks you are learning. Infusing them with your own ideas or blending them allows you to create your own style.
More Guitar Lick Examples:
Example #4: Pull-off, bend & vibrato
This example utilizes two pull-offs, starting from the 8th fret and moving to the 5th fret, on the 1st and 2nd strings. A bend on the 9th fret 3rd string, and ends with a vibrato on the 8th fret.
Example #5: Slide, hammer-on, & vibrato
In this example, we use the slide between the 7th fret and the 10th fret on the 4th and 3rd strings. You then proceed with a hammer-on from the 8th to the 10th fret on the 2nd string, and finish off with a vibrato on the 8th fret on the 1st string.
Example #6: Hammer-on, bend, & vibrato
In this example, you utilize a hammer-on on the 7th fret of the 3rd string, a bend at the 8th fret of the 2nd string, repeat the lick, and end with a vibrato at the 10th fret of the 1st string.
All these licks should be repeated multiple times. Remember, these are small phrases of music that can be utilized in guitar riffs, solos, or melody lines. When you learn them individually and combine them, they start sounding even more interesting.
Benefits of Learning Guitar Licks
- Improve Technical Skills
- Enhance Musical Vocabulary
- Boost Improvisational Skills
- Strengthens Ear Training
- Inspires Creativity
Incorporate Into Daily Practice
Incorporating guitar licks into your daily practice routine can have a profound impact on your guitar playing. They not only enhance musical vocabulary and technical skills, but they also inspire creativity and improve your improvisational possibilities. By consistently learning and experimenting with guitar licks, you'll become a more versatile, expressive, and confident guitarist. So grab your guitar, dive into the world of guitar licks, and watch your playing blossom into something wonderful.
Dive Deeper:
If you are interested in learning more about how guitar licks can improve your guitar solos, I recommend you check the book I authored, Learn To Play Lead Guitar.
Learn To Play Lead Guitar is a comprehensive guide for those who want to take their guitar playing to the next level. With a fundamental foundation already in place, you will be able to progress faster at becoming a lead guitarist. You'll just need the desire to learn.
Playing lead guitar is an exciting and rewarding expression of your inner passion for the guitar. With this skill, you can add a unique voice to the music while increasing your mastery of the fretboard. But for you to do that, you will need to master a few techniques, such as learning scales, phrasing, and knowing where to play a solo in a song.
Common Scales Are Presented
As this knowledge will allow you to stay in key and sound good with every note. Scales such as the pentatonic and blues scales will be recommended to start, as they are widely popular with many different styles of music. Daily practice of such techniques as hammer-ons, pull-offs, bends, slides, and vibrato will build finger dexterity and independence. It also allows you to add emotion to your playing and bring the scales to life.
This book and all others I have authored can be found on my website in digital format, on Amazon in paperback and Kindle, and anywhere books are sold. This allows for optimal convenience. All books are written in a simple step-by-step method for accelerated learning. Be sure to check them out, and if you have any further questions, feel free to contact me through my website, and I will be happy to help.
Thanks for your time reading today.
Take care, and good luck with your guitar playing.
Sincerely, Dwayne Jenkins
