Advanced Rock Licks

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Instructor: Steve Hubbard Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock

Excerpt: Hi Folks! This tutorial will be focusing on a number of licks that can be used in a rock situation. They are all based around the key of E minor, especially focusing on the pentatonic box that we are all so familiar with! Remember, these are only examples. I encourage you all to modify the licks to fit your technical style, and your preference in terms of ...

Media Length: 0:44

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Instructor: Steve Hubbard Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock

Excerpt: This example falls into the basic minor pentatonic box that the majority of guitarists know and use. The lick starts out with an almost cliché blues/rock lick, and then moves on to more of a country flavour, using chromatic passing tones, and a half step bend. You can easily change the rhythmic values to better fit the music you are playing it over. ...

Media Length: 0:47

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Instructor: Steve Hubbard Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock

Excerpt: When played alone, this lick sounds more like a diminished run, than a rock lick. Try playing it over an Em backing track, or even an E drone. It will make much more sense to your ears upon doing so! It would also be cool to merge this idea with part of example 1! You can get some neat sounds when switching between this lick, and a lick based around the mino...

Media Length: 0:49

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Instructor: Steve Hubbard Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock

Excerpt: Here, we have an example of a somewhat basic shred lick, that I have modified to sound a bit more exotic. The first part of the lick is heavily influenced by John Petrucci, in terms of technique. It can be looked at as polyrhythmic, as I play groups of 6, over what is assumed to be a 4/4 time signature. Try changing the note choice in the first bar. You can...

Media Length: 0:52

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Instructor: Steve Hubbard Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock

Excerpt: Our final lick of this tutorial uses alternate picking, and features many chromatic tones. This lick sounds great when played fast! I use this type of lick a lot when playing in a funk/fusion situation, but it can of course be used in rock! Some guitarists that may have influenced this lick: Greg Howe, Frank Gambale, Guthrie Govan Check out the last vide...

Media Length: 0:49

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Instructor: Steve Hubbard Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock

Excerpt: Practice hard and be creative! What works for me, may not work for you. You may prefer to use alternate picking, where I may have used legato. Remember, our main goal as musicians is sound appealing to our audience! Focus on being able to play these licks, using whatever techniques necessary.Thanks for checking out this tutorial! Steve

Media Length: 1:00