Skip to main content
Become a MusicRadar VIP - it's free
- Join our community
SampleRadar
Access over 90,000 royalty-free samples
The MusicRadar app
Full access and custom feeds
MusicRadar Newsletters
The latest music and gear news inboxed
Earn Member Badges
Climb the MusicRadar charts
Coming soon: VIP-only Giveaways
Win pro-grade music gear and more
Join the conversation
Connect with other musicians and fans
BECOME A MUSICRADAR VIP
For the quickest way to join, enter your email below. We’ll send a confirmation email and sign you up to MusicRadar newsletters with the latest music news, gear reviews, tutorials and exclusive offers.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
Get VIP Access Quick

Become a MusicRadar VIP for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Welcome to Become a MusicRadar VIP !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Earn your first badge
Start reading to unlock your first badge
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Hot music news

Hot music news

The latest news from the hottest artists.

Explore
Make better music

Make better music

Explore tutorials, tips and guides for creating music.

Explore

Your membership perks

Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more

Explore now

Get the MusicRadar Newsletter

Get the latest music news, gear reviews, deals and tutorials delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign up here

Sign Out
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Rodrigo's Cure
  • California Dreamin'
  • "Apotheosis of mediocrity" - Rundgren vs Swift
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Tutorials
  2. Guitar Lessons & Tutorials

Quick licks: advanced #1

News
By Guitar Techniques
Published 23 May 2011

Morse-style Mixolydian madness!

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Advanced lick one: Fusion Pentatonic run

Advanced lick one: Fusion Pentatonic run

This lick is based on the C minor pentatonic scale (C Eb F G Bb) and is reminiscent of John McLaughlin's 'Mahavishnu' era. Here we would suggest that you alternate using your third and second fingers so that your fretting hand won't tire. The picking is mostly alternate, although you could use consecutive upstrokes when crossing strings. Neck or bridge pickup with a moderate overdrive would work well here.

Page 1 of 2
Page 1 of 2
Advanced lick two: Morse-style Mixolydian madness!

Advanced lick two: Morse-style Mixolydian madness!

Based loosely on G Mixolydian (G A B C D E F), this one features bending, stinging vibrato, chromaticism and some 6ths typical of Steve Morse. In the last bar, we suggest that you use your first finger to start each group of triplets making the line easier to manage and phrase properly. Consider slight palm muting when picking and using the neck pickup when high up the fretboard (plugged into a distorted valve amp).

Page 2 of 2
Page 2 of 2
Guitar Techniques
Read more
Music theory basics: understanding intervals, and how they define the distance in pitch between two notes
Music Theory And Songwriting 10 music theory tricks every producer and songwriter should know
 
 
Carlos Santana
Artists Carlos Santana on Miles and McLaughlin, Hendrix and SRV, and his quest for eternal melody
 
 
Ritchie Blackmore takes a solo on his Fender Stratocaster
Guitarists The guitar genius of Ritchie Blackmore in 5 classic tracks
 
 
Joe Bonamassa wears a blue suit and plays his signature Epiphone Les Paul [left]; the late great Albert Collins with his Telecaster.
Artists Joe Bonamassa on how Albert Collins taught him to wield his guitar as “a weapon”
 
 
Jackso Pro Series Phil Collen PC1-E
Artists Phil Collen on why you can play anything on his new Jackson, and even nail those Hysteria tones
 
 
Guitar Picks
Electric Guitars Do you know that there's a right and wrong way to hold a guitar pick? How to best handle your plectrum while playing
 
 
Latest in Guitar Lessons & Tutorials
Guitar Tricks Summer Black Friday promo
Guitar Lessons & Tutorials Get almost $1k of guitar tuition from our number one online platform for only $99 with this epic Summer Black Friday deal – over 11,000 lessons, plus bonus gifts
 
 
Chords
Guitar Lessons & Tutorials Confused by guitar tabs and notation? Use this complete guide to reading music for guitar
 
 
Scale
Guitar Lessons & Tutorials "Don't play scales just to get faster. Speed is a happy by-product of playing more accurately": Beginner Guitar Lessons - nailing scales
 
 
Guitar maintenance
Guitars "There isn't one correct answer": 6 things you need you need know about how to clean and condition your guitar fretboard
 
 
Tom Morello
Artists How Tom Morello used his guitar to drill into the off-limits domain of the turntablist
 
 
Close up of a person playing guitar
Guitar Lessons & Tutorials With a massive 89% discount, $99 for a year's worth of Guitar Tricks online lessons is the best way to upgrade your guitar playing this Black Friday
 
 
Latest in News
Oli Howe
Artists Instagram reharm sensation Oli Howe on the formula behind his chaotic reworks of classic hits
 
 
An SSL 2+ MKII audio interface on a desk
Recording I sifted through Sweetwater's massive up to 50% off studio gear sale to bring you the best equipment discounts
 
 
Lola Young performs onstage at the 2025 Coachella Valley music and arts festival on April 11, 2025
Singers & Songwriters “Breathing feels like a chore”: Lola Young bemoans the effect of vaping on her health on TikTok
 
 
tapes
Samples SampleRadar: 485 free tape-treated samples
 
 
Cronos of Venom
Artists “I want people to think, ‘That band Venom was crazy!’”: Heavy metal innovator Conrad ‘Cronos’ Lant dies at 63
 
 
gen 2
Tech Universal Audio's next generation of Volt audio interfaces offers more ways to shape your sound
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...