Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
More
  • "The most expensive bit of drumming in history”
  • JoBo x Fuchs
  • Radiohead Daydreaming
  • Vanilla Fudge
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Tutorials
  2. Guitar Lessons & Tutorials

Quick licks: advanced #1

News
By Guitar Techniques ( 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
The worlds best high-quality guitar tuition from the UKs foremost teachers and players image
The worlds best high-quality guitar tuition from the UKs foremost teachers and players
Subscribe and save today!
More Info
Latest in Guitar Lessons & Tutorials
Tom Morello
How Tom Morello used his guitar to drill into the off-limits domain of the turntablist
 
 
Close up of a person playing guitar
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
 
 
Close up of a person holding an acoustic guitar bathed sunlight
Ignite your inner guitar god for just 27 cents a day with TrueFire’s July 4th sale - save 60% on online lessons
 
 
MusicNomad fret tuition
Can you fix your guitar's frets yourself? We try three innovative approaches from MusicNomad to investigate how they might conquer a major cause of fret buzz
 
 
George Harrison
How to play like George Harrison on The Beatles' Abbey Road
 
 
MusicNomad guitar fret cleaning
"You owe your guitar the chance to be its best": How to clean and polish your guitar frets a better way
 
 
Latest in News
Bruno Mars
“Releasing the same song for the past 10 years”: Bruno Mars bites back at critical social media user
 
 
NAMM 2026
NAMM 2026: Rumours, predictions and live updates from the world’s biggest music technology show
 
 
Bob Weir in 2023
"There is no final curtain here, not really": Bob Weir, Grateful Dead co-founder, dies aged 78
 
 
DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 4: American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, dancer, actor, and filmmaker Prince (1958-2016) and American guitarist, singer-songwriter and member of the Revolution Wendy Melvoin perform onstage during the 1984 Purple Rain Tour on November 4, 1984, at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Ross Marino/Getty Images)
How Prince and The Revolution turned the bare bones of Purple Rain into a lighters-in-the-air epic
 
 
 Iconic female rap group Salt-N-Pepa members Salt (Cheryl James), Pepa (Sandra Denton), and DJ Spinderella (Deidra Roper)
"Did not establish they ever owned the copyrights to their sound recordings": Salt N Pepa lose legal battle with Universal
 
 
DAVID BYRNE AND OLIVIA RODRIGO
“I actually cried when I heard his version of this song”: Olivia Rodrigo on David Byrne's cover of Drivers License
 
 

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
  • 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...