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 #13

News
By Guitar Techniques
Published 3 May 2012

Van Halen acoustic and Akkerman-style lead

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

Advanced lick one: Eddie Van Halen-style mock flamenco

Advanced lick one: Eddie Van Halen-style mock flamenco

We've used Van Halen's acoustic work as inspiration for this example. The pick plays the fast tremolo parts and the fretting hand taps the lower notes as smoothly as possible. It's a clever way for a pick player to sound like a flamenco guitarist - aim for volume balance though!

Page 1 of 2
Page 1 of 2
Advanced lick two: Jan Akkerman-style lead

Advanced lick two: Jan Akkerman-style lead

Here's a tribute to Focus' Dutch guitar master. Note the use of the Hungarian Gypsy Minor Scale (A, B, C, D#, E, F, G#, A), which is characteristic of his lead work. For best results, use a Fender Twin sound cranked and a bridge position humbucker to really cut through.

Page 2 of 2
Page 2 of 2
Guitar Techniques
Read more
Van Halen in 1984
Artists The creative genius and ‘insane’ methodology in Van Halen’s biggest selling album
 
 
Jan Akkerman
Artists Guitarist Jan Akkerman recalls the creation of a bizarre ’70s rock classic – Hocus Pocus by Focus!
 
 
A portrait of the great Robin Trower with his Fender Stratocaster
Artists Robin Trower on recreating live magic in the studio and the creative power of great guitar tone
 
 
MusicRadar monthly guitar gear roundup, ft. Lzzy Hale's signature Epiphone Explorer Custom, plus new gear from Hotone, Gibson, JHS Pedals, Death By Audio and more
Guitars “His effects are bonkers in the best way possible”: The MusicRadar guitar gear roundup Aug 2026 edit
 
 
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
 
 
Acoustic Guitar
Guitars How to start recording pristine picked acoustic guitar in just three simple steps
 
 
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
Robert Smith and Olivia Rodrigo
Artists Robert Smith considers the SEO implications of Olivia Rodrigo releasing a song called The Cure
 
 
Drake accepts the Best Rap Song award for 'God's Plan' onstage backstage during the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019
Singles And Albums “This album, I’m never submittin’ it”: Drake joins BTS and Stray Kids in snubbing next year’s Grammys
 
 
DANA POINT, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 01:  Andrew Watt and Eddie Vedder performs with Eddie Vedder and the Earthlings at the Ohana Music Festival on October 01, 2022 in Dana Point, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
Artists Andrew Watt on how producing the Rolling Stones accidentally influenced Pearl Jam's Dark Matter
 
 
Freddie Jackson performs at the Benson & Hedges Blues & Rhythm Festival at Madison Square Garden's Paramount Theater, New York, New York, November 10, 1992
Singers & Songwriters “He gave us the songs that became the soundtrack to our love stories”: Soul singer Freddie Jackson has died
 
 
Arturia AstroLab 88
Tech Arturia’s AstroLab gets its biggest firmware update yet, adding deeper sound editing and 67 new presets
 
 
Tommy Henriksen plas a white BC Rich Mockingbird onstage [left]; Def Leppard's Phil Collen plays his new Jackson PC1-E during the band's Las Vegas residency at Caesars Palace.
Artists Phil Collen and Tommy Henriksen on the genius of über-producer Mutt Lange
 
 

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...