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
  • 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
  • "She knew what she'd created": Back to Black
  • Trower's '80s supergroup
  • Music theory tricks
  • Stage Tour game
  • 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
Carlos Santana
Artists Carlos Santana on Miles and McLaughlin, Hendrix and SRV, and his quest for eternal melody
 
 
Van Halen in 1984
Artists The creative genius and ‘insane’ methodology in Van Halen’s biggest selling album
 
 
Acoustic Guitar
Guitars How to start recording pristine picked acoustic guitar in just three simple steps
 
 
MusicRadar Guitar Gear Round-up June 2026
Guitars MusicRadar’s epic guitar gear round-up: June ’26 edit, ft. EHX, PRS, Fender’s mega-launch and more
 
 
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
 
 
Troy Van Leeuwen with his new Squier Paranormal Telecaster XII in a still from the demo video.
Artists Troy Van Leeuwen on his Squier Tele XII’s origins, and when he learned it was (literally) roadworthy
 
 
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
Bit Layer
Tech This free multiband bitcrusher is a surgical tool for lo-fi sound design
 
 
UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 22: Photo of Stevie WONDER; Stevie Wonder promoting the album Songs In The Key Of Life, dressed as cowboy (Photo by Richard E. Aaron/Redferns)
Artists Stevie Wonder surprise releases four previously unheard songs from 1976's Songs in the Key of Life
 
 
Bass Guitars Ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted pays his respects to the late, great Cliff Burton
 
 
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 27: (L-R) Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear of Nirvana accept the Video Vanguard Award onstage during the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) at Peacock Theater on September 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Artists Nirvana's Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl reunite at the 2026 VMAs as Madonna and Taylor Swift win big
 
 
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - SEPTEMBER 25: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Olivia Rodrigo performs onstage during The Unraveled Tour kick off at PeoplesBank Arena on September 25, 2026 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)
Artists Olivia Rodrigo kicks off her Unraveled tour with a “one of one” heart-shaped guitar and a surprise solo
 
 
Fred Again
Artists Fred Again slams AI music: "I've felt no pull whatsoever to even try it... the process is the magic"
 
 

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...