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
  • Bridge Over Troubled Water
  • World in Motion
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • The genius of Clive Davis
  1. Tutorials
  2. Guitar Lessons & Tutorials

Quick licks: advanced #2

News
By scott mcgill
Published 17 June 2011

Allan Holdsworth-style chording and fast arpeggio shred!

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

Advanced lick one: Holdsworth-style chording

Advanced lick one: Holdsworth-style chording

This chord study is modeled on the distinctive harmonic style of Allan Holdsworth. It dips into a number of different tonalities and string combinations very quickly so use either a pick and fingers or fingerstyle exclusively. Use a clean chorused tone with delay.

Page 1 of 2
Page 1 of 2
Advanced lick two: Fast arpeggio shredding

Advanced lick two: Fast arpeggio shredding

Fans of shred and advanced fusion might like to check this one out. These are three-octave arpeggios built on A major and A minor chords using sweep picking in the style of Jason Becker. Watch that notes don't bleed into each other and make sure your hands are synchronised.

Page 2 of 2
Page 2 of 2
scott mcgill
Read more
Allan Holdsworth plays his headless guitar live onstage in 2007
Artists How Allan Holdsworth blew Eddie Van Halen's mind and took guitar to a higher plane
 
 
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
 
 
Chords
Guitar Lessons & Tutorials Confused by guitar tabs and notation? Use this complete guide to reading music for guitar
 
 
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE -- Episode 1904 -- Pictured: Musical guest Paul McCartney performs "Days We Left Behind" on Saturday, May 16, 2026 -- (Photo by: Lloyd Bishop/NBC via Getty Images)
Artists Paul McCartney shows you how to play the mystery guitar chord that kickstarted his new album
 
 
Carlos Santana
Artists Carlos Santana on Miles and McLaughlin, Hendrix and SRV, and his quest for eternal melody
 
 
Matteo Mancuso plays his Yamaha Revstar onstage in Milan, 2026.
Artists Has Matteo Mancuso arrived as world’s greatest player?
 
 
Latest in Guitar Lessons & Tutorials
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
 
 
Close up of a person holding an acoustic guitar bathed sunlight
Guitar Lessons & Tutorials Ignite your inner guitar god for just 27 cents a day with TrueFire’s July 4th sale - save 60% on online lessons
 
 
Latest in News
nopia
Tech We got an exclusive look at Nopia, the viral synth and "harmony machine" that broke the internet
 
 
David Byrne, lead singer and guitarist for the Talking Heads, works with record producer Brian Eno in a recording studio in Mexico.
Studios Talking Heads frontman David Byrne discusses treating the studio "like a playground" with Brian Eno
 
 
fl studio
Tech You can now control FL Studio with an agentic AI chatbot from inside the DAW
 
 
Sir Anthony Hopkins attends the Closing Night red carpet at the Red Sea International Film Festival 2025 on December 11, 2025
Singles And Albums "Music was my first desire": Film titan Anthony Hopkins to release album of original compositions
 
 
DX10000CL headphones
Headphones "A flagship audiophile product": Final unveils new DX10000 CL headphone at jaw-dropping price
 
 
Korg NTS-4
Tech Korg’s DIY NTS-4 looks like the budget-friendly desktop mixer we always wanted the Volca Mix to be
 
 

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...