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
  • Christine McVie's masterpiece
  • Macca vs Phil Collins
  • Music theory tricks
  • Kiss From a Rose
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Yes
  1. Tutorials
  2. Guitar Lessons & Tutorials

Quick licks: advanced #5

News
By Guitar Techniques
Published 10 September 2011

Progressive rock riffage in King Crimson and Dream Theater styles

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

Advanced lick one: King Crimson lines

Advanced lick one: King Crimson lines

This Robert Fripp style etude uses the A whole tone scale (A, B, C#, D#, F, G, A) and is a great alternate picking exercise. The line moves up a tone in the 3rd and 4th bars ensuring that the whole tone scale is quoted in its entirety. Relax the picking hand and work gradually up to 144bpm over a period of time using a clean in-between pickup tone with a bit of 1980s Crimson approved chorus effect.

Page 1 of 2
Page 1 of 2
Advanced lick two: Dream Theater meltdown

Advanced lick two: Dream Theater meltdown

Here's a John Petrucci style prog-metal scorchfest! These are groups of nine notes in the space of one beat using the E Aeolian mode (E, F#, G, A, B, C, D, E). Observe the consecutive upstrokes of the pick between the 6th and 7th notes of each pattern when crossing strings, as this will ensure that you start with a downstroke at the beginning of every phrase. Start slowly to get the patterns established in the fretting hand before venturing beyond 60bpm.

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
 
 
Chords
Guitar Lessons & Tutorials Confused by guitar tabs and notation? Use this complete guide to reading music for guitar
 
 
Prodigy
Artists How to replicate the sample-based sonics of a gnarly Prodigy classic
 
 
Angine de Poitrine
Artists Just what are Angine de Poitrine actually doing musically? We dissect their biggest track
 
 
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
 
 
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
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
Liam Gallagher and Noel Gallagher perform onstage at the Oasis Live '25 - Toronto concert at Rogers Stadium on August 24, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
Gigs & Festivals “Oasis’ schedule is booked”: The Gallaghers’ masterplan for 2027 is allegedly already in place
 
 
midipad
Tech MIDIpad transforms your gamepad into a musical instrument and MPE controller – and there’s a free version
 
 
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 05: Lindsey Buckingham attends the Variety Power of Young Hollywood 2026 event at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on August 05, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/WireImage)
Singers & Songwriters “Quite a few things will reveal themselves”: Lindsey Buckingham teases possible Fleetwood Mac activity
 
 
William Orbit
Artists We look back at a classic William Orbit interview
 
 
William Orbit
Artists William Orbit, the production genius behind Madonna’s Ray Of Light, has died, aged 69
 
 
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 05: Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill attend the 'Diaspora Calling' merch pop-up & signing event in celebration of the Fugees 30th Anniversary at 180 Studios on August 5, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Grant Buchanan/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Bands Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean are positive that the Fugees will record again
 
 

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...