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
  • Superbooth 2026
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
Gary on synth
Artists How to emulate the sound of Gary Numan’s synth-pop classic Cars
Joe Perry and Jeff Beck
Artists “Of course I was intimidated. He’s a genius. He’s Mozart!”: Joe Perry salutes his guitar heroes Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck
Human League
Artists Replicate the sonic magic of the Human League’s defining synth-pop anthem
Steely Dan
Artists From the Purdie shuffle to its extended jazz chords - analysing Steely Dan's Babylon Sisters
Kirk Hammett of Metallica performs during the band's St. Anger tour
Guitars “These songs are played a lot. They’re often not played well”: Guitar Center reveal the Top Ten riffs played at their stores
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars 2026: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
Jared James Nichols plays his Gibson Futura on a stage lit up in red-pink.
Artists “I felt like I was levitating off the ground. I felt like I was in Cream in 1968”: Jared James Nichols on why he switched to Marshall amps
Julian Lage
Artists Julian Lage wants to teach you guitar! The jazz virtuoso announces multi-day masterclass “diving deeply into everything” guitar
Katy Perry
Artists How Calvin Harris and Katy Perry buried the hatchet to craft their groovetastic 2017 hit, Feels
Close up of a Taylor GS Mini acoustic guitar lying on a wooden floor
Acoustic Guitars Best acoustic guitars 2026: Super steel string acoustics for all players and budgets
On the left, Sadler Vaden (in white T-shirt) jams with Jason Isbell. On the right, Mike McCready plays his Strat onstage with Pearl Jam.
Artists Sadler Vaden on when he and Jason Isbell jammed Little Wing with Pearl Jam's Mike McCready
Woman in orange hat plays classical guitar in front of a laptop
Guitar Lessons & Tutorials What are the best online guitar lessons in 2026? I’m a professional guitar gear reviewer and these are my highest-rated lessons platforms
Robert Smith of The Cure
Artists “As an English boy at the time, you’re encouraged not to show your emotion”: How the young Robert Smith created one of The Cure’s definitive songs
Chrissie Hynde
Artists “I was working on this song which he liked, and then he died, and it turned into a tribute to him”: The tragedy behind a classic Pretenders hit
Joe Satriani and Steve Vai perform onstage during the Satch/Vai Tour.
Artists “I’m watching this genius develop right in front of me”: Joe Satriani on what it was like to teach a teenage Steve Vai
More
  • Superbooth 2026
  • Kate Bush Army Dreamers
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Theory of Feels
  1. Tutorials
  2. Guitar Lessons & Tutorials

Quick licks: easy #10

News
By Guitar Techniques published 3 January 2012

Santana-inspired lead and Smiths-style indie riffing

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

Easy lick one: Santana lead

Easy lick one: Santana lead

This lead example is similar to something the soulful Latino might play on a cool instrumental ballad. Follow the fingerings given as the line is entirely from one scale (Eb major) and it fits nicely within the 7th and 8th fret areas. Dial in some gain for singing sustain and go for it!

Page 1 of 2
Page 1 of 2
Easy lick two: Smiths riff

Easy lick two: Smiths riff

Inspired by The Smiths, this tribute to their innovative guitarist Johnny Marr uses open position chords and a quick strumming pattern. Practise changing chords slowly at first, working up to 100bpm. Try a little chorus and a lush clean amp tone to nail this one.

Page 2 of 2
Page 2 of 2
Guitar Techniques
Read more
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
 
 
Human League
Artists Replicate the sonic magic of the Human League’s defining synth-pop anthem
 
 
Morrissey
Artists We speak to The Smiths’ producer Stephen Street and learn how their most beloved song came to be
 
 
A-Ha
Artists How to re-create one of the most infectious synth riffs of all time
 
 
Cory Wong
Artists “My advice is play the song. Can you find a part that is tailored to the music”: Cory Wong’s tips for better rhythm guitar
 
 
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars 2026: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
 
 
Latest in Guitar Lessons & Tutorials
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
 
 
MusicNomad fret tuition
Guitar Lessons & Tutorials 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
 
 
Latest in News
O'Flynn in the studio
Tech 5 things we learned in the studio with O'Flynn
 
 
Mike D head shot
Singers & Songwriters Mike D of the Beastie Boys breaks silence with debut solo single, Switch Up
 
 
Native Instruments InMusic
Tech InMusic confirms Native Instruments acquisition, bringing it under the same ownership as Moog and Akai Pro
 
 
Korg
Mixers Korg sneakily launches a new effects-packed performance mixer, the NTS-4, at Superbooth
 
 
Deals of the week logo
Tech MusicRadar deals of the week: Just in time for Mother's Day, we've found $700 off an unusual Gibson, $500 off a stunning Ibanez Prestige AZ2204, plus heavy savings on recording and live gear
 
 
Jared James Nichols plays his Gibson Futura on a stage lit up in red-pink.
Artists “I felt like I was levitating off the ground. I felt like I was in Cream in 1968”: Jared James Nichols on why he switched to Marshall amps
 
 

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...