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
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
The Blow Monkeys
Artists We dig into the Blow Monkeys’ AIDS crisis-inspired hit from 1986, with new insight from its writer
Bryan Adams
Artists “I still think it’s a great lyric. Probably the best I’ve ever written”: The classic ’80s rock anthem and the ’70s hit that inspired it
Steely Dan
Artists From the Purdie shuffle to its extended jazz chords - analysing Steely Dan's Babylon Sisters
Eric Johnson takes a solo onstage with his Gibson SG
Artists Eric Johnson on the $400,000 rig he hardly played, the Dumble that got away, and his masterplan for setting his playing free
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
Bruce Hornsby and Mark Knopfler
Artists Bruce Hornsby explains why a classic Dire Straits song is a “kindred spirit” to his biggest hit
Larry Carlton wears an orange shirt and takes a solo on a cherry burst semi-hollow live in Japan.
Artists “I was just a new guy, probably number nine on the list”: Larry Carlton on his nerve-shredding debut session with Quincy Jones – and the time he was called to play guitar on a Michael Jackson smash-hit
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
New Radicals
Artists “I walked in… and Joni Mitchell was in baby blue pyjamas”: How a weird dream inspired the New Radicals’ classic ’90s hit
Talk Talk
Artists The complex music theory that underpinned a Talk Talk classic
Basement Jaxx
Artists Re-create the sound of the powerful Where’s Your Head At bassline - which Basement Jaxx nabbed from Numan!
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars 2026: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac performs on stage at The Hydro on October 3, 2013 in Glasgow, Scotland
Artists “I’d have to smoke a big joint to be able to listen to it!”: Fleetwood Mac star Lindsey Buckingham's unusual solo albums
The Rolling Stones
Artists “Brian Jones was the first steel slide player I heard”: Keith Richards pays tribute to Stones guitarists past and present
Bowie and Queen
Artists The tense night David Bowie and Queen spontaneously came up with a classic
More
  • Jimmy Douglass speaks
  • Ultravox's Vienna
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Elektron Tonverk Review
  1. Tutorials
  2. Guitar Lessons & Tutorials

Quick licks: easy #12

News
By Guitar Techniques published 1 March 2012

James Brown and Fleetwood Mac style

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

Easy lick one: James Brown-style funk

Easy lick one: James Brown-style funk

Make it Funky! Turn it loose with this classic Jimmy Nolan and James Brown inspired riff. Watch getting to the D9 chord in time, and remember the key here is completely in the feel - it's the syncopations, not the technical requirements, that may require extended practice.

Page 1 of 2
Page 1 of 2
Easy lick two: Fleetwood Mac attack!

Easy lick two: Fleetwood Mac attack!

This one uses fingerpicking and is modelled on Lindsay Buckingham's hit-making guitar style. The example is in A minor using a constant open fifth string against thirds on the third and fourth strings. keep it relaxed and melodic at 120bpm using a warm, clean valve amp sound.

Page 2 of 2
Page 2 of 2
Guitar Techniques
Read more
Chic in 1992
Artists The influential Chic classic that spawned one of the most recognisable basslines of all time.
 
 
Stevie Wonder
Artists Dissecting the musical magic of Superstition, the song Stevie Wonder just couldn’t let go
 
 
Bruno Mars
Artists A decade on, we look back at the musical theory and retro gear that shaped Bruno Mars’ 2016 classic
 
 
Lindsey Buckingham
Artists "Oh, wow!": Lindsey Buckingham reacts to TikTok covers of Fleetwood Mac’s Never Going Back Again
 
 
Steely Dan
Artists From the Purdie shuffle to its extended jazz chords - analysing Steely Dan's Babylon Sisters
 
 
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
 
 
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
1990: English boyband E.M.F. James Atkin, Ian Dench, Derry Brownson,  Zac Foley, Mark DeCloedt   (Photo by BSR Agency/Gentle Look via Getty Images)
Artists How EMF went to No 1 in the US with their debut single, which came with a monster guitar riff
 
 
Deals of the week logo
Tech MusicRadar deals of the week: We've found $200 off a stylish Gibson SG, $100 off an affordable Martin acoustic, hearty discounts on studio headphones and much more
 
 
Thomann's Live Days logo
Music Industry “An inspiring meeting point for professionals and creators”: Thomann are running a live music trade fair in May
 
 
A laptop on top of some music gear with Ableton Live 12 DAW displayed on it. To the left is a drum kit with some headphones and microphones on it.
Digital Audio Workstation I’m telling every producer I know to upgrade to Ableton Live Lite 12 today thanks to a 25% discount on all versions of this 4.5 star rated DAW
 
 
Bruce Hornsby and Mark Knopfler
Artists Bruce Hornsby explains why a classic Dire Straits song is a “kindred spirit” to his biggest hit
 
 
Peter Hook And Bernard Sumner
Bands Peter Hook says he won’t perform with New Order at their RNR Hall Of Fame – unless he receives an apology
 
 

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...