Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Drums Week 25
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Guitar Amps
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Artist news
  • Drums
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • Santana on Beck
  • Friday, I'm in Love
  • Knopfler's 4-note secret
  • 95k+ free music samples
Recommended reading
Grace Jones
Artists Exploring the quirky production and music theory choices of Grace Jones’ classic Slave to the Rhythm
Eric Clapton
Artists The Grammy-winning hit that Eric Clapton wrote to order, with a little help from Foreigner’s Mick Jones
Jimi and Billy in 1968
Artists “I was playing the Fender Strat that Jimi Hendrix gave me”: Billy Gibbons on the making of ZZ Top's greatest blues song
Stevie Wonder with Jeff Beck in 1972
Artists “He’s given me the riff of the century!”: The classic song Stevie Wonder wrote for Jeff Beck — but saved for himself
sly stone
Artists A music professor breaks down the theory behind Sly & The Family Stone's Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
MXR MB301 Bass Synth: the six-knob pedal is pictured in use against a petrol-blue background.
Bass Guitars “Thunderous sub-octave, expressive envelope, and lush modulation effects with killer tracking and sustain”: MXR unveils the MB301 Bass Synth – instant funk for your pedalboard
Paul McCartney
Artists “When I'm listening to Dear Prudence, you’re aware of what the bass is doing”: Gene Simmons salutes Paul McCartney
  1. Tutorials
  2. Guitar Lessons & Tutorials

Quick licks: easy #12

News
By Guitar Techniques ( 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
The worlds best high-quality guitar tuition from the UKs foremost teachers and players image
The worlds best high-quality guitar tuition from the UKs foremost teachers and players
Subscribe and save today!
More Info
Read more
Grace Jones
Exploring the quirky production and music theory choices of Grace Jones’ classic Slave to the Rhythm
Eric Clapton
The Grammy-winning hit that Eric Clapton wrote to order, with a little help from Foreigner’s Mick Jones
Jimi and Billy in 1968
“I was playing the Fender Strat that Jimi Hendrix gave me”: Billy Gibbons on the making of ZZ Top's greatest blues song
Stevie Wonder with Jeff Beck in 1972
“He’s given me the riff of the century!”: The classic song Stevie Wonder wrote for Jeff Beck — but saved for himself
sly stone
A music professor breaks down the theory behind Sly & The Family Stone's Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
MXR MB301 Bass Synth: the six-knob pedal is pictured in use against a petrol-blue background.
“Thunderous sub-octave, expressive envelope, and lush modulation effects with killer tracking and sustain”: MXR unveils the MB301 Bass Synth – instant funk for your pedalboard
Latest in Guitar Lessons & Tutorials
Close up of a person holding an acoustic guitar bathed sunlight
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
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
George Harrison
How to play like George Harrison on The Beatles' Abbey Road
MusicNomad guitar fret cleaning
"You owe your guitar the chance to be its best": How to clean and polish your guitar frets a better way
Jimmy Page
Play like Jimmy Page! Exclusive video lesson
Music Theory
How learning and understanding chord symbols can prove a major benefit for sharing your musical ideas
Latest in News
Beatie Wolfe and Brian Eno
“A strange new land with a human living and feeling its way through its mysterious spaces”: Welcome to Brian Eno and Beatie Wolfe’s new album
Josh Homme
What’s on Josh Homme’s to-do list when Queens Of The Stone Age play Sheffield next week?
Pino Palladino and Miley Cyrus
How Pino Palladino turned the demo bassline in Miley Cyrus’s End of the World into something "so much better"
Paul Mccartney Smoking A Cigarette At London In England On June 19Th 1967
“We decided that our audiences would come along with us”: Paul McCartney on how the avant garde influenced the Beatles
Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who perform at Parco Della Musica on July 22, 2025 in Milan, Italy
The Who are forced to postpone Philly date on final US tour due to “illness”
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: Score a massive $1,000 off Roland V-Drums, up to $320 off a range of Fender guitars, and so much more

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • 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...