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 Clash
Artists “On the spur of the moment I said, ‘I’m going to do the backing vocals in Spanish’”: How The Clash created their biggest hit
Bruno Mars
Artists A decade on, we look back at the musical theory and retro gear that shaped Bruno Mars’ 2016 classic
The Rolling Stones
Artists “Brian Jones was the first steel slide player I heard”: Keith Richards pays tribute to Stones guitarists past and present
Midge Ure guitar synth
Artists Back in 1984, Midge Ure appeared on TV to reveal our MIDI guitar synth future with his Roland GR-700
Harley Benton TE Tremolo Series
Guitars Harley Benton unveils three entry-level T-styles with Bigbsy-style vibratos and vintage mojo to burn
A press shot of Paul Gilbert [left] wearing a tricorn hat and playing a pink Ibanez; Todd Rundgren wears dark shades and performs live in 2021.
Artists “To me, it was like being asked to tour with the Beatles”: Paul Gilbert on why he turned down the gig of a lifetime
A black and white live shot of Richie Sambora playing his iconic modded Gibson Explorer in 1984, onstage with a shirtless Jon Bon Jovi to his right.
Artists Richie Sambora was so desperate to track down his stolen Explorer he hired a private detective – 41 years later he has it back
Prodigy
Artists How to replicate the sample-based sonics of a gnarly Prodigy classic
YouTuber Jamie Slays puts the Charvel Standard Series SD2 through its paces
Guitars Charvel’s hotrodded shred performance just got more affordable with the launch of the $569 Standard SD Series
Christian Andreu plays his Jackson signature Rhoads with a whole lot of pyro in the background.
Artists Jackson launches spectacular EverTune refresh of Christian Andreu’s signature Rhoads
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars 2026: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
Jack and Meg White in 2003
Artists “It was a challenge to myself: ‘I’m not gonna have a chorus in this song’”: How Jack White created the riff of the century
George Harrison wears all white and plays an acoustic guitar during his 1974 Dark Horse tour.
Artists “When I first met George I was speechless”: Robben Ford on what it was like working with a Beatle at the age of 22
Mark Morton with his signature Les Paul Modern
Artists Mark Morton on the secret to his crushing Lamb Of God rhythm tone, and why some effects are best left to post-production
The Gretsch Electromatic Premier Jet reinvents the classic singlecut. Yes, there is the chambered body as before but with a compound radius fingerboard, Twin Six pickups, and contemporary touches such as Luminlay side-markers it is very much a modern update.
Guitars “The perfect marriage of brilliance and brute force”: Gretsch unveils the reinvention of the Jet
More
  • Sly and Survivor
  • In My Life
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • One chord Diamond
  1. Tutorials
  2. Guitar Lessons & Tutorials

Quick licks: easy #17

News
By Guitar Techniques published 23 December 2012

'70s-style Clapton and prog metal riffage

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

Easy lick one: '70s Clapton riff

Easy lick one: '70s Clapton riff

Here’s an example modelled on Clapton’s mid-to-late ‘70s output. It works best with hybrid (pick and fingers) style so keep an eye on the picking hand indications. Give it the maximum relaxed feel at 95bpm and use a clean ‘in-between’ single-coil sound for the right kind of popping tone.

Page 1 of 2
Page 1 of 2
Easy lick two: Prog metal chromatics

Easy lick two: Prog metal chromatics

Try these chromatics with a thick metal tone. Watch the faster ‘galloping’ sections and practise those passages separately to build up speed. Dial in a saturated fullbodied humbucker for maximum ‘thump’.

Page 2 of 2
Page 2 of 2
Guitar Techniques
Read more
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars 2026: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
 
 
Status Quo
Artists “I remember saying to Clapton, ‘You try playing that one riff for eight minutes!’”: The secret to Status Quo's riff power
 
 
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
 
 
Prodigy
Artists How to replicate the sample-based sonics of a gnarly Prodigy classic
 
 
Mark Tremonti throws the horns and points to something during a live performance with Creed. His signature PRS singlecut is strapped on his shoulder.
Artists “I had no idea that he was that good”: Mark Tremonti on Alter Bridge’s “secret weapon” and his soloing strategies
 
 
Mark Morton with his signature Les Paul Modern
Artists Mark Morton on the secret to his crushing Lamb Of God rhythm tone, and why some effects are best left to post-production
 
 
Latest in Guitar Lessons & Tutorials
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
 
 
George Harrison
Guitar Lessons & Tutorials How to play like George Harrison on The Beatles' Abbey Road
 
 
MusicNomad guitar fret cleaning
Guitars "You owe your guitar the chance to be its best": How to clean and polish your guitar frets a better way
 
 
Latest in News
Teddi Mellencamp presents the iHeartRadio Icon Award to honoree John Mellencamp onstage during the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Award
Singers & Songwriters “He saved my life”: Teddi Mellencamp pays tribute to her dad at iHeart Radio Awards
 
 
suno
Tech Suno takes another step into music production with AI step sequencer MILO-1080
 
 
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 26: Olivia Dean performs onstage during the 2026 MOBO Awards at Co-op Live on March 26, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Joseph Okpako/Getty Images for MOBO)
Artists Olivia Dean cleans up at the Mobo Awards, as Pharrell Williams accepts a special prize for songwriting
 
 
Sam Fender performs onstage during day two of the Syd For Solen Festival at Valbyparken on August 08, 2025 in Copenhagen, Denmar
Singers & Songwriters “Projects like these are so important”: Sam Fender has raised £50,000 for youth music charity
 
 
Anderson .Paak
Drummers “That thing’s got great breaks”: Anderson .Paak rides through LA… playing a drum kit on wheels
 
 
Deals of the week logo
Tech MusicRadar deals of the week: We've found over £1,000 off a PRS, $200 off the Akai Pro MPC Key 37, and so much more
 
 

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...