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
  • Black Friday
  • 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
Side profile of a person playing a drum kit
Drum Lessons & Tutorials 13 easy drum songs every beginner should learn
d'angelo
Artists “In the hands of lesser musicians, this would simply sound sloppy”: A music professor breaks down the genius of D'Angelo
The Rolling Stone The Last Time cover
Singles And Albums “It gave us a pathway of how to do it”: Sixty years of The Last Time – the Stones’ big breakthrough
Jeff Porcaro
Artists Exploring the genius of Jeff Porcaro's Rosanna Shuffle
Bass
Music Production Tutorials 37 heavyweight bass production tips
Overhead shot of electronic drum set plugged into a laptop running a VST
Drum Lessons & Tutorials “At certain points in music history it became fashionable to place accents on certain beats”: How to score a drum part
Van Morrison
Artists How Van Morrison recorded his greatest song
Jeff Beck
Artists “The first heavy metal riff ever written – and I wrote it!”: How Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page created a groundbreaking song
Andy Fraser in 1971
Artists “The notes he didn’t play were more important than the notes he did play”: A salute from one great bassist to another
A composite image of Vernon Reid and D'Angelo. Reid [right] cups his fingers to his ear as he performs with his PRS signature model. D'Angelo holds both hands on his mic stand and wears a black sleeveless T and black headband.
Artists Vernon Reid on D’Angelo’s everlasting influence and the deep roots of the late neo-soul trailblazer's sound
Derek Trucks takes a slide solo on his Gibson SG as Tedeschi Trucks Band performs live at Madison Square Garden.
Artists Derek Trucks is one of the greatest slide players of all time – here’s how he decides when to use it
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
Billy Gibbons on stage in 2012
Artists “We got it on tape three hours ago – we just like hearing you guys play!”: ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons on producer Rick Rubin
Wolfgang Van Halen
Artists “Some riffs have that swing. You hear it in the first Van Halen album”: Wolfgang Van Halen's new song echoes classic VH
My Chemical Romance in 2006
Artists “It took five years to finish the song and define what it was about”: How My Chemical Romance created a classic anthem
More
  • Pete Townshend on smashing - and fixing - his guitars
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • AI slop hits #1
  • The pain that birthed Don't Speak
  • Europe vs AI
  1. Tutorials
  2. Guitar Lessons & Tutorials

Quick licks: easy #4

News
By Guitar Techniques ( Guitar Techniques ) published 8 August 2011

A Robert Johnson-style blues ending and classic R&B basics

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

Easy lick 1: fingerstyle acoustic blues

Easy lick 1: fingerstyle acoustic blues

This is a Robert Johnson-style blues ending. Make sure you use the thumb of your picking hand to strike the low notes and mute them with your palm at the bridge to make them jump out a bit. Pay attention to the feel and swing to make this one 'sing'. The Mississippi Delta will thank you for it!

Page 1 of 2
Page 1 of 2
Easy lick 2: R&B guitar foundations

Easy lick 2: R&B guitar foundations

These staple licks emanate from the R&B, Motown and Gospel guitar tradition. Think Dobie Gray's Drift Away. The trick is to nail the slides and hammer-ons/pull-off s to make it sound authentic. The chords outlined are supplied above and notice the use of 4ths and 6th intervals derived from the major pentatonic scale of the chord of the moment. Use a Fender Twin type clean tone to put it all together.

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
Side profile of a person playing a drum kit
13 easy drum songs every beginner should learn
 
 
d'angelo
“In the hands of lesser musicians, this would simply sound sloppy”: A music professor breaks down the genius of D'Angelo
 
 
The Rolling Stone The Last Time cover
“It gave us a pathway of how to do it”: Sixty years of The Last Time – the Stones’ big breakthrough
 
 
Jeff Porcaro
Exploring the genius of Jeff Porcaro's Rosanna Shuffle
 
 
Bass
37 heavyweight bass production tips
 
 
Overhead shot of electronic drum set plugged into a laptop running a VST
“At certain points in music history it became fashionable to place accents on certain beats”: How to score a drum part
 
 
Latest in Guitar Lessons & Tutorials
Close up of a person playing guitar
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
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
 
 
Latest in News
The Epiphone Mike Dirnt G-3 Grabber is an affordable replica of his original Gibson and features a trio of Gibson USA pickups, custom wiring, and is available in Natural and Silverburst finishes.
Epiphone unveils signature G-3 Grabber with Gibson USA pickups for Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt
 
 
ASM Diosynth
ASM launches Diosynth, its follow up to the Hydrasynth – but it’s probably not what you were expecting
 
 
Disney Beatles
Giles Martin unpacks the upcoming remastered Beatles Anthology series
 
 
melosurf
Is this the future of the DAW? Melosurf is a voice-controlled AI assistant that lets you talk to Ableton Live
 
 
A hand holding concert tickets
Secondary ticket ripoffs – Government to finally act?: Next King’s Speech likely to include ban on profiteering
 
 
TORONTO, ONTARIO - SEPTEMBER 01: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE, EDITORIAL USE ONLY, NO COMMERCIAL USE, NO SPECIAL INTEREST OR SINGLE ARTIST PUBLICATION USE) Dua Lipa performs during the Radical Optimism Tour at Scotiabank Arena on September 01, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for ABA)
“Dua sings everything”: Dua Lipa’s live engineer reveals how he adds the “pop shine” to her vocals
 
 

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
  • 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...