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
More
  • NAMM 2026: as it happened
  • Best NAMM tech gear
  • Joni's Woodstock
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Tutorials
  2. Guitar Lessons & Tutorials

Quick licks: intermediate #12

News
By Guitar Techniques ( Guitar Techniques ) published 9 March 2012

Rush and Jim Croce-style riffs

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

Intermediate lick one: Alex Lifeson riff

Intermediate lick one: Alex Lifeson riff

A Lifeson style riff based on late 70s to early 80s Rush. The add 11 chords are immediately recognisable and the key is to keep the upper melody line prominent. Use a crunchy valve amp tone, some vintage chorus effect, and a confident pick attack to make it all work.

Page 1 of 2
Page 1 of 2
Intermediate lick two: Jim Croce acoustic

Intermediate lick two: Jim Croce acoustic

The late US guitarist-songwriter Croce's trademark acoustic style used fingerpicked chords and parallel sixth intervals (both seen here). This example can give you a solid foundation in fingerpicking so go slowly, watch all of the given fingerings and work your way up to the 135bpm tempo indicated.

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
Latest in Guitar Lessons & Tutorials
Tom Morello
How Tom Morello used his guitar to drill into the off-limits domain of the turntablist
 
 
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
 
 
Latest in News
Skid Row poster on a brick wall
"This is not a contest or a gimmick": Could YOU be the next Skid Row frontman?
 
 
Janet Jackson on a French TV broadcast in 1986 . (Photo by Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images)
How Janet Jackson and Jam & Lewis made Control, the classic album that's just turned 40
 
 
behringer
Behringer unleashes the BMX, its $459 clone of the Oberheim DMX
 
 
2manydjs, aka Soulwax outside the Abbey Road entrance
“We have a perverse or healthy attraction to crazy ideas”: Soulwax are throwing a rave – at Abbey Road Studios
 
 
Harry Styles performs onstage
Not The Same As It Was: Harry Styles announces special one off Manchester show with cut price £20 tickets
 
 
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: Save a colossal $500 off one of my favourite Sterling by Music Man guitars, grab $200 off a super cool D'Angelico, plus all the week's biggest sales on music gear
 
 

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...