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Quick licks: intermediate #12

By Guitar Techniques
published 9 March 2012

Rush and Jim Croce-style riffs

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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.

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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.

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