Skip to main content
MusicRadar 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
The Police
Artists The surprising origins and intricate musical theory behind an iconic Police masterpiece
Jeff Porcaro
Artists Exploring the genius of Jeff Porcaro's Rosanna Shuffle
Eric Clapton
Artists The Grammy-winning hit that Eric Clapton wrote to order, with a little help from Foreigner’s Mick Jones
Side profile of a person playing a drum kit
Drum Lessons & Tutorials 13 easy drum songs every beginner should learn
Adrian Smith on stage in 2025
Artists “He said, ‘Your upstrokes are weak!’ I’m like, ‘You effin’ what?’”: Iron Maiden's Adrian Smith never stops learning
Mick Ralphs in 1971
Artists “Bowie gave them the song but Mick wrote the intro — the lick of all licks”: Joe Elliott's tribute to Mick Ralphs
  1. Tutorials
  2. Guitar Lessons & Tutorials

Quick licks: intermediate #19

News
By Guitar Techniques ( Guitar Techniques ) published 6 April 2013

Take inspiration from '70s Lou Reed and proto prog outfit Patto

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

Intermediate lick one: Dick Wagner lead

Intermediate lick one: Dick Wagner lead

Wear a black top hat and get your Les Paul and Plexi hot for this one! It’s a tribute to Wagner’s onstage work with Lou Reed in the 1970s. Make sure the bends are in tune and concentrate on making the vibrato sing as vocal-like as possible. Check out Dick’s work with the Alice Cooper Band as well!

Page 1 of 2
Page 1 of 2
Intermediate lick two: Ollie Halsall lead

Intermediate lick two: Ollie Halsall lead

This example uses legato phrasing with a very gritty tone, similar to Ollie Halsall’s sound - Ollie was the hugely influential guitarist in proto-prog band Patto. The run is entirely in D Dorian (D E F G A B C) except for the last beat, which uses the D blues scale (D F G G# A C). Get your hand strength built up slowly to nail 125bpm and faster!

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
The Police
The surprising origins and intricate musical theory behind an iconic Police masterpiece
Jeff Porcaro
Exploring the genius of Jeff Porcaro's Rosanna Shuffle
Eric Clapton
The Grammy-winning hit that Eric Clapton wrote to order, with a little help from Foreigner’s Mick Jones
Side profile of a person playing a drum kit
13 easy drum songs every beginner should learn
Adrian Smith on stage in 2025
“He said, ‘Your upstrokes are weak!’ I’m like, ‘You effin’ what?’”: Iron Maiden's Adrian Smith never stops learning
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
Gibson Tony Iommi Humbucker: the all-new humbucker, a reissue of its first-ever signature pickup.
Gibson goes back to the beginning with reissue of its first-ever signature pickup for Black Sabbath icon Tony Iommi
Spandau Ballet in the early '80s
“It’s kind of gothic post-punk”: Spandau Ballet drop a lost early track from new box set
Photo of Mike JOYCE and SMITHS and MORRISSEY and Andy ROURKE and Johnny MARR; L-R: Andy Rourke, Mike Joyce (drums), Morrissey, Johnny Marr (playing Gibson ES-335 guitar), performing live on The Tube
“This book truly conveys what it felt like to be a member of the Smiths”: Mike Joyce’s memoir to be published in November
Jack Antonoff attends the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards at STAPLES Center on January 26, 2020
“He kind of approaches records like a plumber…”: Bartees Strange on super producer Jack Antonoff
k20
"We asked ourselves, what if we could rebuild the legendary K2000 V.A.S.T. synthesizer, but using today’s technology?": Kurzweil's K2061 and K2088 synths are now shipping
Forwards Festival Barry Can't Swim
Forwards Festival 2025 review: Orbital, Barry Can’t Swim, Olivia Dean, Jorja Smith and 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...