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  1. Tutorials
  2. Guitar Lessons & Tutorials

30-day guitar challenge, day 14: Learn three-note-per-string shapes

Tuition
By Total Guitar ( Total Guitar ) published 14 August 2015

Two licks to break out of the pentatonic box

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Introduction

Introduction

30-day guitar challenge: Three-note-per-string licks are a cool alternative to the box shapes of the pentatonic scales.

If you’re a mainly pentatonic lead guitarist, these two licks will take your playing to the stratosphere.

Page 1 of 3
Page 1 of 3
Three-note-per-string legato

Three-note-per-string legato

This lick moves across the entire fretboard via a clever sequence that includes a position shift in each phrase.

It’ll test your strength and dexterity in all of your fingers, but more important is that it’s a cool way to cross the fretboard in a musical way.

Three-note-per-string legato (fast) audio

Three-note-per-string legato (slow) audio

Three-note-per-string legato tab (right-click to download)

Page 2 of 3
Page 2 of 3
Mega-lick

Mega-lick

The logical next step for any three-note-per-string legato exercise is to start introducing slides to improve your neck coverage.

This one takes practice to avoid ‘stuttering’ during the slides, so start off slowly to make sure your rhythms are accurate.

Mega-lick (fast) audio

Mega-lick (slow) audio

Mega-lick tab (right-click to download)

Page 3 of 3
Page 3 of 3
Total Guitar
Total Guitar
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Total Guitar is Europe's best-selling guitar magazine.

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Ian "Shiner" Thomas of Those Damn Crows onstage playing to a festival crowd with his Gibson Les Paul. He wears a baseball cap and sunglasses.
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