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We all know a great lick when we hear one—Jimmy Page’s solo breaks in “Whole Lotta Love” and Mark Knopfler’s blistering triads in “Sultans of Swing,” for example. Moments like these grab your attention and aurally brand your ears forever. Or, sometimes it acts more subliminally: You suddenly find yourself playing a certain lick over and over again, wondering, Where have I heard this before?

Through the years, these licks have evolved into a vocabulary for the guitar. And like great writers who are always able to find the right word to make a point, great guitarists always have that essential lick at their disposal to express, in the moment, what they’re feeling. And whereas the best writers are able to string those words together to form remarkable prose, the best guitarists link their licks to form living, breathing, musical statements.

We called upon our mighty stable of instructional writers to assemble these 101 Amazing Guitar Licks, spanning over eight decades and ranging from rock, metal, and blues to jazz, country and bluegrass. Regardless of what style music you play, it will do your ears and your chops good to go through each of these licks. Learn them, master them, and keep them on file for the next time you’re looking for just the right way to say what’s in your soul.

ROCK

	Lick 15 Tablature

FIGURE 15

Origin: This lick is inspired by the emotional heights of David Gilmour’s final solo in Pink Floyd’s “Money.”

Theory: Not much theory here—just physically demanding bends from hell that are launched from the highest fret on the neck.

Playing Tip: If you think about it too much, you’ll psyche yourself out—especially on that 1-1/2–step bend on the B string. Tap your primal energy fount and try to envision that you’re actually an octave down, in 10th position.

Check back next week for Figure 16!

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