So I've learned this lick...

Now what? Sorry if I sound rude, but most blues/rock tutorials that teach licks don't really say what/how licks are to be used. Many describe them as words to be used in a sentence (phrasing) and stuff, but how do I really use them in a simple say, E 12 bar blues shuffle? In a sense, I'm asking, what are licks? How are they used in a solo? They sound cool, but how does one use them? Do I play them one bar, and then some kind of a run, then either play a different lick or stick with the same one? If I learn a lick, can I just use it repeatedly over the same shuffle (in the correct key of course) all over the fretboard?

Again, sorry for putting so many questions into a small space, but I'm really into this whole blues solo thing and confused at the same time. I hope you guys understand what I'm trying to ask!

For some background, I consider myself still a beginner, moving on to the intermediate stage and I have interest in learning the blues, mainly improvised simple shuffle 12-bar blues. I know about the basic music theories like keys, progressions and stuff, and have also equipped myself with the minor (and hence major) pentatonic scales. I am also trying at the same time to learn more about the rhythm parts of the blues and that part is quite a bit easier to learn (but still difficult to master!) than the lead solo part.

listen to lots of 12 bar music.... over and over...

get a feel for when the lead licks are used....

I figure it's the "talking" part of the song... without the vocals..or words...

Licks can be used in a variety of ways.

Use "as is"... Most licks work over a specific chord progression, for example, the turnaround in a blues tune.

You can string a couple of licks together to create your own solos on the fly

I find them useful if I draw a blank during a solo. I'm not as creative on the fly as I'd like to be. .

Another good use for licks is stealing them. In the Royal Albert Hall youtube vid of Sloe Gin, Joe Bonamassa plays one at 2:36 that I stole this very night!

In a 12 bar blues tune, licks generally come in handy in two places... Your 12 bars of solo, when the bandleader indicates its your turn, and as the "response" to the vocal-guitar call-and-response that is common in blues.

I generally think of blues as musical conversation. Licks are phrases and idioms that you learn in order to participate in the conversation and not sound like an idiot, even if you have nothing important of your own to say. You might nod and say "yup". You might repeat what someone else told you earlier. You might comment on the weather. Or you might have something much more meaningful of your own to say.

I second trev333's advice. Listen to alot of 12 bar blues solos. It won't take long till you hear the various soloists "stock" licks and where he/she uses them. Spend maybe 10 min's on youtube and you can find plenty of stuff to work on.

Licks are useless in and of themselves without a composition for which to apply them. That's why books or tapes of guitar licks have never quite done it for me in terms of a learning medium.

I'd much rather get a DVD of a complilation of tunes and learn them top to bottom.
That way, as each lick comes up, you learn exactly one way or more to apply it, so when that situation comes up again in another composition, or original one, you automatically have an idea.

I found these jam tracks (http:/http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tab-tips-theory-technique/322766-so-ive-learned-lick.html/) really useful. Put them on, play your licks and see what happens, sometimes it'll sound cool other times maybe not. Do all the things you asked about and see how they sound.

One good tip I heard was to try to anticipate the chord changes so runs end and begin on the root note and I found with these jam tracks and some practice it's quite easy with 12 bar stuff.

Just have fun!

I like to think of licks like a drummer uses fills. Phrasing and timing are important. You don't wan't to kill the lick by playing it over and over. However, if you play it like a "theme in variations" and change it up you'll find new ways to introduce it back into the tune.

I agree with PartyFor2 that lick lessons are baffling and no use on their own, and I am not sure what they are for.

It's all very well saying a lick is a word, but how about some lessons teaching us the rules of grammar, which words are verbs, which are nouns, and how to link them all up?

Is it all done by feel? I am sure there are rules because you can tell when something sounds wrong or in the wrong place, and you can tell when it is in the right place, and of course lots of music is made by breaking the rules, but what are the rules in the first place?

"I really use them in a simple say, E 12 bar blues shuffle?" Is it a Blues lick? You learned it how? I find it hard to swallow that there was no context given.

Licks are just short Phrases. And they help you build Vocabulary. But, you'll still also need to practice speaking the Language in full Sentences and Conversations.

So, learn a few COMPLETE Solos and Songs.

You will need to learn the Language and then the Licks will be more easily assimilated into your Speaking (Playing).

Since you mentioned Blues-Rock, then yes, some basic 12 Bar Blues Solos will help. As well as learning the Cadences and Phrasing, you will start to learn the other aspects that come much more quickly and naturally while actually working through and doing the hand's-on playing.

Also, I would recommend finding a few Artists/Bands you really like, and listen to nothing but them and their stated Influences. At least for a month or two solid. Really try to soak up everything about these specific Artists and the Artists who they say inspired them.

Like a Sponge, eventually it'll all come wringing out of you too.

And again, Context is everything here. Learning some complete Solos and Songs will go a long way. As well as being able to "hear" complete tunes in your head. Can you recall the whole tune and "listen" to it play back in your mind?

Here's a couple of good resources:

http://www.12bar.de/

And:

http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Signature-Licks-Blues-With/dp/B0007X9TPC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334681386&sr=8-1

Hi all, thanks for the really quick and informative replies! So from what I'm gathering, the licks are like the emphasis of the solo. So what defines a lick? What is being played in between each lick?

I listen to some older blues like John Lee Hooker and Albert King, together with some modern ones like SRV and Clapton, and it seems most songs have a main lick, Layla for examples comes to mind. But what is being played elsewhere? Is a solo made of a string of licks? Or is it more like having so-called 'runs' or 'composition' or ' build up' before each lick?

Sorry for being so confused. I am asking about the really basics here, not even trying to express oneself in the blues, but more about the construction of a solo. Thanks again!

To those who mentioned about context, well, licks lessons usually only talk about the key it's in, maybe about the certain kind of emotion it's trying to show, but never really show how it is used in a solo, or a 'context'.

Thanks Budda for the resources and the lengthy and helpful reply! I will definitely listen to guys I like much more often and get more of a feel towards these blues leads. I'll check out the resources you posted too!

Hope it helps!

Here's another thing to be aware of.

The Vocal Line (and often the "Lead" Lines) in a 12 Bar Blues will use basically 2 different "Sentences".

A Call (either a Question or a Statement) is sang/played over the first 4 Measures.

It is then repeated over the middle 4 Measures, but with some slight variations in Notes and/or Phrasing.

Measures 9 and 10 usually are where the second Sentence comes in. This is the Response that either Answers the Question, or Responds to the Statement.

Measures 11 and 12 will wrap things up with a Turnaround.

See if you can find this Form in some Tunes. I bet it will help with learning how to Converse more fluently.

Hope it helps!

Here's another thing to be aware of.

The Vocal Line (and often the "Lead" Lines) in a 12 Bar Blues will use basically 2 different "Sentences".

A Call (either a Question or a Statement) is sang/played over the first 4 Measures.

It is then repeated over the middle 4 Measures, but with some slight variations in Notes and/or Phrasing.

Measures 9 and 10 usually are where the second Sentence comes in. This is the Response that either Answers the Question, or Responds to the Statement.

Measures 11 and 12 will wrap things up with a Turnaround.

See if you can find this Form in some Tunes. I bet it will help with learning how to Converse more fluently.
Thanks for taking the time to explain it like that. That helps me visualize it a lot better.

"Bright lights, big city. They've gone to my baby's head.

Bright lights, big city. They've gone to my baby's head.

I tried to tell that woman, but she don't believe a word I said."


-----9-----------8------------7-------------5---
------------------------------------------------
--9-----9---8--------8---7-------7---5/6-------
------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------