10 rock licks in the style of the greatest guitar heroes

Here’s the perfect way to enrich your solos with licks inspired by the greatest guitarists such as Brian May, Angus Young, Jack White, Slash and Jimmy Page. These 10 licks will help you work out minor and major pentatonic scales.

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Lick 1 – In the style of Angus Young

This lick, inspired by AC/DC guitarist Angus Young, uses A minor and major pentatonic scales, as well as an A triad. His playing combines rock style with blues influences.

Lick 2 – In the style of Angus Young

For this Angus Young-style lick, we use the pentatonic minor and major scales, as well as an A and D arpeggio. Pay particular attention to the fingering.

Lick 3 – In the style of Brian May

For this lick in the style of Brian May, we use the pentatonic scale of F major as well as the scale of F major. I recommend that you isolate the F major scale, working on it slowly and gradually increasing the tempo.

Lick 4 – In the style of Brian May

This lick, inspired by Brian May‘s style, uses triads played as chords, a characteristic of his guitar playing. An A pedal is played on all triads.

Lick 5 – In the style of Jack White

For this lick in the style of Jack White, you will need a Fuzz pedal. You’ll play here both a minor pentatonic scale and a harmonic D minor scale.

Lick 6 – In the style of Jack White

This lick, inspired by Jack White, is based on the E minor pentatonic scale. As with the first lick, you can use a Fuzz pedal.

Lick 7 – In the style of Slash

This lick, inspired by guitarist Slash, is based on an E minor blues pentatonic scale, including the blue note. To master the fast passages, isolate them by playing them slowly at first, then gradually increase the tempo.

Lick 8 – In the style of Slash

This lick is based on the A minor pentatonic using several positions. Pay particular attention to the fast parts: it’s important to study them slowly.

Lick 9 – In the style of Jimmy Page

For this Jimmy Page-inspired lick, you can use the E minor pentatonic scale. What sets this lick apart is a cyclic motif, also known as a “cycle lick”, in bars two and three.

Lick 10 – In the style of Jimmy Page

In this second example, you can use the E minor pentatonic. As in the first lick, we’ve included a cyclic pattern on the eighth bar, this is frequently used by Jimmy Page.

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