A big thank you Richard for preparing this, and for all the other great work you do for the Community.
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Hey @Richard_close2u - I have converted your sound file to wav and loaded it into a memory slot on my Boss RC-5 so I can now pull it up with the tap of a footswitch.
If you ever get bored and want to do the same with other sets of licks that Justin covers, I’m sure there would be many appreciative people.
(I believe the relevant term here is making a rod for your own back 
)
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Was that an easy task? From the software that I used to create mp3 I could just as easily have created WAV also and shared via a host site.
Yes, just opened it in Audacity and then saved as wav. I would probably have had to do it anyway, as the Boss is very particular about the file format parameters. Took me a while to find how to make it recognise a file.
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Thanks.
Yeah I figured it’s a matter of personal choice, which seems to be guitar rule of thumb: whatever works!
I find using my pinky in most spots are natural, those particular spots where it isn’t I can resort to the ring finger.
Vibrato on bends I don’t find too hard using my pinky either.
Cheers.
Should I practice these licks with metronome or just play them by feel? Generally how do I practice licks using backing tracks?
If you can get the rhythm by feel, then I think that’s best. If you’re having trouble with getting the rhythm right, you can try with the metronome. Once you have the lick down, you can use the metronome to help speed it up, if necessary.
Regarding playing using backing tracks, for me it was important to find a backing track that was slow enough, so I could play the licks in time. I found the backing track linked to this lesson too fast at first.
Here is an old video of Justin playing these licks over a backing track:
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Hope this makes sense.
I’m learning the 5 licks on the A minor pentatonic scale, using backing tracks for AM.
But I’m also learning the 3 G major scales Justin teaches. would I do these blues licks over the G major scales I’m learning? Or are there different licks for the G major scales I’m learning?
When practicing string bending on the highest E string (String 1), I have now broken two strings when bending from fret 8 to 10. The string break occurs around the 8th fret. This has happened whilst bending to the correct note (i.e., I have not been overbending to a too high pitch). Any experts out there have any advice for me?
First, check for sharp frets. Maybe give them a polish.
Cheers, Shane
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@Richard_close2u That’s exactly what I was looking for, an example of playing these licks over a backing track. Thanks for putting this together, glad I found it!
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I have two questions from this lesson:
- Is it OK to use by pinky as an anchor of the body of the guitar when playing the licks or should I be better with a closed hand?
- I don’t get the bit about imaging the sound of the licks. I can visualise the movement but not the sound! How do I imagine the sound?
HI @Stuartw , since nobody more advanced than me has responded, I will give you my take. I have spent some time with this lesson and have a few thoughts.
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I think either way is ok. I rest my pinky lightly on the guitar face to help orient the position of my hand. I don’t anchor it in the sense of planting it in one spot, which is not a good idea. My pinky is free to move around as my picking hand moves around, keeping light contact with the guitar. Lots of people play this way, but many also play with a closed hand.
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Can you hum a melody in your mind? If you can, then you can also do it with licks. I find this quite useful actually. I listen to Justin play the lick with my eyes closed and I try to repeat it in my mind. This helps especially with getting the rhythm of the lick right.
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Hi John, Just a nice reply if I was to help Stuartw above I would have said exactly the same as you I think it is good positive advice cheers Hec
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Apologies for not responding sooner but life got in the way.
Having double checked it seems to be that I rest on the side of the pinky, which floats and isn’t fixed. I’ve been trying to get away from that and use the closed hand.
Yes I can hum a melody but it’s about as good as my singing!!
I’ll give this a try.
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Specifically on this question Stuart … think in words … phrases, expressions … real and deep and meaningful, or silly and nonsensical.
For more on this very idea check this topic from post 4 on …
I have this topic as a shortcut on my desktop and refer to it frequently, although the particular post not recently. I do indeed repeat licks, to BT’s even, but can’t say that they are speaking words to me!! At the moment my head just doesn’t associate sounds with words. Will this ever come?
Yes in time but when they do they might not make sense ! Without to much of a spoiler and if I get put on the naughty step again, so be it BUT !
For the series of licks, Justin presented in BLIM he gave them names and phrases to describe them. Now that works for some folks and not others but to take a lick from Pattern 1 and a very old screenshot long before the website relaunch
Now I guess you’re familiar with the lick ?
In BLIM Justin calls the “I Got The Blues”.
Go play the lick, even listen to the lesson with that in mind, speak it or say it how the lick is framed, with the same feel and emotion. That’s kinda the principal that folk are suggesting here, what do those licks convey to you ? Listen to the other P1 licks, do they say anything ?
Could be anything and to be honest it don’t always work for me. But heck the lick could be
“I need some bread”
and a follow up lick in my head,
“but the bay kers woz closed”
Random madness you are now doubt thinking but its me ?? Hope it kinda helps ??
