general information about licks & improvisation

General information about Licks & Improvisation

Licks are short figures which are usually 1-2 bars in duration. These

figures are first practiced individually and then learned off by heart.

Eventually, you then apply these figures practically.

A solo often consists of several consecutively played licks. The

advantage of this is that you can recall these ideas precisely in

different live situations and can easily transpose them on a guitar by

moving them into different keys.

Improvisation can, generally speaking, be compared to learning a new

language: First you learn individual words, then you put the words

together to form phrases, and then whole sentences.

Eventually, you don’t have to think about words, grammar etc.

anymore and can speak freely about your thoughts on a topic.

The same thing happens with improvisation. The goal is to gradually

think less about scales, arpeggios etc. and instead to also tell a story

while playing.

The more you try this, the more freedom you will gain in terms of

rhythm, dynamics, expression and phrasing.

Tip: You can of course transcribe the following licks differently for

yourself, or phrase and vary them differently. All licks can also be

watched and played along to via my YouTube channel:

www.youtube.com/c/antonkorenjak.

I hope that you will have a lot of fun with this guitar licks,

experience a positive musical development and at the same time

will find a companion on the way to your personal goal!

Lick of the week 101 in D7Style: Blues, Jazz, Fusion

Used Scale: Mixolydian ScaleTechnical Focus: Legato Technique

© Anton KorenjakAll Rights Reserved - International Copyright Secured

H

D7

H H H H

8

H

109 9

H

1110 10

H

1211 12

H

1413 13

H

1514

13

15

Lick of the week 102 II-V-I in CmajStyle: Jazz

Used Scales: Dorian Mode, Tritone SubstitutionTechnical Focus: Alternate Picking


Dm7

13 10 1213 10 12

12 11

G7

1011 9 11

109 12 9

Cmaj7

8




Dm7

1012

14 10 1210

10 13

G7

12 910

9 129 13 9

Cmaj7

8




Dm7

3 3 3 3

1513

1215

1312

1312

1013

1210

G7

3 3 33

13 912

912 9 12 9

109

1011

Cmaj7

10




Dm7

12 13 12 1013 10

1012 10

G7

11

910

9 13

109

11

Cmaj7

10




Dm7

75 8 5 6

7 5 7

G7

66

4 76

4

66

Cmaj7

5


Used Scales: Dorian Mode, Tritone Substitution, Chromatic Passing TonesTechnical Focus: Alternate Picking


Dm7

5 6 76

5 6 7 8

G7

7 5 6 5 47 6 4

Cmaj7

5




Dm7

56 7

5 6 85 8

G7

7 4

6 46

6 3 6

Cmaj7

5




Dm7

7 87

5 76

7 5

G7

65 6

3 4 6 7 4

Cmaj7

3




Dm7

8 56

7 5

G7

7 4

6 4 66

4

Cmaj7

3

Lick of the week 111 II-V-I in CmajStyle: Jazz, Fusion



Dm73

3 53 5 5 6 5 3

5 3

G7

4 86

46

46

Cmaj7

5




Dm7

5 7 85 6 7

57

G7

65 6

5 63 4 7

Cmaj7

3


Used Scales: Pentatonic Scale, Tritone SubstitutionTechnical Focus: Alternate Picking


Dm7

1310 12

10 1210 12

10

G7

9

1111

1011

910

9

Cmaj7

8


Used Scales: Pentatonic Scale, Tritone SubstitutionTechnical Focus: Pull Offs


P

Dm7

P P P

13P

10

12

P

1013

P

10

12

P

10

P

G7

P P P

11

P

9

12

P

910

P

9

13P

9

Cmaj7

8


Used Scales: Pentatonic Scale, Tritone SubstitutionTechnical Focus: Sweeping


Dm7 H

108

7

H

10 1210

10 13

P

G7

P

12

P

910

11

P

9 68

9

Cmaj7

8


Used Scales: Blues Scale, Tritone SubstitutionTechnical Focus: Alternate Picking


Dm7

12 1011 10

13 10 8 10

G7

7

98

109

1110

13

Cmaj7

12


Used Scales: Pentatonic Scale, Tritone SubstitutionTechnical Focus: Alternate Picking, String Skipping


13

10

10

1013

1010

10

13

10

9

1012

109

10

9


Used Scales: Fmaj7 Arp (Dm9 Sound), Tritone SubstitutionTechnical Focus: Sweeping


H

Dm7

H H

8

H

1210

9

H

1010

8H

12

P

G7

P P

13P

912

P

910

11

P

9 11

Cmaj7

12


Used Scales: Pentatonic Scale, Tritone SubstitutionTechnical Focus: Sweeping


Dm7 P

1214

1517 17

P12

1514

G7 P

1113

1416 16

P11

1413

Cmaj7

12


Used Scales: Blues Scale, Tritone SubstitutionTechnical Focus: Alternate Picking


Dm7 H H P

11

H

1210

H

1210

12

P

10

G7

8 9 1110

9 1210

Cmaj7

9


Used Scales: Pentatonic Scale, Tritone SubstitutionTechnical Focus: Hammer On, Pull Offs


P

Dm7

H P

12

P

1012

10

H

12

10

12

P

10

P

G7

H P

11

P

911

9

H

11

9

11

P

9

Cmaj7

10


Used Scales: Am Pentatonic (Dm9 Sound), Bbm Pentatonic (G7 Altered Sound)Technical Focus: Hammer On, Pull off


P

Dm7

H P P H P

7

P

58

5

H

75

7

P

57

P

57

5

H

75

7

P

5

P

G7

H P P H P

8

P

68

6

H

86

8

P

68

P

68

6

H

86

8

P

6

Cmaj7

5


Used Scales: Am Pentatonic (Dm9 Sound), Bbm Pentatonic (G7 Altered Sound)Technical Focus: Alternate Picking


Dm7

85 8

5 75 7

5

G7

68 6

8 69 6

9

Cmaj7

8


Used Scales: Am Pentatonic (Dm9 Sound), Bbm Pentatonic (G7 Altered Sound)Technical Focus: Hammer On, Pull Off


P

Dm7

P P

8

P

57

P

55

7

P

57

P

G7

P P

8

P

68

P

66

8

P

68

Cmaj7

7


Used Scales: Am Pentatonic (Dm9 Sound), Bbm Pentatonic (G7 Altered Sound)Technical Focus: Alternate Picking


Dm7

75 5

5 87

55

G7

6 86 9

6 99 6

Cmaj7

5


Used Scales: Am Pentatonic (Dm9 Sound), Bbm Pentatonic (G7 Altered Sound)Technical Focus: Sweeping


Dm7

88 5

57

8 55

G7

89 6

68

8 66

Cmaj7

5


Used Scales: Am Pentatonic (Dm9 Sound), Bbm Pentatonic (G7 Altered Sound)Technical Focus: Slides


Dm7

75 9

87 5

G7

86 10

98 6

Cmaj7

5


Used Scales: Am Pentatonic (Dm9 Sound), Bbm Pentatonic (G7 Altered Sound)Technical Focus: Slides, Alternate Picking


Dm7

12 1413 15

12 15 1213

G7

1415 13 15

13 1616 14

Cmaj7

13


Used Scales: Am Pentatonic (Dm9 Sound), Bbm Pentatonic (G7 Altered Sound)Technical Focus: Sweeping


Dm7 P

15 1213

14

1213

14

P

12

H

G7

13

H

1514

13

1514

13 16

Cmaj7

15

Lick of the week 130 in Fm7 or Amaj7Style: Rock, Fusion, Jazz

Used Scales: Aeolian & Ionian Scale, Maj7-ArpeggioTechnical Focus: Hammer On, Pull off


H H H H H H P

4

H

54

H

76

H

76

H

99

H

109

H12 16

P12

1414

13


Used Scales: Aeolian & Ionian Scale, Maj7-ArpeggioTechnical Focus: Hammer On, Pull off


H P P P P P P

13

H

1414

12 16 12P

910

P

99

P

67

P

67

P

45

P

4


Used Scales: Maj7-Arpeggio, Min7-ArpeggioTechnical Focus: Hammer On, Pull off, Slides


H P P H

13

H

1414

12 16 17 16P

1214

14

P

13 16

H

1817

16 19

full

full

19

Lick of the week 133 in Fm7 or Amaj7Style: Rock, Fusion

Used Scales: Aeolian & Ionian ScaleTechnical Focus: Hammer On, Pull off, Slides


H H H H

9

H

109

H12 16 12

14 12

H

1412

H16 19 14

17 14 17

full

full

16


Used Scales: Aeolian & Ionian ScaleTechnical Focus: Hammer On, Pull off


H H P P

1214

16 13

H

1414

12H

16 17 16P

1214

14

P

1314

12

H H P H H P P P

1614

13

H

1614

12H

16P

12 16H

19H

21P

19P

1617

18

P

16

full

full

19




P P P H H

16 17 16P

1214

14

P

1314

16

P

12 9

H

1211

9

H

1110

9




P P P P P P

19P14

19

P

1414

19

P

1418

19

P

1418

P

1414

18

P

1418

P P P P H P

18

P

1418

P

1414

18

P

1416

18

P

1416

14

H

1614

16

P

14

full

full

16




H H P P H H P P H

9

H

109

H12 16

P12

14

P

12

H

1412

H16 19

P14

17

P

14

H

17

full

full

16

Lick of the week 138 in Am7 or Cmaj7Style: Rock, Fusion, JazzUsed Scales: Blues Scale

Technical Focus: Hammer On, Pull off


P P P P P P

12 11P

1013

P

1012

13

P

1012

P

913 12

P

1012 11

P

10




P H H P P

10 11 1210 13

P

10 129

H

1210

H

1310 12

P10 11

P10

13

Lick of the week 140 in Am7 or Cmaj7Style: Rock, Fusion, JazzUsed Scales: Blues Scale

Technical Focus: Legato Technique


17 15 1216 15 13 15 16

1216 15 13

14 1214 12

14

Lick of the week 141 II-V-I in CmStyle: Rock, Fusion, Jazz

Used Scale: Diminished ArpeggioTechnical Focus: Legato Technique, Sweeping


P

Dm7 5

P

7P

46

7

46

7

P

4

G7 9 P P

67

P

46

7

P

46

4

Cm

5




Dm7 5 P

7 46

7

P

46

P

G7 9

H

7

P

46

4

H

7 4

Cm

5




Dm7 5

7 7 46

7

4

G7 9 P

6 67

P

46

7

Cm

8




P

Dm7 5

P

7P

46

7

P

46 3

G7 9

H H

64

H

76

4H

76

4

Cm

3




H

Dm7 5

H H

3

H

64

H

76

4

H

76

H

G7 9

H

4

H

76

4

76

4H

7

Cm

8

Lick of the week 146 in EmStyle: Rock, Fusion, Jazz

Used Scale: Blues Scale, Chromatic Passing TonesTechnical Focus: Alternate Picking, Bendings


33

33

3

10 11 1210 12 13 14

12 12 13 1412 14 15 16

15 17

1½

1½

(17)


Used Scale: Blues Scale, Chromatic Passing TonesTechnical Focus: Alternate Picking


3 3 3

3 33 3 3

12 14 1512 13 14 12 13 14

12 13 14 12 13 1412 13 14 12 13 14

12 13 14

15


Used Scale: Blues Scale, Chromatic Passing TonesTechnical Focus: Alternate Picking


33 3

3 33 3

3

15 14 1215 14 12 15 14 12

15 14 12 15 14 1214 13 12 14 13 12

14 13 12

10

Lick of the week 149 in EmStyle: Rock, Metal, Fusion

Used Scale: Pentatonic ScaleTechnical Focus: Pull Off


P P P P P P P P

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

12P10

1015

P10

1012

P10

1015

P10

1015

P12

1217

P12

1215

P12

1217

P12

12

P P P P P P P P

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

17P15

1519

P15

1517

P15

1519

P15

1519

P17

1722

P17

1719

P17

1722

P17

17

19

Lick of the week 150 in EmStyle: Rock, Metal, Fusion

Used Scale: Pentatonic ScaleTechnical Focus: Pull Off


P P P P P P P P

3 3

3 33 3

3 3

14

P

1212

17

P

1212

14

P

1212

17

P

1212

14

P

1212

16

P

1212

15

P

1212

17

P

1212

15

Lick of the week 151 in AmStyle: Rock, Blues, Fusion, Jazz

Used Scale: Blues Scale, Chromatic Passing TonesTechnical Focus: String Bending


fullfull

full

2020

full

20 17 20

full

1920

full

19 17 19

½ full 1½

½

1617

full

16 14 16

full

14

1½

14

14

Lick of the week 152 in AmStyle: Rock, Blues, Fusion, Jazz

Used Scale: Blues Scale, Chromatic Passing TonesTechnical Focus: Hammer on, Pull Off


H H P P

3

H

53 5 7

5 75 7

H

8

P

7

P

57 6

H H P P

5

H

75 7 9

8 108 10

H11

P10

P8

10 9

8

Lick of the week 153 in BmStyle: Rock, Blues, Fusion, Jazz

Used Scale: Aeolian ModeTechnical Focus: Hammer on, Pull Off, String Skipping


P P P P

10P

9P

7

11

9P

7

11

P

9

H H H P P

7

H

9

H

11

7 9H

10P

9

11

P

7

10 12 (12)

Lick of the week 154 in BmStyle: Rock, Blues, Fusion, JazzUsed Scale: Pentatonic Scale

Technical Focus: Sweeping, Slides


7 910

12 1412

11 14

1517 19

1716 14

1517

full

full

17


Used Scale: Aeolian ModeTechnical Focus: Sweeping


H P H P

6

H

77

5 9P

57

7 9

H

1110

9 12P

910

12

H P H P P

14

H

1615

14 17P

1415

16 18

H

1919

17 21P

1719

19

P

18

Lick of the week 156 in EmStyle: Rock, Blues, Fusion, Jazz

Used Scale: Aeolian ModeTechnical Focus: Sweeping


P P P P

1214

1517 17

P12

1514

1214

1517 17

P12

1514

1416

1719 19

P14

1716

1416

1719 19

P14

1716

P P P P

1719

2022 22

P17

2019

1719

2022 22

P17

2019

1416

1719 19

P14

1716

1416

1719 19

P14

1716

1½

1½

17


Used Scale: Aeolian Mode, PentatonikTechnical Focus: Legato Technique, String Skipping


H H P P H H H H P P P

107

H

9

H

127

12

P

9

P

7

H

9

H

127

H

9

H

11

P

9

P

712

P

P H H P P H H P P H

9

P

7

H

9

H

127

12

P

9

P

7 97

H

9

H

117

11

P

9

P

7

H

H H H P P P P H H P P

9

H

117

H

10

H

12

P

10

P

711

P

9

P

7

H

9

H

117

11

P

9

P

7

H H P P H H H H P P

97

H

9

H

117

11

P

9

P

7

H

9

H

117

H10

H12

P10

P7

10

full

full

(10) (10)


Used Scale: Aeolian Mode, PentatonikTechnical Focus: Sildes, String Bending


H

7

H

9

79 11

10 7

79 11

10 77 9

1012

full

full

12 (12)


Used Scale: Aeolian Mode, PentatonikTechnical Focus: Sildes


7

9

7 9

10

9 11

12

11 9

10

9 11

12

11 12

14


Used Scale: Aeolian Mode, PentatonikTechnical Focus: Sildes. String Bending


full full

full

1010

12

full

10 7 10

full

1212

14

full

12 10 12

½ full

½

1414

15

½

14 12 14

full

1517

17

full

15 14 15

17


Used Scale: Aeolian ModeTechnical Focus: Alternate Picking


17 15 1417

15 1417 15

14 15 17 15 1417 15 14

17 15 1416

15 1416 14

14 15 17 15 1416 14

16

16




9 10 7 1010

108

10

P

7 8

P

79 7 9 11

10 9

10


Used Scale: Aeolian ModeTechnical Focus: Alternate Picking, String Bending


P P P P

10 710

P

79

P

710 7

9

P

79

P

7

P P H

9 79

P

79

P

7 97

H

97

full

9 79 7

full

full

10




107 10

7 97 9

11 910

1112 10

1212

14

½

14

½

14 (14)


Used Scale: Aeolian ModeTechnical Focus: String Bending


full1½

full

10

full

10 7 109

7

1½

9

full

9 7 99

7

full

full

9


Used Scale: Aeolian Mode, PentatonikTechnical Focus: Sildes


7

9

7 9

10

9 11

12

11 12

14

12 11

12

11 12

14

12 14

15

14 16

17

16 18

19

18 16

17

16 18

19

19


Used Scale: Aeolian Mode, PentatonikTechnical Focus: String Skipping


14

12

1014

12

1014

12

H H H

1412

11

H

1412

H

1410

H14

12


Used Scale: Aeolian Mode, PentatonikTechnical Focus: String Skipping, Tapping


H H P P H H H H P P

107

H

9

H

127

12

P

9

P

7

H

9

H

127

H

9

H

11 14

T

11

P

9

P

H H P P H H P P P P

7

H

9

H

11 16

T

11

P

9

P

7

H

9

H

11 14

T

11

P

9

P

712

P

9

P

7

H H P P H H H H P P

97

H

9

H

117

11

P

9

P

7

H

9

H

117

H

10

H

12 14

T

12

P

10

P

H H P P H H P P P P

7

H

10

H

12 17

T

12

P

10

P

7

H

10

H

12 14

T

12

P

10

P

711

P

9

P

7

full

full

9


Used Scale: Aeolian Mode, Pentatonik, Chromatic Passing TonesTechnical Focus: String Skipping, Legato Technique


H H H H H H P P P P P P

97

H

9

H

10

H

11

7

H

9

H

10

H

12

P

10

P

9

P

7

11

P

10

P

9

P

7

H H H H H H P P P P P P

97

H

9

H

10

H

11

7H

9H

10H

12P

10P

9P

7

11

P

10

P

9

P

7

12


Used Scale: Aeolian Mode, Pentatonik, Chromatic Passing TonesTechnical Focus: String Skipping, Legato Technique


H H H P P P H H H H H H

97

H

9

H

10

H

117

11

P

10

P

9

P

7

H

9

H

10

H

117

H

9

H

10

H

P P P P P P H H H P P P

12

P

10

P

9

P

711

P

10

P

9

P

7

H

9

H

10

H

117

11

P

10

P

9

P

7

H H H P P P H H H H H H

97

H

9

H

10

H

117

11

P

10

P

9

P

7

H

9

H

10

H

117

H9

H10

H

P P P P P P H H H P P P

12P

10P

9P

711

P

10

P

9

P

7

H

9

H

10

H

117

11

P

10

P

9

P

7

full

full

10


Used Scale: Aeolian ModeTechnical Focus: Sweeping, Legato Technique


P P

7 9P

7P

57

7 67

9

P P

10 12P

10P

910

11 910

12

P P

12 14P

12P

1012

12 1112

14

P P

15 17P

15P

1415

16 1415

17

full

full

17

Lick of the week 172 in Amaj7Style: Fusion, Jazz

Used Arpeggios: C#min7Technical Focus: Sweeping, Legato Technique


H H H P P

4

H

76

4

H

65

4H

7 9 7P

45

6

P

46

7

6




H H H

4

H

76

4

76

4

H

6 4

H

65

4

65

4 7

4

Lick of the week 174 in Amaj7Style: Jazz, Fusion



P P H H

12P

99

912

P

99

911

9

H

119

9

H

119

12

9


Used Arpeggios: Amaj7, C#min7Technical Focus: Sweeping, Legato Technique


H

C#min7 Arp. Amaj7 Arp.

P

C#min7 Arp.

P

Amaj7 Arp.

P

4

H

76

47

65

4 7P

45

6

9P

59

P

5

7

Lick of the week 176 in Amaj7Style: Jazz, Fusion

Used Arpeggios: Amaj7, C#min7Technical Focus: Sweeping, Legato Technique


P

Amaj7 Arp.

P P P

C#min7 Arp.

H

12P

910

P

99

10

P

99

12

P

99

119

9

H

1212

9

Lick of the week 177 in Amin7Style: Jazz, Fusion

Used Arpeggios: Cmaj7Technical Focus: Sweeping, Legato Technique


H H H P P H

3

H

75

4

H

55

3H

7 8 7P

35

5

P

4

H

55

7


Used Arpeggios: Cmaj7Technical Focus: Sweeping, Legato Technique


H H H P P

3

H

75

4

H

55

3H

7 12P

812

P

87

89

10

9


Used Arpeggios: Amin7, Cmaj7Technical Focus: Sweeping, Legato Technique


H

Amin7 Arp. Cmaj7 Arp.Amin7 Arp. Cmaj7 Arp.

5

H

87

5

87

5 9 75

5 8

109

87

5


Used Arpeggios: Amin7, Cmaj7Technical Focus: Legato Technique


P

Amin7 Arp.

P P P P

Cmaj7 Arp.

P P P

5P

35

P

38

P5

8

P

512

P8

12

P

815

P12

13

P

12

17


Used Arpeggios: Amin7, Cmaj7Technical Focus: Sweeping, Legato Technique


P

Cmaj7 Arp.

P P

Amin7 Arp.

P P

Cmaj7 Arp.

P

19P15

1717

P

16

15P12

1314

P

12

12P

812

P

8 128

10

Lick of the week 182 in A7Style: Jazz, Fusion

Used Arpeggio: C#min7b5 Technical Focus: Sweeping, Legato Technique


P P P P

7P

35

6

35

6

P

45

6

P

45

6

P

45

7

4


Used Arpeggio: C#min7b5Technical Focus: Sweeping, Legato Technique


P H P H

7P

35

6 4

H

65

3 9P

78

9 6

H

98

7

5


Used Arpeggio: C#min7b5Technical Focus: String Skipping, Legato Technique


P H P P P H P

12

P

911

9

H

12

9

12

P

9

12P

9

12

P

9

H

12

9

12

P

9

12


Used Arpeggios: A7, C#min7b5Technical Focus: String Skipping, Legato Technique


P

C#m7b5 Arp.

P

A7 Arp.

P

C#min7b5 Arp. A7 Arp.

P

9P

78

98

P

56

7

7P

35

65

67

P

5

6


Used Arpeggios: A7, C#min7b5Technical Focus: Legato Technique


H

A7 Arp.

P H

Cmin7b5 Arp.

P H P H

A7 Arp.

P

5

H

8

P

56

83

H7

P3

57 7

H9

P7

89 9

H12

P9

1012

½

½

11

Lick of the week 187 in Amaj7#11Style: Jazz, Fusion

Used Scale: Lydian ScaleTechnical Focus: Legato Technique


H H H H

67

H

96

H

7

H

96

H

9

8




P P P P P P

11 9P

710

P

9

P

79 8

P

69

P

7

P

6

8




H H H H H H H H

6

H

7

H

96

7

H

96

H

79

6

H

7

H

9 6

H

7

H

96

8




H H H H H H H H

6

H

76

H

9 6

H

76

H

9 6

H

87

H

10 7

H

97

H11

9




H H

5

H

96

6 7

H

118

9

10




H P P

4

H

74

7

P

46

P

44

6




P P P

7P

47

P

44

7

P

46

4


Used Scales: Lydian Scale, G#min PentatonikTechnical Focus: Legato Technique


P P P P P P

7P

47

P

44

7

P

46

7

P

46

P

44

6

P

4 6

6




P H P P H P

6

P

46

4

H

64

6

P

47

P

46

4

H

74

7

P

4

4




H P

6

4

H

64

7

P

46

7

4




H P P P P

6

4

H

64

7

P

46

7P

4

6

7

P

4

6

6

P

46

4




H H H H H H H H

4

H

64

H

64

H

64

H

64

H

64

H

74

H

64

H

7

4


Used Scales: Lydian Scale, G#min PentatonikTechnical Focus: Legato Technique, Tapping


P P P P P P P P

33 3 3 3

3

3

3

11T

7P4

11

T

7

P

411

T

6

P

411

T

7

P

411

T

6

P

411

T

6

P

411

T

6

P

411

T

6

P

4

6




P H H P P P H H P P P H H P P P H H P P

3 33 3

3 3

3 3

11P7

H9

H11

P9

P7

10

P

7

H

9

H

10

P

9

P

79

P

6

H

8

H

9

P

8

P

69

P

6

H

7

H

9

P

7

P

6

(6)

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