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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ Using Licks In Your Own Music

Posted by: SonofDestiny Sep 7 2008, 02:55 PM

Hey folks,

When I'm jamming I tend to do the same stuff over and over again. I learn new licks, but I just never seem to use them when I improvise. It's like they just dissappear from my musical memory.

How do you incorporate new licks in your solos? Is there a way for me to do this better?

Posted by: Danilo Capezzuto Sep 7 2008, 03:04 PM

I can say that you already make what I would suggest to you...learn a lick with the metronome and when it's ok, play it along a backing track, try to change every day the key and try to play the lick everywhere on the fingerboard, the lick should be adjust at your own taste, this is what I do, so these are my two cents. Good luck mate!

Posted by: SonofDestiny Sep 7 2008, 03:10 PM

Allright! I will Thanks man

Posted by: Toni Suominen Sep 7 2008, 03:11 PM

Also try to make different variations of that same lick, that way you get many different licks out of just one lick and it also helps you remember the original lick better.

Posted by: Emir Hot Sep 7 2008, 03:13 PM

I also like to change the rhythm feel of a lick. If the lick is in 8th notes I always try to play in in triplet feel if the backing track and rhythm part allows me that.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Sep 7 2008, 04:02 PM

Lots of good advices here, so I wanna add just one more - use the licks you learn when you improvise, this way you will remember them. It is because you don't use them you forget them.

Posted by: Jose Mena Sep 8 2008, 03:43 PM

I think this happens to everyone that is learning new stuff, when I play live I often find myself not using the latest stuff I have learned, it is like at the moment I forget about that stuff and stick to what I already know and feel comfortable with. My only solution is to play those new licks over and over until they become part of your vocabulary, and as it was a advised by Danilo, use a metronome, you will have much more control.

Posted by: DeepRoots Sep 8 2008, 04:01 PM

Great advices here, just consciously try to apply the licks while soloing/improvising- its pretty much that simple.

Posted by: Guitar1969 Sep 8 2008, 05:49 PM

This is all great advice - I have the same problem right now. I hate my tone right now, but cant seem to break free from it

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Sep 8 2008, 06:33 PM

What exactly don't you like about your tone mate ?

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Sep 8 2008, 06:40 PM

As everyone said + I would suggest also studying your favorite licks to see how they are constructed (what intervals the incorporate , how they relate to the chord in backing etc) ...With a little time spent with them you will definitely remember them...Also try playing them intentionally from time to time when you jam ..

Posted by: jer Sep 9 2008, 01:34 PM

Great question. And great advice!