Cool Lick Guitar Lesson
Cool Lick
David MacKenzie teaches several licks based on common arpeggio patterns. This lesson also includes a backing track to jam with.
Taught by David MacKenzie in Basic Electric Guitar seriesLength: 20:40Difficulty: 2.0 of 5
Note: Dave accidentally refers to the rhythm played throughout each lick as a triplet rhythm. These licks are comprised solely of eighth notes and quarter notes. The eighth notes are simply played in groupings of three. Chapter 3: (09:54) Playing the Lick All of the arpeggios in this lick are diatonic to the B natural tonality. A list of the diatonic triads in this tonality can be found under the "Supplemental Content" tab. The first arpeggio is a Bm triad. As the first section of the lick progresses, the G major and A major chords are outlined with arpeggios as well. The second section begins in the relative major key, D major. Remember that every minor key has a relative major key that shares the same key signature. The lick then returns to the home tonality of B natural minor.
Notice the fingering that Dave uses for each arpeggio. Some of these patterns require some stretches that may be difficult for you. Refer to Dennis' lesson set for some exercises that will improve your reach ability.
If two notes are on different strings, but the same fret, use a bar with the first finger. Play this exercise with either strict alternate picking or economy picking.
Chapter 4: (01:51) Lick Review Dave plays the lick at a much slower tempo to provide you with a closer look at his hands. Chapter 5: (03:17) Chords in the Backing Track Dave explains the chords that are played over each arpeggio. The backing track is played using simple root / five power chords. However, if you wish to practice the rhythm part, you can play these chords as their appropriate diatonic major and minor triads.
Feel free to be creative when playing over the backing track. In addition to working on your rhythm chops, you can also work on your improvisational skills. Use the B natural minor scale over the first section and D major over the second section. Chapter 6: (03:44) Jam Time In this scene, Dave provides an example of some of the suggestions he offered in the previous scene. Over the first repetition of the form, he plays through the arpeggio licks taught in this lesson. He improvises a solo using the B natural minor scale during the second repetition of the form.
Supplemental Learning Material
Basic Electric Guitar
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsIn his Phase 1 series, David MacKenzie will walk you through the basics of rock guitar.
Lesson 1
About the Guitar
David discusses the parts of the guitar. He also gives you some basic techniques to get you started.
Length: 31:00 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Power Chords
In this lesson, David introduces basic power chords. Great fun for beginners!
Length: 10:12 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Basic Chord Progressions
David introduces some basic chords and chord progressions.
Length: 14:15 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Notes, Chords and Arpeggios
David provides a brief explanation of what notes, chords, power chords, and arpeggios are.
Length: 8:12 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Speed and Coordination
This lesson is all about increasing your speed and coordination. David demonstrates basic picking exercises.
Length: 14:12 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Chord Exercises
David MacKenzie presents a mysterious sounding chord exercise. This exerices is designed to improve right hand technique.
Length: 9:12 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Practice and Discipline
In this short lesson David talks about practice, discipline, and how you should apply yourself when learning and mastering the guitar.
Length: 6:00 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Double Stops
Double stops can bring new life to your rhythm and lead playing. David provides a short tutorial on what double stops are and how they can be used.
Length: 7:12 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
The Major Chords
David covers the basic major chord shapes. Every guitarist must learn these basic chords.
Length: 18:29 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
The Minor Chords
David MacKenzie walks you through the basic minor chords. Expand your knowledge of chords with this fun-filled lesson.
Length: 8:15 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Major Scales
Major scales are an essential component of all styles of music. They can also be used as a great way to orient yourself with the fretboard.
Length: 32:12 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Major Scale Jam
David MacKenzie explains how to practice the major scales along with a fun backing track.
Length: 11:10 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
The Minor Scales
David MacKenzie proceeds to an in-depth discussion of the minor scales.
Length: 15:36 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Minor Scale Jam
David MacKenzie shows you how to play the natural minor scale over a rockin' JamTrack.
Length: 6:12 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
One String Exercise
David demonstrates an excellent one-string exercise in this lesson. This exercise will improve your dexterity and knowledge of the fretboard.
Length: 16:48 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs
Hammer-ons and pull-offs are techniques that enable you to play with a smooth, legato feel.
Length: 8:27 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Basic Bends
David MacKenzie gives a crash course on bending in this lesson. Bends can add a lot of soul to your playing.
Length: 16:12 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Cool Rock Licks
David MacKenzie teaches two rock licks inspired by Yngwie Malmsteen and Kirk Hammett of Metallica.
Length: 12:12 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Hammer-On Exercise
David returns to the world of hammer-ons with a fun new exercise. This lesson includes a JamTrack.
Length: 13:56 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Return to Pull-Offs
David returns to the world of pull-offs with a new exercise. This lesson includes a backing track.
Length: 12:50 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Practicing Bends
David MacKenzie returns to bending technique in this lesson. This lesson features a backing track that is designed for bending practice.
Length: 12:18 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Basic Vibrato
Integrating vibrato into your guitar playing is a great way to add emotion and soul. David MacKenzie explains the basics of vibrato in this lesson.
Length: 9:12 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Pentatonic Scale
David MacKenzie introduces the pentatonic scale.
Length: 5:48 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Minor Pentatonic Scale
David MacKenzie introduces the minor pentatonic scale in this lesson.
Length: 4:38 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Full Major Scale
David MacKenzie explains a two octave pattern of the major scale.
Length: 11:31 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Full Minor Scale
David MacKenzie introduces a two octave natural minor scale pattern.
Length: 12:20 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Full Major Pentatonic Scale
David teaches a two octave pattern of the major pentatonic scale.
Length: 6:30 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Full Minor Pentatonic Scale
David MacKenzie teaches a two octave version of the minor pentatonic scale.
Length: 9:20 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Cool Lick
David MacKenzie teaches several licks based on common arpeggio patterns. This lesson also includes a backing track to jam with.
Length: 20:40 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Rhythm Basics
David MacKenzie introduces some important rhythm basics in this lesson. This lesson also includes a backing track exercise.
Length: 14:55 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Power Chord Variations
David MacKenzie explains various power chord voicings. By simply moving a finger or two, new power chords can be formed.
Length: 18:43 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Cool Lick Exercise
David MacKenzie introduces some new amazing licks.
Length: 29:12 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Tapping Exercise
David MacKenzie introduces the tapping technique and teaches a fun exercise. This lesson includes a backing track.
Length: 22:44 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Tapping Exercise #2
David MacKenzie teaches another amazing tapping exercise.
Length: 13:07 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Tapping #3: Adding Open Strings
The third tapping lesson elaborates on the previous lesson by adding open strings.
Length: 12:59 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Tapping #4: Diminished Lick
The fourth lesson in Dave's tapping series deals with a monster diminished lick.
Length: 11:02 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Tapping #5
In lesson five of his tapping mini-series, DMac provides backing tracks that you can tap over.
Length: 8:04 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Tremolo Technique
In lesson 38, DMac demonstrates some tremolo techniques to add to your repertoire.
Length: 13:54 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Tapping #6
DMac returns to his tapping instruction with more advanced techniques.
Length: 19:54 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Chord Structures
In lesson 40, DMac teaches you how to play various D chords all the way up the neck.
Length: 9:20 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Octaves
In lesson 41, David discusses the octave and its uses while playing.
Length: 17:09 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
About David MacKenzie
View Full Biography
Dave MacKenzie has been playing guitar for 30 of his 45 years on this earth. Starting back when he was 14 years old, Dave picked up the guitar and started to learn from his oldest brother, who had played some guitar as well. Dave was hooked, and couldn't learn fast enough! Everything from the Beatles, Chicago, Ted Nugent, The Eagles, you name it, Dave was trying to play it.
Then as with a lot of players out there, Eddie Van Halen came along and changed the way guitar was played! Dave has been influenced by anyone he has heard play guitar, literally! Always keeping an open mind and a humbleness about him has helped him to keep learning new things on, and about the guitar.
Dave has mostly played in top 40 rock, country, and pop bands. He is most recently playing guitar and keyboards in a 80's metal band called Open Fire. They have opened for Warrant, Firehouse, Winger, and LA Guns
within the 3 and a half years they have been together, and are now jumping into original music.
Dave believes you should have internal motivation, and passion to play guitar, and most definitely, it should be fun!
As with his playing, Dave will find new ways to show you how to get the most out of your time learning guitar!
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Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.Dear David, what are the sound effects you use when you use your Flying V in the lessons ?
nice lesson for everyone
This lesson is awesome! The exercises keep pushing me further and further :) Nice Jam!
I do have 24 frets but what does he mean with 8vb?(at the supplemental content of the arpeggio)
8vb means play the octave down
if you go to the 8th measure in supplemental content, the 3 note riff is a substitue for the riff at the 22nd fret. it is just a lower version with the same notes just slightly inverted, or different.
This one is really awesome. Man this is great to play and great to practice solo improvising. I'm rocking out on this one! I'll try to improvise in the middle. Once a get good at it, I'll make a video and post a link here. So I can share my progress with you guys. (It's almost 2 minutes to midnight and I'm practicing this lesson out loud. Hope the neighbours won't wake up!!)
Hey DMac. Great lesson. Please give me feedback and tips to make my version better. See it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEm6QINvB1Y
Great one Dave ! loved it mate - just wish you had supplied the full tab of your little session at the end but i'll have fun with this I'm sure - got a new Jackson RR5 to play it too , thanks mate.
Thanks for the sequence DMac, good practice and it sounds freaking awesome (which helps). Now all I need is your guitar :D
Hi Dave, this lesson is real good and funny but I don't understand this thing with the key. I jam on the track just with the first and second pattern of the B minor pentatonic and I think it fits... If I try to change for example from B minor pentatonic scale to the G major pentatonic scale it doesn't sounds right. I also do't understand why the B minor pentatonic fits because from the circle of fifths the jam track is in key of G major??? I am a little bit confused... Thanks for helping...
thanks for the question! actually your correct using the B minor pentatonic scale with that, as it has nice implications with these chords. the chord sequence of B5, G5, then going to A5 are the parts you have to think a little about. B-minor pentatonic=great!! then when the chord switches to G5, or Gmajor try going into Gmajor pentatonic scale, then when it switches into A5/Amajor, go into Amajor pentatonic scale. these seem to sound the best when i went thru it myself. when the chord goes to D5, go into D major pentatonic and noodle around there too. this will really open up some possibilities in your leads. give it a shot!!! hope that helps!!
What an awesome lesson! Thanks Dave, it will keep me busy for some days and nights...
Great lesson..I'm not having an issue with the stretch so much as getting jammed up at the 19th through 22nd frets. I'm finding myself using my ring finger instead of my pinky...Bad? Also need to go refresh myself on the scale lessons
if your comfortable and its working thats fine. :)
-.- i only have 21 frets
in that case, use this sequence once you get to the appegio you cant reach.......(after the fret 19-e string, fret 14-e string, fret 15-b string appegio) go to fret 17(e), fret 14(e), fret 15 (b)......then downwards to....fret 17(e), fret 12(e), fret 14(b)....then fret 15(e), fret 10(e), fret 12 (b). then to the very beginning 3 note arppegio. let me know if this makes sense. it also creates a harmony with the lick played higher, so thats a cool bonus. note: the (e) or (b) is the string, not the note. hope this helps.
Dave, This is my first post. I thought I would wait it out from past lessons and I could figure some things out. I'm still stuck in stouped. Can you explain how the arpeggios coinside with the chords and when to change keys when playing scales with chords. How does this stuff work together? I feel like I mised about a dozen lessions somewere along the line. I have the scales down but don't understand where the changes are made and how you skip to different scale keys while playing the same chord. Sorry, it's hard to explain confusion :) Mark
when i came up with this exercise, i had the lead idea in my head, and worked on making the lead as melodic as i could. i think i already had the backing track done and this fit it just right. now...if you notice, each chord in the song is held for a count of 8 beats in 4/4 time signiture. so that is the first thing that you key off of to know when to switch. what you also have to realize is that at least one notes of the lead (3 notes used per sequence) is the same note of the chord sequence. now let me know if that makes sense? so as you change lead sequences, the chords change as well. hope that helps you guys?
And also I suppose you already know lots of cool sounding licks and phrases (like the ones you're teaching us here) that you can mix and match, right? So you add that to your previous knowledge of which chords will be played and for how long plus you figure in your previous melodic idea and you wind up with a good sounding lead?
yes, your catching on to the idea now. mix, match, and even if you hear a melody in your head, find those notes to add to your lead techniques. lead stuff is really more about feeling and adding some nice techniques that draw the listener in so that it is interesting.(at least to me anyway,lol).
Yeah, I'm with him. The kinds of things that you teach in the lessons are not too hard to get down. And I know it's cool to watch you (who are so much more experienced) do your awesome thing there, but I get this feeling like you're expecting me to do that too (even though I don't think you are). I just don't understand your thought processes behind where and why you move from one scale/position to another and how you're computing it in your head.
Cool lesson Dave! I should do this after I get my beauty sleep from a 24 hr. CQ shift. Ah, you know what I mean....lol.
oh man!!! i remember those days!!! haha!! i hated CQ duty!!! um get sleep first then practise okay!!! lol!
hahhaaa..In 6 years in the military...I've NEVER drawn CQ... and now that I'm an officer (in training!) I doubt I will!
great exercise dmac pinky taking a pounding getting stronger have to rest now and again keep going man!!!
Great lesson DMac! Just what I need.
I really love this so much!!! :)
I dont have a 22nd fret :(
Yes, tricky on a standard Strat! ;)
nice lesson Dmac. That jam at the end was sick!
Where is the Jamtrack?
Ok it is fixed.
Argh, I thought I had it posted. Let me do this again.
Thanks! Great lesson DMAC!!!! Keep em comin!!!!
the video never plays all the way through.... and i have it on low quality
I just checked and all the files are there and full length. You may just have a bad connection to the low quality server, you might actually want to try medium and see if it helps.
This one is gonna keep me busy for a while Dave!
i live to keep you busy and out of trouble rob!!! hee, hee!!!
...or if your fingers are to short just play the first lick 1st string 14th fret, 2nd 15th, 3rd 16th ;-) - - hey Dave...say the truth you are a Billy idol fan.WHITE WEDDING!!!
hahahaha! that is good song!!! "white wedding! aaaaaaooohhh!!!"
Your improvising/jam session was amazing! I thoroughly enjoyed that! Thank you for that one! Great lesson.