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Guitar Licks and Riffs

Blues Guitar Licks

Rock Guitar Licks

Slide Guitar Licks and Riffs

When you're learning how to play the guitar, let's be honest about one thing. Secretly, you're hoping you can pull of those great sounding guitar licks.

Country style, rock , even blues guitar playing is much better with guitar licks. But how do you go about learning to play those really fast rock guitar licks and riffs?

Here are a few tips.

1. You Need To Know Your Musical Scales

I know it sound boring, but all good guitarists have to put in that grunt-work behind the scenes when they practice playing fast. It matters not whether you're playing the violin in an orchestra or playing wailing blues guitar licks, learning how to play any instrument takes practice. Getting familiar with scales, keys, and even some musical reading will make your guitar playing sizzle. So learn everything you can about music.

2. Little By Little Does It

This principle goes by other names, such as "baby steps" or "little by little". If you will commit to practicing the scales and tabs of your favorite piece of music even just for 15 minutes a day, those fast guitar licks will improve beyond all recognition. Persistence is the key. You can only fail if you quit.

3. Find A Teacher

A teacher can be of great assistance for learning to play guitar licks and riffs. However, taking private lessons can get very expensive. On top of this is the fact that your mentor may not be to happy to help when you want to hammer out your riffs at 2 o'clock in the morning! However, there is a very simple answer to these problems. Get your guitar instruction via your computer, either through downloadable guitar instruction software or guitar websites.

4. Download Software To Learn Guitar To Your Computer

When learning fast rock guitar riffs, guitar learning software provides several advantages. For one thing, you can see the lick, both as written music and as the more down to earth tabulature form. Even of greater benefit is that you can hear the lick, as well. Look for software that has infinite looping so that you can listen to it several times and then jump in and play along with it. If the recording doesn't loop, you're sure to get frustrated because you'll just be getting ready to play when you'll have to click your mouse again. Variable speeds are beneficial, too, so you can learn the guitar licks slowly and then increase your speed until your fingers move like lightening!