In an effort to redeem myself for my lame-assed performance of the “blazing blues lick” depicted in last December's LICK#16, in this installment of Psycho Licks, I'm serving up a tasty two-bar phrase worthy of inclusion in any modern blues scenario.

THE NOTES: Basically, this lick revolves around pitches from the E Minor Pentatonic scale (E-G-A-B-D), with the “b3” (the note “G”) frequently bent up 1/2 strep to “G#” (the “major 3rd” of E7) and a “b5” (the note “Bb/A#,” always bent to from the note “A”) thrown in for maximum bluesiness. Also, the inclusion of the note “C#” hints at the use of the E Dorian scale (E-F#-G-A-B-C#-D), or perhaps more appropriately (given that this lick is designed to be played over E7), the E Mixolydian scale (E-F#-G#-A-B-C#-D).

THE RHYTHM: This lick is based on steady triplets (three evenly-spaced notes per beat in 4/4 time), but written in the time signature of 12/8—essentially four accented beats, counted “one-two-three, four-five-six, seven-eight-nine, ten-eleven-twelve.” This exact rhythm is also depicted in the count-in that precedes the lick.

Watch the numerous tricky position shifts! Also, once you get the basic lick down, analyze it [e.g., it starts on the “b3” (G), descends to the tonic (E), pulls off to the “b7” (D), etc.], then try finding other locations on the fretboard where you can unload this same type of intervallic blues line. Next, transpose the bugger to other “blues-friendly” guitar keys like A and G.

ENJOY!

(*You can hear the lick FAST by clicking HERE*)

(*You can hear the lick SLOW by clicking HERE*)

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