Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • "She knew what she'd created": Back to Black
  • Trower's '80s supergroup
  • Music theory tricks
  • Stage Tour game
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Tutorials
  2. Guitar Lessons & Tutorials

Quick licks: easy #10

News
By Guitar Techniques
Published 3 January 2012

Santana-inspired lead and Smiths-style indie riffing

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Easy lick one: Santana lead

Easy lick one: Santana lead

This lead example is similar to something the soulful Latino might play on a cool instrumental ballad. Follow the fingerings given as the line is entirely from one scale (Eb major) and it fits nicely within the 7th and 8th fret areas. Dial in some gain for singing sustain and go for it!

Page 1 of 2
Page 1 of 2
Easy lick two: Smiths riff

Easy lick two: Smiths riff

Inspired by The Smiths, this tribute to their innovative guitarist Johnny Marr uses open position chords and a quick strumming pattern. Practise changing chords slowly at first, working up to 100bpm. Try a little chorus and a lush clean amp tone to nail this one.

Page 2 of 2
Page 2 of 2
Guitar Techniques
Read more
Carlos Santana
Artists Carlos Santana on Miles and McLaughlin, Hendrix and SRV, and his quest for eternal melody
 
 
Music theory basics: understanding intervals, and how they define the distance in pitch between two notes
Music Theory And Songwriting 10 music theory tricks every producer and songwriter should know
 
 
Johnny Marr [left] and Andy Burnham [right] playing some Smiths for a Ukrainian soldier
Artists Johnny Marr reacts to British PM Andy Burnham playing the Smiths on guitar for soldiers in Ukraine:
 
 
The Darkness in 2003
Artists “When he sang the chorus for the first time, I said, ‘No – it sounds ridiculous!’”
 
 
Tom Petty
Artists How Tom Petty created his most famous song – with a little help from Jeff Lynne
 
 
Prodigy
Artists How to replicate the sample-based sonics of a gnarly Prodigy classic
 
 
Latest in Guitar Lessons & Tutorials
Guitar Tricks Summer Black Friday promo
Guitar Lessons & Tutorials Get almost $1k of guitar tuition from our number one online platform for only $99 with this epic Summer Black Friday deal – over 11,000 lessons, plus bonus gifts
 
 
Chords
Guitar Lessons & Tutorials Confused by guitar tabs and notation? Use this complete guide to reading music for guitar
 
 
Scale
Guitar Lessons & Tutorials "Don't play scales just to get faster. Speed is a happy by-product of playing more accurately": Beginner Guitar Lessons - nailing scales
 
 
Guitar maintenance
Guitars "There isn't one correct answer": 6 things you need you need know about how to clean and condition your guitar fretboard
 
 
Tom Morello
Artists How Tom Morello used his guitar to drill into the off-limits domain of the turntablist
 
 
Close up of a person playing guitar
Guitar Lessons & Tutorials With a massive 89% discount, $99 for a year's worth of Guitar Tricks online lessons is the best way to upgrade your guitar playing this Black Friday
 
 
Latest in News
Ibanez Axe Design Lab Iceman ICMS721
Guitars Ibanez just weaponised the Iceman for metal and refreshed a bunch of its flagship signature models
 
 
Alex Van Halen attends the MOCA Gala 2017
Drummers Alex Van Halen knighted in the Netherlands for his part in “remarkable chapter in rock music.”
 
 
Drummer Neil Peart from Canadian band Rush performs live on stage at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, Illinois during their All The World's a Stage tour on 20th May 1977
Drummers “He was a stone cold assassin!” The Neil Peart documentary trailer in up now on Youtube
 
 
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 01:  Olivia Rodrigo performs on stage during Olivia Rodrigo exhibit and program at Grammy Museum on September 01, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alison Buck/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Artists Olivia Rodrigo reveals the trick that producer Dan Nigro uses to get a better vocal take from her
 
 
Guitar Center Labor Day sale
Recording Guitar Center's Labor Day sale offers rare savings on exclusive gear with up to 30% off studio monitors, digital pianos, electronic drum kits, guitars, and more
 
 
Tone3000 plugin offers NAM A2 support on your desktop and can be used as a standalone app or in your DAW.
Guitars Tone3000 launches a free open-source plugin for accessing its mammoth library of NAM A2 captures
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...