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Welcome to this compilation of 44 of amazing blues and rock licks. I’m well aware that many of you would love to sound like your favorite keyboard heroes. Here’s an amazing opportunity for you to learn some keyboard vocabulary from the legends themselves. We transcribed these 44 licks from records and live performances that we know will sound great in many tunes. We came up with this guide to show you how to play like the keyboard legends themselves. These licks were extracted from solos by some of the most amazing keyboard heroes in music history such as Otis Spann, Keith Emerson, Jon Lord, Rick Wakeman, Chuck Leavell, and Jimmy Smith. Learning how to play licks in this way will certainly improve your skills on the keyboard as well as provide you with more vocabulary for your own improvised solos. We wish you more success in your jazz piano journey, and we hope that this licks book will skyrocket your progress.

RESOURCES We thought it to be useful to include a few pages of resources that might help you on your way to The Jazz Improvisation Super System Learn how the greatest jazz improvisers create endless streams of beautiful sounds. 5 hours mega course taught by jazz legend David Garfield. A complete A to Z blueprint for jazz improvisation success. Grab this program right here → www.freejazzlessons.com/improvisation

The Breakthrough Blues Method Discover hours of world class blues piano secrets. Taught by Hall Of Fame blues pianist Bruce Katz. Amazing blues and soul jazz discoveries await you! Grab this program right here → www.freejazzlessons.com/breakthroughblues

The Jazz Masters Method Steve’s Jazz Masters Method is now available on DVD and instant streaming! Learn the jazz improvisation techniques of 9 incredible jazz piano masters. Learn more here → http://www.freejazzlessons.com/jazzmastersmethod Play like the jazz masters right now!

Blues Piano Lessons Steve’s intro course for learning blues basics quickly! Learn and Improvise Blues Piano Course now available on DVD. Take your blues playing to the next level. Study in the comfort of your own home. Learn more here → http://www.stevenixonmusic.net/learnblues-dvd Already in 5th printing!

The Christmas Jazz Piano Super System 2 DVD Set The Christmas Jazz Piano Super System DVD. Over 4 hours of powerful & in depth training on how to play Christmas music in a rich jazz piano style. Best seller. Learn more here → http://www.freejazzlessons.com/christmas

Premium Jazz Lessons Elite Membership Program A revolutionary jazz piano training program. Learn amazing jazz piano skill using our world class training system. The unique 5 library system will having you playing songs, licks, chords, and improvising in no time. Learn more here → www.freejazzlessons.com/premium Transcription and Ear Training Software Transcribe: The best software tool out there for transcribing and learning music off recordings. Slow down recordings without losing pitch. Loop them, analyze notes, transpose recordings, karaoke type functions, and more.

Recommend Recordings 1. The Complete Bill Evans Riverside Recordings A simply amazing collection of Bill Evans music. You will love it and learn a ton from it!

2. The Complete Bud Powell on Verve An incredible collection of 100 of Bud’s best recordings on the legendary Verve record label.

3. Oscar Peterson: Exclusively For My Friends One of the best collections of Oscar Peterson’s music out there. He dedicated it to his friends too! Truly a great collection.

4. Herbie Hancock: The Complete Blue Note 60's sessions What a collection! Blue Note and the genius Herbie Hancock! I listen to this all the time.

Fakebooks 1. The Swing Era - 1936-1947 (Jazz Bible Fake Books) Great collection of well notated and popular jazz standards to learn.

2. Jazz of the 50's (Jazz Bible Fake Book Series) I work from this fake book daily. Tunes from this fake book are called all the time. So many in here are must know.

3. Hal Leonard Jazz of the 60's And Beyond: Bible Fake Book Series Really nice collection of popular jazz tunes from the 60's era. Tunes like Giant Steps, Black Coffee, All Blues and etc.

4. The Real Book: Sixth Edition The industry standard! Definitely a must in your jazz education library.

5. The New Real Book (in C) The other jazz industry standard. For many years this was "the" fakebook. Lead sheets are clearly written. Easy to learn from!

These awesome licks are in different keys as they were originally recorded to provide context to how the legends actually used them. Before we go ahead and put the work on these licks, here are some practice tips: ● ● ● ● ●

These are licks, split according to artist, in different keys as performed by the players themselves. By practicing these licks, you’ll learn important blues and rock vocabulary for use in various tunes. First, practice the licks in the original key. Practice them slowly at first, against a metronome or a backing track. Once you get comfortable, practice in several more keys. The final and most important step is to practice inserting these chord progressions into real blues, rock, and jazz tunes. Check out the Premium Jazz Membership Course to get access to step-by-step tutorials on famous jazz standards, jam tracks, improv drills, and much more at www.freejazzlessons.com/premium.

TABLE OF CONTENTS OTIS SPANN

…………………………………….01

JON LORD

…………………………………….02

DR. JOHN

…………………………………….03

JIMMY SMITH

…………………………………….04

KEITH EMERSON

…………………………………….05

RICK WAKEMAN

…………………………………….06

RAY CHARLES

…………………………………….07

CHUCK LEAVELL

…………………………………….08

RAY MANZAREK

…………………………………….09

BILLY PRESTON

…………………………………….10

STEVE WINWOOD

…………………………………….11

BLUES LICKS OF THE LEGENDS www.freejazzlessons.com

OTIS SPANN LICKS Lick 01 The first three licks come from Otis Spann's piano solo in "Take a Little Walk with Me" from the album "Otis Spann Is the Blues". This first lick happens at 00:16 of the tune:

Swing q = 100 to 120 (approximate) E7

◊ÿ w

4 &4 w

œ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~ ¿

˙ ˙

Lick 02 This second lick from "Take a Little Walk with Me" happens at 00:27:

˙˙

E7 3

œ œœ œ

#˙˙ &

œ bœ

n œ œ b œ œ nœ œ œ œ œ œ J œ nœ œ œ 6

Œ

Ó

6

Lick 03 The third lick from "Take a Little Walk with Me" happens at 00:49:

E7

b œj

5

n œœ œœ œœ b œj n œœ œœ œœ b œj n œœ œœ œœ b œj n œœ œœ œœ

b œj

n œœ b œ œ œ œ œ Œ

Ó

& 3

3

3

3 3

Lick 04 This fast lick comes from an Otis Spann tune called "The Hard Way" at 03:22:

Swing q = 70 7

G7 3

& Œ j bœ

œ bœ nœ bœ œ œ œ œ bœ œ œ j œ œ œ œ œ bœ œ n œ œbœ n œ œ Copyright 2017 www.freejazzlessons.com All Rights Reserved

Œ

Ó

2

JON LORD LICKS Lick 05 This lick was transcribed from Jon Lord's solo in the Deep Purple classic "Speed King" and it happens around 02:50:

Straight q = 200 Gm7 9

& bœ œ œ œ œ

j œ bœ œ œ œ

‰ œ

œ œ

œ bœ œ œ œ

‰

j œ œ œ

12 6

Œ

Ó

& œ œ œ œ œ b œ œ œ œ bœ nœ œ œ # œ n œ œ œ œ œ Lick 06 Taken from Jon's solo in "Lazy" from the Deep Purple album "Machine Head", this lick is one very bluesy line that's far from being lazy. It happens at 03:18:

Swing q = 190 Fm7 14

&

bœ œ œ œ œbœ bœ

bœ œ œ œ œbœ bœ œ j œ b œ œ œ bœ œ œ œ œ œ bœ œ ‰ œ ˙ 5

5

Lick 07 Being inspired by great classical piano players, Jon busts out classical chops over a pentatonic scale that fits well with blues for the tune "Lay Down, Stay Down" and Jon plays this at the beginning of the tune:

Straight q = 140 D7

œ

18

œ œ œ & ≈

œ œ œ ≈

œ ≈

≈ œ

≈

≈

≈

œ ≈ œ

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ≈

{

& œ

?œ

œ ≈

œ ≈

œ ≈

≈

œ

≈ œ

≈

≈ œ

œ œ œ

19

& ≈

œ ≈

œ ≈

‰

j œ

œ œ

œ œ

w w

œ œ œ ≈

?

{

œ œ

œ œ ≈

œ ≈ œ œ

j œ ˙ œ ˙

∑

Lick 08

3 Deep Purple is a band that has really deep blues roots, and this is evident in this Jon Lord lick from the tune "Hold On". He plays this lick at 03:07:

Swing q = 130 Am7 21

œœ œœ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œœ œœ bœœ nœœ œœ #œœ œœ œœ œœ j n œ œ œ œ Œ Œ ‰ œ œœœœœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ & Œ ‰ J bœj

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

25

œœ bœj nœœ bœ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ™ 3 œœ #œœ œ œœ 3 œ3 œ3 œ3 œ œ œ ‰ œnœ œ œ ‰ œ œ œ œ ™ œbœnœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ & 3 3

DR. JOHN LICKS Lick 09 This swinging Dr. John lick comes from the intro of "Sonata/He's a Hero" and happens at 00:13:

Swing q = 150 Dbb7

Gbbmaj7(9)

29 3 3

nœj

3

& ‰

œ bœ bœ bœ bœ bœ œ bœ œ

‰ œj bœ bœ bœ

œ bœ

w

Lick 10 This next Dr. John lick taken from his solo from a live version of "Right Place, Wrong Time" and happens at 01:53:

Straight q = 200 Dm7

Em7

A7

32

b œ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œœ œ œ bœ œ œ n˙ & ‰ J œ bœ nœ œ œœ œœœœœœœ ? œ œ œ #œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ #œ œ œ œ œ

{

Lick 11 This is another flashy Dr. John lick from "Right Place, Wrong Time" that he plays at 01:58:

Dm7 36

œ bœ nœ b œ œ n œ œ b œ n œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ & œ bœ nœ œ œ œ œ œ ? œ nœ

{ œ nœ

œ œ œ œ

4 Em7

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ™ b œ

38

A7 b œj

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ & ? œ

{

#œ

œ œ œ œ

#œ

œ Lick 12 This next Dr. John lick taken from "One 2 A.M. Too Many" is a nice way to cap off a solo over a V chord the moving to I, and he plays it at 02:06 of the track:

Swing 16ths q = 100 G7

Cm7 or C7

40

#œ œ b œ & Œ

œ nœ bœ œ

œ œ bœ

œ Œ

Ó

3

JIMMY SMITH LICKS Lick 13 Taken from a live performance of "Midnight Special", this lick happens at 03:58 and showcases Jimmy Smith's virtuosity:

Swing (Blues Shuffle) q = 100 G7 42

& Ó

3 3 œ œ œ œbœ nœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ bœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ nœ œ œ nœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œbœ

Œ

44 6

œ

?œœ

œ œ

nœ

˙ œ

œ

œ

œ

œ

œ &

& r bœ

nœ

3

Lick 14 This is one of the turnaround licks at 00:26 that Jimmy uses in the same live performance of "Midnight Special":

Am7

b œj

45 3

& Ó

‰ œ œ

Œ

n œœ b œj n œœ œ œ J œ œ œ œ œ œ bœ œ bœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ™ 3

? ∑

{

bœ œ

œ

œ

5

D7

G7

47 3 3

j bœ

œ & nœ

œœ

j œ bœ nœœ

œ

œ nœ

œ

œ

w

œ

œ

3

? nœ œ

{

œ œ w Lick 15 This lick was inspired by a performance of "Stormy Monday" and happens at 05:14. To simulate a Hammond organ-like sound, there are tremolos in place of sustained notes :

Swing (Blues Shuffle) q = 65 G7 49

Etc... ™ ™ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ™ ™ j Œ nnœœ œ œ œ ™ œ œ ™ œ œ œ œ #œnœbœ œ œ ‰ ‰ œ œ œ J

j bbœœ

& Ó

3

Lick 16 This short Jimmy Smith lick from "Stormy Monday" is a nice way to go from a V to I and happens at around 05:40:

D7

G7 3

52

œœnœœbœj nœœbœ œnœ3 j ‰ Ó n & œ bœnœœ œ bœnœœ œ bœnœœ œ bœnœœ œ bœnœ#œ œ bœnœœ œ bœnœœ œœ 6

6

6

j bœ

KEITH EMERSON LICKS Lick 17 This Keith Emerson lick is taken from a live performance of "Tarkus" during the improv section in the movement "Stones of Years". Keith performs this lick at 04:53:

Straight q = 140 Cm7 54 œbœ

G7 Bb7

Abmaj7

D7

Cm7 Etc...

bœ

& Ó

œ™bœ œ ™bœ œ ™ œnœ ™ œbœ ™ œ œ œŒ Ó

‰ bœ œ œ œ œ œ œ w J

Lick 18 Another Keith Emerson lick from "Tarkus" during the improv section in the movement "Stones of Years" at 05:18:

G7 Cm7

Bb7

Abmaj7

D7

59

b œ œbœ œbœ œ œ Œ ‰J & 3

b œ nœbœ œbœ œ b œ nœbœ œbœ œ nœ ™b œ . œ J J œ œ œ œ œ œ ‰ ‰ ‰ nœ œ œ J 3 3

6 Lick 19 This next lick is from the movement "Aquatarkus" of "Tarkus" at 30:53 as performed by Keith with the Keith Emerson Band:

Straight q = 110 Fm7 63

œ bœ J

œ

& ‰

œ bœ œ œ œ œ bœ œ bœ bœ œ œ œj ‰

Ó

Lick 20 This last Keith Emerson lick is from Emerson, Lake & Palmer's performance of "Take a Pebble" at The Beat Club. It was transcribed from a bebop-inspired improv section at 21:18:

Swing q = 220 to 240 F7 65

bœ &

œ œ œ œ œ ™ bœ bœ œbœ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ bœ nœ J œ bœ nœ

RICK WAKEMAN LICKS Lick 21 Adapted for piano, this Rick Wakeman lick comes from his organ solo in "Roundabout" at 05:46 as performed by Yes during their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony:

Straight q = 130 G7 69

w & w ? œ œ œj ‰ œj ‰ œœœ œ

{

b œœ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œbœ œbœ œ œ œ œ œbœ œ œ œ œ œ œ ‰ œJ œ œnœ œ œœ 3 j j j j j œ œ ‰ œ ‰ œ œ œ ™™ œ œœ œœ œœ œ ‰ œ ‰ œœ œœ œ œ œœ œ

2 4 œœ œbœœ œ 2 œ ‰ œj 4œ œ

Lick 22 This next Rick Wakeman lick comes from his organ solo in "Close to the Edge" by Yes and kicks in at 05:46:

Straight q = 165 Am7 73

Etc.... n œ œ œ œ œ œ œ #œ œ œ œ œ #œ œ œ œ œ œ œ 3 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ#œ œ œ œ #œ œ œ œ &4 œ œœ œœ

7 Lick 23 Rick Wakeman covered "Summertime" in one of his videos and he plays this nice little lick over Gm7 at 01:03:

Waltz e = 210 Gm7 77

Etc... œ œ ™ ˙™ j œ 6 ‰ ≈ œ bœ œ™ bœ œ œ œ œ œ bœ œ œ b œ n œ œ &8 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ 6

3

Lick 24 This next Rick Wakeman lick was from a performance of "It 's Not As Big As It Was" with Jon Lord during the 2011 Sunflower Jam. It's adapted for piano from a Minimoog solo and happens at 03:44:

Fast Rock q = 160 Cm7 80

4 &4 Œ

œ b œ œbœ bœ œ œ J œJ œ œbœ œ œbœnœ bœ œbœ œ œ œbœ œ œ œ œbœ œ œ œ œ œ œ bœ œbœ œ œ

œ œbœ

RAY CHARLES LICKS Lick 25 Ray Charles played this lick in one of his live performances of "Georgia on My Miind", and it happens at 03:29:

Ballad (Swing) h = 60 C7 84 3 3 3 3 ?bœ œœnœ ‰ ‰ j nœnœ œ bœœœ ™™™ œœ œr œ œ œ j bœj nœœ œ ™ œ ™ bœœn œ œœ œ ™ œ œ œ œœ ™™ œœ ™™ bœ œ b œ œ “‘ 3

& Ó

j œ

Lick 26 Here's a nice, short lick played in the end of "Hit the Road, Jack":

Swing q = 180 Abbm7 87

j nœ

bbbœœœ

& Œ

bœ nœ ‰nœj œœœ œœœ J

bœ œ œ bœ œ bœ.

Œ

Ó

Lick 27 A nice, exciting lick from a performance of "Mess Around" that happens at 01:25:

Very Fast q = 260 Bbbm7 90

bw w bw &b w

bw w bbw w

b œœ. bœœ. b œœ. bœ œ œ

œœ. œ

. œ. b œ. n œ. b œœ œ bœ nœ bœ

Lick 28

8

This is a bluesy turnaround lick at the V chord to the I chord from a live performance of "You Don't Know Me". Ray plays this at 01:42:

Ballad q. = 60 Bbb7

Ebb

94

6 & 8 bœj nœ bœ

bœ œ œ

j nœ

œ

j nœ

œ

œ œ œj b œ

bœ

œ ˙™

CHUCK LEAVELL LICKS Lick 29 This is a really awesome Chuck Leavell lick from a boogie woogie performance during his TEDx talk in Atlanta, and it happens at 00:27 of the performance:

Straight (Boogie Woogie) q = 140 Gm7 97

∏∏∏∏∏

4 bww w &4 w w

j

Œbœ nœ œbœœbœœ‰ œ nœ

j‰ ‰ j ‰ j ‰ j œ œœ œœ œœœ œj b œ œ œ œœ œ bœ œ œ œ œ (4)

? 44

œ œbœ œ œ œbœnœ

{

‘

Lick 30

‘

‘

Lick 31

These two licks are from a solo piano performance of "Statesboro Blues". Lick 30 is at 00:28 and lick 31 is at 00:36:

Swing q = 110 C7 j œ

101

˙™ b ˙˙ ™™

&

Swing q = 110 C7

œœœ œœ œœ œœ œœœ œ œ bœ nœ œ œ œ

j bbœœ

œ bœ nœ bœ nœ bœ œ nnœœ œ œœœ œœœ œœ œb œn œ b œn œb œ œnnœœœ Œ

?

{

œœ œœ œœ œœ bœœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ

œ œ bœ œ œ œ œœ œœœœ

œœ œœ œœ œœ bœœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ bœœ œœ œœ œœ

Lick 32 This next lick is from a live performance of "Jessica" and happens at 01:50:

Straight q = 85 A7

D7

A7

D7

105

& bbœœj nnœœœ œœœ œœœ œ bœ nœ bœ œ œ bœ œ nœ

j ≈ r œ bœ nœ bœ œ œ nœœœ ≈ œœœ œœœ œ œ œ

9

RAY MANZAREK LICKS Lick 33 This lick was extracted from Ray's solo on "Break on Through" (01:44) as performed with Robby Krieger and Daryl Hall:

Straight (Samba) q = 180 Em7 107

n œœ #œœ

œœ #œœ

œœ

œœ

œœ

œœ

œœ #œœ œ #œ

œœ

œœ

œœ

œ œ œ œ

œœ

& Lick 34 This next lick is from Ray's solo in "Light My Fire" (00:22). It features a repetitive left-hand bass line:

Straight q = 120 109 Am7

D7(13)

œ

œ

Am7

œ

œ

& œ

D7(13)

œ

œ

œ

œ

œ œ œ œ

? œ œ

{

œ

œ œ

œ œ

œ œ

œ

Lick 35 This is an awesome lick over an Em7 chord in a performance of "Roadhouse Blues" (04:04) with Daryl Hall:

Swing (Blues Shuffle) q = 100 111 Em7

& Œ

œœ

#œ œ #œ œ

œ

‰œ

œœ

œ J

3 3 œ œ #œ œ œ œ œ œ #œ œ œ œ

3 3

3

113 3 3 3 3

j #œ

j bbœœ

& œ nnœœ œ œ #œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

œ œ œbœj nœ œ œ #œ œ œ œ œ 3

3

3

Lick 36 Here's another lick where Ray shreds over an Em7 chord in a performance of "Roadhouse Blues" (04:21) with Daryl Hall:

115 Em7

œœ œ

& Ó

6 6 6 6 .œ nœ. . œ. œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ#œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

117

& œ œ œ #œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ # œ œ œ œ œ œ œ™

w

10

BILLY PRESTON LICKS Lick 37 Here's one lick where Billy rips through the keyboard in a live performance of "A Change is Gonna Come" (02:28):

Swing q = 160 Fm7 119

3 &4 Ó

œœ b œœ œœ b œœœ œœœ œœœ œœœ œœœ œœœ œœœ œœœ œœœ œœ œbœ œ J œ œ œbœbœ œ œnœ œbœnœ œ œ nœbœbœ ˙™ 3

3

3

3 3 6

Lick 38 Billy plays this nice and soulful lick in one live performance of "You Are So Beautiful" (01:42):

Ballad q = 70 Ab

Db

123 6 6 b œ œr œ bœ œ r r œ bœ nœ ™ #œ bœ œ œ nœ ™ bœ bœ œ œ bœ

4 &4 Œ

r nœ

œ bœ b œ œ ˙ ™

3

Lick 39 In a live performance of "That's the Way God Planned It", Billy plays this really nice lick at 02:14: Ballad q = 75

125 C

& Œ

G/B

Am

nœœ œœ œœ œ œœ œœ~™™~~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ¿¿

Œ

C/G ™ œ œ œœ œœ™ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ ¿¿

~~~~ ~~~~~

r bœ

Lick 40 Here's another bluesy lick from "That's the Way God Planned It" at 02:21:

Ballad q = 80 127 F

C/E

Dm7

G7

œ nœ œœœ ≈ œœœ œœœ ˙˙ & Œ œbœ nœ œ œbœ nœ œ œbœ nœ œ œbœ nœ œ œbœ nœ œ œr bœ œ œ œ ˙

11

STEVE WINWOOD LICKS Lick 41 In a live performance of "Gimme Some Lovin'" (02:08), Steve plays this nice organ lick. It's adapted for piano with tremolos to simulate a Hammond organ:

Straight q = 140 Gb7 129

Œ bœJ bœbbœœ bw

& Ó

b˙ bb˙˙ bœ œ œ œ bœ

bbw w

~~~~ œ ~~~~~ bY

133

~~~ ~~~~~

bœ bœ bœJ œ bœœ bw

& Ó

b˙ bb˙˙ bœ œ œ œ

bbw w

œ bœ

bY ™ Lick 42 This next lick is from Steve's bluesy cover of "Georgia on My Mind" (02:25):

Ballad q = 65 137 B7

Em7 3 3

Œ nœ œ œ œnœ bœj nœ œ ˙ J

& Ó

3 3

bœj

3

j bœ

3

j œ

‰ nœ œ œ œ œbœj nœ œ œ ™bœj nœ œbœj nœœ bœ œ œnœ œ

The next two licks are from a live performance of "I'm A Man" where Steve's fingers fly across the keyboard. Lick 43 happens at 01:35 and Lick 44 at 01:57:

Lick 43

Fast Rock q = 130 Em7 140

b œj

3

nœ œ œ nœ

œj

œ œ

œ œ™ bœj nœ bœj nœ bœj nœ

œ bœj nœ

&

œ bœ œ œ j nœ

142 3

& #œj œ

œ bœ nœ œ bœ œ œ œj bœj nœœ

œœ

~~~~~ œœ j œ j œ ~~~~~~~~ ~~ bœ n œ bœ n œ nn YY

Lick 44

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MORE PRACTICE TIPS Here are a couple more tips for working with these 44 legendary blues and rock licks: 1) Apply the licks to the right chord progressions or chords like how the masters played it: You want to make the lick sound right. The best way to do that at first is to try and nail it at the chord or chord progression where the original artist played it. This will give you a sense of how a master like Chuck Leavell pulls it off so nicely. 2) Adapt the lick to other chords or chord progressions If you really want to make use of the lick in a more original way, try transposing the lick to fit other chords and chord progressions. For example, if the lick is in Mixolydian over a G7 chord, try to come up with a Dorian version of it over a Dm7 chord. You can also transpose the lick to other keys to make it fit a particular chord. For example, if the lick is based off of a G7 chord and you want to play it over an A7 chord, transpose all the notes of the lick a whole step up. As a matter of fact, practice the lick in all 12 keys. Do you want to learn some transposition secrets to help you do this? We have a transposition secrets masterclass available inside Premium Membership. 3) Don’t be afraid to experiment Sometimes, the same lick may work well over another chord. For instance, many blues licks that are played over a I chord can sound good over a IV or a V chord. Try it out and see where the lick can possibly work. 4) Apply licks for solos in the tunes you are learning:

There is no better way of learning licks than to try and apply it to any tune you are learning. Say you are playing “Straight, No Chaser” and you’re about to solo. You can try using a Chuck Leavell lick over a I chord then maybe a Rick Wakeman run over the V chord. See if it sounds good. Figure out how you can apply it. Fortunately, there is a fun course with improvisation drills that you can use with your licks to learn how to do this.

FINAL THOUGHTS We hope that you enjoyed learning from this compilation of 44 Legendary Blues & Rock Licks. Learning all of these licks will definitely expand your soloing vocabulary. With more things to say musically, you will be able to wow your audience, sound really cool, and have lots of fun playing. Until then, keep practicing and keep making music. We look forward to hearing you play soon.