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All-time favourite guitar lick

03 Jan 01 - 12:05 AM (#367517)
Subject: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Murray MacLeod

You know what I am talking about here. You are listening to a song, and suddenly you hear this amazing piece of inspired guitar playing which transfixes you.

I know that there are many 'Catters out there who have listened to far more music than I have, and I would love to have their opinions regarding these guitar "magic moments". Please let's not include whole guitar performances here, just these little flashes of inspiration which transform a song.

To start the ball rolling, my favourite guitar "magic moment" is by Doc Watson, singing"Snowbird" (Yes the Anne Murray song). At the end he plays this amazing descending run which just blows my mind. I can't even remember which album it is on, but I have no doubt someone can remind me

Maybe Rick Fielding can even tell me how to play it !

Murray.

PS I just know somebody is going to nominate Nic Jones "Canadee-I O" so it might as well be me. Sorry!


03 Jan 01 - 12:11 AM (#367520)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: GUEST,Little Jimmy Martin

Well the "Lester Flat C run" is a standard, that practically anyone who's ever flat-picked has probably played it, copied and or used it at some point or another, or twisted it into something entirely different.


03 Jan 01 - 12:13 AM (#367522)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Bugsy

Cop an earful of Martin Simpson's guitar when he backs June Tabor on "Heather Down The Moor".

Pure magic!

Cheers

Bugsy


03 Jan 01 - 12:19 AM (#367531)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Matt_R

Ok theres are mine: (well, the ones I play the most)

--One Perfect Moment (The Bad Examples)
--Rusty Cage (SoundGarden)
--Summer Rain (David Allison)
--King of Morning, Queen of Day (Horslips)
--Kuiama (ELectric Light Orchestra)
--10538 Overture (Electric Light Orchestra)
--Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat (Bob Dylan)
--Most Likely You Go Your Way And I'll Go Mine (Bob Dylan)
--Friends (Led Zeppelin)
--Arms Wide Open (Creed)
--Shakermaker (Oasis)
--Live Forever (Oasis)
--Desert Mountain Showdown (Hootie & The Blowfish)
--Music For A Found Harmonium (Patrick Street)


03 Jan 01 - 12:21 AM (#367533)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Murray MacLeod

Right on Bugsy, also how about "Flash Company "?.

Murray


03 Jan 01 - 12:24 AM (#367537)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: ddw

Bruce Langhorn used to do amazing little pull-off trills. Probably the best example is in his backup of Tom Rush on Urge For Goin', but you can hear them in some of the stuff he did behind Odetta, too.

And I don't know off-hand who the guitarist was, but somebody does a series of key-changing runs on Ian Tyson's version of Sierre Peaks that just blows my mind every time I hear them. I thought Ian might have done the picking himself, but he took a by on it when I requested it during a concert a few years ago, so I suspect it wasn't him.

david


03 Jan 01 - 12:26 AM (#367538)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Murray MacLeod

Matt, you are not in the spirit of the thing here, I want these "magic moments", not whole songs. God knows, David Allison has never recorded a magic moment in his whole career .......

Murray


03 Jan 01 - 12:27 AM (#367539)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Mark Clark

I've been "transfixed" a great many times but one lick that comes to mind is Blind Reverend Gary Davis' introduction to "You Got To Move" on his album "A Little More Faith." I remember wearing out the grooves trying to learn that one.

One that still blows me away is Lead Belly's "Fannin Street" lick. I've heard many people try to do it, including Pete Seeger and Fred Gerlach, but I've never heard anyone get it exactly right.

      - Mark


03 Jan 01 - 12:43 AM (#367551)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Matt_R

DAMMIT, WELL MAYBE I THINK HE DOES MURRAY!!!

So, to break it down for those less astute:

--One Perfect Moment (The Bad Examples)
The funky little sliding Dm7 shapes that go up and down

--Rusty Cage (SoundGarden)
The killer sycopated hammer-on ostinato played throughout the song, then the slow burn rubato bends near the end

--Summer Rain (David Allison)
Just the whole tune is a dream come true, with all those little magic pull-offs

--King of Morning, Queen of Day (Horslips)
The amazing solos and intros with the hammer ons and the delicious little slides that give you shivers

--Kuiama (ELectric Light Orchestra)
The sycopated hammer-ons that lead into the boingy country style dropped D drone

--10538 Overture (Electric Light Orchestra)
That mmm mmm good lead in arpeggios, then the crazy cello lines that rule on the guitar bass

--Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat (Bob Dylan)
Those cool little blues riffs

--Most Likely You Go Your Way And I'll Go Mine (Bob Dylan)
Just that crazy bouncing rhythms is a riot to play

--Friends (Led Zeppelin)
Just a whole bunch of fun with all the sliding pinky work while the chords are strumming...wow

--Arms Wide Open (Creed)
Just hearing that opening arpeggio tells you something good is going to come

--Shakermaker (Oasis)
The crazy sliding 12 bar blues lick with those added top notes...makes you wanna shake

--Live Forever (Oasis)
The solo...well what can I say? One of the greatest moments in rock. Right up there with the licks from Stairway To Heaven.

--Desert Mountain Showdown (Hootie & The Blowfish)
Then funky bass boom chick and sneaky bass runs are so much fun

--Music For A Found Harmonium (Patrick Street)
Just the whole bleeding thing!


You can make an appointment at Paltalk with me and I can and will provide an demonstration of each. Thank you.

BTW DAVID ALLISON RULES! AND I DON'T GIVE A RATS ASS WHO THINKS HE'S GOOD OR NOT! THIS GUITAR PLAYER LIKES HIM.


03 Jan 01 - 12:53 AM (#367560)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Murray MacLeod

Attaboy Matt ! But really, in our hearts, we both know who really rules, now don't we? But I have promised myself not to mention his name again on the Forum ...

Murray


03 Jan 01 - 01:06 AM (#367564)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Matt_R

NO! I've heard his stuff and it bores me. And don't you DARE tell me what's in my heart. Not you or anyone else knows that. So leave me alone.


03 Jan 01 - 01:36 AM (#367572)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Murray MacLeod

OK Matt I'm laying the pistol down and backing off, real slow ......

Murray


03 Jan 01 - 02:21 AM (#367586)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Big Mick

Geez, Matt, you make this eloquent, well thought out statement in defense of your picks..........blew my mind..........then stomp your feet and start talking about not telling you what's in your heart.....lighten up fer chrissakes..........

This is one of those impossible to answer deals cause I can come up with 15 or 20 off the top of my head, but one that immediately comes to mind is on The Chieftains "Another Country" album. Chet Atkins on guitar plays off Paddy Maloney on the Uillean Pipes. Atkins starts out with a guitar version of Tahitian Skies and Maloney answers back on the pipes. Then Maloney makes your skin crawl by launching into Chief O'Neill's Favorite Hornpipe, and Atkins answers on the guitar. Brilliant stuff.

Mick


03 Jan 01 - 10:17 AM (#367760)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: GUEST,Steve

The intro to "Standin on a Rock" by the Amazing Rythym Aces on their "Too Stuffed to Jump" Album. Took me a whole day to figure it out!


03 Jan 01 - 10:27 AM (#367767)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Mountain Dog

Richard Thompson has a perfectly beautiful and spine-tingling solo on "Just As the Tide Was Flowing". (Maddy Prior on vocals with some incarnation of the Albion Country Band - I used to have it on an LP called "The Antilles Sampler").

Also, Ry Cooder's heart-wringingly soulful slide solo on his own version of "Across the Borderline" from the "Get Rhythm" album.


03 Jan 01 - 11:31 AM (#367801)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Rick Fielding

Tremendous thread Murray (well for guitar-nurds like me anyway)

Most of those licks that stick in the mind were heard when I was young and impressionable and simply couldn't BELIEVE that notes could be that beautiful.

1. Reverend Gary Davis' spellbinding "high to low" guitar run near the end of his thirties recording of "Oh Lord Search My Heart". I practically passed out!

2. Earl Scruggs "Maybelle-like" break on "You Are My Flower".

3. Big Bill Broonzy's flat-picked line on "How You Want It Done". My Gawd, he was 19 years old! Listening to his early playing (mostly fingerpicking) is the best guitar lesson I can imagine.

4. Norman Blake's "Cross-chording" on Church Street Blues. I've tried for years to get a handle on it. No dice.

5. Many others. I'll try and think of them.

Hey Murray..I could give you the NOTES he plays...but to get it as smooth and fast as he plays it? Well I think ya gotta be Doc (or at least set aside a year of non-stop practice). I agree. He really MADE something from that song. Wonder if Anne Murray heard his recording...or Gene MacLelland for that matter.

Rick


03 Jan 01 - 11:35 AM (#367803)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: GUEST,Mooh at folkcensor's computer

Any part of the solo from Sympathy For The Devil by the Stones. Recently I've taken a shining to Cliffs of Dover by Eric Johnson, but I couldn't ID the specific part from here. There's a pretty cool solo on one of the Simon Mayor cd's too but I'm not at home to ID it more closely. Remember the first Dire Straits release? That sent alot of us back to the woodshed to learn how to play fills properly, great expressions.

Mooh.


03 Jan 01 - 11:57 AM (#367819)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: dwditty

Amos "The Other Canadian Guitarist" (*BG* Rick) Garrett's solo in Maria Muldaur's Midnight at the Oasis has always done it for me. Albert Lee in Country Boy. Mark Knoffler in Sultans of Swing.

dw


03 Jan 01 - 12:07 PM (#367826)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: GUEST,Ramblin' Boy

The trade off licks between Mark Knopfler and Chet Atkins in "There'll Be Some Changes Made" from the Neck and Neck album.


03 Jan 01 - 12:12 PM (#367831)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Rick Fielding

Amos Garrett was one of the first "really good pickers" that I ever saw up close. Like Knoffler he just has a "touch". Love his playing.

The guitarist (forget his name) with Gerry Rafferty on "The Ark". Great solo.

George Harrison's slide guitar on "My Sweet Lord". Verrry nice.

Alton Delmore's flatpick break on "Blue Railroad Train". Lots of unexpected turns.

Leadbelly's run from D to A on many things. Inventive!

Rick


03 Jan 01 - 12:14 PM (#367833)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: John Hardly

I just saw a thread titled "Fielding isn't god" but from your selections on this thread, you wouldn't get agreement from me (About the god thing)--GREAT selections, especially the Blake.

I've heard dwditty play and I can see that it must be great influences (like his picks) that make great guitar players (like him)!

mine?--Tony Rice's kick-off of Muleskinner

JH


03 Jan 01 - 12:19 PM (#367835)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Peter T.

I must confess that I am currently besotted with Bob Dylan's little phrasings and chordings on the bootleg versions of "Blood on the Tracks". They are so simple. "Tangled Up in Blue" has these immensely evocative phrases.

Joni Mitchell's Amelia (including the Pat Metheny solo on the Shadows and Light version) is also evocative.

yours, Peter T.


03 Jan 01 - 12:24 PM (#367841)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: BlueJay

!. The break on Norman Blake's version of "John Hardy"
2. The chorus on Bruce Cockburn's "Barrelhouse Blues": the slide down thingy with the run following it. Great blues guitar.
3. The instrumental break on David Bromberg's version of "Mr. Bojangles"

That's all I can think of now. Goodnight, BlueJay


03 Jan 01 - 12:38 PM (#367848)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Clinton Hammond2

The first few bars of Don Ross's song "Afraid To Dance" off his album 'This Dragon Won't Sleep'... I don't know how the hell he does it but it sound fantastic!!!

For those who don't know it, it's the worlds first solo guitar, hip-hop tune!


03 Jan 01 - 04:30 PM (#367974)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: UB Ed

Stones, guys, Stones! After thirty years, I can't get these out of my head:

Into to "Jumpin Jack Flash" (especially from Ya Ya) Intro to "Under My Thumb" Intro and repeat in "Satisfaction"

Additionally, the Who covered "Young Man's Blues" on their Live at Leeds album. Listen to that introductory lick.

Oh yeah, and how 'bout the intro to Sweet Jane on Lou Reed's "Rock N Roll Animal"

Hard to stop....


03 Jan 01 - 04:41 PM (#367978)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Matt_R

Sorry Mick, that was before I read my horoscope this morning which said "Don't be put on the defensive by a strongly biased person".


03 Jan 01 - 11:41 PM (#368216)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Benjamin

I'd say my favorte lick was on Loves Holiday off the All in All album by Earth Wind and Fire. In the second and third chorus in the middle of the third line as Maurice White sings "Love" (the lick is here) "has found its way. "It amazes me how Johnny Graham takes a slow scale and can execute it perfectly between words like that.

Other than that, I love the base runs in Blind Willie Johnsons Let Your Light Shine on Me.

That's all that really comes to mind right now. Get back to me.


03 Jan 01 - 11:42 PM (#368217)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: ddw

A couple of people have mentioned Chet Atkins and it reminded me of something I haven't thought of in years, but was mightily impressed by when I was first learning a little guitar. It's his Yankee Doodle Dixie — in which he plays both songs simultaneously. Never did figure out how he did that. Thought it might have been multitracking, but saw him perform it on television once and they showed closeups of his hands often enough to convince me he was really doing it.

Can't disagree with Rick's praise of Big Bill's licks, but I've just received all of the tracks Blind Blake ever recorded (so the company says, anyway) and there are some pretty fine passages in what I've listened to so far.

Also have to love a lot of the stuff Josh White did and I love Blind Boy Fuller's riffs and Sylvester Weaver's Bottleneck Blues.

david


03 Jan 01 - 11:58 PM (#368226)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Rick Fielding

OK now don't laugh. Glen Campbell's intro and lead part to Southern Nights.

Have to agree with Peter that Dylan's little figures are great.

Clarence White's solo on Nine Pound Hammer.

Rick


04 Jan 01 - 12:27 AM (#368236)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: mousethief

First thing that comes to mind, and refuses to leave, is the wonderful flying guitar solo on "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" -- I forget if it's in the first parts or the second parts -- where he's playing absolutely at the top of the fretboard, just a couple of bars before it breaks into the lyrics, and he runs up to the highest note, then falls back down playing two notes at a time. Shivers.

Oh, and the walk-down in "32-20 Blues" as played by Robert Johnson.

And the lightning-fast hammer-ons and pull-offs at the end of Sultans of Swing.

Alex


04 Jan 01 - 06:10 AM (#368295)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Mooh

Mouser, you reminded me. The solo from Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd seems to almost transcend guitar. It would sound great with almost any instrument. Mooh.


04 Jan 01 - 08:07 AM (#368317)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: catspaw49

Not exactly a lick, but uh...................

I have always been kinda' gassed when I listen to Arlo pick along while he talks. Listen carefully. Its effortless and has small changes in whatyever it is as he goes along. Now, most of us pick and sing, it goes together......But just talking away, rambling on, while you seemingly play on autopilot is a particular talent. Obviously Arlo has had a lot of practice at it with Alice, but there are so many others where he does this. His playing is very underrated.

I did get a good lick in on an old Yamaha one day. Tasted like ginger and soy sorta'.

Spaw


04 Jan 01 - 08:41 AM (#368329)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Matt_R

Well dang guys, you got me going to! I've been playing Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" a lot recently, and what about dem licks? All those neat little hammer-on and pull off that are stuck in the strummed chords. It's such an amazing thing that that's coming from one guitar.


04 Jan 01 - 10:05 AM (#368385)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: GUEST

1. Chuck Berry's intro lick to "Johnny B. Goode" - used so much it's now a Rock 'n' Roll cliche...

2. Alvin Lee and Ten Years After live at Woodstock doing "Goin' Home" - blistering moment during Lee's solo where he does some kind of triplet-based phrase repeated over and over and then drops one of the notes in the phrase a half-step during the change to IV and plays those triplets over and over...

3. Same idea during Jimi Hendrix's solo on his version of "Red House" where he hammers those three notes forever at the change to IV.

4. Any of Hendrix's solos on "All Along The Watchtower," but especially the one right after he says "Hey" - with the "underwater Wah-Wah" sound... or his solo right after he "shot her" on "Hey Joe"...

5. The slide work on Allman Brothers' live version of "Statesboro Blues"...


04 Jan 01 - 10:20 AM (#368393)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Benjamin

Paul Simon's I Know What I Know Has some amazing licks through out the song.

Doc Watson has too many for me to pick one (or two).


04 Jan 01 - 10:27 AM (#368398)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: UB Ed

Spaw, I agree re Arlo and Alice. I still can't play and speak the part. I am a little worried: although we occassionally see "pro" bass fisherman kiss a fish, I don't know if the public is ready for an artist licking their guitar.

Pink Floyd and Hendrix had great licks too. Too bad Mr. Gilmour was eclipsed by Roger Water's Dark Side of the Moon (ie The Wall). Don't forget Hendrix's "Castles made of Sand."


04 Jan 01 - 11:49 AM (#368452)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: mousethief

Gilmour wasn't eclipsed by The Wall. His composition (Comfortably Numb) was the brightest light on that Wall.

As for I Know What I Know, isn't the guitar amazing? It sounds like it has rubber strings. How do they DO that?

Alex


04 Jan 01 - 12:45 PM (#368484)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: M.Ted

Danny Gatton playing the lick from "The Simpsons"


04 Jan 01 - 12:51 PM (#368488)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Peter T.

I completely agree about Alice's Restaurant: so casual ("We're just waiting for it to come around on the guitar again", like it was an independent being. Audience in the palm of his hand.)

A few splendid Beatle moments:
The bass line in "Hey Bulldog" -- not my favourite Beatle song, but it sure moves. (like "Ballad of John and Yoko" -- McCartney made that song.)
Speaking of George Harrison, that hint of slide things to come in "For You Blue".
The opening of "Day Tripper".
The opening of "I Feel Fine".
(weel, we could go on all day about this one.)
yours, Peter T.


04 Jan 01 - 12:52 PM (#368491)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: UB Ed

MouseThief, you're absolutely correct re "Comfortably Numb." I seem to have this Waters vs. Gilmour soapbox to drag around (time to get over it). Forgive me least we thread creep.


04 Jan 01 - 01:04 PM (#368496)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Branwen23

I'll agree with Peter T. about Tangled up in Blue (Indigo Girls)... There's some really beautiful guitar work in that one.

I also like the part in "Carry on My Wayward Son" (Kansas) right after the first verse where they go into that wicked instrumental led by groovy guitar licks...


04 Jan 01 - 02:14 PM (#368532)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: GUEST,Willie-O

I would normally go along with Amos Garrett.

In recent history, though, I sure like JP Cormier's fingerboard blitzkrieg on "Kelly's Mountain".

Willie-O (now one of those infamous surfers-at-work)


04 Jan 01 - 02:55 PM (#368538)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Matt_R

Have you ever heard Soig Siberil play "The Piper's Quest (Kest Ar Choad)"? His fingers are flying so fast it's spooky!


04 Jan 01 - 03:56 PM (#368556)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Wesley S

How about: Doc Watson's intro to "Deep River Blues"

Geoff Muldaur's intro to "Devil Got My Woman"

Mississippi John Hurts "Creole Belle"

Bruce Cockburn's "If I Had A Rocketlauncher"

And Stevie Ray Vaughn's intro to "Cold Shot" and the bass intro to "Crossfire"

Or even The Chambers Bros "Time Has Come Today"


04 Jan 01 - 04:04 PM (#368561)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Bill D

I am NOT a guitar player, but I used to go to Winfield and hear the flat picking championships, and I have WATCHED Norman Blake (and others), and it is amazing what is done...Norman has this one song (it may BE Church Street)where he is into this pretty amazing run, and he ADDS a triplet without missing a beat!...and all the time he is making faces and interacting with the crowd....

and there was this young kid from California, Jeff Pearson, who played most of 'Black Mountain Rag' in the high register without a cutaway guitar...cant see how his hand made that reach!


04 Jan 01 - 04:24 PM (#368571)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: mousethief

Which part of Rocket Launcher? I'm trying to remember any memorable guitar licks.

alex


04 Jan 01 - 05:01 PM (#368591)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Wesley S

The rhythm riff is what I was refering to
But there are some nice slide riffs on it too.


04 Jan 01 - 05:17 PM (#368607)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Benjamin

Alex,
I'm not sure how they get that tone in I know what I know. But I've been looking for the band that played the music on that song, General M.D. Shirinda and the Gaza Sisters. I've searched record stores and all over the Internet. All I found were a couple album tittles on some guy's web site who decided he'd list every recording he had. If anyone could help me find an album (CD would be the best) I'd be thankfull!

The guitarist on Hugh Masekela's Uptownship, John "Blackie" Selolwane, gets a tone in a couple parts that sounds like a steal drum.


04 Jan 01 - 10:31 PM (#368842)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: MarkS

The instrumental break on Mr. Bojangles by Bromberg. Oooooooh yes!
markS


04 Jan 01 - 11:17 PM (#368877)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: GUEST

I love Clarence White's work on The Byrds, "Chestnut Mare" . I also have to agree with , "Sultans of Swing", some fine work.


04 Jan 01 - 11:31 PM (#368883)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Benjamin

The guitar during the last verse in David "Honeyboy" Edwards' Howling Wind Blues.


05 Jan 01 - 09:23 AM (#369026)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Grab

Add my vote for Sultans of Swing. And Telegraph Road - the driving rhythm as that winds up is great.

The "Chris Rea riff" (if you listen to CR, you know the one I mean). Simple but catchy.

Davey Graham's No Preacher Blues riff.

The solo out of Alannah Myles' Black Velvet.

Grab.


05 Jan 01 - 08:08 PM (#369389)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: GUEST,richlmo

I don't know why I'm a Guest all at once. I'm the one who likes Clarence White on " Chestnut Mare". Maybe I haven't been participating lately.


05 Jan 01 - 09:29 PM (#369438)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Big Mick

I can't believe that I haven't mentioned some of the dual lead stuff that Stephen Stills and Neil Young did in Buffalo Springfield, which happens to be my all time favorite damn band. Yep, the lead work on Bluebird and Rock n' Roll Woman was pretty spectacular shite. Neil on the lectric and Stills on the box. Mr. Soul, Kind Woman, Expecting to Fly, Broken Arrow, and the overexposed but still fantastic For What It's Worth. Those were marvelously crafted, arranged, harmonized, songs. But it is the guitar work between those two which made them brilliant.

Mick


05 Jan 01 - 09:37 PM (#369444)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Benjamin

The opening lick in Quincy Jones' (Brothers Johnson's) Is it love that we're missing?

If your into the wah peddal, the the tone in the opening licks on Quincy's Boogie Joe the Grinder is amazing!


05 Jan 01 - 10:17 PM (#369469)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: GUEST,CraigS

Hey, don't pick your favourite guitar player and say I like THIS lick! My favourite guitarist might be Gary Moore, but the lick that makes me wet my underpants is six notes in the middle of "Nuages" (clouds) by Django Reinhardt - starts with a bend down, and carries on. Hendrix could make me weep - Castles made of sand is a good example. If you're into real "hit you between the eyes" licks, Chris Bond is another man who knows how - but there's a world of difference between what is premeditated in the modern-day recording studio and the live, inspired stage situation.Best live thang I've ever seen is Johnny Winter.


06 Jan 01 - 06:34 AM (#369602)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Mooh

The little hickup in Leslie West's intro to Mountain's take on Roll Over Beethoven. This guy played with more raw spirit than all the rock pretenders and posers of his time.

Jimmy Page's main solo in Since I've Been Loving You. Electric blues purity. His Gallow's Pole riff is cool too. I always thought it was cool how Led Zeppelin was influenced by old blues and folk.

Mooh.


06 Jan 01 - 08:07 AM (#369614)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: GUEST,Joe B

One out of many shining guitar doodahs that comes to mind is a little four-note gem played by Don Felder on the last verse of the Eagles' New Kid in Town. It comes right after the second line of lyrics. He places the most tasteful little fill there, an oozing, yearning, perfect little electric masterpiece.


06 Jan 01 - 10:56 AM (#369683)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Matt_R

Thanks Mooh, I hadn't thought of those Zep ones, but you're right! I love that little sliding Am7 thing at the beginning of Gallows Pole. But my favorite Zeppelin song is almost on big riff..."The Rain Song". Such aching...such beauty. It takes a lot of retuning your guitar to play it right, but it's worth it. When you finish playing it, it's one of the times when you stop and sigh and thank God or whoever you want, for letting such music be created. It makes you feel good to know that such musical tenderness can be harnessed by a collection of wood and steel. Amazing.

--Matt


06 Jan 01 - 11:17 AM (#369697)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Branwen23

ooh, I just remembered one.... I don't know if it counts, but I think it's wicked: The bass line throughout "Spanish Moon" (Little Feat.


06 Jan 01 - 12:13 PM (#369730)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: voyager

John Fahey's version of LAYLA on "LET GO"


06 Jan 01 - 08:51 PM (#370074)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Benjamin

The lick in Bobby Womack's Think Your Lonely Now is quite good! Though you do hear it more than a few times through out the song.


06 Jan 01 - 08:56 PM (#370080)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: GUEST,Justa Picker

Lest we forget Steve Howe's illustrious opener to the Yes hit "Roundabout" and just about anything he plays acoustically. Just give a listen to "The Clap" off of Yessongs, and see if you can even figure out half of what he's doing. The man's a genius and tastey.


07 Jan 01 - 01:36 PM (#370386)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Plume

Nothing astounds, perplexes and fills me with envy like Nic Jones' Canadee-i-o. If anyone could ever teach me to play that song that well I would ask no more of life. Another brillian bit of Jones fretwork is his accompaniment to June Tabor's singig of Bonny May from the Airs and Graces LP. I do also love yet another track from the Martin Simpson/June Tabor collaboration, that being Admiral Benbow. Martin Carthy's Siege of Delhi is pretty darn thrilling throughout, as is his work on The Bedmaking on Crown of Horn. I quite like Sultans of Swing as well as Mark Knopfler's end credits for Local Hero. How is it that no one has yet mentioned And Your Bird Can Sing? And for bass lines, what about the Beatles' Rain? And back to back briliance of Colin Moulding's bass lines on Mayor of Simpleton and King for a Day from the XTC album Oranges and Lemons.Actually it's diggicult to come up with a favorite bass line from the XTC catalog, so much of Moulding's work is so good. To my ears, Ry Cooder has never sounded better than on the Jazz and Get Rhythm albums - again, hard to single out a best riff or even track. And then there's Richard Thompson who I always enjoy most when he's not trying so damned hard. The opening riff on Hand of Kindness, the brief, chunky solo on Wall of Death, that's economy and clarity to me. Charlie Christian on Breakast Feud, Django on, well, anything. Man, the more I think about it the more I realize how many really wonderful guitar players there are and have been in the world. Thanks to all of them for enriching my life — but especially Nic and Martin.


07 Jan 01 - 01:47 PM (#370393)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Matt_R

Oh yeah, I LOVE "The Clap"!!! The tab for it is INSANE! How anyone can do that is pure mindblowing talent.


07 Jan 01 - 02:22 PM (#370405)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: GUEST,Justa Picker

I too have checked out the tab for the Clap at a Renegade Olga site; some of it's accurate, other parts aren't. You're probably aware of this Matt, but Steve Howe now has his own website here. (Sorry for the bit of thread creep.)


07 Jan 01 - 08:02 PM (#370567)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: GUEST,Steve Latimer

Could never pick a favorite, but I sure like the Johnny Winter's Meantown Blues riff.


07 Jan 01 - 11:19 PM (#370672)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Lucius

Can't claim that it's my all time favourite lick, but I melt when I hear Artie McGlynn's fills on "Cabbage and Kale".

Lucius


07 Jan 01 - 11:26 PM (#370678)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Matt_R

SAme here Lucius! I love Arty...his riffs on Dick Gaughan's "Sail On" (on of my favorite songs ever) brings tears to my eyes.


08 Jan 01 - 01:01 PM (#370932)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: LR Mole

Dave Edmunds' triple octave highdive in the live "Heart of the City". Yow!(And isn't that Lenon sliding on "For You Blue"?)


08 Jan 01 - 01:02 PM (#370933)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: LR Mole

Dave Edmunds' triple octave highdive in the live "Heart of the City". Yow!(And isn't that Lenon sliding on "For You Blue"?)


08 Jan 01 - 01:42 PM (#370961)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Steve Latimer

Joe Walsh's Raunchy intro to Funk #49.

Jeff Becks pretty little Run on She's a Woman.

Muddy Waters' slide on Nineteen Years Old.


08 Jan 01 - 01:59 PM (#370979)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Steve Latimer

Almost forgot Mick Taylor's soaring lead over Keith Richard's funky rhythm on the Stones "Can't You Hear Me Knockin?"

Taj Mahal's extremely subtle slide work on "East Bay Women"


08 Jan 01 - 02:56 PM (#371025)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: fat B****rd

davy graham better git hit in your soul, duane eddy on peter gunn


08 Jan 01 - 05:10 PM (#371100)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: GUEST,Paul

Don't have the recordings no more, but Blind Willie McTell's instrumental phrazings are unique. Likewise Skip James; poiniant and simple, like his vocals.


07 Nov 01 - 04:35 AM (#587250)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: GUEST,Alex Roan

Pink floyd's "Wish You Were Here" was mentioned. Where on line can I get lyrics and if possible sheet music and/or abc and/or chords?


07 Nov 01 - 05:03 AM (#587257)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Scabby Douglas

Much of what went before...

PLUS...

Right at the end of "The Hen's March to the Midden/The Four-poster Bed" by Fairport Convention, someone - it might be Richard Thompson but also could be Jerry Donahue lets rip with an astounding country-style run at 400 mph.

That's the very business...

Cheers

Steven


07 Nov 01 - 05:41 AM (#587270)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: GUEST,jonesey

Besides the intro to J.B. Goode the 'only' licks still recognized worldwide are both from '64. The intro to the Temptin' Temptations' 'My Girl' and Roy Orbison's 'Oh, Pretty Woman'. No matter where you are or what kind of gig you're playing you break into either one of those licks and everybody in the room knows the song. The My Girl lick was played by a Motown session guy whose name escapes me, but I did read an interview w/him once and he said he always hated that lick. Said it was out of tune and corny, but Berry Gordy didn't want to do a retake so they left it as is. He's right, it is slightly out of tune, but who cares? The Pretty Woman lick was played by Bobby Goldsboro on 12 string. Speaking of 12 str. how about Eric Darling's lick on 'Walk Right In'? Hard to argue with any of the other choices, however. This is a killer thread...kudos


07 Nov 01 - 08:32 AM (#587335)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: mooman

Very, very hard to decide as there are so many good ones to choose from but, after much deliberation, I think the one at the bottom of the page here takes some beating.

mooman


07 Nov 01 - 08:47 AM (#587349)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Midchuck

Norman Blake's break before the last verse of Tom Ames'Prayer, on Steve Earle's Train a'Comin' album.

John Herald's intro to Four Rode By, on Ian and Sylvia's Northern Journey album back in '64 or '65.

Doc Watson's ending to Black Mountain Rag, on his first Vanguard album from '64.

Andrew Hardin's breaks to Tom Russell's Angel of Lyon.

More as I think of them.

Peter.


07 Nov 01 - 05:58 PM (#587802)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Steve in Idaho

Guest Steve - took me a day to learn it also - and I can still do it - the timing was a killer!! Takes a good rythm guitarist to hold the beat for it.

ddw - I saw Chet do this live and he was BSing with the audience while he did it. Talked about how he was bored one night and just kind of playing when he realized he was doing this double song. He preceeded the elaborate little deal with a "I'm a bit behind because I've been talking to much so I'll do two at once to get caught up."

Norman Blake's chorus picking on "Greycoat Soldiers."

And an obscure little rendition Blake did on "Under the Double Eagle" that I've been trying to learn for the last couple hundred years!! I can do it slow - but not at his speed.

Steve


07 Nov 01 - 07:58 PM (#587882)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: 53

the intro to i feel fine by the beatles. BOB


08 Nov 01 - 02:27 AM (#588067)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Terry K

GUEST Alex Roan

OLGA has it - that's www.OLGA.net under P for Pink

Cheers, Terry


08 Nov 01 - 03:47 AM (#588082)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler

I don't like to nominate "the best" or "favourite" things as they change for me so often and I have so many...BUT two opening licks stand out for personal reasons.
The Animals-style intro to House of the Rising Sun reminds me of my Greek friend Yorgos, as when he starts off with that it means he's finished serving for the night and its time for me to earn my free brandy. The other is one I mentioned here recently: the intro the Inkspots used on so many of their recordings. I hear it and launch into what I guess will come next. That means I'm usually doing Whispering Grass while the Inkspots are doing something else entirely, but then I'm often singing something completely diferent to everyone else!
RtS (What you say, Hoppy? You told those babbling trees?)
PS Hi, MattR, welcome back.


08 Nov 01 - 08:54 AM (#588160)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: GUEST,Alex Roan

Looking for Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" , words and music. Got to this thread by an archives search.


08 Nov 01 - 09:09 AM (#588170)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Steve Latimer

The Lightfoot thread reminded me of Willie Nelson's intro to his version of "Me and Bobby McGee". The solo is pretty darned good too. I have no idea how Trigger survived that session.

I a Chuck Berry compilation in my car CD changer right now. Where do you even start. I'm thinking the intro to Carol. But God bless Chuck, it's amazing to hear all of those licks on one CD. Yes, many are pretty similar, but they became the absolute backbone of Rock.


08 Nov 01 - 12:10 PM (#588285)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: GUEST,Tim

Here are some of my favorite classic riffs to play that haven't been mentioned yet

neil young: cinnamon girl grateful dead: sugar magnolia the who: intros to pinball wizard and behind blue eyes hendrix: hey joe

Tim


08 Nov 01 - 12:40 PM (#588307)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Peter T.

Graceland. (Ray Phiri throughout).

yours, Peter T.


08 Nov 01 - 03:01 PM (#588459)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Peter T.

forgot Baghiti Khumalo, bass player; Demola Adepoju, pedal steel, same album!!!!! yours, Peter T.


09 Nov 01 - 07:35 AM (#588880)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Murray MacLeod

Roger, check the date on Matt_R's posting ! But I know he is back and probably reads this thread, so I will welcome him back too.

Murray


12 Nov 01 - 04:35 AM (#590654)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler

DOH! Do you wonder they're retiring me?
RtS


12 Nov 01 - 09:34 PM (#591299)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: 53

another good lick is the opening to DAY TRIPPER BOB


13 Nov 01 - 11:30 AM (#591611)
Subject: RE: All-time favourite guitar lick
From: Raptor

Can't you hear me knockin Mick Taylor Private investigations Mark Knophler Find the cost of freedom C,S,N,Y I need a lover Mike Wacanak (John Cougar)

Raptor