20 Metal Fusion Licks

Music is a powerful communication tool. It works pretty much like the spoken language, only in a more abstract form. Besides the grammar (scales, arpeggios, theory) we need to learn the syntax and the idiomatic phrases. Every music genre has its own clichés, developed by the “bigs” though the decades: Bebop, Blues, Rock ‘n Roll, Heavy Metal, they all have their own classic licks. One interesting aspect of music though, is that because of his abstract nature we can also experiment and expand the syntax, creating different but still meaningful harmonic or melodic structures.

Using a philosophical point of view we can say that with music, we are allowed to express ourselves on a deeper lever than what we could do with the spoken language: not only we can combine our lick in creative and complex sentences but we also can reorganize our grammar, create our own grammar as long as it is based on clear and understandable logic. In music we can invent both “signifier” and “meaning”, both form and content, both theory and licks.

For this package I wanted a very harmonically basic track which allows the improviser to experiment with all the possible scales and modes without restricting the melodic possibilities within a certain harmonic progression. This way you can build your own harmony through your scale choices and interval spelling. Those lick’s doesn’t belong to a specific idiom or music genre, they have a very exotic, experimental flavour combining synthetic ethnic scales, jazz fusion ideas and shred rock techniques.

As for the way you can approach this material, try to think of it as a collection of different ideas; you can learn the whole lick or just a small section, trying to replicate it in different tonalities. Some of those licks feature weird fingerings and interval combinations. By doing that you can get some very fresh and modern sounding phrases. When you change fingering patterns and practice more and more, you will find that you will learn new “paths” throughout the fingerboard, breaking some obstacles and enriching the various ways of determining a phrase. You might compose or improvise your solos or both, but in all cases the main point is to develop a personal style and, perhaps, a personal language. Take those phrases/ exercises as a creative tool by understanding the logic behind them and the scales they are based on. Eventually write some music examples of your own and never forget to have fun!