Blues Guitar Licks: Unlock Your Inner Blues Legend

Blues guitar licks are the heart and soul of blues music. They’re the short, expressive phrases that take a solo from “okay” to unforgettable. Whether you’re captivated by the smooth phrasing of B.B. King, the fiery attack of Stevie Ray Vaughan, or the raw emotion of Robert Johnson, licks are the essential language of blues guitar.

But how do you go from mimicking licks to creating your own blues vocabulary? In this guide, we’ll break it all down—from the anatomy of a blues lick to the techniques, theory, and practice routines that will elevate your playing.

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What Are Blues Guitar Licks?

Blues licks are more than just a series of notes; they’re a way to express emotion. A well-crafted lick tells a story, tugging at the listener’s heartstrings with each bend, slide, and vibrato.

Blues licks are typically built from the minor pentatonic scale, major pentatonic scale, or the blues scale. These scales provide a roadmap, but the magic lies in the way you navigate them. Blues licks often include techniques like:

• String bends: To mimic the human voice.
• Slides: To add fluidity between notes.
• Hammer-ons and pull-offs: For smoother phrasing.
• Vibrato: To add sustain and personality.

Why Are Blues Licks Important?

Licks are essential for improvisation. When you’re soloing over a 12-bar blues progression, licks give you a starting point. They’re like phrases in a conversation—used correctly, they draw listeners in and keep them engaged.

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Classic Blues Guitar Licks You Should Know

Let’s break down a few essential blues licks that every guitarist should have in their toolkit.

1. The Albert King Bend (blues guitar licks)

Albert King was a master of expressive bending. His signature lick starts with a pre-bend:

1. Bend the G string at the 10th fret to reach the pitch of the 12th fret.
2. Release the bend slowly while picking the note.
3. End with a vibrato on the 8th fret of the B string.

This lick is full of tension and release—a hallmark of the blues.

🎸 Pro Tip: Use heavy strings for more sustain and control, just like King.

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2. The Chuck Berry Double-Stop (blues guitar licks)

This classic lick is perfect for adding a rock-and-roll edge to your blues solos:

1. On the 12th fret of the G and B strings, play both notes together as a double-stop.
2. Slide down two frets to the 10th fret.
3. Add a quick bend and resolve on the 9th fret of the G string.

Double-stops are a fantastic way to add harmonic depth to your playing.

🎸 Pro Tip: Experiment with muting other strings for a cleaner sound.

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3. The Slow Blues Rake (blues guitar licks)

This lick is all about attitude:

1. Start with a slow rake across the G, B, and high E strings.
2. Land on the 12th fret of the high E string with a bend.
3. Resolve with vibrato.

🎸 Pro Tip: Use the edge of your pick to accentuate the rake for a more percussive sound.

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How to Make Blues Guitar Licks Your Own

Learning classic licks is just the beginning. The real magic happens when you put your personal spin on them.

1. Play With Dynamics

The blues isn’t just about what you play—it’s how you play it. Experiment with dynamics to give your licks more emotion. For example:

• Start a lick softly and build intensity with each note.
• Add a sudden burst of aggression, then pull back.

🎸 Exercise: Take a simple lick and play it with different dynamics. Record yourself to hear the difference.

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2. Add Rhythmic Variation

A great lick can sound completely different with a new rhythm. Play around with:

• Syncopation: Emphasizing offbeats.
• Triplets: Adding a swing feel.
• Rests: Letting space breathe between notes.

🎸 Exercise: Take a 4-note lick and play it as straight eighth notes, triplets, and swung eighths.

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3. Use the Entire Fretboard

Don’t limit yourself to one position. Learn your licks in multiple keys and positions to unlock the entire fretboard.

🎸 Pro Tip: Practice moving a lick up an octave or playing it in a different scale position.

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Building Your Blues Vocabulary

1. Learn From the Masters

The best way to expand your vocabulary is to study the greats. Spend time with recordings of:

• B.B. King: For minimalistic, vocal-like phrasing.
• Stevie Ray Vaughan: For fiery, aggressive licks.
• T-Bone Walker: For jazzy sophistication.

🎸 Exercise: Transcribe a solo from one of your favorite players and learn it note for note.

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2. Steal and Adapt

There’s no shame in borrowing from the masters—it’s how most players learn. But don’t stop there; tweak the licks to make them your own. Change the rhythm, add extra notes, or alter the phrasing.

🎸 Exercise: Take a classic lick and change one element, like the ending note or rhythm.

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3. Create Call-and-Response Patterns

Call-and-response is a cornerstone of blues. Play a simple lick (the “call”), then answer it with a variation (the “response”).

🎸 Exercise: Write a short call-and-response solo using only the minor pentatonic scale.

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How to Practice Blues Guitar Licks

Practicing licks is about more than repetition—it’s about integrating them into your playing.

1. Practice With a Backing Track

Backing tracks give context to your licks, helping you hear how they fit into a progression.

🎸 Exercise: Use a 12-bar blues backing track in A. Play one lick per bar to work on timing and phrasing.

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2. Use a Metronome

Timing is crucial in the blues. Practice your licks with a metronome to tighten your rhythm.

🎸 Exercise: Play a lick at a slow tempo (e.g., 60 BPM), then gradually increase the speed.

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3. Record Yourself

Recording lets you hear your progress and identify areas for improvement.

🎸 Exercise: Record yourself playing a solo, then critique it for timing, tone, and phrasing.

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Creating Your Own Blues Guitar Licks

The ultimate goal is to create licks that feel uniquely yours. Here’s how:

1. Start With the Blues Scale (blues guitar licks)

The blues scale is a goldmine for creating licks. Start with the basic scale and experiment with:

• Bends
• Slides
• Vibrato

🎸 Exercise: Write a 4-note lick using only the blues scale.

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2. Incorporate Techniques (blues guitar licks)

Techniques like double-stops, rakes, and hammer-ons can give your licks more character.

🎸 Exercise: Write a lick that combines at least two techniques, such as a bend followed by a slide.

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3. Tell a Story (blues guitar licks)

Think of your licks as sentences in a story. Use them to build tension, resolve conflict, and create a sense of narrative.

🎸 Exercise: Write a solo that starts softly, builds to a climax, and ends with a resolution.

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Blues Guitar Licks in Action

To see these ideas in action, check out our FretDeck Blues Mastery Pack, featuring:

• Detailed lick transcriptions.
• Backing tracks in multiple keys.
• Exercises to help you develop your phrasing and timing.

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Join the Guitar Freaks Hangout on Discord

Ready to share your blues journey? Join the Guitar Freaks Hangout on Discord—a supportive community of guitar enthusiasts where you can:

• Share your favorite licks.
• Get feedback on your playing.
• Connect with others who share your love of blues guitar.

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Final Thoughts

Blues guitar licks are more than just a technique—they’re a way to express yourself. By learning from the masters, experimenting with phrasing and dynamics, and creating your own licks, you’ll find your unique voice in the blues.

So grab your guitar, plug in, and start exploring the endless possibilities of blues licks. Your inner blues legend is waiting to be unleashed.

Explore More Blues Techniques: Guitar World’s Guide to Blues Soloing provides additional insights into mastering blues solos, with tips from legendary players.

Enhance Your Blues Solos: Explore our guide on Mastering the Major Pentatonic Scale: A Guitarist’s Guide to deepen your understanding of scales integral to blues improvisation.