Shredding Blues Licks: Cool Interval Runs

Welcome back to this issue's Shredding Blues Licks. Last time we worked on some wide interval arpeggios; now we're going to take them and make some cool runs out of them!

OK, Example 1 is based of off the min11 arpeggio; we'll use some sweeps,hammer ons and pull offs. To me this is one of the hardest things you can work on, but one of the most rewarding because you're incorperating all kinds of different ideas and making a musical statement out of the arpeggio. This will make your solos a lot more interesting (not just fast arpeggios up and down the neck).

MP3 - Example 1

Example 2 starts out the same way as Example 1, but soon takes off in a different direction. As with most wide interval ideas, take it easy on the stretching and work your way up to these. I get asked all the time by students, "How do I make up a solo?" Well, study these two ideas and make up your own runs - before you know it you'll have a nice little catalog of licks!

MP3 - Example 2

Time to go, gotta practice. See ya!