The Hard Lick Maneuver

The guitar has a long history of significance in the field of music. It’s an instrument that can move listeners and performers alike to strong feelings and vivid imagery. For guitarists, the “Hard Lick Maneuver” is one of the approaches that can genuinely set them apart from the pack. In this article, we’ll go further into this exciting technique, learning how it can take your guitar solos to new heights while teaching you how it was developed and how to perfect its performance.

Learning the Hard Lick Move

The Hard Lick Maneuver: What Is It?

The Hard Lick Maneuver is a style of guitar playing that calls for lightning-fast fingerwork and complicated licks. This method, common in rock, metal, and blues, can give your solos an extra dose of drama and intensity.

Where Does Hard Lick Come From?

The term “Hard Lick” was popularized by the late great guitarist Eddie Van Halen, who was recognized for his blistering speed and groundbreaking techniques. He pioneered this approach in the ’70s, and it altered rock guitar forever.

The Basics: Required Equipment

It’s important to make sure you have everything you need before diving headfirst into learning the Hard Lick Maneuver. All you need is listed below.

Guitar, Electric

The electric guitar must have excellent sustain and a smooth neck. The distinctive tone of the Hard Lick Maneuver is achieved by the electric guitar’s sustain and distortion.

Amplification and a Fuzz Pedal

In order to get the crunching, saturated tones that are essential for the Hard Lick Maneuver, a strong amplifier and distortion pedal are required.

Repeating tones

Accuracy and timing are essential. You can use a metronome to keep time and build up your speed smoothly.

Acquiring Proficient Skill

Skill with the Fingers

Strengthen your fingers and practice your talent to start. Increase your dexterity with the instrument by working on scales, arpeggios, and chromatic exercises.

Choice Replacement

The Hard Lick Maneuver is built almost entirely on a system of alternating picks. This method enables quick successions of notes and effortless changes between strings.

Assaults with hammers and pull-offs

Add some flexibility to your licks by using hammer-ons and pull-offs. Doing so will allow you to execute the maneuver with the customary swiftness and ease.

Vibrato and bending

Learning to bend and vibrato will give your Hard Lick solos more character and make them more engaging to the listener.

Improving Your Solos in Three Key Areas

Develop your ability to create catchy phrases while performing solos. You may build a stronger emotional connection with your listeners and gain more attention for your Hard Lick solos by using powerful phrasing.

Dynamic

Try out different volume levels to add variety to your performance. Use crescendos, staccatos, and volume increases to build tension and suspense.

Adding the Tapping Method

If you’re an advanced player, you can add some serious wow factor to your Hard Lick solos by tapping. In fact, Eddie Van Halen was an early adopter of this style.

Conclusion

The Hard Lick Maneuver is difficult for the faint of heart, but with practice and determination, you can bring your guitar solos to new heights with this exhilarating method. It’s not just about how fast you can do something; accuracy, timing, and expressing yourself emotionally are as important. Now is the time to grab a guitar, turn on the amp, and begin practicing Hard Licks like a pro.

FAQs

Can you use the Hard Lick Maneuver with any style of music on the guitar?

The Hard Lick Maneuver is most commonly heard in rock and metal, but the underlying concepts can be used with minor adjustments in any genre.

In what time frame can the Hard Lick Maneuver be learned?

The time it takes to become proficient varies from person to person, but even just a few months of dedicated practice can make a big difference.