Friday 31 May 2013

How To Play God Gave Rock 'N Roll You II _ Acoustic Guitar Lesson







God Gave Rock 'N' Roll to You II" is a song by the American hard rock band Kiss. It was first released as a single in 1991, lifted off the soundtrack to the movie Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, and was later included on Kiss' 1992 album Revenge. The song was a reworking of the Argent 1973 song "God Gave Rock and Roll to You" and is credited as being written by Russ BallardPaul StanleyGene Simmons and Bob Ezrin. The Christian rock band Petra first released a cover version of the song in their 1977 album Come and Join Us and re-released a somewhat updated version in their 1984 album Beat the System which sounds much more like the version from the film.

It was the last Kiss song to feature longtime drummer Eric Carr before his death in 1991. Although he was too ill to play drums on the track, he is featured on backing vocals during the a cappella break, singing the repeated line "...to everyone, he gave his song to be sung", as well as performing drums during the video for the song.
The single was also the first to feature Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley sharing lead vocals since "I" from 1981's Music from "The Elder".



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Wednesday 29 May 2013

How To Play Queen - Lily of the Valley - Fingerpicking Guitar Lesson




Lily of the Valley was B-Side to the 1974 hit single Now Im Here.

"Lily of the Valley" features Mercury playing the piano and providing all of the vocals. The song has a reference to "Seven Seas of Rhye" in the line "messenger from Seven Seas has flown to tell the King of Rhye he's lost his throne".
The song, together with "Tenement Funster" and "Flick of the Wrist", was covered by Dream Theater on the bonus disc of their album Black Clouds & Silver Linings.




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Sunday 26 May 2013

How To Play Rod Stewart - Maggie May



"Maggie May" is a song written by singer Rod Stewart and Martin Quittenton and recorded by Stewart in 1971 for his album Every Picture Tells a Story.




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How To Play Deep Purple - Smoke On The Water - Acoustic Guitar Lesson



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How To Play The Cult - She Sells Sanctuary







She Sells Sanctuary" is a song by the British rock band The Cult. It is from their 1985 album Love and was released as a single in May of that year, peaking at no.15 in the UK Singles Chart.
The band has released various versions of the song. Aside from the original 7" single, three other versions had been released around the same time on 12" formats: "The Long Version", "The Howling Mix" and "Assault on Sanctuary".
In 1993, several more mixes were released on two different CD singles, each called Sanctuary MCMXCIII (Volumes 1 & 2). The "Sundance" remix was remixed byButch Vig who previously had produced Nirvana's Nevermind Album. The "Dog Star Rising" remix was remixed by Youth who has produced The Cult's eighth album,Born into This. "She Sells Sanctuary" was the last song to be recorded with The Cult's drummer, Nigel Preston, who was fired from the band shortly after its release.
In 2009, two more previously unreleased versions, a demo and the "Olympic Rough Mix" were included in a 4-disc box set of the Omnibus Edition of Love.

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How To Play Bowie - Rebel Rebel




Originally written for a mooted Ziggy Stardust musical in late 1973, "Rebel Rebel" was Bowie's last single in the glam rock style that had been his trademark. It was also his first hit since 1969 not to feature lead guitarist Mick Ronson; Bowie himself played guitar on this and almost all other tracks from Diamond Dogs, producing what NME critics Roy Carr and Charles Shaar Murray called "a rocking dirty noise that owed as much to Keith Richards as it did to the departed Ronno"

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Friday 24 May 2013

Songs For Acoustic Guitar - Rock Licks Guitar Tuition



Songs include : Bell Bottom Blues, Norwegian Wood, My Sweet Lord, Everybody Hurts, Wonderwall, Free Fallin and many more

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Classic Rock Riffs - Guitar Lessons



Lessons include Smoke On The Water, Day Tripper, Sunshine of Your Love, Layla, Poison, Crazy Train and many more

south shields guitar tuition www.rock-licks.com

Thursday 23 May 2013

Line6 Variax 600 Modelling Guitar - Review









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Brian May Signature Guitar - Review





Full spec http://www.brianmayguitars.co.uk/press-and-reviews/9
Truly beautiful guitar and an ideal present for any Queen fan.
Features zero fret and Burns Trisonic pickups with on/off and in and out of phase switches.
Mahogany with acoustic chamber for tone. The Brian May guitar has a strat style trem as opposed to the original designed trem. Features a bi-direction truss rod to stop bowing of the neck.

Don't make the mistake of thinking you will magically sound like Brian May. Plugged into Line 6 amp with Vox-AC30 setting it sounded ok but then used a treble booster and things came to life.

All in all for the £530 price tag a very nice guitar

In the video I make the mistake of calling it a Burns Brian May. Brian May parted company with Burns after quality issues and set up his own company making the Brian May signature model.

Point of note: To tighten trem arm. Lift trem and look for allen key to tighten as shown in picture.


Notice to the right of the picture below the trem arm at the base of the unit lurking in the shadows a small hole. This is where the allen key needs to loosen or tighten






Thursday 9 May 2013

Stagg Les Paul Electric Guitar L400-BK review


The Stagg is a made in China Les Paul copy. Solid alder body and thru neck. With gold plated hardware it cuts a very smart looking guitar.
Did need setting up and action lowered but for the money (£45 in second hand shop) was well worth it.

Overall a very good guitar and just as good as an Epiphone Les Paul. Dont let the fact it has Stagg printed on the head stock put you off






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Hondo Deluxe Series 767 Flying V Review


 


This is almost a lesson in how a bit of polish can go a long way.
Found this Hondo Deluxe Series 767 Flying V on eBay for £27. The original pictures from the listing dont do the guitar any justice at all.
After using lighter fluid to remove the stickers and a bit of t cut the guitar looked very nice indeed.



Made in the mid 80's out of probably mahogany this is a very nice guitar. Quite heavy in weight it feels like a manly guitar (if that makes sense)

check out youtube video of it being played











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Kramer Baretta FR 404 SD Electric Guitar Review

Kramer Baretta FR 404 SD not to be mixed up with the USA made Kramer Barettas.
The FR 404 SD was a cheaper Kramer made in Korea in the early 90's
Still a nice 24 fret guitar with drop D floyd rose trem, thru neck and coil tapped humbucker pickups.

Looking on Gumtree I managed to find myself this beauty for a mere £30. That cheap I felt guilty 'At least Dick Turpin wore a mask'

It needed the neck straightening and the action lowered but made a very nice guitar. Personally it would make an even better guitar with upgraded pickups. Tho the quad rails it came with were ok.








Jim Deacon SG Electric Guitar Review


Chances are if you looking to buy a Jim Deacon SG you are probably looking for a guitar in the style of Angus Young (AC/DC)
Tho a little light in weight the Jim Deacon makes a smart looking guitar. 
Plugged through Native Instruments Guitar Rig I got a pretty decent sound out of it. Well suited to those wanting to play AC/DC without spending a fortune..
It has a set neck and a mahogany body. Nice looking but unbranded tuners.


I got a decent bargain on gumtree for £40.  
It did need setting up as the action was sky high but once sorted it was nice to play.
Sold it to a guy mad on AC/DC for £80 who text me later that day to say he was well pleased with his guitar.







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Saturday 4 May 2013

Jacob Jolly's Stratocaster Guitar Project

Jacob Jolly's Stratocaster Guitar Project







If anyone wants to share their guitar projects on this blog send your pics to rock-licks@live.com






Friday 3 May 2013

Hondo Les Paul MIJ 70's Lawsuit Guitar Review


Hondo Les Paul MIJ 70's Lawsuit Guitar 

My advice would be if you find a Hondo guitar made in Japan ...buy it!!!
Between 1974 and 1983 Hondo produced high quality guitars made in Japan which now are quite collectible. Hondo guitars of this time were fitted with American made Dimarzio pickups.
Called lawsuit models as Gibson brought a lawsuit to stop Hondo making them. 

Later between 1984 and 1987 Hondo switched making guitars in Korea which were of much lesser quality.

A Lot of Hondo guitars being now over 30 years old are in need of attention. 
Luckily I picked this one up for £60 ($90) from a guy who'd bought it from new and kept it wrapped in cotton wool.
The guitar has the feel of an expensive instrument. Some prefer these above Epiphone Les Pauls.
The Dimarzio pickups are red hot and have bags of sustain.
The guitar is a nice weight similar to a real Les Paul. Holds it tune really well and has a fast neck and low action.

 I guess if you have a spare £2000 to buy a new Gibson then you could turn your nose up at the humble Hondo. But for those on a budget the Hondo 70's era punch well above their weight.






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