Licks

Licks and Grooves

Just what is a lick? Licks are part of the language of all musical forms and styles. Classical, rock, country, pop, jazz- they all have licks in them. Licks are like phrases that you hear every day. "How's it going?" "What's up?" Phrases that that will always be in use.

You just have to know where and when to use it. Same goes for licks.

Oscar Peterson is the master of the jazz piano lick. His personal library of licks have been copied for years!

A musical statement that has been played by everyone and is still OK to use when appropriate. In fact, sometimes you need to use them. If you are on a session or a gig and you are playing Nat Cole's version of "Route 66", there's a lick that goes with that song. Endings, beginnings, stylistic, the list of licks is endless.

Licks are a basic part of the jazz vocabulary and you need to know some of them if you want to gig.