What is a lick?

Temcat · #1 01-11-2008, 03:08 AM

Hi! I come across this word from time to time, but don't know what it means. So what is it?

Thanks in advance!

Valerus · #2 01-11-2008, 03:17 AM

In my experience and from what information I've gathered, lick is the same as a riff, really.
A musical phrase.

Temcat · #3 01-11-2008, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valerus

In my experience and from what information I've gathered, lick is the same as a riff, really.
A musical phrase.

Thanks! Riff I understand :-)

J-B'ass · #4 01-11-2008, 04:20 AM

maybe this is over complecating things, but I would use riff to describe a musical phrase used as a motif in a song, whereas a lick is just a phrase you use, perhaps a signature lick you like to use while soloing, etc.

cowsgomoo · #5 01-11-2008, 04:34 AM

try not to use the term 'lick'.. it's stoopid

it's like talking about your technique as 'chops' or calling your bass an 'axe'

not as bad as referring to fellow musicians as 'cats' but it's approaching that ballpark

BuffaloBass · #6 01-12-2008, 05:38 AM

The term "lick" should only be used with your lover!

Marcury · #7 01-12-2008, 01:27 PM

A riff is a repeated pattern (chord, melody, rhythym) a lick is a short stock melodic phrase used when soloing.

MyUsernameHere · #8 01-12-2008, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowsgomoo

not as bad as referring to fellow musicians as 'cats' but it's approaching that ballpark

Hey daddyo. Sounds like someone needs to take a chill-pill. Its, like totally rad calling dudes "cats."

Don't hate on the 'palyas cause they representin'. They aren't posers--they're keeping it real.

Don't be a spazz, just keep on truckin' man.

Rocketpriest · #9 01-12-2008, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyUsernameHere

Jive talk

you may think you're the bee's knees, jack, but you're on anything but the buttered side.

...God help me. Seriously though, 'lick' is no worse a word than 'riff' and is likely to stick around. The two are almost opposites, but both are mainstays, especially in rock (Jazz has many more licks than riffs). A riff is that rhythm line from every great rock song that everyone can sing, like the Paranoid riff, or Smoke on the water's main riff. A lick is just a quick phrase, thrown in as a fill or part of a solo, particularly over specific changes, an example being the infinite number of 2-5-1 licks that Jazz cats (I couldn't help it!) employ.

...Leastways, that's how it's been explained to me.

fenderhutz · #10 01-12-2008, 02:29 PM

Temcat · #11 01-12-2008, 03:38 PM

Thank you all! Now I'm enlightened as to what lick actually is :-) And of course I do use licks

MysticMichael · #12 01-12-2008, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Temcat

Hi! I come across this word from time to time, but don't know what it means. So what is it?

Comes right after "kiss". Belongs buried deep in Off Topic...

MM

Depth_Charge · #13 01-13-2008, 07:04 AM

A "lick" is what a guitard plays after you tell him to stop soloing or playing over a part of the music...

As in "I did shut up. I just added a little lick as well".

progbassftw · #14 01-18-2008, 12:26 AM

Mostly, a lick is what Marcury said... It's some short type of solo riff, think it as something between a fill and some solo riff. As for the term, yea its sounds weirdo, and I prefer to use it with my girlfriend more than I use it when playing the bass

But anywayz! Hope this helps!

Aaron · #15 01-18-2008, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowsgomoo

try not to use the term 'lick'.. it's stoopid

it's like talking about your technique as 'chops' or calling your bass an 'axe'

not as bad as referring to fellow musicians as 'cats' but it's approaching that ballpark

Ha - I routinely use all of those terms. I also refer to musicians that really have their bag together as 'aces', mistakes as 'clams', and a number of other terms. When I don't call a jazz guitar an 'axe' I call it a jazz box. Dig?