15 '80s Shrapnel Shred Licks by Sam Bell

Master the Techniques That Defined the Golden Age of Shred Guitar

Step into the world of high-speed virtuoso guitar playing with 15 '80s Shrapnel Shred Licks by Sam Bell. Inspired by the legendary players who helped define the iconic Shrapnel Records sound, this course explores the technical and musical concepts that shaped an entire generation of guitarists. Featuring 15 expertly crafted licks, this lesson series is designed to develop your speed, precision, fretboard knowledge, and overall lead guitar vocabulary.

From blistering alternate picking and fluid legato runs to sweeping arpeggios, tapping sequences, and neoclassical-inspired phrases, each lick focuses on a specific aspect of advanced guitar playing while remaining highly musical and applicable to real-world solos. Whether you're looking to improve your technique, expand your improvisational language, or capture the essence of classic '80s shred guitar, this course provides an exciting and rewarding challenge.

Sequenced Alternate Picking Licks

Alternate picking remains one of the most important techniques in shred guitar, and these sequenced licks help build the synchronisation required for clean, articulate playing. By working through repeating note patterns across multiple strings, you'll improve picking accuracy, timing consistency, and fretboard navigation. These exercises also help develop endurance, allowing you to maintain speed without sacrificing clarity.

Ascending Speed Burst Picking Licks

Speed bursts are an excellent method for increasing picking speed while maintaining control. These ascending phrases introduce short explosions of fast notes that gradually train your hands to operate comfortably at higher tempos. Learning these licks helps bridge the gap between comfortable practice speeds and the demanding tempos often found in shred guitar solos.

Combination Picking Licks

These licks combine multiple picking approaches into a single phrase, requiring precise control and smooth transitions between techniques. By mastering combination picking ideas, you'll develop greater versatility and improve your ability to handle complex lead guitar passages that demand both speed and accuracy.

7th Arpeggio Sequences

Arpeggios are a cornerstone of advanced lead guitar playing, and this section explores sophisticated 7th arpeggio patterns commonly used by many of the great shred players. Understanding these sequences expands your harmonic vocabulary while helping you outline chord changes with greater musicality and sophistication during solos.

3 Note Per String Blues Scale Runs

The blues scale remains one of the most expressive sounds in guitar playing, and adapting it into three-note-per-string patterns opens up new possibilities for speed and fluidity. These runs combine classic blues phrasing with modern shred mechanics, allowing players to blend feel and technical proficiency in their lead work.

Melodic Sweep Picking Arpeggios

Sweep picking is often associated with speed, but melodic phrasing is equally important. These arpeggio-based ideas demonstrate how sweep picking can be used to create memorable musical lines rather than simply technical exercises. Developing this approach helps players incorporate sweeping into solos more naturally and effectively.

Neoclassical Pedal Point Sequence

Influenced by classical music and the legendary neoclassical guitar movement, these pedal point sequences combine repeated notes with moving scale patterns to create dramatic and exciting melodic ideas. Learning this style improves picking consistency while introducing one of the defining sounds of classic shred guitar.

16th Note Picking Sequence of Three

This challenging rhythmic concept groups notes in patterns of three while maintaining a continuous 16th-note pulse. Practising these sequences develops rhythmic awareness, picking precision, and the ability to create exciting rhythmic tension in your solos.

Fast Picking Run Using Octave Jumps

Large intervallic movements are a hallmark of many advanced guitar solos. These octave-jumping runs challenge both hands to remain coordinated while navigating the fretboard at speed. The result is a more dynamic and expressive lead style that stands out from traditional scale-based playing.

3 Note Per String Pentatonic Sequence

The pentatonic scale is a staple of rock guitar, but three-note-per-string fingerings allow for significantly greater speed and fluidity. These sequences modernise traditional pentatonic vocabulary and provide fresh ideas for fast lead guitar playing while retaining the familiar sound of the scale.

Fast Alternate Picking Licks

Focused purely on developing speed and control, these alternate picking lines challenge your technique while reinforcing proper picking mechanics. Regular practice of these phrases will improve articulation, stamina, and confidence when tackling demanding lead guitar passages.

Combining Legato & Picking Licks

Some of the most fluid shred lines blend picked notes with hammer-ons and pull-offs. These hybrid phrases teach you how to seamlessly combine both approaches, creating smoother runs that sound effortless while reducing unnecessary picking-hand tension.

String Skipping Pentatonic Tapping Licks

String skipping and tapping are a powerful combination for creating wide intervallic sounds and modern lead guitar phrases. These licks improve fretboard awareness, coordination, and tapping accuracy while introducing exciting melodic ideas that immediately stand out in a solo.

Fast Pentatonic Legato Licks

Legato playing allows guitarists to achieve incredible speed with a smooth, flowing sound. These pentatonic-based phrases focus on developing finger strength, efficiency, and note clarity while helping players create effortless-sounding lead lines.

3 Note Per String Pentatonic Licks

Rounding out the course, these licks further explore three-note-per-string pentatonic concepts, demonstrating how small changes in fingering and phrasing can unlock entirely new possibilities for improvisation and solo construction.

The Influence of the Shrapnel Guitar Heroes

The material in this course draws inspiration from the pioneering guitarists who helped establish Shrapnel Records as the home of virtuoso guitar playing during the 1980s. Players such as Paul Gilbert, Jason Becker, Marty Friedman, Vinnie Moore and Tony MacAlpine revolutionised guitar technique through their innovative approaches to alternate picking, sweep picking, legato, tapping, and advanced harmonic concepts. Sam Bell captures many of these signature sounds and techniques while presenting them in a structured and accessible format that modern players can immediately apply to their own playing.

Why Study 15 '80s Shrapnel Shred Licks?

This course is ideal for intermediate to advanced guitarists looking to improve speed, accuracy, phrasing, and fretboard knowledge. Each lick introduces a practical musical application of a specific shred technique, helping players develop not only technical ability but also a deeper understanding of how these concepts function in real solos. By studying all 15 licks, you'll build a comprehensive toolkit of classic shred vocabulary that can be used across rock, metal, fusion, and instrumental guitar styles.

Techniques Used Throughout This Course

• Alternate Picking
• Legato
• Arpeggios
• Sweep Picking
• Two Handed Tapping
• Hammer Ons
• Pull Offs
• Slides
• Chromaticism
• Octave Melodies