Lick of the Day: Open-voiced Arpeggio Etude by Steve Morse

Today's lick is an open-voiced arpeggio etude that combines string-skipping and alternate-picking techniques to outline a four-chord progression while moving down the neck.

I start out by using my index and ring fingers to fret the notes B (D string, ninth fret) and F♯ (G string, 11th fret), respectively. I then skip over the B string to grab the D note on the high E string's 10th fret with my middle finger before descending the A major scale over the next five notes, finishing the motif for the first chord (Bm) at the end of beat two. The remaining arpeggios are played similarly by shifting down the neck for each new chord and repeating the arpeggio pattern and scale run. The fret positions and fingerings vary slightly to account for the individual diatonic chord voicings.

The way I pick through this lick is consistent with my personal rule of alternate picking, with downstrokes on downbeats and upstrokes on the second and fourth 16th notes of each beat. However, the wide-interval leap between the G and high E string in each arpeggio presents a challenge, as it may feel awkward to perform an upstroke on the G string prior to a string skip in the opposite direction. When playing this lick, if strict alternate picking does not fit your personal style, try "sweeping" through the arpeggio by using two consecutive downstrokes in place of alternate picking. Similarly, you could use legato pull-offs where desired as you move down the scale run following each arpeggio. This lick is not about building monster picking chops as much as it is about learning how to perform the arpeggios within your own unique style of playing.

The tempo is 125 beats per minute, 80 for slow practice.

[sunnys]

No one can duplicate this mans technique. Morse is truly a legend.

[PopTodd]

Met this guy back in 1986 when I was 16, at a NAMM show in Chicago.
He was incredibly nice and generous with his time -- more than he needed to be.
And, you hear that metronome? That was his piece of advice to this neophyte guitarist -- always practice with a metronome!
Great advice.

Steve, if you see this: thanks so much for being so cool to me when I was a kid.
I'm still playing.

[MattHoyle]

Yes, @PopTodd, to me Steve's attitude and generosity are as much a reason to be a fan as his awesome musicianship...

[jspartacus]

He-man alternate picking.  None of that weak sweep picking for Steve.

[rld]

Great stuff! The classical training pays off, making you the top notch guitarist that you are. I saw DP in Maine in October, 2019, my husband's, birthday present to me. I'm a NY transplant, so I was thrilled that you were up here. You guys are all virtuosos and are all simply amazing. I'm a keys/organ/synth player, also classically trained, but now play only rock with my saxophonist husband. I enjoyed one of your lessons where you discuss how you are mindful of what Don is doing. :) Thank you for your great work, which is helping me get through this pandemic. I walk on my treadmill to DP every day. Thank you!!

[DarkVelizar]

All bow down to Steve Morse! Thank you for this!

[microsmart]

Sounds like 'The Well-Dressed Guitar'. I always thought that was a song made out from a exercise idea but it's so good. Love Morse era Deep Purple stuffs. Very underrated!

[wonnie]

.. Steve Morse... the man with the best alternate picking technique.

[ErolR]

his tone might not be something on this video, but check his other stuff and then you'll see how wrong your statement was. steve really is one of the best pickers in he business.

[VlogsNiKuyang]

His picking technique is the best one…look how he hold the pick and how he moves his pick hand

[Infmda]

I love when he says you can sweep pick and use pull offs to play the riff if you don't have monstrous picking chops. Actually, that's how the mortals would play it!!!

[ProgressiveGuitarist]

@sixstringfretter
Definitely a Music Man. Steve Mourse is a bawwss

[mck]

Always love Steve's playing-But I miss his Tele/Strat hybrid!

[wonnie]

@sixstringfretter If you're still curious...
Bottom toggle: up - Slant single only ; mid - add slant single to any combo ; down - bypass
Blade switch: down - bridge ; mid - neck ; up - unslanted single
Top toggle: down - bypass ; up - add bridge to any combo

[shellslug]

thats the first musicman ive ever seen with wear marks in amazing

[stevensteven]

I use a classical approach. P I for the first two notes, Then alternating M I. Got a Jeff Beck fingering feel and sound on electric.

[injairgun]

Steve is playing his signature model from Musicman Ironically called the Steve Morse model lol. The pickups are: HSSH - DiMarzio (neck to bridge); Humbucking - DP-205 Morse Signature; Single coil - DP-108 Vintage; Single coil - Proprietary custom wound; Humbucking - DP-200 Morse Signature

[sixstringfretter]

@XAlphaZEROX Yeah, I researched it myself as well. Thanks for the info though. In my research, I found out how much this guy actually does. I just thought he was Ritchie Blackmoore's replacement in Deep Purple. Wow, this guy is all over the friggin' map! Country, blues, classical...you name it. I have a much deeper respect now of Steve. I watched him playing Bach Third Brandenburg on a accoustic. He's got it.

[alchemi]

Steve Morse is a sharp shooter picker.

[Hawkins]

@sixstringfretter it is a musicman, my teacher has the same guitar, it is very cool