Master rock
licks your
way.
You're playing the same three rock licks you learned years ago. You know some scale shapes, but you don't know how to combine them. Your improvisations sound like copies, not your own voice.
That's not a talent problem. It's a vocabulary problem.
One-time purchase. Lifetime access. 30-day guarantee.
Watch: Introduction to Rock Guitar Lick Lab
You know
the shapes.
You don't know the toolkit.
Most rock courses teach you what to play — the shapes, the licks, the patterns. But learning shapes isn't the same as building a vocabulary of ideas you can recombine endlessly.
Real rock playing is about having a toolkit of devices — bending, sliding, repetition, call-and-response, rhythmic feel — that you can combine to create your own voice.
That's the gap between "I can play some rock licks" and "I sound like a rock player with my own style."
Every rock player feels this…
Playing the same three licks over and over
Not knowing how to expand beyond memorised solos
Struggling to improvise in different styles and tempos
Wanting to sound like yourself, not a copy of your heroes
"Why do all my solos feel so repetitive and small?"
What if you built a real toolkit from the start?
What if every lesson taught you the building blocks that rock players use to create endless variations on a handful of core ideas?
ten ways
to use it.
This course teaches rock guitar the way working rock players actually think about it — as a toolkit of devices, not a catalogue of licks.
You'll learn core building blocks like repetition, call and response, bending, and sliding — the devices that great rock players use to create endlessly different solos from a small set of shapes.
Every technique you learn has immediate, practical application. No filler. No memorisation. Just the essentials, taught clearly, so you can go from stuck to creative.
What's Inside
Everything you need to build a real rock vocabulary. Nothing you don't.
20+ Video Lessons
Focused lessons on rock techniques, lick building, scale shapes, and the 5 core hacks. 2–5 minutes each, clear and immediately usable.
Transcribed Licks & Solos
Study the exact licks and solos from the lessons. PDF tabs and chord charts included so you can follow along and understand how they work.
Backing Tracks
Practice-along backing tracks in different rock styles and tempos. Take what you've learned and apply it immediately.
Practice Guides
Step-by-step guides for each module. Know exactly what to work on and how to approach it so nothing feels overwhelming.
Downloadable Resources
Scale sheets, device reference guides, and lick building templates — download once and keep forever.
Lifetime Updates
New lessons, resources, and improvements are added over time. You own the course and get all updates free.
Plus Two Bonus Courses
Chopbuilder Video Course
Build picking speed and clean technique with focused exercises on muting, legato, noise-free bending, and vibrato. Develop the physical foundation to play with confidence and control.
Rock Jam Session Play-Along
Real-world rock backing tracks so you can jam with confidence. Test everything you've learned in a realistic band context.
What You'll Learn
A structured path from "I know some shapes" to "I can create rock solos with my own voice."
Module 1: Essential Scale Shapes & Skills
Master the four essential scale shapes every rock guitarist needs. Learn how to move them seamlessly across the fretboard and transpose licks into any key.
- Four essential scale shapes
- How to change the key of any scale shape
- How to move any lick into any key
Module 2: Build Your Lick Library
26 power-packed licks organized by style and technique. Learn blues rock licks, rapid-fire repeating patterns, alternate picked techniques, sliding licks, and sequence & stretch ideas — all with backing tracks and tabs.
- Essential blues rock power licks
- Rapid fire repeating licks
- Hot alternate picked licks
- Sliding licks for dynamic solos
- Sequence & stretch combinations
- Multiple backing tracks per lesson
Module 3: Game-Changing Practice Hacks
The proven techniques to take what you've learned and put it directly into your playing. Learn five core hacks that working rock players use to create endless solos from a handful of licks.
- The 'Get In Get Out' hack
- Snapping Chunks (part 1 & 2)
- The 'Chunk Sandwich' hack
- The 'Strip It Down' hack
- How to combine them all together
Bonus: Chopbuilder Video Course
Build picking speed and clean technique with focused exercises on muting, legato, noise-free bending, and vibrato. Develop the physical foundation to play with confidence and control.
- Picking speed and alternate picking
- Clean muting techniques
- Legato playing
- Noise-free bending
- Vibrato control
What Rock Lick Lab Students Say
Rock players from around the world, already expanding their vocabulary.
"This course has been a game changer for me. I now have a much bigger vocabulary of techniques and devices I can use. Highly recommended."
Paul Bosma — Netherlands
"Excellent course. The way it's structured is perfect — going from essential shapes through to building your own style. Finally feeling creative on the guitar."
Gary Van Rensburg — New Zealand
"Finally, a rock course that focuses on what you actually need. No fluff, just practical techniques I can use immediately."
Ray Gallagher — USA
"I've taken a lot of guitar courses, but this one finally clicked. I can improvise rock solos now. The approach of building a toolkit instead of memorising licks — that's the breakthrough I was looking for."
John Martin — UK
Before & After Rock Lick Lab
- 01 Playing the same three rock licks repeatedly
- 02 No idea how to expand beyond what you've memorised
- 03 Improvising in a narrow style — can't adapt to different songs
- 04 Sounding like a copy, not developing your own voice
- 01 A toolkit of devices you combine endlessly
- 02 Creating your own licks, not copying others
- 03 Playing with confidence across different rock styles
- 04 Developing your own voice and personality on guitar
30,000+ Hours
of Teaching Experience
James Shipway
Rock Guitarist, Teacher & Author of 17+ Guitar Books
I've taught rock guitar to thousands of players, and I've seen the same frustration come up again and again: "I want to create my own solos, not just copy what I've heard."
That gap — between playing licks and building a personal vocabulary — is what this course is built to close. I teach the toolkit approach: a small set of techniques that combine to create endless variations.
I'm the author of 17+ guitar books under the Headstock Books imprint, but my real credential is thousands of hours teaching guitarists just like you — helping them breakthrough from "stuck in one style" to "a real rock player with a voice."
100% Risk-Free — Full Money Back
Work through the course. If it's not for you, you get a full refund — no questions asked. Your satisfaction is the only thing that matters.
Get Started
Lifetime access • No subscription
Enroll Now- 20+ video lessons
- 5 core rock hacks
- Transcribed licks, tabs & backing tracks
- Chopbuilder bonus + jam session
- Lifetime access & updates
- 30-day guarantee
All TGL courses included
or $20/month — click "What's this?" to see all plans
Join Membership- This course
- Blues & pentatonic courses
- All other TGL courses
- TGL Backstage community
- New courses added free
Course Details
Who is this course for?
Rock Lick Lab is for electric rock guitarists who know basic scale shapes and want to go from "playing rock licks" to "having a real toolkit of techniques." Ideal if you're intermediate and want to develop your own voice across different rock styles.
Do I need to read music?
No. Tabs and chord charts are included. The course is taught visually on the guitar, so you don't need to read standard notation.
How long does it take to complete?
The lessons total about 2–3 hours, but that's just content delivery. Real learning happens in practice. Most players spend 4–8 weeks working through the material deeply, practicing the backing tracks, and building their toolkit.
Can I access it forever?
Yes. One-time purchase means you own the course forever. New lessons and updates are added over time, and you get them all free.
What if I don't like it?
30-day money-back guarantee. Work through the course. If it's not right for you, full refund — no questions.
Rock-Specific Questions
Will this work for different rock styles?
Yes. The toolkit approach works across hard rock, blues rock, classic rock, modern rock, and more. Once you have the devices, you can apply them to any rock style. The backing tracks cover multiple styles so you can practice.
Do I need theory to take this course?
No. The course teaches you what you need to know to build rock solos. Theory is explained in practical, musical terms — not as academic study.
Do I need fast picking technique?
Not to start. The course teaches you the devices first, and the Chopbuilder bonus course helps build picking speed if you want it. Speed follows naturally when you practise with purpose.
About Access & Updates
Where do I access the course?
After purchase, you'll get instant access to the full course on the Total Guitar Lab platform. You can watch on any device — phone, tablet, or desktop.
Can I download the videos?
The videos are available to stream on the platform. PDFs (tabs, guides, scales, device templates) can be downloaded and kept forever.
Will the course get updated?
Yes. New lessons and resources are added over time based on member feedback and questions. All updates are included in your one-time purchase.
Ready to build
your toolkit?
Build a vocabulary. Play with voice. Own your rock sound.
$97 one-time. 30-day money-back guarantee.
$97 one-time. 30-day money-back guarantee. No subscription. Yours forever.
What's TGL Membership?
All-Access Guitar Education
TGL Membership gives you instant access to our complete library of 30+ courses covering blues, rock, theory, fretboard mastery, and technique — all for one price.
What You Get:
- check_circle 30+ courses — Blues, rock, theory, fretboard, technique and more
- check_circle Study Plans — Clear paths for every level and goal
- check_circle The Guitar Clinic — Focused technique lessons
- check_circle TGL Backstage — Members-only community
- check_circle Direct access to James — He replies to your questions
- check_circle New courses monthly — Added free to your membership
How It Works:
Start with these courses to master your skills, then explore other paths. You own your learning journey.
Choose Your Plan:
Monthly
$20/mo
Cancel anytime
BEST VALUE
6 Months
$109/6mo
$18.17/mo
No auto-renewal
Annual
$199/yr
$16.58/mo
All plans include a 30-day free trial. Cancel anytime, no lock-in.