diff --git a/blues_solo.py b/blues_solo.py
index 0408e06..e8a1060 100644
--- a/blues_solo.py
+++ b/blues_solo.py
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
 
 import atexit
 import os
-from random import choice
+import random
+# from random import choice
 
 from psonic import *
 
@@ -17,11 +18,13 @@ def play_note(note, beats=1, bpm=60, amp=1):
     """Plays note for `beats` beats. Returns when done."""
     # `note` is this many half-steps higher than the sampled note
     half_steps = note - SAMPLE_NOTE
-    # An octave higher is twice the frequency. There are twelve half-steps per octave. Ergo,
+    # An octave higher is twice the frequency. There are twelve half-steps per
+    # octave. Ergo,
     # each half step is a twelth root of 2 (in equal temperament).
     rate = (2 ** (1 / 12)) ** half_steps
     assert os.path.exists(SAMPLE_FILE)
-    # Turn sample into an absolute path, since Sonic Pi is executing from a different working directory.
+    # Turn sample into an absolute path, since Sonic Pi is executing from a
+    # different working directory.
     sample(os.path.realpath(SAMPLE_FILE), rate=rate, amp=amp)
     sleep(beats * 60 / bpm)
 
@@ -33,10 +36,89 @@ def stop():
     msg = msg.build()
     synthServer.client.send(msg)
 
-atexit.register(stop)  # stop all tracks when the program exits normally or is interrupted
 
-# These are the piano key numbers for a 3-octave blues scale in A. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blues_scale
-blues_scale = [40, 43, 45, 46, 47, 50, 52, 55, 57, 58, 59, 62, 64, 67, 69, 70, 71, 74, 76]
+"""
+define a list of lengths for the following function to use.
+"""
+lengths = []
+curr_length = 0.1
+for i in range(11):
+    lengths.append(curr_length)
+    curr_length += 0.03
+    curr_length = round(curr_length, 3)
+
+
+def rand_lick():
+    """
+    function for making random licks.
+    randomizes note length and interval jump
+    """
+    num_notes = random.choice(range(5, 10))
+    notes = []
+    for i in range(num_notes):
+        interval = random.choice(range(-3, 3))
+        length = random.choice(lengths)
+        note = (interval, length)
+        notes.append(note)
+    return notes
+
+
+# stop all tracks when the program exits normally or is interrupted
+atexit.register(stop)
+
+# These are the piano key numbers for a 3-octave blues scale in A.
+# See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blues_scale
+blues_scale = [40, 43, 45, 46, 47, 50, 52, 55, 57, 58, 59, 62, 64, 67, 69, 70,
+               71, 74, 76]
 beats_per_minute = 45				# Let's make a slow blues solo
 
-play_note(blues_scale[0], beats=1, bpm=beats_per_minute)
+r_note = (1, 0.1)       # note in an ascending run lick
+r_note2 = (-1, 0.1)     # note in a descending run lick
+hold_note = (1, 0.3)    # held out note
+length = 0.15           # standard note length for regular licks
+curr_note = 0           # starting at curr_note of 0
+
+# pre define two types of lists. Regular swing and a fast run of notes.
+straight_lick = [[(1, length * 1.5), (3, length * 0.9), (2, length * 1.5), (-4, length * 0.9)], [(3, length * 1.5), (-2, length * 0.9), (-1, length * 1.5), (3, length * 0.9)]]
+run_lick = [[r_note, r_note, r_note, hold_note], [r_note2, r_note2, r_note2, hold_note]]
+
+# run through 8 licks
+for _ in range(8):
+    """
+    To change the frequency of different types of licks I pick a random numbers
+    in a range of 0-6 and depending on which number is picked a different list
+    of licks is selected from.
+
+    The default swing licks are the most common, random licks are less common,
+    and the "runs" are the least common.
+    """
+    check = random.choice(range(6))
+    if check == 4:
+        lick = random.choice(run_lick)
+        print('run')
+    elif check > 4:
+        lick = rand_lick()
+        # for each random lick start at a random spot not too extreme.
+        curr_note = random.choice(range(6, 12))
+        print('rand')
+    else:
+        lick = random.choice(straight_lick)
+        print('regular')
+
+    # loop through each note in the licks
+    for note in lick:
+        curr_note += note[0]
+        # print(curr_note)
+        # if curr note is out of index then pick a random note near the extreme
+        if curr_note > len(blues_scale)-1:
+            curr_note = random.choice(range(15, 19))
+
+        # if curr note is out of index then subtract short random interval
+        if curr_note < 0:
+            curr_note = random.choice(range(1, 6))
+
+        # if statement for making top and bottom of the scale longer notes
+        if curr_note == 0 or curr_note == 19:
+            play_note(blues_scale[curr_note], 1, beats_per_minute, 1)
+        else:
+            play_note(blues_scale[curr_note], note[1], beats_per_minute, 1)