Guitar Study
Licking Up the Modes Fusion-style with Mike Salow
Instructor: Mike Salow
Total lessons in study:
In this study, Mike applies real-world licks to the 7 modes (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, and Locrian).
1. Licks with the Ionian scale
Hi guys!
This tutorial is the first of seven tutorials that will be covered throughout the year.
We'll be going through each mode one at a time starting with our first mode, Ionian.
Each mode we cover will be relative to the key of C Major. C Ionian (major), D Dorian, E Phrygian, F Lydian, G Mixolydian, A Aeolian (...Read More
IONIAN!!!
So as I said earlier all of these licks will be in C Ionian (major).
Within a C Maj7 chord we have various target notes, tensions we can add, and one 'void' note.
Below you will find the example chords that are played in the video from left to right we have C Maj7, C Maj9, and C Maj13 (8th fret C).
&nb...Read More
Here is the demo where I demonstrate all the licks over the backing track.Read More
This first lick starts off with a C Major triad with a added 4 that resolves to the 3.
It then moves to some string skipping intervallic jumps.
Pay attention to the tab to see how it is picked. Read More
Lick 2 starts with some string skipping 6th intervals and then moves into A min7 land.
The string skipping at the beggining can be hybrid picked but also works with an upstroke. Read More
We're hitting some more advanced territory with this 3rd lick.
It is specifically designed to utilize your middle and ring finger for hybrid picking.
Pay attention to the triplets that take place. Phrasing on this one can be tricky.Read More
This lick is kind of in the style of Brett Garsed. There is a lot of legato happening here.
This whole lick is 16th note triplets, except for a short 16 note and 32 note chromatic run near the end.Read More
This one is fast! A lot sweeping and economy type picking happening so pay attention to the tab.
It's all 32nd notes so take your time and slowly work it up to tempo. Read More
Here is the backing track. Enjoy and practice hard!Read More
2. Licks with the Dorian scale
DORIAN!!!
Dorian is our second mode. If we were to stay in the key of C major we would have chosen to do D dorian, but I decided it would be more beneficial to use parallel modes. This means that we'll be using the same starting note while changing the rest of the notes to fit each mode. This helps to really see the differ...Read More
OK! So I've included a lot of usful info in this one. It just so happens that dorian really doesn't have any void notes. This makes it really easy to imrpovise in a dorian situation, if you know the scale in all positions you really can't go wrong. BUT, playing randomly in a scale doesn't always sound the best so we need to...Read More
When I wrote this lick I was thinking about large interval jumps so it starts with some minor 6ths. This lick is self explainitory but the last short bend is really what needs attention. Make sure to get the phrasing correct for that bend.Read More
Here is the first 16th note run. I use licks like this a lot. I bassically just travel down the dorian scale in this specific pattern (a pattern that I use a lot). There is a blues note added in this but otherwise it's only dorian notes. That minor blues note really helps show that this lick is a dorian lick. Read More
This 16th note run starts off very similar to lick 2. This pattern is something I do a lot and it bound to show itself in my licks. This lick has three different patterns happening that need close attention. It starts with a scale run (that I do a lot) into a short sweep and then into an arpeggio that escends four notes at ...Read More
This lick is a 16th note run kind of inspired by Tom Quayle's playing. Starts off with a scale run and uses some Cm pentatonic ideas into an Am7b5 arpeggio. Feel free to end this lick however you'd like. I chose to hit a few pentatonic notes using quarter notes but there are many ways to end this lick.Read More
Here's another 16th note run that ascends in groupings of four notes. Each set of four is a different arpeggio. Pay attention to the notation / tab for this lick. I do a lot of hybrid picking in this lick and that is marked in the notation (not the tab) with a 'm' and an 'a'. (m = middle finger picking hand) (a = 3rd finger...Read More
Here is a demonstration of each lick with a little buit of improv involved. Adding simple bluesy endings to your licks can help to connect your ideas. Read More
This backing track is a basic C dorian vamp. Practice each lick over this track and work on cennecting your ideas. A good way to do this is to have multiple ways of ending licks. Sometimes a few simple bluesy endings work well.Read More
3. Licks with the Phrygian scale
Licking Up the Modes is back!!!
This month we discuss Phrygian!
Phrygian is slightly different than the rest of the modes in the fact that we have no available extensions (otherwise known as 'void' tones).
This means we are basically stuck with our root, b3, 5, and b7 when building chord voicings.
Although we can'...Read More
So our first lick is a 16th note run. The tempo I'm working with is 105bpm so these 16ths are a little slower.
Note that this lick does not start on a down beat but rather on the 'a' of 2. (1 -e -& - a - 2 - e - & - a - 3 - e - etc...)
Also make sure to follow the tab closely to get all of the right hand pic...Read More
The second lick is somewhat similar to the first lick except this time we are starting on the 'e' of 1 (1 - e - & - a - 2 - e- & - a - 3 - e - etc...).
It is also a 16th note run just liike the first one. Also note that this lick does not end on a down beat so it may be a little tricky.Read More
Alright, this is our first lick utilizing 16th note triplets. This one, like the others, is using a lot of different techniques like sliding, legato, and string skipping (sort of).
Pay close attention to the phrasing and work this one up to speed. Start slow! Read More
Another 16th note triplet run!
This one also using some different triad shapes but rolls off the fingers nicely once worked up to speed!Read More
So our final lick utilizing some 'Frank Gambale' style sweeping.
If you've checked out last months tutorial you should have a head start at this lick.
Pay close attention to the tab and work on getting the right and left hand synced up. Read More
Save
Complete
25. Licking Up the Modes: Phrygian - Outro / Demonstration
Improvising
Fusion
Advanced
Alright guys! Have fun with these licks!
Remember to start slow and work your way up to speed. There's no rush!
Phrasing is key! :)
Until next time, farewell!Read More
This backing track is a C Phrygian vamp.
Chords are Cm7 - Dbmaj7#11 in a loop. Read More
4. Licks with the Lydian scale
LICK #1
This lick uses two arpeggios that accentuate different tensions within Lydian.
The first is an Emin9 arp which includes the 3 - 5 - 7 - 9 - #11.
The second arp is a Gmaj7 arp which includes the 5 - 7 - 9 - #11.
As you can see, they are basically the same arpeggio. It just depends on how you look at it (which is ...Read More
It's back!!!
'Licking Up the Modes' has shown itself once again! Finally moving onto Lydian!
Like the rest of the licking up the modes series, we'll be using C as our starting note so as to see the differences in each mode. (Parallel modes)
C Lydian is constructed as follows:
1 - C
2 - D
3 - E
#4 - F#
5 - G
6...Read More
LICK #2
This lick is another that utilizes a couple arpeggios within C Lydian to accentuate various tensions.
The first arpeggio is a Cmaj9, which is comprised of scale degrees 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 - 9
Obviously this arpeggio is outlining the tonic chord, which is never a bad choice.
The second arpeggio is a Bm7 arpeggio, whic...Read More
LICK #3
Onto a triplet lick!
Again we will use the Cmaj9 arpeggio but this time we'll be using a slightly different shape, still in the same area of the neck.
This lick uses some intervallic ideas within the middle of the lick and ends with an F#min7b5 arp into an Em9 arp.
The tensions brought out by the F#min7b5 arp ar...Read More
LICK #4
Our final lick is played using 16th note triplets and is substantially more difficult than the rest.
It's kind of in the style of Brett Garsed or Tom Quayle and utilizes more of the scale shapes, rather than various arpeggios like the other licks.
Follow the tab closely on this one and play through it very slowly...Read More
Now it's time to practice the licks to a backing track. Have fun!Read More
5. Licks with the Mixolydian scale
Hi guys!
Again, we will continue with the 'Licking Up the Modes' series.
We are now on to the 5th mode, otherwise known as Mixolydian or Mixo for short.
Mixolydian is based of the 5th degree of a major scale and contains the following scale degrees:
Major (Ionain): 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7
Mixolydian: 1 - 2 - 3 ...Read More
This first lick uses notes only out of the C mixolydian scale.
It starts with a C7 arpeggio decending from the 3rd which moves into an Em7b5 arpeggio.
The C7 arp includes all the essential chord tone while the Em7b5 excludes the root and utilizes the 9th as well as the 3, 5 and 7.
There is a little bit of sweep/eco...Read More
In lick number two you can start hearing the country flare that I threw in there. Licks 3 and 4 will also have more of a country vibe.
I will admit, I did not stick to strictly notes from mixoloydian in this one. The same goes for the next two licks.
I've utilzed a chromatic and the blues note, out of C major blues, to sp...Read More
Lick three is a typical country lick. Players lick Brad Paisley, Johnny Hiland, and others use this same type of idea.
It's basically playing 3rd intervals on the G and B strings. They descend diatonically through C mixolyidan, starting on C major.
Pay attention to the tab. The 'ma' means you'll use both your 2nd an...Read More
The final lick utilizes even more notes that are not within mixolydian.
Specifically notes out of the C minor blues scale.
This is common for country and blues. It helps with the ambiguity that exists within the 12 bar blues progression by incorporating the major 3rd within the minor pentatonic scale.
Again, pay atten...Read More
Now, it's time to apply these licks and ideas to the backing track. Have fun!Read More