Licking Up the Modes: Mixolydian

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Instructor: Mike Salow Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Country

Excerpt: 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 - 4 - 5 - 6 - b7 With C as are roo...

Media Length: 1:01

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Instructor: Mike Salow Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Country

Excerpt: 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/economy picking things happening here ...

Media Length: 1:18

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Instructor: Mike Salow Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Country

Excerpt: 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 spice it up a little bit. Pay attent...

Media Length: 2:06

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Instructor: Mike Salow Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Country

Excerpt: 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 and 3rd fingers to hybrid pick the do...

Media Length: 1:30

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Instructor: Mike Salow Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Country

Excerpt: 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 attention to the double stops. They are ...

Media Length: 2:22

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Instructor: Mike Salow Level: Intermediate Topic: Improvising Style: Country

Excerpt: Now, it's time to apply these licks and ideas to the backing track. Have fun!

Media Length: 3:34