Mixolydian Bluesification...
It's Not Just For Bluesers...
While this might seem like it's just for blues players, blues is such an integral part of classic rock that they often go together. For this example, you'll see that the discussion relates to "bluesifying" the mixolydian mode, while the demonstration is a more classic rock style example.
Downloads
The Video (MP4)This video in MP4 format
- The Video (WMV)
This video in WMV format
The Mixolydian Bluesification TABThis is the TAB for the Mixolydian scale with the b3 in case you need to see it.
- Modes and Blues Soloing Cheatsheet
This chart is a good place to start getting those creative juices flowing!
Today's Jam TrackHere's the jam track I used in the video - download this to play along.
60 Comments
Phil
July 17, 2017These last 3 videos of yours have been real eye-openers! You have managed to crystallise a lot of understanding in just a few minutes. Just one of the reasons that I’m glad to be a BGUer!
Stewart
July 17, 2017Thanks Griff. Your insights and explanations are enormously valuable. So much to learn. so little time. Your info-bombs are amazingly helpful. Thank you for sharing.Love your work. Cheers. Stewart
cowboy
July 17, 2017super video…great explanation…really appreciate the “cheatsheet” PFD…it is making me rethink my options…later.
cowboy
Ken
July 17, 2017Great info, as always! Thanks Griff. Listening to the jam track… I thought I was listening to K Wayne Shepard, Blue on Black.
I am once again inspired to pick up my guitar.
Griff
July 17, 2017Yes, that’s another great example of this chord progression. It’s everywhere.
Joe
August 4, 2023WOW! GREAT !
I need more of this..
Jeremy
July 17, 2017Wow, this is so cool – as in old school – and new! Very nice demonstration of a complex musical sound/idea, as I’ve been wandering around blind looking at how to find or repeat this sound for quite a while. As well as the correct sequence of fundamentals and connected topics, I really love the little nuggets you give in your videos like, ‘it’s hardly ever a whole lot of One Thing’ – Truly Classic! And so true! Some of these more complex ideas I thought just couldn’t be taught quickly, especially online. I was so wrong. Keep smacking it out of the park Grif
Mark a Wales uk
July 17, 2017Cheers Griff
For the lesson so much information in this and the last two I have tried to get my head around modes mostly from books but it never sinks in
Or I could not understand
You have managed to break that down for me so it’s understandable just need to remember all the modes and then noodle away
Thanks Griff your the best tutor I’ve come across on the net that’s why I’m into my 3rd year as a student with you
Thanks again 😎🎶
wesley oakes
July 17, 2017I’m 63. I love the way you teach. my hands don’t work as well as they used too. but not giving up. I don’t have the dexterity I used to. it is getting better. but it’s a slow go. I practice a lot and every body tells me I’m doing good for playing for only 6 months . if you have any tips to help.
Steven Daniels
July 12, 2021I’m with you Wesley. At 65 lovin’ all the tips and tricks every day. Thanks again Griff. BGU beginner
Tony
July 17, 2017Awesome video.. really great info…more like this please…
Pat B
July 17, 2017Lotta lotta information in these 3 videos. There goes the slide course to the back burner….. again.
I heard some favorite sounds….. Marshall Tucker , Allman Bros. among others that I can’t readily identify.
I like “It’s hardly ever a whole lot of one thing.”
Seriously interesting.
Pat
Brian
July 17, 2017Great lesson series, it’s like the french they have a different word for everything. old steve martin joke. Anyhow, where does natural minor scale fit into modes?
MIdnight
July 17, 2017Wow Griff. Thanks so much. Excellent lesson absolutely full to the brim with information. Your energy level is up and the enthusiasm shows, which creates excitement for the student.
I haven’t tried any of the modes yet and would like to start on the *best one to start with for greatest effect*, the biggest bang for the buck. Which one would that one be for you?
Midnight
dq
July 17, 2017Hey Griff, just wanted to say thanks for your high quality lessons you do for us and the tabs and jamtracks that go along with them. I saw where you are playing at The Mammoth Festival this year and opening for Vintage Trouble! Congrats on that and I wish I could be there to experience a great day of blues, brews, soul and funk!
Rockanore
July 17, 2017Griff, the three lessons this week have been inspirational. Thank you. You are a brilliant teacher.
JT
July 17, 2017Thanks Griff. Really good lesson. Keep up the good work!
Levente
July 17, 2017I usually do not comment on anything, but for this one, I cannot help it! Thank you! You managed to explain modes and how they blend into each other and all, that for the first time, I enjoyed noodleing on the guitar! Thanks and keep up the spirit!
Best regards from Budapest,
Levente
Jeremy Foisy
July 17, 2017Griff. Im amazed with your ability to make things make sense. Ive looked around alot at online guitar instruction and have to say, without a doubt, you are the best teacher Ive found!! You are awesome! Thank you!!
Duke
July 17, 2017Griff, What do YOU like over the 4 chord? Thanks!
Bret
July 18, 2017This modal series has just simply been fantastic! Thanks for sharing….really opening up all kinds of possibilities…simply put…WOW!
Julian Swistak
July 18, 2017I have been trying to learn modes like mixolydian by what theory and guitar I learned when I was a kid. I can play the D mix at the seventh fret. The G root is the second string eighth fret. The G major chord is a full D shape. So I play D mixolydian using a G major scale but starting and focusing more on the D notes of the scale. And now you throw in the flatted third (F and then F#) and major third to get that blues feel. The G scale doesn’t have a C# so there is the flatted 7th. So this is cool- In that 7th fret position you don’t have to move anywhere?!! A song that this works well with is “That’s What Love Will Make You Do” by Jerry Garcia. Whoops that song is in the key of C- so move that D mixolydian down two frets to C mixolydian- using F major scale at the 5th fret.
A cool modes intro is done by JJ Cale at Crossroads for his 12 bar intro to “Call Me the Breeze” over the E chord. I bet that is Dorian or Phryrigian (C scale). Remember the Circle of 5ths diagram from music theory??? This all relates! Thank you for showing the D mixolydian inside the D minor blues Box One. With a little practice you can stay in and around Box 1 and hit some cool- and colorful notes.
Mick
July 18, 2017Griff,
Great intro series to a topic I had heard of before but never quite “got”. The nerd side of me is always wanting to know the “how” and “why” to unravel the mysteries of the daunting fretboard. 5 years into the rabbit hole with great insights like this has made the journey enjoyable. I think I’ll watch this a few more times through and start the noodle sessions to really let it sink into the earholes 🙂
Keep up the great work Griff
-Mick
JDominique
July 18, 2017Hi Griff, Cud-dos for trying to get out of the box. This is the hallmark of a true master. This video makes things so much more interesting and fun.I hope some day you will be able to incorporate some latin blues …T he bluesy myxolidian did not sound too good at first, but when you played it a t the end of the video, I enojyed it more .AS always, great job..
Terry
July 18, 2017Yes I agree very very great lessons and came right at the right time. Thks.
Rick
July 18, 2017After taking the unleashed course and “theory made useful” I have played with the pentatonic for a couple of years now. To be honest I was getting a little “pentatoniced out” . It just was getting repetitive. This should keep me busy for a while. Once again thanks Griff!
Michael Chappell
July 18, 2017Hey Griff, A really awesome lesson that even an advanced beginner like me can enjoy and understand. I have downloaded everything for later in my progress.
Michael-Sydney-Australia July 2017
ScottyR
July 18, 2017I really enjoyed playing 4-5 different scale patterns over your jam track. Loved all the different sounds.
This is great Griff, I’m looking forward to seeing where you take us with this…
Eric Mitchell
July 18, 2017Hey Griff, I love these modes lessons. I think have always been a theory junkie. I am also frustrated with guitar withdrawal. I traveling in Europe without a guitar for 5 weeks. I have so much catching up to do when I get back. Thank you so much.
Albert Leeshue
July 18, 2017I still figuring out the modes and along the way discovered the e run. Also finally understood the degrees in chords relates to them where u start and where the chord falls. Also figured out the formation such as c shape in a and just understood how to make melodies out of the modes and combine them with open chords to make licks. I just on the first video
Jim Edwards
July 19, 2017Wow, this was great. Many years I’ve been wondering how Dickie Betts of the Allman Bros. Got that meloddic fluid lead sound that seemed to never end.
Now I know. Thanks a million.
same as email
July 19, 2017dominant minor V video do not work .
as ref,………..
JohnnyB
July 19, 2017Damn these are good lessons. NOW all we need is the same info for the II-V-I jazz progression, and we appear to already have two of those. How about it Griff — what to play over the II?
Chuck
July 20, 2017Hey Griff –
Great stuff. This is by far the best presentation of modes I have seen, and I’ve seen quite a few in my 40+ years of noodling around on my guitar. So I tried to apply some of your rules to “Happy Man” by Chicago. There’s a C, E minor, A minor, D7, Bb minor7, A minor7, and G — so far, so good — Key of G, right? Then they throw in an E MAJOR, E7+9, and E7-9. What’s up with that??? What do you play over the major E chords?
Great job, keep it up! Thanks!
Robert Wood
July 20, 2017Have been playing guitar for over 50 years and this series of videos has been the most concise explanation of modes for pop/rock/blues guitar playing I’ve ever seen or heard. Well done! Keep up the good work.
Daniel
July 22, 2017Theory is important and useful
Whiff
July 22, 2017I wish I could make it look as easy as you do . Amazing thank you
Bert Bennett
July 24, 2017I’ve been trying to order the Modes course but your order page is messed up. It shows total $146 and no place to enter a promo code. I sent Annette some emails about this.
Art Martinez
July 25, 2017At 19:00 minutes into the video when you call out the mode or pentatonic you are going to use I fully understood the concept. I am a very visual and hands on person so this was a great lesson / explanation. Thank you
TA Ratko
July 25, 2017Griff:
It’s uncanny. When listening to your demonstration I hear, very distinctly, the late Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown. Or, am I just hearing things? Thank you, these videos have been fantastic.
https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=ymyy-t-999&p=clarence+gatemouth+brown+youtube#id=6&vid=3a69e81b69382e9f6b541100eb1c7b50&action=click
Lennie
May 11, 2018Another awesome lesson Griff. That really provides a lot of different options for soloing!
Kevi
February 15, 2019Very well done. I have been looking to expand lead options and this fits in perfectly. You give the forms and include the reason why things like the flatted 3rd are important. Finally you take the time to give the tab and backing track.
You are good my friend. Thanks
Kevin O'Sullivan
February 16, 2019Just to add to the chorus of enthusiasts who have learnt a lot from your recent videos about music theory.
I’ve been enthralled by all of it.
Great job Griff
Thank you
Robert
February 16, 2019Excellent info, thanks Griff!
Bob
February 16, 2019Excellent, great presentation. Really enjoy your teachings!
Thank you!
Rod Winterhalder
March 12, 2019Hi Griff, another great lesson. Your playing with the jam track really reminded me of “hey mr. fantasy”. Is that “modal” playing?
Rich Zaia
March 25, 2019OVERWHELMING…Kinda assumes mastery of all the modes which just came to light a few days ago.. I’ll save it for when I’m more Mode savvy.
Andy
June 30, 2019wonderful, hugely informative set of videos (with the previous two) – thanks Griff.
Bill Milby
January 27, 2020I Have everything you’ve sent out over the last few years and periodically review them. Looking at the D mixolidiian why does the scale have a “C” and not a “C#”.
OBTW, I am a relatively new player and try to absorb as much of the theory I can. Thanks,, Griff
Dave Delisio
March 4, 2020Griff, all I can say is awesome! You have heiped me so much to understand modes and how they can be used! Opened a whole new way to add to my improvising!! Loved the jam track to practice with!
Dave
Tom Carpenter
March 13, 2020These three videos have had an incredible impact on this old wannabe guitar player. Messing around with the principles have helped me figure out most of the Rounders ‘God knows I’m tryin”
Ken M
April 30, 2020I love the Dorian and mixolidian modes . Lots of southern rock songs use these two and are easily
Used with minor pentatonic scales , really fun switching back and forth . Tks Griff , sometimes I get so wrapped up learning new songs I forget to
Experiment with modes .
Matthew Kretzer
June 16, 2020I’m curious which came first for you, study o the various scales and modes or just trying to play the cool sounds you heard?
I ask because I used to study flamenco guitar, and my teachers (many years ago) knew nothing about theory. They could name a few chords and notes and that’s about it. But they played wonderfully complex stuff. They learned it the same way they (tried) to teach it to me, just listen watch and imitate.
I love listening to you and watching , and you’ve taught me a bunch.
Jonesy
January 7, 2021Excellent trio of videos that have crystallised a lot of knowledge into understanding swiftly and concisely.
Thank you!
gregory K mansur
January 10, 2021Looking at your cheat sheet from yesterday on the ‘Greek’ modes, Mixolydian has the G string as 9-11-12. On today’s Mixolydian ‘Bluesification’ sheet the G string has the 9-10-11-12. I realize (9) is the ‘bluesification’ note but…I guess I’m confused. New question — Does the Mixolydian (or any Greek mode) hold the same note pattern regardless of what key the song is in? — WWH, WWWH, etc. Great lessons by the way. Glad I’m a customere.
Don
April 16, 2021Griff, all I can say is get lesson. You really help to demystify and fully explain this subject in terms non-theorists can understand. Thanks again
Bob Kizik
September 11, 2021A huge mashup of Marshall Tucker, Allman Brod, Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, etc. So much fun just watching and listening you jam with the different scales and modes over the same chord progression.
Thanks Griff!
Keith
June 8, 2022A really informative and energizing video. I’ve been looking for a way to move beyond major and minor pentatonic in playing blues.
Thanks for the introduction.
Chris
March 17, 2023Griff that was an excellent intro to modes, thank you.
Aussi Chris
Dave Flood
June 8, 2023Thanks very much. Just these 3 videos have opened a door and answered old questions which I had forgotten about.
This one of those “I wish I had know when I got my first guitar….”