-[LESSON 3:  Putting It All Together]-

    "Putting it all Together" was my super-creative title to a solo written to put the information in the other two lessons into a practical format.  Licks are no good unless you can actually use them.

     A couple of performance notes: Although this song is primarily based in A Dorian Minor, I do bend the rules a bit.  The first spot is a descending octave lick.  It is just an odd way of descending chromatically.  The second has more of a theoretical base.  I do a Key change in the solo on the breaks where I go to D.  I am playing D mixolydian to start which is still the same patterns as A Dorian, but my root notes change.  Than half way through the breaks I switch to D minor pentatonic.  This is what Joe Satriani calls pitch axis.  Since I am playing power chords there is nothing stopping me from switching modes.  I play D5 to C5 back to D5.  This leaves a total of four modes available to me: Mixolydian, Aeolian, Dorian, and Phrygian.  If I have lost you than I recommend that you get the help of a good teacher for this is some pretty heavy music theory.  I only through it in there to add a little different flavor.

     There is an extended 16th note triplet run in this solo where I display all three concepts in one lick, Diagonal, Vertical, and Horizontal Motion.  I taught them separately, but in practice I wind my way in and out of these things to freely navigate the fretboard virtually endlessly.  Towards the end of the solo I use one of my signature licks that I showed you in "Evolution".  Keeping the other strings from ringing out while you play this lick can be a challenge, but once you get it down you should be able to rip this thing so fast you might melt your guitar.  Loads of fun.

Click to hear Putting It All Together.mp3

I hope you enjoyed the solo.  C'ya next time.

*Solo performed by Mike Theberge

-[Lessons Home]-    -[Previous Lesson]-