LOTW #5: Tapping in D Mixolydian
Posted by ericvandenberg on January 25, 2008
This week, I’d like to a lick in the key of D Mixolydian, using an approach I use quite a lot in my own playing (a trademark?). I am talking about the combination of longer notes (the tapped ones) and fast flurries of notes in between, instead of playing all sixtuplets or whatever.
That way, it makes both the tapped notes (which can be used to create a little melody on top) and the speedy aspect (the “bursts” played with the left) stand out more. I remember reading an interview with Blues Saraceno after he had released “Plaid” (awesome album, and very tasteful playing) and he said “If you use fast playing, then make it stand out. If its just one long blur of notes, it gets kinda boring, tiring. Make it stand out, and it does stand out more in between slower parts.”
This is what this kinda lick is based on, and I use it quite a bit. The notes imply D Mixolydian (D major until the C is being tapped), and I like the major third interval between the first and second l.h. note. The tapped note keeps changing, and you get some big intervals (such as the octave between the lowest note and the tapped high D).
As usual, experiment and try to use this kinda lick in your playing!
And here is a soundfile of a variation of the above example
