TrueFire
Try For Free

30 Melodic Modal Rock Licks You MUST Know

Learn 30 Popular Modal Rock Licks

Marty FriedmanTommy EmmanuelSteve VaiEric GalesEric Johnson

Get this course and 1,000+ more with All Access

Try 14 days free. Cancel any time.

Purchase Individual Course for $9.99
30 Melodic Modal Rock Licks You MUST Know
Jon Finn

Jon Finn

Educator

rock, progressive rock, jazz rock

Genres

About this course

Don’t let the word “modal” in the title fool you. While all 30 of these licks were composed using a modal approach, they’re all really versatile, very melodic licks, which can be played over virtually any modern rock or pop groove right out of the box.

At the same time, as you work through Jon Finn’s collection of 30 Melodic Modal Rock Licks, you’ll acquire a higher understanding for how the modes work and you’ll learn how to target the tones that give each mode its characteristic sound.Jon organized the course into six sections, each containing 5 licks constructed from a particular mode in a variety of keys.

 ”We’ll start out with 5 licks illustrating the good vibes and bright tonal qualities of Lydian. I’ll show you 5 Ionian licks that also convey a very uplifting, melodic feeling. We’ll work on 5 licks that highlight the happy but bluesy sound of Mixolydian. The 5 Dorian licks have that jazzy minor sounding feel, and we’ll follow that up with 5 licks that emphasize the heavier, minor tonalities of Aeolian. And finally, we’ll dig into 5 Phrygian licks that can give you that slightly Spanish spice.”

For each of the 30 modal licks presented in this course, Jon will first perform the lick over a jam track, and then break it down for you note-by-note emphasizing the essential techniques and harmonic concepts in play.

All of the licks are tabbed and notated for your practice, reference and study purposes (Guitar Pro files also included). You’ll be able to loop and slow down the video, tab, and notation so that you can work with the material at your own pace. Plus, Jon includes all of the backing tracks for you to work with on your own.

Grab your guitar and let’s go modal with Jon Finn!

What you'll learn

  • Master the technique of creating chord extensions through arpeggio superimposition
  • Navigate multiple strings while maintaining melodic flow
  • Combine bends, pull-offs, and slides in a single phrase
  • Understand how to construct licks using scale degrees
  • Learn to start and end phrases on the root note for resolution
Release date: 04/19/2018 • 2h 04m runtime
intermediatelate intermediateadvancedguitarelectric guitarsoloinglicks
Start Course
Sample lessons
Sunny Days
Sunny Days
Lick 1 (Lydian)
Seashore
Seashore
Lick 7 (Ionian)
Hippity Hop
Hippity Hop
Lick 11 (Mixolydian)
City Strut
City Strut
Lick 16 (Dorian)

What's included

33 lessons • 30 charts • 17 Jam Tracks

30 Melodic Modal Rock Licks
Hi, I'm Jon Finn. Welcome to 30 Melodic Modal Rock Licks You MUST Know!

Don't let the word "modal" in the title fool you. While all 30 of these licks were composed using a modal approach, they're all real versatile, very melodic licks, which can be played over virtually any modern rock or pop groove right out of the box.

At the same time, as you work through the collection, you'll acquire a higher understanding for how the modes work and learn how to target the tones that give each mode its characteristic sound.

I'll perform each lick for you, describe in detail how to play each one, as well as discuss the underlying harmonic approach. I've organized the course into six sections, each containing 5 licks constructed from a particular mode in a variety of keys. Along with each of the licks, you'll have standard notation, tablature, and all the backing tracks to work with as well.You may find that all of the lessons and breakdowns are taught at a fairly fast pace. This is done to maintain forward motion. Since everyone learns a little differently, I find it best to just put the information out there and allow folks to ask questions. With Truefire's proprietary vido player, you can rewind, slow down, and loop sectons of each clip for a closer look. Also, careful attention was place on camera angles to allow you the best possible view. Don't be afraid to spend time zooming in onsections of the lesson for a closer look. This course is desgned so that you can do that easily. Ready? Grab your guitar, and let's get started.
Modal Primer
This clip gives a short explanation of how modes work from at least two points of view. We included it because we felt that a little bit of theory on modes might help, without getting in to too much detail. If you feel you need to dig more deeply in to the theory, application and usage of modes, I suggest my TrueFire course called Modal Rock Soloing. These two courses make good companions of each other!
Sunny Days
This lick features a small A major chord arpeggio along with the #4th degree of the scale (D#). Since the characteristic note of A Lydian is D# (#4th degree), this note is strongly featured in the first half of the lick.

The second half of the lick gives a musical "answer" to the first half over the B/A chord (B chord with A bass note). Even though the lick is based on a chord shape, it's important to play each note, one at a time, to be sure that the notes don't run into each other; especially when using an overdrive tone.
Lunar Module
I called this lick "Lunar Module" because it opens with a wide interval leap. A "giant leap". More specifically, a major 7th interval. So, think about astronauts coming out of the Lunar Module to make a "giant leap"...OK, it sounded much more clever in my head.

Anyway, after the leap between A and G#, there's a simple passage based on the notes from the A Lydian scale. I didn't think, "I will now play notes from the Lydian scale!" Rather, I just tried to finish the "musical sentence" so to speak. Check the notation and tablature to get the finer details. Practice with the backing track, then invent your own version of this lick!
Running Man
This one takes advantage of hammer-ons, pull-offs, and the open B string to achieve a "running up and down the neck" sound (hence the title of the lick). One big thing to pay attention to here is keeping the timing to a nice, even 16th note rhythm feel.

At the end, it's important to position your hand for that end scale pattern. The last three notes are a little tricky because you use your pinky to get the 11th, then 12th frets, then the 3rd finger for the very last note.
Several Giant Leaps
Yup. I liked space ships a lot when I was a kid. So yes, I used a "giant leap" metaphor again. Why? Because it fits nicely here. Since the chord progression toggles between an A chord, followed by a B/A chord, I used open-voiced chord tones to create a wide-interval sound. Simply put, an open-voiced arpeggio means you play every other chord tone, rather than each one in order: Play one note, skip the next note in the arpeggio, play the next, skip the next, etc. It works out so that you play all the chord tones, but out of the "normal" order. Consult both the video and the notation to get more detail.
Sunset Sail
The chord progression for this one is now in C Lydian (this means the chords come from the key of G, but the note C is "strongest"). The opening part of the lick is based on that "triangle D shape" (similar to Lick 1 "Sunny Days") but played starting at the 12th fret. It finishes with a couple of concurrent descending scale passages between the 1st and 3rd strings. You play a couple of scale tones on the 3rd string, then a couple on the 1st string, then trade back and forth a few times. Check the video and the notation for details. I would recommend printing the notation so you can take notes with a pencil as you practice. There's something about that process that helps you learn!

+ 26 more lessons

Start Course

Reviews

10 results

Addahia

Verified buyer

01/01/25

Chopping the chops

I ve done other of Jon's courses and they were awsome. This one is excelente to improve your finger dexterity and developing longer licks, in some intense tempos. I did't dig many of the licks, but that's just a personal preference. I enjoyed his "Improve target practice" ,uch more than this one.

Osokin

Verified buyer

05/19/23

Melodic Modal Rock Licks!

This package of lessons from Jon Finn and TrueFire is more than just a collection of versatile melodic rock licks, as it also provides a great way to gain a good understanding of how the modes works and how to target the tones that give each mode its particular sound. Jon does an excellent job of presenting all the material. Great stuff!

RicVn

Verified buyer

12/31/21

Strong melodic personality

I like the way these licks are not just clumps of notes... They do convey a particular style.

Brenda

10/19/21

Modal Rock Licks You MUST Know

A great guitar lesson, although there are terms that are sometimes difficult to understand, Jon Finn does a fantastic job explaining the concepts, the material he provides is of good quality, the qualities that you can acquire can serve you too much if you put the proper dedication and practice, in addition to obtaining variety and a wider repertoire. The lesson is highly recommended for the learning you can get.

Cristian

10/14/21

Fantastic

Bellissimo corso. Frasi gustose per assaporare i vari modi. Le backingtracks aiutano ad allenarsi e trasposrtare i concetti imparati in altre zone della tastiera. Consigliatissimo per la chiarezza e l'utilità nei contesti pop/rock.

Stop searching. Start improving with All Access.

Try 14 days free. Cancel any time.

Learn MoreStart Free Trial

Similar courses

50 Melodic Rock Licks You MUST Know

50 Melodic Rock Licks You MUST Know

Neil Zaza
Neil Zaza
Modal Rock Soloing

Modal Rock Soloing

Jon Finn
Jon Finn
Rhythm Lab: Rock & Funk

Rhythm Lab: Rock & Funk

Jon Finn
Jon Finn
30 Electric Expressions You MUST Know

30 Electric Expressions You MUST Know

Andy Timmons
Andy Timmons
Browse Library