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Jeff's Lesson Notes

"Bait"

 

Couple modes to be aware of.  I just want to point them out here so that we're all clear on at least some of what's happening with this track, in particular the solo.  The various techniques will be covered on the video lesson as I walk you through the various parts of this example song track...

Our Key is A minor (A, B, C, D, E, F, G), however throughout this track "Dorian mode" and "Harmonic minor" are being utilized as "A Ionian" in places.  This is very subtle, and what it does particularly in the solo is make some of the notes whine and sound a little sick.  This style though influenced by Van Halen is a bit more precise than Van Halen.  It also has a strong neo-classical influence to it, where as Van Halen is much more Blues based.. 

The 3 main scales in use for this lesson are listed out below for you....

A minor (Aeolian) = A, B, C, D, E, F, G

A Major (Ionian) = A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#

(Note how Ionian contains properties from the Dorian, & Harmonic minor scales.  It's the use of the 3rd (C#) that creeps in from time to time that makes this scale important to a track like this.)

A Dorian (minor scale with Major 6th) = A, B, C, D, E, F#, G

A Harmonic minor (minor scale with Major 7th) = A, B, C, D, E, F, G#

Now the rest of the story with this artist is in the techniques.  This is a very mis-understood artist.  Most of the tabs available for White Lion songs are OK at best, but even worse than that is that even if they were accurate 100% figuring out how to perform the stuff would be a nightmare.  Notes on a tab page don't do you any good if you don't know how to apply them to the fret board.  Van Halen is another artist that's a a classic example of this. Knowing where the notes are with artists like this is only about 25% of the battle. 

 I'll do my best here to give you some valuable Bratta pointers.  I've been into this artist and his band since they came on the scene, and I think I've put together a decent lesson here all the while doing my best to not step on the copyrights too much.  Keep in mind with these lessons that my point of view is just that.  Please take the lessons with a grain of salt, and be aware that I often give many different ways to play things on the video lesson segments, so as always I suggest not skipping around.  A little patience goes a long way when learning anything, and that's especially true with this particular guitar style..... 
 

Jeff Fiorentino

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