Phrygian 101
This week’s routine introduces the moody, exotic sound of Phrygian through arpeggios, triads, and targeted color tones. You’ll expand your modal fluency by contrasting it with Dorian and internalizing its signature b2 and b6.
Start Routine
Phrygian Phrases
This lesson explores the darker color of Phrygian through original licks, with a progression designed to spotlight its b2 and b6 tones. Use the backing track to train your ear, compare the sound to Dorian, and start crafting lines that truly embody this mysterious mode.
Fusion, Baby!
This lesson puts theory into motion by blending Dorian and Phrygian sounds over a custom progression. With 8 original licks and a vibey backing track, you’ll explore how subtle shifts in color tones can open up fresh melodic territory—then craft your own to make it personal.
The 4 Fundamental 16th Note Rhythms
This rhythmic workout revisits four essential 16th note groupings and applies them to modal scale shapes as a phrasing lab. You’ll sharpen your time feel, improve picking mechanics, and prep your ears for next week’s dive into Lydian.
Let’s Get LYDIAN!
This session kicks off our exploration of Lydian—a bright, expansive sound built from the major scale with a #4 twist. You’ll learn how to build the mode around triads and maj7 arpeggios, while training your ear to target that signature raised 4th.
Lydian Licks
This Lydian workout uses a G–A/G–Bm7–A progression to explore descending scale ideas, colorful triad pairs, and modal substitutions. You’ll learn how to highlight the #11 using creative phrasing tools like G–A triad pairs and F# minor pentatonic over G.
Lydian Jam
This week we connect Dorian and Lydian sounds over a four-bar progression, focusing on crafting longer, melodic phrases. You’ll move through arpeggios, scales, and licks in three positions to internalize the modal shift and build your own ideas. Ask ChatGPT
Mixolydian Pt. 1
Explore the soulful sound of Mixolydian by combining dominant arpeggios, full-scale patterns, and expressive triad connections. This week’s routine focuses on three core positions to help you internalize the mode’s flavor and phrasing potential.
Mixolydian Pt. 2
This week’s Mixolydian workout blends expressive phrasing with real-world licks over a soulful Bb groove. With 12 musical lines, some bold chromatics, and an all-downstroke attack, this one’s designed to stretch both your hands and your ears.
Mixolydian Pt. 3
This routine applies Mixolydian sounds over a full I7–II7–IV7–I7 progression, helping you sharpen your ability to shift scales and plan melodic ideas in real time. With a slower jazz-leaning groove, this one’s all about phrasing, awareness, and creative control.
Aeolian Pt. 1
This week we dig into Aeolian—the natural minor scale—and explore its pure, unembellished minor sound across E, C, and A positions using chords, arpeggios, scales, and triad-based phrases. Simple concept, powerful results.
Aeolian Pt. 2
We’re turning Aeolian theory into sound this week with a moody synth-rock progression and a batch of lyrical licks that move from simple 8ths to punchy 16ths. It’s all about locking into that natural minor vibe—and using it to craft your own phrases.
Aeolian Pt. 3
We’re wrapping up Aeolian with a driving 140bpm groove and a set of flowing licks that lean into the mode’s signature ♭6 and ♭7. With a classic i–♭VI–♭VII progression as your playground, it’s time to connect positions and lock in the sound.
Diminished Scale
We’re kicking off a deep dive into the whole-half diminished scale—your secret weapon for both inside and outside playing. Symmetrical, slippery, and surprisingly versatile, this week’s routine sets the foundation for making it a real part of your voice.
Descending Diminished Scales
We’re taking last week’s diminished scale work and flipping it upside down—literally. This week is all about descending diminished lines, applying them to a classic jazz blues move, and training your brain to resolve them musically from anywhere on the neck.
Dominant Diminished
This week’s routine reveals a powerful shortcut: treat dominant 7 chords as 7b9s and use diminished 7 shapes to simplify your scale choices. We apply this to a ii–V–I–VI progression, using diminished substitutions to unlock new sounds and clean fretboard logic.
Locrian Pt. 1
We’re wrapping up the modes with Locrian—a tense, unstable sound built on the m7♭5 chord. This lesson helps you hear and play Locrian clearly, using arpeggios, scales, and targeted melodic shapes.
Locrian Pt. 2
This lesson explores Locrian using a creative modal progression (Ab/C to Gb/C), with 10 expressive licks designed to stretch your technique and ear. Learn the phrases, then use them as inspiration to shape your own.
Pentatonic Master Level 1
This week’s all about locking into the E shape and seeing how far we can stretch it across a minor progression. With a chromatic warmup, pentatonic and blues scale drills, and two licks run through five key centers, this is focused, hands-on fretboard work.
EASY Pentatonic 5 Shapes
This routine flips the usual order of pentatonic practice by cycling shapes out of sequence over a minor chord progression. It’s a focused workout in fretboard mapping and root-note awareness—no autopilot allowed.
Minor + Major Triad Lines
This week we’re breaking minor vamp triad pairs into melodic vocabulary, using Cm and Bb as our core shapes. Starting with warmups and moving through arpeggios, rhythmic groupings, pentatonic integrations, and non-adjacent fingerings, we learn to weave these triads fluidly into real lines—no shifting, no guesswork, just pure fretboard fluency.
Combining Diminished & Minor Pentatonic
This week we’re blending D minor pentatonic with the half-whole diminished scale—a pairing that creates rich tension over a Dm7 vamp. The exercise walks through all five positions, revealing how these two frameworks overlap and stretch the way we think about symmetry on the fretboard.
Picking Marathon Pt. 1
This week’s routine targets alternate picking stamina using one sequence mapped across all five D Mixolydian positions—ascending and descending—for a total of 10 exercises that challenge your endurance as much as your accuracy.
Picking Marathon Pt. 2
This week continues the alternate picking stamina routine at a slightly slower 80bpm, now shifting to D Dorian to emphasize the ♭3 and reinforce long-term fretboard fluency through repetition and control.
Melodic Minor Magnet
This week kicks off our melodic minor focus, using a 4-note picking sequence across five keys in one position to train fretboard fluency, ear–hand connection, and real-time recall—no tab, no prep, just play.
Pentatonic Double Stops
This week we’re focusing on double stops in A major pentatonic over an A6 vamp. You’ll break the scale into two-note chunks on adjacent strings—mostly 4ths, with the occasional 3rd for contrast. It’s a simple but musical way to build fretboard fluency and phrasing.
Diatonic 3rd Exercises
This week we’re tackling diatonic thirds—a foundational concept that reveals how scale tones connect across the neck. The goal isn’t just finger dexterity, but moving beyond memorized patterns into real musical fluency. Start in one position, then break free and explore.
Chord Scales
Ever feel like your playing’s in limbo—not sure if you’re leveling up or spinning in place? That’s where I’ve been lately. And it’s a reminder: the line between “basic” and “advanced” is blurrier than it seems. This week we’re running major chord scales—C, A, and F—across three-string sets. It’s not flashy, but if you can do this cleanly, musically, and in time, you’re ahead of the game.
C Major
This week’s routine focuses on phrasing and tone using a simple C major scale. The goal isn’t speed or complexity—it’s playing with intention, control, and musicality. Think of this as a chance to refine your touch and make basic material sound expressive and alive.
C Major: “Tom Fayle”
This week’s routine continues our work in C major, shifting to a higher position and leaning into legato technique. Starting with a simple idea, the workout quickly evolves into a demanding study in three-note-per-string phrasing, precision, and endurance. It’s not about speed—it’s about timing, tone, and clean execution.
