Immigrant Song - picking technique

[cossie]

Hey,

I've been going mental lately trying to nail the Immigrant Song!

Maybe it's a mental block at this stage i dunno, but i always feel like i'm struggling through it

The chorus is especially - i think it's a major scale run in each instance - tough. I've tried to practice it a lot at slower speeds using a metronome and building up the speed the next time.

Any tips please?

[thephilosopher]

it's a mixolydian run, which is close to a major scale - it's got that b6. just keep at it! you'll get it, i promise

[Meehaw]

Originally Posted by thephilosopher

it's a mixolydian run, which is close to a major scale - it's got that b6. just keep at it! you'll get it, i promise

b7, I think.

[cossie]

thephilosopher, meehaw,

Thanks for the information.

Mixolydian? Ah, i knew it a major scale was just a bit too straight forward for the Zep!

I'll have to improve my ear to be able to pick out the smaller but significant details!

[tZer]

Mixolydian = Major with b7

That scale is very common in rock. It is not as 'happy sounding' as pure major.

Tips to getting the scalar passage in "The Immigrant Song":
1. Practice it slow, with a metronome... oh, I see you are already doing that... hmmm...
2. Practice it slow, with a metronome... hmmm... I think I am getting a little redundant here...
Finally, you guessed it... practice it slow, with a metronome.

Really - there is no better way to get a fast part down. That part is really not that complicated - ascending mixolydian scales, over and over again - but it is physically challenging to play it fast, with a pick. Especially if you are not a 'native pick player'.

But if you really buckle down and work those scales with that metronome, you will get it!

It's a great song, and I have always loved that part in particular! Lots of fun to play! Keep at it, you'll get it!

Do you have a 'regular fingering pattern for the mixolydian scale? If not, try this (1 finger per fret)

#1 MAJOR SCALE: 4-string, version 1 (Starting on the E string).

G ----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|----
D ----|----1|-----|----3|----4|-----|-----|----
A ----|----1|----2|-----|----4|-----|-----|----
E ----|-----|----2|-----|----4|-----|-----|----


#2 MIXOLYDIAN SCALE (IMMIGRANT SONG SCALE): 4-string, version 1 (Starting on the E string).

G ----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|----
D ----|----1|----2|-----|----4|-----|-----|----
A ----|----1|----2|-----|----4|-----|-----|----
E ----|-----|----2|-----|----4|-----|-----|----

#3 MAJOR SCALE: 4-string, version 2 (Starting on the E string).

G ----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|----
D ----|-----|-----|----1|----2|-----|-----|----
A ----|-----|----1|-----|----2|-----|----4|----
E ----|-----|----1|-----|----2|-----|----4|----

#4 MIXOLYDIAN SCALE (IMMIGRANT SONG SCALE): 4-string, version 2 (Starting on the E string).

G ----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|----
D ----|-----|----1|-----|----2|-----|-----|----
A ----|-----|----1|-----|----2|-----|----4|----
E ----|-----|----1|-----|----2|-----|----4|----


#5 MAJOR SCALE: 5-string, version (Starting on the B string - 2 octaves).

G ----|-----|-----|----1|-----|----3|----4|----
D ----|-----|-----|----1|----2|-----|----4|----
A ----|-----|-----|----1|----2|-----|----4|----
E ----|-----|----1|-----|----2|-----|----4|----
B ----|-----|----1|-----|----2|-----|----4|----

#6 MIXOLYDIAN SCALE (IMMIGRANT SONG SCALE): 5-string, version (Starting on the B string - 2 octaves).

G ----|-----|-----|----1|----2|-----|----4|----
D ----|-----|-----|----1|----2|-----|----4|----
A ----|-----|----1|-----|----2|-----|----4|----
E ----|-----|----1|-----|----2|-----|----4|----
B ----|-----|----1|-----|----2|-----|----4|----

If I had to hazard a guess, I would say JPJ is using the 2, 4, 1, 2, 4, 1, 2, 4 fingering (#2 - MIXOLYDIAN SCALE: 4-string, version 1 above).

[Nedmundo]

In the past couple of years, John Paul Jones himself wrote a piece in Bass Guitar explaining how to play this most effectively, just as one of my bands was trying to nail it. I had some trouble with it too, but our guitarist couldn't even come close to the verse groove so we dumped it.

Anyway, the last time through the run on the chorus, add the major 7 into the run. JPJ explained he needed the extra note to fill the space.

If I can dig out the article tonight, I'll post any additional insights.