Pick of the Week: Blind Melon – No Rain
This week's pick is perhaps one of the most iconic tracks to make it out of the 90s. Blind Melon released "No Rain" on their eponymous album in 1992 and it became a huge hit in 1993. The tune is instantly recognizable by the opening guitar line, and as a listener of a certain age, it transports me on a wave of nostalgia to the sunny green fields of its popular music video.
As a musician, I enjoy playing and performing this track and as an educator I often use this song as an example of modal playing. The intro melody features the E mixolydian mode. "No Rain" is in the key of A Major, and the intro progression is moving from an E major chord (V) to a D major chord (IV). While we play in the overall key of A major, the tonal center, or home, of the progression and melody is centered around the E note in the scale.
Try playing the A Major scale shown below in Figure 1. The root (A) notes are highlighted in red.
Figure 1: A Major Scale
Next play over the same pattern in Figure 2, but start on the E notes (shown in green). This is the E mixolydian mode.
Figure 2: E Mixolydian
Notice how both scales have the same notes, frets and fingerings. The only difference is which note acts as the "home" or starting note in the scale. This is, in a very basic nutshell, what modal playing is all about.
With all that theory being said, it really is a fun song to play, and you don't have to understand the theory to enjoy the song. Have a look at the opening lines to this memorable song and have fun with this groovy, and infectious tune!
