Laine: Is there a place for modes in country?

:) guess i can consider myself a well beginner to intermediate guitar player, i just became a member of guitar tricks and i was kinda hoping that someone might have some positive answer's to my question. Q: Do you
need to concentrate on the modes to play lead country guitar, is there a
place for them in country playing? cheers,Laine.

absolutely. country players think changes, much like a jazz player would do. those changes usually don't contain extended harmonies like in jazz, but it's the same train of thought. trade in those bebop licks for some sweet country double stops and shred runs, and you have chickin' pickin'. okay, maybe it's not that simple to justify, but back to your original question...modes play a role in country music, but because cowboy chords are usually simple, save for a dominant seventh or occasional diminished chord, modal theory as it pertains to soloing is less important.

that being said, for dominant seventh chords you will definitely want to aquaint yourself with the mixolydian mode and get comfortable jumping to it from different angles on the guitar.