Hi everyone, question about the purpose of modes
Question:
Hi there, too much to explain in a post for me too, but modes give you different flavours. Try Am7 to D9, the Santana secret chord progression, over it use A blues scale or pentatonic minor and add in the 2nd (B) and the 6th (F sharp). This is the dorian mode. Then try Am to F and do the same thing but use the flat 6 (F) instead. This will be the aeolian mode. If it’s any consolation, the modes are simple but I have never read a good explanation of them. Ppl always make them sound complicated. Regards, Nick www.fretbored.co.uk – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hi everyone: > In practicing major and minor and pentatonic scales, I have always > started with the tonic… Now (after a few years of tinkering around > with the guitar) I’m trying to advance to the next step of learning how > to improvise a little bit (ie, wanting to play the "right" notes at > will(without having to stop and think about which note(s) I want to > play) during chord progressions in a given key)… > I’ve never investigated modes before and have a section which gets into > modes. > So here’s my question: > I understand (I think) the "concept" of the mode (ie, starting with a > different tonic within a given major/minor scale). > So how will knowing modes advance one as a guitar player who wants to > play primarily accoustical folk music with some improvisational touches? > The problem with some of this theory (just like calculus) is that we can > read and study "how to do it by using formulas and plugging in numbers > to get an answer" but not really always know "why we’re doing it and > when we can use it". > I have the "Everything about guitar scales" book by Wilber Savidge > (Supposed to be one of the best books about scales). They cover all of > the modes with excercises to practice modes. What they fail to explain > though is the purpose of modes and how it can help you. All they say is > "Here are the modes and the fingering patterns for each of the modes in > a given key. No go practice them". Ok, so I go practice them but I > need to know how I can apply them to improvisation :-) I Just ordered > the book "Scales over chords – how to never play a bad note" by the same > author. I hope it gives me more information. > thanks so much all!
Response:
The melody is within you Luke. Listen. Trust. Play. Roger http://www.TheCipher.com
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi everyone: > In practicing major and minor and pentatonic scales, I have always > started with the tonic… Now (after a few years of tinkering around > with the guitar) I’m trying to advance to the next step of learning how > to improvise a little bit (ie, wanting to play the "right" notes at > will(without having to stop and think about which note(s) I want to > play) during chord progressions in a given key)… > I’ve never investigated modes before and have a section which gets into > modes. > So here’s my question: > I understand (I think) the "concept" of the mode (ie, starting with a > different tonic within a given major/minor scale). > So how will knowing modes advance one as a guitar player who wants to > play primarily accoustical folk music with some improvisational touches? > The problem with some of this theory (just like calculus) is that we can > read and study "how to do it by using formulas and plugging in numbers > to get an answer" but not really always know "why we’re doing it and > when we can use it". > I have the "Everything about guitar scales" book by Wilber Savidge > (Supposed to be one of the best books about scales). They cover all of > the modes with excercises to practice modes. What they fail to explain > though is the purpose of modes and how it can help you. All they say is > "Here are the modes and the fingering patterns for each of the modes in > a given key. No go practice them". Ok, so I go practice them but I > need to know how I can apply them to improvisation :-) I Just ordered > the book "Scales over chords – how to never play a bad note" by the same > author. I hope it gives me more information. > thanks so much all!
Response:
Hi. It’s usually the chord progression that tells us what modes (scales) to use. It’s too detailed to explain in a post. (For me anyway.) But one example might be the chord progression Am G F G Stairway to Heaven. Use A Aeolian. Because that’s where those chords exist. That same progression is everywhere in Rock/pop. Different key but Bm A G A All Along the Watchtower. Layla (The chorus) Dm C Bb C Which is what they solo over. That might be of some help. So would working with an instructor on a steady basis. Good luck with it. Cheers, Rick 
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hi everyone: > In practicing major and minor and pentatonic scales, I have always > started with the tonic… Now (after a few years of tinkering around > with the guitar) I’m trying to advance to the next step of learning how > to improvise a little bit (ie, wanting to play the "right" notes at > will(without having to stop and think about which note(s) I want to > play) during chord progressions in a given key)… > I’ve never investigated modes before and have a section which gets into > modes. > So here’s my question: > I understand (I think) the "concept" of the mode (ie, starting with a > different tonic within a given major/minor scale). > So how will knowing modes advance one as a guitar player who wants to > play primarily accoustical folk music with some improvisational touches? > The problem with some of this theory (just like calculus) is that we can > read and study "how to do it by using formulas and plugging in numbers > to get an answer" but not really always know "why we’re doing it and > when we can use it". > I have the "Everything about guitar scales" book by Wilber Savidge > (Supposed to be one of the best books about scales). They cover all of > the modes with excercises to practice modes. What they fail to explain > though is the purpose of modes and how it can help you. All they say is > "Here are the modes and the fingering patterns for each of the modes in > a given key. No go practice them". Ok, so I go practice them but I > need to know how I can apply them to improvisation :-) I Just ordered > the book "Scales over chords – how to never play a bad note" by the same > author. I hope it gives me more information. > thanks so much all!
– Jazz Guitarist/Educator http://www.rickdelsavio.com
Response:
Hi everyone: In practicing major and minor and pentatonic scales, I have always started with the tonic… Now (after a few years of tinkering around with the guitar) I’m trying to advance to the next step of learning how to improvise a little bit (ie, wanting to play the "right" notes at will(without having to stop and think about which note(s) I want to play) during chord progressions in a given key)… I’ve never investigated modes before and have a section which gets into modes. So here’s my question: I understand (I think) the "concept" of the mode (ie, starting with a different tonic within a given major/minor scale). So how will knowing modes advance one as a guitar player who wants to play primarily accoustical folk music with some improvisational touches? The problem with some of this theory (just like calculus) is that we can read and study "how to do it by using formulas and plugging in numbers to get an answer" but not really always know "why we’re doing it and when we can use it". I have the "Everything about guitar scales" book by Wilber Savidge (Supposed to be one of the best books about scales). They cover all of the modes with excercises to practice modes. What they fail to explain though is the purpose of modes and how it can help you. All they say is "Here are the modes and the fingering patterns for each of the modes in a given key. No go practice them". Ok, so I go practice them but I need to know how I can apply them to improvisation :-) I Just ordered the book "Scales over chords – how to never play a bad note" by the same author. I hope it gives me more information. thanks so much all!
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