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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

943.0. "modal help please" by JANUS::EVANS (dotted frets play louder...Fact) Mon Oct 24 1988 14:31

	Hello all,

	I would really appreciate some help on modes.  The way I think of 
	modes are as follows please correct if wrong.  

		If I play the scale of Cmaj only start & end on D I am playing 
	a mode of Cmaj (which happens to be a Dmin7 scale?).  

		I can then play the Cmaj scale again only starting & ending 
	on E & I am playing in another mode of C (Emin7 scale7).  

		I can carry on like this through all the degrees of the scale 
	until I get to C again & the cycle repeats correct?

		I have been told that by starting on degree II of a scale I 
	am playing in Dorian mode & if I start on degree V I'm playing in 
	Mixolydian mode (maybe called dominant mode also?).  

	I've heard some of you guys talk of Lydian, Locrian, Phygrian etc
	Could someone tell me how they're built & if I've missed any.

        My guitar teacher refuses to use these names he feels they're
    of no use but I feel that it's easier to say play "C Dorian" than
    "play the scale of C but start & end on D".

    	Please make my day & put this straight for me, I'm so confused 
    it's driving me NUTS. 

	Thanks in advance

		Pete.
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943.1IND::COMAROWMets in 89Mon Oct 24 1988 14:542
    The "modes" your referring to are from the Greeks.  They were named
    after the area they came from.
943.2Mode InfoMARKER::BUCKLEYRCMP, PMRC - No similaritiesMon Oct 24 1988 15:2235
    I think the info is already in this conf *somewhere*, but here it
    is once more...
       
                                         		ACCIDENTALS AS    
    					CHORD           THEY DIFFER
    MODE NAME		TONALITY	RELATIONSHIP    FROM IONIAN
    
    Ionian		Major		Major 7		none
    
    Dorian		Minor		Minor 7		b3,b7
    
    Phrygian		Minor		Minor 7		b2,b3,b6,b7
    
    Lydian		Major 		Major 7		#4
    
    Mixolydian		Major		Dominant 7	b7
    
    Aeolian		Minor		Minor 7		b3,b6,b7
    
    Locrian		Half-dim.	Minor 7 (b5)	b2,b3,b5,b6,b7
    
    
    There are some other chord scale typo modes that are used also.
    Like 
    
    Lydian b7		Major (Dom 7)	V7/V		#4,b7
    
    
    Once you know how to build chord scales and analyze harmony you
    can find these/figure them out for yourself.
    
    Buck
    
    
    
943.3minor detailJANUS::EVANSdotted frets play louder...FactTue Oct 25 1988 07:2513
    
    Thanks for the info (WJB to the rescue again ;-)).
    I take it that I was correct in thinking that each mode uses the
    root scale tones but starting from different degrees?
    
    Do these modes hold true for minor scales also i.e. can the scale
    of Amin be called Amin Ionian?
    
    Cheers
    
    	Pete (now_less_confused) Evans.
    
    
943.4BMT::COMAROWMets in 89Tue Oct 25 1988 09:1320
    Yes, the modes are like the 2-2 scale, but... there are differen't
    types of minor scales.  Raise the leading tonw (the 7th) on the
    way up, flatten going down, and you have Harmonic Minor.
    
    Example
    
    A Minor
          
    A B C D E F G A 
    
    A Harmonic Minor
    
    A B C D E F G# A    
    
    but going down
    
    A G F E D C B A .   A much more interesting scale.
    
    
    
943.5Isn't that the MELODIC minor?ROLL::BEFUMOI chase the winds of a prism shipTue Oct 25 1988 11:419
    re: [.-] Uh, isn't that the MELODIC MINOR that changes depending
    on whether you're ascending or decending?  If I'm not mistaken (which
    I frequently am), the Harmonic Minor consists of:
    
    1,2,b3,4,5,b6,7
    
    It's distinguishing sound being the augmented step between the b6
    & 7th.
    						jb
943.6Minor Scales as I learned emERASER::BUCKLEYRCMP, PMRC - No similaritiesTue Oct 25 1988 12:2237
   
    Berklee has a different view of the minor scale world than most
    everybody it seems.  They analyze the following scales with these
    name:
    
    Natural Minor (same as Aeolian mode)
    
    1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
    
    Melodic Minor (also called Jazz minor)
    
    1 2 b3 4 5 6 7 (up and down)
    
    Harmonic Minor
    
    1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7 (up and down)
    
    Hungarian Minor
    
    1 2 b3 #4 5 b6 7 (up and down)
    
    Traditional Minor
    
    1 2 b3 4 5 6 7 (up - melodic minor)
    
    1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 (down - natural minor)
    
    
    
    As far as .3's question of Minor scales having modes, berklee sez nay.
    There are the `modes' (maj and min) and then there are the other
    scales.  There was a discussion of Hyper-modes in classical harmony
    once.  It was the idea of starting on the 5th degree of a mode
    (although all the modes weren't applicable to this theory). Anyone else
    remeber these, I'm foggy on em!
    
    Buck 
943.7notation problemJANUS::EVANSdotted frets play louder...FactTue Oct 25 1988 15:099
    
    Re .4

    sorry "2-2 scale" you say I don't understand that notation...
    
    can you explain please ?
    
    Cheers
    		Pete.
943.8SRFSUP::MORRISAshley the headless thompson gunnerTue Oct 25 1988 16:3920
    
    The easiest way for me to remember modes was...
    
    (Assume no accidentals, key of C Major)
    
    C-C	Ionian
    D-D	Dorian
    E-E	Phrygian
    F-F	Lydian
    G-G	Mixolydian
    A-A	Aeolian
    B-B	Locrian
    
    The most bizarre mode I ever encountered was one used by Katchaturyan
    in the ballet Spartacus.
    
    1 2b 3b 4b 5b 6 7	Please note that there are half steps between
        steps 1-2, 3-4, and 7-1.
    
    Ashley
943.9here we go againGIDDAY::KNIGHTPget me a gin and pentatonicWed May 26 1993 02:3625
    Okay
    	It's time to raise the age old question of modes the universe and
    everything.
    
    I am trying to understand modes and how to apply them in my playing.
    
    	Now......My first question is this:
    	Three chord wonder songs such as "Old time rock and roll" or
    "Lets stick together" what key are the really in.
    	eg: if the chords are G C D, are these songs in the key of G.
    
    	Because.......the guitar solo in "old time" is played using 
    the G minor pentatonic scale (Bb major pentatonic). Both of these
    scales (pentatonic) have a Bb  and a F natural in them.  So if it
    is the key of G that is a b3 and a b7.
    	So how does this work ...are we really in another key when 
    playing blues type progressions.  Because if the chord progression
    was something like G Em C D. eg Stand By Me  you solo in G major scale 
    or E minor pentatonic and not the Gminor/ Bb major pentatonic.
    	So what is the story.
    	Second question
    	In the above examples how would you apply the Lydian and Mixo
    modes.
    P.K.
    this stuff gives me a head ache