what are the modes of scales? what actually they are for

Discussion in 'Beginner's Q&A Forum' started by hemant_spidey3, Jun 29, 2012.

  1. Hi guys,

    I've gp6 software and i was trying scale from it. I found that there are so many mode for the same scale. I don't know what actually they are. Can someone enlighten this topic?
    Like how they differ? how chord progression changes based on these modes and other thing?
     
  2. ss192

    ss192 New Member

    This is what i know about scales ,modes and modal theory:
    Modes can be viewed from different angles, they are actually something that dominated western music , Greeks were the first to use these. Modes can be viewed as new scales or just something like alteration of a major scale based on the tonal centers. There are 7 modes :
    1 Ionian (I)
    2 Dorian (II)
    3 Phrygian (III)
    4 Lydian (IV)
    5 Mixolydian (V)
    6 Aeolian (VI)
    7 Locrian (VII)

    Ionian is the normal major scale

    Ionian Mode (W-W-H-W-W-W-H)(eg: C ionian :CDEFGABC)[W stands for 'Whole Step' and H stands for 'Half Step']

    Dorian Mode (W-H-W-W-W-H-W) (eg: D dorian :DEFGABC) A lot of rock solos are based on this

    Phrygian Mode (H-W-W-W-H-W-W)(eg: E phyrigian : EFGABCDE) Listen to Malmsteen

    Lydian Mode (W-W-W-H-W-W-H)(eg : F lydian : FGABCDEF) Steve vai uses this a lot

    Mixolydian Mode (W-W-H-W-W-H-W): (eg: G Mixolydian GABCDEFG) A lot of blues songs are based on this

    Aeolian Mode (W-H-W-W-H-W-W) Famous Minor scale (eg A minor : ABCDEFGA)

    Locrian Mode (H-W-W-H-W-W-W) Locrian mode is considered to be so unstable and unsatisfying that most composers consider it unworkable. There are few songs written in the Locrian mode, which has lead some music experts to label it a 'theoretical' mode. It exists because all seven notes of the Ionian scale could form modes in a mathematical sense, but the relationship between intervals in the Locrian mode is simply not that interesting musically(eg: B Locrian : BCDEFGABC).


    Simply if you use a major scale(eg : C major ) and start from 2nd note and play to the 2nd noe in the next octave, you get it's relative dorian(for eg , D dorian is the dorian mode of c major ) now try the other 5 modes,just the same thing!. You can take any major scale and mess around to get modes().
    Now the question remains why should you use modes?
    I guess you got basic understanding of chord theory(chord construction and selection are just he same), the chords for C major scale are Cmaj Dmin Emin Fmaj Gmaj Amin Bmaj:
    Suppose there's a song that got a chord progression like this : C major -F major- C major- G Major. , you can improvise by playing C major scale . Then there's a song that got a chord progression like this : E min-F major- Emin .The C major scale got E min and F major chords if you improvise with C as your tonal center, it won't fit well . Then you got to use E as tonal center, which will end up as E-phrygian . Same applies to all other scales.
    This is how I see these things .
     
  3. well thank you for such a great explanation.
    one thing i didn't got that E phrygian scale also has some not as c Ionian, then how improvising on that scale differ from the later.
     
  4. Strings dnt lie

    Strings dnt lie New Member

    @ss192

    man u wernt kidding when u said u liked scales were u?.. :)
     
  5. ss192

    ss192 New Member

    Using ionian, you got to emphasize on the C note, but using E phyrygian , you can 2 main things. there's Phrygian fingering patterns you can either use those or play with licks on c major scale giving importance to E note , the difference you get would be that feeling that each mode gives, while doing that scale runs and stuff above those chords. There are a lot of licks and runs you can copy from the big guys like vai, satch and Yngwie malmsteen.
    Some youtube quote : "You may be thinking "whats the point of learning another scale with the same notes in it, it will sound the same" but depending on how you phraze those notes you can get a totally different sound out of it."
    @ strings There's a lot more to learn and apply.
     
  6. Dude, what actually wrong in liking the scales?I think it is the easiest way to correlate theory with the actual music.
     
  7. Strings dnt lie

    Strings dnt lie New Member

    God when did i ever say liking scales were wrong!?..i was just sayin ss192 has some solid knowledge about scales..a lot more than me anyways..
     
  8. ss192

    ss192 New Member

  9. Strings dnt lie

    Strings dnt lie New Member

    @ss192

    dude what i have always thot about modes is that they are scales played out in a variety of ways to suit the mood of the song the best?..so that you get the best emotion out of what you are playin?..pls do correct me if im wrong..
     
  10. sorry, i wasn't part of the conversation, so couldn't grab the context. Please, accept my apologies.
     
  11. rickkkyrich

    rickkkyrich Guest

    This thread might be helpful to you
    Why do modes sound different? (if the notes are the same)
     
  12. ss192

    ss192 New Member

  13. Vader

    Vader New Member

    the beauty about modes is that everyone thinks the know them but no one really understands them...
    if you understand how to apply modes correctly there is nothing that can stop you musically...
    i've tried for two years to apply them *theoretically*.. but failed horribly
    it wasnt until i let my intuitiveness take over that i could actually get something out of them...
    so if you wanna learn improvisation...
    1. learn chord theory
    2. learn 1 scale. the best guitarists use only one scale.. best example is malmsteen
    3. learn harmonization
    4. Improvise intuitively

    Understand what modes do... but thats it
    This is the best advice i can give you ... if you try to understand application of modes theoretically you'll make life miserable for urself .. instead develop your intuitive ability to solo
     
  14. Vader

    Vader New Member

    P.S. Rhythm is waayyyyy cooler than lead.. as of now we need way better rhythm guitarists who understand phrasing than ppl who simply strum chords
     
  15. Yeah man that's what is happening to me, can you just elaborate more for me. Like some exercise, or some kind of music or artist that i should listen or see.

    i agree but one should know how to play both, right?

    Thanks alot for such a wonderful information i placed an order for it.
     
  16. Vader

    Vader New Member

    FOR NOW:

    https://www.guitarforanyone.com/images/guitar_neck.gif

    check out this chart
    this is the C major scale
    play in three notes per string sequences

    start from different notes on the low E strings like C , D , E etc and do this
    you will be surprised at the different shape each one makes
    also at their sound
    your aim is to learn these shapes and notes by heart
     
  17. Vader

    Vader New Member

    not necessarily .......
    its a plus
    but definitely not essential
    however you must do the same left hand exercises for dexterity
     

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