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Meet the Modes!

Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 3:47 pm
by TGSuzanne
Once a student asked me if she started a D scale from any other note, would it still be a "D" scale. Well, yes and no. The key signature would be related to D, but the whole steps and half steps would be different and therefore create a new scale, called a mode.

We already know 2 modes:

Ionian Mode= Major Scale
Aeolian Mode= Natural Minor Scale

Here are the other modes:

(W= Whole step and H=Half step)

Dorian:
W-W-H-W-W-W-H

Phrygian:
W-H-W-W-W-H-W

Lydian:
W-W-W-H-W-W-H

Mixolydian:

W-W-H-W-W-H-W

Locrian:
H-W-W-H-W-W-W

All these scales are usedat some point when improvising or composing. Dorian is often used in folk and ethnic melodies. Mixolydian is used when playing over a dominant 7th chord. Lydian, Locrian and mixolydian are all used to create melodies of the complex, extended jazz chords. All of this is way beyond this discussion, but Neil will get to this soon!

If you are curious about Modes and their use check out this interactive theory book http://www.home.earthlink.net/~codybird/index.htm
for more information.

Re:Meet the Modes!

Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 4:47 pm
by Lavallee
Hi Suzanne, I have not had a chance to go through all the genius section Still at the third one) and maybe Neil discussed about this. But I am really happy about your post as I finally understand (I think) what the modes are. I could not see the relationship between Minor , Major scales and the modes, but now I do.

Thank you

Marc

Re:Meet the Modes!

Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 4:51 pm
by Lavallee
If you are curious about Modes and their use check out this interactive theory book www.home.earthlink.net/~codybird/index.htm
for more information. tgsuzanne

Suzanne, not sure about your link, it seems to point to a paying site which would be a competitor to Neil.

Marc

Re:Meet the Modes!

Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 12:40 pm
by TGSuzanne
It is a site for a reference book.

Re:Meet the Modes!

Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:23 pm
by Lavallee
Sorry Suzanne, I looked too quickly.

Marc

Re:Meet the Modes!

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 1:33 am
by BigBear
Suzanne- Great info! Thanks!

Can we imply then that the only difference between modes is the interval?

:cheer:

Re:Meet the Modes!

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 6:42 pm
by TGSuzanne
The difference between modes (which are scales) is where the whole and half steps occur.

Pretty easy to understand when you think about it.

Re:Meet the Modes!

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 6:21 pm
by sav627
Hi, I'm kind of new to this. My question is what modes are the most useful after Ionian and Aolean. I would like to learn these things in some kind of logical order ............. if there is such a thing :)

Re:Meet the Modes!

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 6:35 pm
by TGMatt
sav627 wrote:
Hi, I'm kind of new to this. My question is what modes are the most useful after Ionian and Aolean. I would like to learn these things in some kind of logical order ............. if there is such a thing :)
If you head to Target and go into theory..

You will see that Neil is teaching theory in a structured way now...under the Acoustic genius series...

Re:Meet the Modes!

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 6:40 pm
by haoli25
For some reason my eyes keep transposing the 'S' and the exclamation point and I keep coming back to this thread to "Meet The Models". :laugh:




Bill