If I know:
1. the major scale as a moveable "shape" such that it can be shifted to play in any key,
2. the number of the notes as steps of the major scale...
can I play in the different modes simply by starting a mode on a certain step of the major scale and treating that step as "home"?
(If this is a ridiculous question please don't mock a simple "no" will suffice) :laugh:
Modes question
I think your question is quite reasonable.
Here's what I don't get:
Let's just talk about the C major scale here. C D E F G A B C
If you want to play the C major scale (I think that's called the ionian mode) then you play C D E F G A B C
But if you want to play in the dorian mode of the C major scale then you play D E F G A B C D.
But here's what I don't get: THEY ARE THE SAME NOTES! I suppose the difference is the "home" note.
So, my follow up question to Dean's is when does one play the C dorian scale (if that is what it's called)?
Modes confuse the hell out of me.
Here's what I don't get:
Let's just talk about the C major scale here. C D E F G A B C
If you want to play the C major scale (I think that's called the ionian mode) then you play C D E F G A B C
But if you want to play in the dorian mode of the C major scale then you play D E F G A B C D.
But here's what I don't get: THEY ARE THE SAME NOTES! I suppose the difference is the "home" note.
So, my follow up question to Dean's is when does one play the C dorian scale (if that is what it's called)?
Modes confuse the hell out of me.
daryl wrote:
I'd think it would be more correct to think of it as D Dorian, but this is the blind leading the blind... If so, should it be played over a song in D, and how would the mode affect the chords in the key? :S
So, my follow up question to Dean's is when does one play the C dorian scale (if that is what it's called)?
dtaylor wrote:
D Dorian is D E F G A B C D
It could be considered the relative Dorian to C Major, like A B C D E F G A is the relative minor or Aeolian to C Major.
Every key signature has one of each mode included and all are considered relative to each other, meaning same notes with different starting points (home).
So a follow up question, or two...
What are the notes in C Dorian, G Dorian, Bb Dorian?
And what are the seven related modes that have four sharps in them?
Neil
You are correct Dean.daryl wrote:I'd think it would be more correct to think of it as D Dorian, but this is the blind leading the blind... If so, should it be played over a song in D, and how would the mode affect the chords in the key? :S
So, my follow up question to Dean's is when does one play the C dorian scale (if that is what it's called)?
D Dorian is D E F G A B C D
It could be considered the relative Dorian to C Major, like A B C D E F G A is the relative minor or Aeolian to C Major.
Every key signature has one of each mode included and all are considered relative to each other, meaning same notes with different starting points (home).
So a follow up question, or two...
What are the notes in C Dorian, G Dorian, Bb Dorian?
And what are the seven related modes that have four sharps in them?
Neil
dtaylor wrote:
G Dorian G A Bb C D E F G
Bb Dorian Bb C Db Eb F G Ab Bb
?[/quote]
WINNER!!!
Great work Dean. I think modes are unjustifiably regarded as complicated.
Neil
P.S. And why are you up in the middle of the night fretting over this???
C Dorian C D Eb F G A Bb CWhat are the notes in C Dorian, G Dorian, Bb Dorian?
G Dorian G A Bb C D E F G
Bb Dorian Bb C Db Eb F G Ab Bb
?[/quote]
WINNER!!!
Great work Dean. I think modes are unjustifiably regarded as complicated.
Neil
P.S. And why are you up in the middle of the night fretting over this???
unclewalt wrote:
I am asking these questions as someone who is starting to learn scales in order to improvise over backing tracks, I today saw a progression in Gm which gave the G Dorian mode as a suitable mode to use to solo over the progression. I don't know why or how this is correct...
My follow up to that is: if you are soloing over a progression in C and are using the notes of the C major scale as you describe, is this 'changing modes' or just following the changes and using the chord tones of the new chord (or is this a distinction without a difference)?
I think it's when you're on the chord that's named for the modal scale, but you're in the key that's named for the I. So, if you're playing in the key of C, and you go to the F (IV) chord, you can play notes, like in a solo, in F Lydian (FGABCDE), right? And then on the V, you can play in G Mixolydian (GABCDEF) yes? And you think about the underlying modal pattern as you're playing, rather than, say, the C major pattern.
I am asking these questions as someone who is starting to learn scales in order to improvise over backing tracks, I today saw a progression in Gm which gave the G Dorian mode as a suitable mode to use to solo over the progression. I don't know why or how this is correct...