can someone explain modes to me?

[Appfro]

I looked in a book and i just don't understand modes. the book said modes in the key of C but then all the modes except one had sharps and flats and i didn't think you could play that in the key of C. can anyone help?

[dmbguitar718]

It's scales, but different feels. Like, a song can be C - G - Am - F, but have a totally different feel from the typical C - G - Am - F. That's where modes come in. They're just there to emphasize those different feels to make the music unique.

I think I'm right.

[Appfro]

so how is it that you can play notes in a key that aren't even in that key

[hmm69]

It's scales, but different feels. Like, a song can be C - G - Am - F, but have a totally different feel from the typical C - G - Am - F. That's where modes come in. They're just there to emphasize those different feels to make the music unique.

I think I'm right.

if you have progression of C G Am F you would play am Am pentatonic mode

[jellyfish]

It's scales, but different feels. Like, a song can be C - G - Am - F, but have a totally different feel from the typical C - G - Am - F. That's where modes come in. They're just there to emphasize those different feels to make the music unique.

I think I'm right.

if you have progression of C G Am F you would play am Am pentatonic mode

How do you know that? Im dumb when it comes to this shit.

[dmbguitar718]

so how is it that you can play notes in a key that aren't even in that key

Theory is a guideline, not a cage. Think of how boring music would be if the rules rules weren't broken and nobody ever experimented. Think DIDO - That little 5-6-7-8 run. Those notes aren't specific to one key, but it works, right? Don't let theory restrict you.

[Appfro]

i'm not talking about Am pentatonic mode. i don't think that even exists. i'm talking about the ionic mode and the others that i can't spell right now.

i see what you're saying dmb. i'm not trying to make it restrict me, i'm trying to understand it

[Appfro]

http://www.theorylessons.com/modal.html

[gumbomadness]

hey app!! ok! modes.. are scales. SAME notes. (exact same notes no matter what) its just that they have a different "tone center" (or flavor) such as.. C Ionian.. is a c scale.. C D E F G A B C. Tada. ok. A song is in C Ionian when all the notes are THOSE and when it seems to always revolve aroudn the "C". (like if you were improvising.. there would be this pull to go back to the C) ..

D Dorian. Is the C scale.. starting with a D.
D E F G A B C D.
The difference is that the song that is in D Dorian has a different flavor than a song in C. It has a "pull" back to the D note.

If you are trying to get into improvization and stuff start with just learning your basic scales.. modes are a PAIN IN THE ASS in the beginning, just get your regular scales down and then start looking at flavors. you can get these flavors on your own anyway.. modes just help. Also.. certain chords like Minor 7ths and stuff fit better in songs that are in modes compared to just regular Ionian scales.
(all your regular scales are considered Ionian) i could go farther but anyway this is to get your brain shakin about.

Improving tips:
http://dmbtabs.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=18849

hope this helps? more questions PM me or IM me. Ive got tons more knowledge to be a sharin. It all seems complicated but isnt. i take lessons and theory is SO much easier when you have a guide.

[hmm69]

so how is it that you can play notes in a key that aren't even in that key

Theory is a guideline, not a cage. Think of how boring music would be if the rules rules weren't broken and nobody ever experimented. Think DIDO - That little 5-6-7-8 run. Those notes aren't specific to one key, but it works, right? Don't let theory restrict you.

yess dont let it restrict you hell alot of people make up good solos and they dont know a lick of theory its all about feel

[gumbomadness]

so how is it that you can play notes in a key that aren't even in that key

Theory is a guideline, not a cage. Think of how boring music would be if the rules rules weren't broken and nobody ever experimented. Think DIDO - That little 5-6-7-8 run. Those notes aren't specific to one key, but it works, right? Don't let theory restrict you.

yess dont let it restrict you hell alot of people make up good solos and they dont know a lick of theory its all about feel

that little run is a chromatic thing. theory is just used to help, and it really does.

[MWR]

It's nearly impossible to explain modes in a nutshell.
Also if you're new to music theory and can't describe what makes a major scale major and a minor minor than you should study up some more. Pay particular attention to the chord-scale relationship and how you go about building triads and extended chords from the major scale. And keep reading about modes just don't expect to understand for quite a while.
Every time you read an article or book you take a small piece along and eventually you'll be able to put them together. Just don't get discouraged or you'll never understand it.

My only piece of direct advice is:
The harmony must agree with the melody. You can't play a D Dorian scale over a C-G-Am-F progression and expect to get a Dorian sound. Each mode has it's own set of chords and it's own unique melody. Basically the chords determine the scale and the scale detirmines the chords. If I haven't said it enough I'll say it one more time: it's all about the chord-scale relationship!

[gumbomadness]

It's nearly impossible to explain modes in a nutshell.
Also if you're new to music theory and can't describe what makes a major scale major and a minor minor than you should study up some more. Pay particular attention to the chord-scale relationship and how you go about building triads and extended chords from the major scale. And keep reading about modes just don't expect to understand for quite a while.
Every time you read an article or book you take a small piece along and eventually you'll be able to put them together. Just don't get discouraged or you'll never understand it.

My only piece of direct advice is:
The harmony must agree with the melody. You can't play a D Dorian scale over a C-G-Am-F progression and expect to get a Dorian sound. Each mode has it's own set of chords and it's own unique melody. Basically the chords determine the scale and the scale detirmines the chords. If I haven't said it enough I'll say it one more time: it's all about the chord-scale relationship!

i can make one of my infamous cheat sheet things for that (the bold) if anyone is interested like i did for this:

http://dmbtabs.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=18799

and this:

http://dmbtabs.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=18849

[ericwormann]

Okay I'll take a stab at explaining modes:

Modes are simply scales that you use in a song. The same as a key signature.

There are 7 modes:
1. Ionian
2. Dorian
3. Phrygian
4. Lydian
5. Mixolydian
6. Aeolian
7. Locrian

When you say the name of a mode, you say a letter, then the name of the mode you're using. For example, you would say "C Ionian" or "A Mixolydian" or "G Locrian". This tells you two things:

1. The letter tells you the FIRST NOTE of the scale you are using. So if the mode you are using is "G Locrian" then the first note of the scale is going to be G. If you are using D Phrygian, then the first note of the scale will be D.

2. The second part is a little more complicated. Let's look at each individual mode:

Ionian - This mode is commonly known as the Major scale. So if you are in C Ionian, the notes you use are:
C D E F G A B
For D Ionian, you use:
D E F# G A B C#
and so on.

Dorian - When you use Dorian mode, you start on the second note of the scale. Earlier I said that whatever letter you call the mode, that's what letter you start on. So if you are using D Dorian, you have to think of what major scale has D as the second note. C Major uses D as the second note, so D Dorian is the same as C Major, but you start on a D instead of a C. So D Dorian is:
D E F G A B C
For G Dorian, you would use an F Major scale starting on a G:
G A Bb C D E F

Phrygian - This mode starts on the 3rd note of the major scale. So for E Phrygian, you have to think of the major scale that uses E as the third note. That would be C Major, so E Phrygian would be:
E F G A B C D E
For B Phrygian, you would use a G Major scale (since B is the 3rd of G):
B C D E F# G A

Lydian - Start on the 4th note.
A Lydian (use E major scale):
A B C# D# E F# G#

Mixolydian - Start on 5th note.
Aeolian - Start on 6th note.
Locrian - Start on 7th note.

[gumbomadness]

Okay I'll take a stab at explaining modes:

Modes are simply scales that you use in a song. The same as a key signature.

There are 7 modes:
1. Ionian
2. Dorian
3. Phrygian
4. Lydian
5. Mixolydian
6. Aeolian
7. Locrian

When you say the name of a mode, you say a letter, then the name of the mode you're using. For example, you would say "C Ionian" or "A Mixolydian" or "G Locrian". This tells you two things:

1. The letter tells you the FIRST NOTE of the scale you are using. So if the mode you are using is "G Locrian" then the first note of the scale is going to be G. If you are using D Phrygian, then the first note of the scale will be D.

2. The second part is a little more complicated. Let's look at each individual mode:

Ionian - This mode is commonly known as the Major scale. So if you are in C Ionian, the notes you use are:
C D E F G A B
For D Ionian, you use:
D E F# G A B C#
and so on.

Dorian - When you use Dorian mode, you start on the second note of the scale. Earlier I said that whatever letter you call the mode, that's what letter you start on. So if you are using D Dorian, you have to think of what major scale has D as the second note. C Major uses D as the second note, so D Dorian is the same as C Major, but you start on a D instead of a C. So D Dorian is:
D E F G A B C
For G Dorian, you would use an F Major scale starting on a G:
G A Bb C D E F

Phrygian - This mode starts on the 3rd note of the major scale. So for E Phrygian, you have to think of the major scale that uses E as the third note. That would be C Major, so E Phrygian would be:
E F G A B C D E
For B Phrygian, you would use a G Major scale (since B is the 3rd of G):
B C D E F# G A

Lydian - Start on the 4th note.
A Lydian (use E major scale):
A B C# D# E F# G#

Mixolydian - Start on 5th note.
Aeolian - Start on 6th note.
Locrian - Start on 7th note.

precisely.. mix that technical stuff with my "why its useful" part and its perfect. cept, app should master his major scales then think more about modes. modes, IMO, are only useful when you know all your fanciful jazzchords to go with them.