Music2...modes??? (1 Viewer)

[demosthenes]

i want to resurrect that thread where you, ujuphleg, asked a question and everyone else had to answer it and ask another question...but i dont have a question. It is a good idea, though.

 

[ujuphleg]

That would have been this thread --> http://www.boredofstudies.org/community/showthread.php?t=36163

ask a question!! any question!!

 

[Stomping Ground]

Yeah, what you're talking about, playing a C major scale starting on G, is a mixolydian scale. So it goes like this, in the key of C:

C D E F G A B C - Ionian (natural major)
D E F G A B C D - Dorian (starting on D, the second scale degreee.
E F G A B C D E - Phrygian
F G A B C D E F - Lydian
G A B C D E F G - Mixolydian
A B C D E F G A - Aeolian (AKA natural minor)
B C D E F G A B - Locrian

So that's the modes of the major scale. Generally speaking, you can play an ionian or lydian scale over a major 7 (C ionian or C lydian, NOT F lydian, which would be C ionian in that case anyway), dorian over a minor 7, mixo over a dominant 7, and locrian over diminished. I know I'm missing a bit of stuff here, and I'm not even touching the other minor or bizarre scales.

It depends on what key your in. If you're playing over a D chord in D major (F#, C#), and you play E dorian (which is indeed the second mode of the D major scale), you're basically just playing a major scale starting on E. That is the fundamental principal of the modes. Playing E dorian over D major really isn't doing anything but playing a major scale from E.

However, take for instance a B minor 7 chord in the key of D. This is the VI chord, but you don't normally play an Aeolian scale over it. Dorian is far more commonly used because a flat 6 often conflicts with tensions being played by a guitarist or keyboardist. In this case, and in most cases, you don't take key into consideration when playing over a chord. Instead, you look at what the chord actually is, and play the mode that compliments it.

Starting on G is only mixolydian in C. In Bb, it would be Aeolian because of the accidentals in the key signature. In Ab, it would be locrian. When your talking about straight diatonic harmony, you do look at the key, and how each note relates to the tonic. For each key, it breaks down like this:

2nd scale degree - dorian (starting on D in they key of C, or E in the key of D)
3rd - phrygian (E in C, or D# in B, etc etc.)
4th - lydian
5th - mixolydian
6th - aeolian
7th - locrian

Hope that helped. I'm really tired right now.

ALSO:
Introduction to Chord/Scale Theory, by Jazzbo(article)
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=125519

Tonal Centers and Modes (BG)
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showt...2073#post472073

Scales/Modes: What's the Difference? (BG)
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showt...20&pagenumber=1

Modes in Minor Keys
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showt...&threadid=54213

 

[Phanatical]

You may find it easier to consider modes by the intervals between the notes, as opposed to the notes themselves. For example -

C Ionian
C D E F G A B C
tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone, semitone.

D Ionian
D E F# G A B C# D
tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone, semitone.

G Mixolydian
G A B C D E F G
tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone.

B Mixolydian
B C# D E F# G A B
tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone.

 

[demosthenes]

Stomping Ground...are you a jazz fan by any chance?
And your name...a fan of bela fleck?
If not ignore what i said because i must sound like an idiot lol

 

[Stomping Ground]

How did you know
Yeah, I am, but I dont do music 2, I just know the modes because of Bass.

 

[Jazz Man Tim]

modes.. *hits head on desk*
must learn them...

thanks for the info tho man good job

 

[Phanatical]

In Aural Perception 4 (for Sydney Con students), you'll be expected to identify the mode and key of a 16 bar piece by ear.

 

[Stomping Ground]

In Aural Perception 4 (for Sydney Con students), you'll be expected to identify the mode and key of a 16 bar piece by ear.

WELL! Thats messed up.

 

[Kelvy]

In Aural Perception 4 (for Sydney Con students), you'll be expected to identify the mode and key of a 16 bar piece by ear.

Those questions sound fun! .......cos i have perfect pitch LOL!!