I hope you guys enjoyed this one! Please let me know what you thought of the video in the comments. And if you want to support the channel, feel free to check out my Patreon: www.patreon.com/AndrewClarke
In 30 years of playing guitar, I had never bothered to learn this because it seemed so daunting of a task. This video not only took the mystery out of Modes but I now feel like I fully understand them from one short video. Thank you. I will be signing up for your Patreon now.
@@Jethlin2020 Great idea to make an acronym to remember! If you wanted to have a separate word for each, you could do I Don't Play Loud Music After Lunch. But love yours as well! Cheers.
Excellent job, Andrew,,, 72-year-old (beginner/intermediate-been playing for almost three years), I've had a few try to help me understand modes. You have done it the best. Thanks...I get it!
Actually, when I saw this video, for the first time, I didn't understand modes that well, but now, after I saw the last video, from today, I came back again to this one, and now, for me, modes are totally understandable. Thank you so much!
I love your tutorial, I like how you use the fret board diagram and tabs to show what you are doing. Super clear lesson. thanks, I will sign up to your patron lesson. :)
I really love the way you explain things. Finished 2 music theory videos prior to this one on youtube that also covered modes and yours is by far my favorite explanation!
An intersing thing is that when I stumbled into modal theory, it was described something like lowering or rising one or a few notes of a given major scale. It is definitely easier to sense th unique flavors of modes this way, but this video made a great job of simply connecting basic major scale knowledge to the complex topic of modes. It's quite hard to find such a grounded and straight-to-the-point kind of explanation. Big thanks!
Yes! That's an important way of looking at modes for sure. I just find it's easier to grasp the basics by looking at them as relative keys/scales first, then once you grasp the basic concept, you can look at them as parallel keys/scales so you can really hear the distinct sounds. Thank you very much for the kind words. :)
@@andrewclarkeguitarCan you do a part 2 to explain what this guy meant by raise or lowering a note for modes? I think this would be good to take someone’s skill to the next level on modes
Oh wait I just realized that if you learn intervals then essentially you learn that each mode just is a different interval pattern :P or as Alex would say learning the “phone number” of that mode like the major scale’s 221-2221
@@Andrew-pv8oz You are definitely correct about the phone number.😁 What Andrew showed in the video is where the modes come from, but every single mode or key or tonality uses a scale - a set of notes in the span of a single octave. And a scale is indeed just a string of intervals, it is fundamentally exactly what it is.
Good information, indeed it is all about movement and resolution of chords. Frank Gambale also has some good videos on the concept, but apart from that most internet sources omit this completely making them rather useless. I think it makes much more sense to get familiar with functional harmony first, after that modes are trivial to understand. Most folks don't play modal songs anyway. What adds to the confusion is that a lot of people also use the names of modes to refer to scales or note material to choose for while composing or improvising (chord-scale theory). So over a non-modal song, let's say in A, when they encounter the dominant (E7) they tell you to pull notes from E-mixolydian over that chord. I find it more helpful to play/think in A while targeting chord tones of E7, then use your ear to fill in any other notes (9th, 11th, 13th) or use chromatics.
Chords progressions explained with modes and a focus on where it resolves. That is great! And I imagine helps to identify scales to use over certain progressions to get the feel we may be after. But don’t quote me lol
These are great videos! Thank you for your dedication and hard work! For this topic I didn't understand how to use modes in songwriting when the key of the song changes. Maybe we need one more video about modes that explains that!
I would love to see one on what to think about while soloing over changes (ie switching scales as the chords change, staying in the primary key/scale only, soloing in one key but hitting core tones as the keys pass, etc) I think you would have really good thoughts on that…
Loving these videos. Even things I thought were clear to me become much more intuitive after watching and listening. Keep working on this channel and you’re going to see subscribers increasing fast
this is great. AND it helps reinforce the relatively shady understanding I have of modes. But here's my question (and how I got here): I write some atonic/jazzy chord progressions and I really can't fit a pentatonic or some kind of arpeggiated "scale" over the top of it all. I'm guessing a Modal scale might work, bit how do I get which one? Thanks!
great video. for modal scales scales you show a diagram of a C major shape and play from the second degree for dorian or the fifth degree for mixolydian etc, - i get that. but when playing, do you mentally rename the mode's tonic as "1", or do you keep seeing it as the "5" of the major key scale (for mixolydian)? I keep getting confused because if i play from the "5" in the Cmaj shape (G), I'm in mixolydian. but if i don''t want to use the full seven note scale, i think G major pentatonic - and presto, the fifth degree of C major mentally becomes my 1 in the pentatonic box shape. Going back an forth between these two ways of thinking about the notes is mentally fatiguing. The only option i can think of is to learn 5 new seven note shapes for each mode where the mode's tonic is seen as the 1.That way i could go back and forth between the 7 note modal scale and pentatonic scale with the tonic staying as the 1 in my brain. But that seems like a waste since the modes all live in the 5 seven note major scale boxes i know so well.
What about soloing? Do you use the mode scale that the chord progression is based on, or do you play the mode based on the chord - 1 chord ionian, 4 chord Lydian, 5 chord mixolydian…… or do you simply choose a any mode you want to play over any chord progression based on the feel/sound you want?
One of the finest lessons on MODES that I have ever watched .... well done mister!! I hope you don't mind, but I have just one question ... at 6:15 where you mention using Roman numerals for key reference, do you mind me asking why you didn't use lower case numerals for the minor keys/MODES?
Thanks for the lesson! What does it mean when a chord switches from major to minor? For example the end of the song Citizen Erased by Muse has a F major, F minor, G major chord progression!
Also, the term diatonic gets thrown around a lot here, might be nice to add a definition in there somewhere. Just a cursory Google search turned up: Diatonic - A diatonic scale is a type of music scale with seven notes. Diatonic scales has two semitone intervals (half steps) and five tone intervals (whole steps) within one octave. Diatonic scales use all seven pitch letter names (A, B, C, D etc.) in sequence without skipping any. -- For someone who has learned guitar mostly by ear, the relation to shifts in "pitches" in this definition clicked for me.
So the scale, notes and chords are the same, but they are played in different order in certin songs? Making th modal songs? I am trying to simplify it as possible
kinda disappointed in modes now - same pie, different slice? But, this guy is one talented teacher for cutting through the hype. Perhaps this is just the surface. Relating it to songs was excellent!
Haha, I know right? There is definitely a more advanced application of modes that you can get into from here. Namely, using parallel modes instead of just viewing them as relative scales. Thanks for checking out the video :)
Start thinking modes all starting on the same root note C for instance- C Ionian, C Dorian, C phrygrian etc - they are all relative to the C scale. And then apply every mode with their sharps and flats C Ionian= C D E F G A B C. C Dorian = C D Eb F G A Bb C. C Phrygrian = C Db Eb F G Ab Bb C ect etc . Then you will hear their differences in relation to each other - that is got it level. Do the same in each of the seven scales and you will have nailed it to a level people only dream of.. - pro level especiall when you can apply it to ever position up the neck of a guitar!
I do have a problem on my improvisation skill and I feel like I always did the same thing over and over again. I can't do good licks or cool stuffs myself😭 What should I practice or where should I start in your own opinion TYSM❤️
I know a lot about modes in general due to watching you tube videos, music books etc.. Other than using Ionian (major scale) and Aeolian (minor scale) I just don't see how any of the other modes are practical or useable for me. I do like the Phrygian (Spanish) mode sound and want to learn Spanish guitar. I'm sorry to say that this video has me confused. I do understand that each mode starts on a different note from the major scale ie: Phrygian scale starts on the third note of the C major scale = Em , Mixolydian scale starts on the 5th note of C major scale = G major note etc..etc.. Perhaps that is the point of your video and I'm overthinking it all. You said th3e major scale is 221-2221 ( whole , whole, half, whole whole whole half) which I understand. What is i the minor scale? Craig Ewinger
Mind blown a bit.. Oct but really known about chord's being in different modes.. I've heard it more in scales.. only thing is videos I've watched on this, they modify the major scale or pentatonic b by flattering and sharpening notes.. that's different to what you showed at the end? Bit confused
What you're describing is using parallel scales rather than relative scales. Two ways to arrive at the same conclusion. For example, changing the notes in a D major scale so that it becomes D Mixolydian would be finding a parallel scale. Both scales would start on a D note, but the remaining notes would be different. In this video, we're finding relative scales. So starting a D major scale on the 5th note (A) would give us A Mixolydian. These scales would start on different notes, but every single note from the scales would be the same. I hope that helps a bit. It can get pretty confusing pretty fast.
@@andrewclarkeguitar still bit confused.. I understand the starting note more about the key. The modes in scales that I've seen is different to what you showed. Other videos I've seen show the variation in the major or pentatonic.. if you could do a more on depth video on scales that would be good. Plus scales you can move diagonally across the neck and not just in boxes. Would be good to see a video also on the different positions of the scales (major and pentatonic a good start). Would be helpful to refer back to. The g major scales I know starts on the 3rd fret but I've noticed you use a different scale shape for the major roadmap where you finished on the e (12 thb fret). You finished on that note..
Totally lost me...Too much info too fast for me. I need to back up and restart from a former beginning. I get starting on the note int he scale but I don't inderstand how or why it switches scales and remins the same.
Help! My brain is breaking trying to understand this... I've watched a lot of video trying to explain modes, and I feel like every single explanation is missing some fundamental piece of info that makes the last 70% of the vid sound like gibberish to me... Here is where I keep getting tripped up: I get the basic idea that Dorian mode is taking the C-Major scale only using the 2nd degree, in this case D, as the tonic. Phrygian is using the 3rd degree as the tonic, etc all the way up the scale to Locrian. You can go through this process with any scale. This all makes sense. AND YET... this logically leads me to assume that if you say you're in the E Dorian scale, that means I should go to the E Major scale, and start playing it from the 2nd Degree! If you say C Dorian scale, I would assume that means go to the C-Major scale, and start playing it from the 2nd degree! BUT THEN the video will show me what they are calling the C Dorian scale, only it has 2 flats in it! Which it should not have if it's just playing from the 2nd degree of the C-Major scale! So clearly the thing that is labeled as "C Dorian" is NOT just playing from the 2nd Degree of C-Major. What am I missing? I think the answer lies in the difference between relative and parallel modes, but I cannot decipher it. Mostly I want to know why it doesn't work in the way I would assume. Saying, "hey, play this scale you already know starting on the X degree" seems way more straight-forward than whatever weird numeric alchemy gets me to a C Dorian with 2 flats.
I think you are confused with the difference between dorian and major scale. From what i understand, Dorian is different from the major scale. The tonic of dorian is the second note of the scale. Which means that If i say that im in E dorian, im using D major scale. Because E is the second note of the D major scale. That is why it is called dorian. If i say that im in C dorian, im using B major scale because the second note of B major scale is C. For example, if someone said, "hey, play A dorian scale." That means i will be playing in the key of G major. But i will use A dorian scale shape because is the second note of G major scale. Hope it helps 😅
The tonic is the root note, to hear the differences of the modes start every mode from the C, C Ionian, C Dorian, C Phrygian etc and it will click into place for you you can then explore D Dorian etc etc later as it will be so much easier for you. Ask AI to produce a chart!
I appreciate the replies! I did eventually get this concept sorted out, but the way it is taught and explained is so backwards. The insistence on explaining the modes through the lens of the major scale is just incredibly confusing. The thing that finally made it click for me is when someone explained it through the lens of the core interval pattern: T T S T T T S. Each mode is simply starting this pattern from a different letter, and this principle applies to every key. So if you know this one interval pattern, you know how to play all 87 modal scales.
I'm sorry but for some reason, you don't seem to explain modes well at all. Am I switching keys by starting on a different note? Or does the key become a mode? So, you're confusing us with keys, notes and chords.
I'll have to do an updated video on modes. Modes can be keys or scales. Modes in this context are exactly the same as you'd think of major and minor keys. They're all relative to a major key. And whether a song is in a major, minor, or modal key is dependant on the "tonal center," which is where a chord progression feels like it should resolve. There are a few important ways to learn about modes and this is just one of them.
I hope you guys enjoyed this one! Please let me know what you thought of the video in the comments. And if you want to support the channel, feel free to check out my Patreon: www.patreon.com/AndrewClarke
In 30 years of playing guitar, I had never bothered to learn this because it seemed so daunting of a task. This video not only took the mystery out of Modes but I now feel like I fully understand them from one short video. Thank you. I will be signing up for your Patreon now.
@@Jethlin2020 I'm so glad you found the video helpful! And I really appreciate that :)
@@andrewclarkeguitar I made up the acronym:
I Don't PLay Music After Lunch
to help remember the names in order.
@@Jethlin2020 Great idea to make an acronym to remember! If you wanted to have a separate word for each, you could do I Don't Play Loud Music After Lunch. But love yours as well! Cheers.
@@andrewclarkeguitar Yes! Even better..lol. How did I miss that one?
You can explain things better then most music teachers I've seen
Thank you!
Facts.
You make guitar music theory sound easy. wow. you really have the gift for teaching.
I appreciate that!
Excellent job, Andrew,,, 72-year-old (beginner/intermediate-been playing for almost three years), I've had a few try to help me understand modes. You have done it the best. Thanks...I get it!
Actually, when I saw this video, for the first time, I didn't understand modes that well, but now, after I saw the last video, from today, I came back again to this one, and now, for me, modes are totally understandable. Thank you so much!
With you I feel like, I can finally get the idea of music theory
I'm so happy to hear that! I'm confident you can :)
2:44 was really helpful. I haven’t seen that presented that way before. That makes chord progressions in songs make more sense!
Awesome! So much of this stuff is much easier to understand than others make it seem. Thanks for watching :)
I love your tutorial, I like how you use the fret board diagram and tabs to show what you are doing. Super clear lesson. thanks, I will sign up to your patron lesson. :)
So happy to hear that, thank you!
You explain things so clearly man love it 🔥 i can finally understand modes
Thanks for this hoping for more lessons to come❤️
Plenty more to come! Thanks for watching :)
I really love the way you explain things. Finished 2 music theory videos prior to this one on youtube that also covered modes and yours is by far my favorite explanation!
An intersing thing is that when I stumbled into modal theory, it was described something like lowering or rising one or a few notes of a given major scale. It is definitely easier to sense th unique flavors of modes this way, but this video made a great job of simply connecting basic major scale knowledge to the complex topic of modes. It's quite hard to find such a grounded and straight-to-the-point kind of explanation. Big thanks!
Yes! That's an important way of looking at modes for sure. I just find it's easier to grasp the basics by looking at them as relative keys/scales first, then once you grasp the basic concept, you can look at them as parallel keys/scales so you can really hear the distinct sounds. Thank you very much for the kind words. :)
@@andrewclarkeguitarCan you do a part 2 to explain what this guy meant by raise or lowering a note for modes? I think this would be good to take someone’s skill to the next level on modes
Oh wait I just realized that if you learn intervals then essentially you learn that each mode just is a different interval pattern :P or as Alex would say learning the “phone number” of that mode like the major scale’s 221-2221
@@Andrew-pv8oz You are definitely correct about the phone number.😁
What Andrew showed in the video is where the modes come from, but every single mode or key or tonality uses a scale - a set of notes in the span of a single octave. And a scale is indeed just a string of intervals, it is fundamentally exactly what it is.
Finally, Been waiting for this for a minute
I hope you find it helpful!
Good information, indeed it is all about movement and resolution of chords. Frank Gambale also has some good videos on the concept, but apart from that most internet sources omit this completely making them rather useless. I think it makes much more sense to get familiar with functional harmony first, after that modes are trivial to understand. Most folks don't play modal songs anyway.
What adds to the confusion is that a lot of people also use the names of modes to refer to scales or note material to choose for while composing or improvising (chord-scale theory). So over a non-modal song, let's say in A, when they encounter the dominant (E7) they tell you to pull notes from E-mixolydian over that chord. I find it more helpful to play/think in A while targeting chord tones of E7, then use your ear to fill in any other notes (9th, 11th, 13th) or use chromatics.
Chords progressions explained with modes and a focus on where it resolves. That is great! And I imagine helps to identify scales to use over certain progressions to get the feel we may be after. But don’t quote me lol
You're thinking in the right direction! Thanks for watching :)
These are great videos! Thank you for your dedication and hard work! For this topic I didn't understand how to use modes in songwriting when the key of the song changes. Maybe we need one more video about modes that explains that!
Hi Clarke,.
I came back today.
Keep being your awesome self in imparting knowledge.
Thanks
I appreciate that. Thank you!!
Undoubtedly the best teacher for guitar music theory out there, keep it up!
Thank you so much! 🙌
Thanks for sharing your knowledge in a way I can understand it. I've just watched this and everything makes sense now!
You're very welcome! Glad it worked for you :)
Mister, your videos are awesome, thank you.
Glad you like them! 🙏
Great video! Not just a player but a teacher. Much gratitude and appreciation for the lesdon
Thank you so much :)
Andrew you make understanding this so easy. Brilliant work thank you
You're very welcome!
I would love to see one on what to think about while soloing over changes (ie switching scales as the chords change, staying in the primary key/scale only, soloing in one key but hitting core tones as the keys pass, etc)
I think you would have really good thoughts on that…
Great suggestion! I'd like to do more stuff on soloing now that I've covered a lot of foundational stuff.
Loving these videos. Even things I thought were clear to me become much more intuitive after watching and listening. Keep working on this channel and you’re going to see subscribers increasing fast
So glad you're enjoying the videos. I really appreciate the kind words :)
Your vids are really helping me have lots of penny dropping moments. Cheers man.
I love hearing that! Cheers!
this is great. AND it helps reinforce the relatively shady understanding I have of modes. But here's my question (and how I got here): I write some atonic/jazzy chord progressions and I really can't fit a pentatonic or some kind of arpeggiated "scale" over the top of it all. I'm guessing a Modal scale might work, bit how do I get which one? Thanks!
This is insane content of modes, absolutely 💯
Dude your videos are killer! So clearly explained thanks!
Thank you! Glad you like them :)
U r a master of all music teachers 😉👍
🙏🙏
great video. for modal scales scales you show a diagram of a C major shape and play from the second degree for dorian or the fifth degree for mixolydian etc, - i get that. but when playing, do you mentally rename the mode's tonic as "1", or do you keep seeing it as the "5" of the major key scale (for mixolydian)? I keep getting confused because if i play from the "5" in the Cmaj shape (G), I'm in mixolydian. but if i don''t want to use the full seven note scale, i think G major pentatonic - and presto, the fifth degree of C major mentally becomes my 1 in the pentatonic box shape. Going back an forth between these two ways of thinking about the notes is mentally fatiguing. The only option i can think of is to learn 5 new seven note shapes for each mode where the mode's tonic is seen as the 1.That way i could go back and forth between the 7 note modal scale and pentatonic scale with the tonic staying as the 1 in my brain. But that seems like a waste since the modes all live in the 5 seven note major scale boxes i know so well.
Another good one, keep em coming Andrew. thanks
Thanks! Will do 😀
You explain this so well, thank you!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watchin!
What about soloing? Do you use the mode scale that the chord progression is based on, or do you play the mode based on the chord - 1 chord ionian, 4 chord Lydian, 5 chord mixolydian…… or do you simply choose a any mode you want to play over any chord progression based on the feel/sound you want?
I had no idea how simple modes are and how it’s all connected giving me access to play different modes and keys anywhere really
Much easier to understand than most people think!
Explained so well!
Thanks! 😀
Thanks for making this all make sense!
You’re very welcome!
Such a great explanation
Glad it was helpful!
One of the finest lessons on MODES that I have ever watched .... well done mister!!
I hope you don't mind, but I have just one question ... at 6:15 where you mention using Roman numerals for key reference, do you mind me asking why you didn't use lower case numerals for the minor keys/MODES?
Thank you! I do in more recent videos and I should have in this one. Sorry for any confusion!
Best video on TH-cam
🙏❤
Thanks for the lesson! What does it mean when a chord switches from major to minor? For example the end of the song Citizen Erased by Muse has a F major, F minor, G major chord progression!
Also, the term diatonic gets thrown around a lot here, might be nice to add a definition in there somewhere. Just a cursory Google search turned up:
Diatonic - A diatonic scale is a type of music scale with seven notes. Diatonic scales has two semitone intervals (half steps) and five tone intervals (whole steps) within one octave. Diatonic scales use all seven pitch letter names (A, B, C, D etc.) in sequence without skipping any. -- For someone who has learned guitar mostly by ear, the relation to shifts in "pitches" in this definition clicked for me.
So the scale, notes and chords are the same, but they are played in different order in certin songs? Making th modal songs? I am trying to simplify it as possible
Plz make a beginner lesson to learning scales
Sure :) I can do that.
@@andrewclarkeguitar yes .. how to connect scales and play in any key and turning into a solo .. plz .. we need a right pathaway to learn ❤️
kinda disappointed in modes now - same pie, different slice? But, this guy is one talented teacher for cutting through the hype. Perhaps this is just the surface. Relating it to songs was excellent!
Haha, I know right? There is definitely a more advanced application of modes that you can get into from here. Namely, using parallel modes instead of just viewing them as relative scales. Thanks for checking out the video :)
Start thinking modes all starting on the same root note C for instance- C Ionian, C Dorian, C phrygrian etc - they are all relative to the C scale. And then apply every mode with their sharps and flats C Ionian= C D E F G A B C. C Dorian = C D Eb F G A Bb C. C Phrygrian = C Db Eb F G Ab Bb C ect etc . Then you will hear their differences in relation to each other - that is got it level. Do the same in each of the seven scales and you will have nailed it to a level people only dream of.. - pro level especiall when you can apply it to ever position up the neck of a guitar!
@@cosmicaudio4589 You lost me on this one. Note sure what to do now. And I thought I was getting it. Oh, Thanks very much for the video!
I do have a problem on my improvisation skill and I feel like I always did the same thing over and over again. I can't do good licks or cool stuffs myself😭 What should I practice or where should I start in your own opinion TYSM❤️
Have you gone through my two Improvisation lessons yet? Also, the one about playing between chords could be quite helpful.
Video on power chords
Sure!
I know a lot about modes in general due to watching you tube videos, music books etc.. Other than using Ionian (major scale) and Aeolian (minor scale) I just don't see how any of the other modes are practical or useable for me. I do like the Phrygian (Spanish) mode sound and want to learn Spanish guitar. I'm sorry to say that this video has me confused. I do understand that each mode starts on a different note from the major scale ie: Phrygian scale starts on the third note of the C major scale = Em , Mixolydian scale starts on the 5th note of C major scale = G major note etc..etc.. Perhaps that is the point of your video and I'm overthinking it all. You said th3e major scale is 221-2221 ( whole , whole, half, whole whole whole half) which I understand. What is i the minor scale? Craig Ewinger
this is really well explained but i just need some more practice before i actually understand it at all
It's a lot of info for sure! You'll get it :)
what's the simple concept in a nut shell?
Mind blown a bit.. Oct but really known about chord's being in different modes.. I've heard it more in scales.. only thing is videos I've watched on this, they modify the major scale or pentatonic b by flattering and sharpening notes.. that's different to what you showed at the end? Bit confused
What you're describing is using parallel scales rather than relative scales. Two ways to arrive at the same conclusion.
For example, changing the notes in a D major scale so that it becomes D Mixolydian would be finding a parallel scale. Both scales would start on a D note, but the remaining notes would be different.
In this video, we're finding relative scales. So starting a D major scale on the 5th note (A) would give us A Mixolydian. These scales would start on different notes, but every single note from the scales would be the same.
I hope that helps a bit. It can get pretty confusing pretty fast.
@@andrewclarkeguitar still bit confused.. I understand the starting note more about the key.
The modes in scales that I've seen is different to what you showed. Other videos I've seen show the variation in the major or pentatonic.. if you could do a more on depth video on scales that would be good. Plus scales you can move diagonally across the neck and not just in boxes. Would be good to see a video also on the different positions of the scales (major and pentatonic a good start). Would be helpful to refer back to. The g major scales I know starts on the 3rd fret but I've noticed you use a different scale shape for the major roadmap where you finished on the e (12 thb fret). You finished on that note..
Totally lost me...Too much info too fast for me. I need to back up and restart from a former beginning. I get starting on the note int he scale but I don't inderstand how or why it switches scales and remins the same.
Now I am even more confused.
Help! My brain is breaking trying to understand this... I've watched a lot of video trying to explain modes, and I feel like every single explanation is missing some fundamental piece of info that makes the last 70% of the vid sound like gibberish to me... Here is where I keep getting tripped up: I get the basic idea that Dorian mode is taking the C-Major scale only using the 2nd degree, in this case D, as the tonic. Phrygian is using the 3rd degree as the tonic, etc all the way up the scale to Locrian. You can go through this process with any scale. This all makes sense. AND YET... this logically leads me to assume that if you say you're in the E Dorian scale, that means I should go to the E Major scale, and start playing it from the 2nd Degree! If you say C Dorian scale, I would assume that means go to the C-Major scale, and start playing it from the 2nd degree! BUT THEN the video will show me what they are calling the C Dorian scale, only it has 2 flats in it! Which it should not have if it's just playing from the 2nd degree of the C-Major scale! So clearly the thing that is labeled as "C Dorian" is NOT just playing from the 2nd Degree of C-Major. What am I missing? I think the answer lies in the difference between relative and parallel modes, but I cannot decipher it. Mostly I want to know why it doesn't work in the way I would assume. Saying, "hey, play this scale you already know starting on the X degree" seems way more straight-forward than whatever weird numeric alchemy gets me to a C Dorian with 2 flats.
I think you are confused with the difference between dorian and major scale. From what i understand, Dorian is different from the major scale. The tonic of dorian is the second note of the scale. Which means that If i say that im in E dorian, im using D major scale. Because E is the second note of the D major scale. That is why it is called dorian. If i say that im in C dorian, im using B major scale because the second note of B major scale is C. For example, if someone said, "hey, play A dorian scale." That means i will be playing in the key of G major. But i will use A dorian scale shape because is the second note of G major scale. Hope it helps 😅
The tonic is the root note, to hear the differences of the modes start every mode from the C, C Ionian, C Dorian, C Phrygian etc and it will click into place for you you can then explore D Dorian etc etc later as it will be so much easier for you. Ask AI to produce a chart!
I appreciate the replies! I did eventually get this concept sorted out, but the way it is taught and explained is so backwards. The insistence on explaining the modes through the lens of the major scale is just incredibly confusing. The thing that finally made it click for me is when someone explained it through the lens of the core interval pattern: T T S T T T S. Each mode is simply starting this pattern from a different letter, and this principle applies to every key. So if you know this one interval pattern, you know how to play all 87 modal scales.
Try this post at .75 playback speed. The rapid speech is more understandable.
I wish I had an electric🤧
Electrics are great, but you can still do everything I teach in these videos on an acoustic guitar :)
I missed something. It looks like you pulled the major/minor/dim labels out of thin air
Check out my video in “Where Chords Come From”. It explains the major/minor formula in detail. :)
👋👋👋
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man calm down your moves make me anxious
I'm sorry but for some reason, you don't seem to explain modes well at all. Am I switching keys by starting on a different note? Or does the key become a mode? So, you're confusing us with keys, notes and chords.
I'll have to do an updated video on modes. Modes can be keys or scales. Modes in this context are exactly the same as you'd think of major and minor keys. They're all relative to a major key. And whether a song is in a major, minor, or modal key is dependant on the "tonal center," which is where a chord progression feels like it should resolve. There are a few important ways to learn about modes and this is just one of them.
This guy is a clown.
Please stop upspeaking. You have such good content but upspeak is not professional for your image. Good descriptions!