Quick Question on Modes

[Koolen]

Modes are 2 or more patterns that sound the same right? Of course in the same key and scale.

So, it is just basically using a different position for the same thing right?

Example:

----------
----------
----------
-------7--
-----7----
-5-8------

----------
----------
----------
-------7--
-----7----
-5-3------

Both sound exactly the same and are in the same key and scale, so are these two modes of A minor chord 1?

Sorry if these question has been over used.

[John O'Carroll]

Uhhh, no, your examples are not the same, and it's obvious you don't know much, if anything, related to modes. You need to search here through the numerous threads relating to modes (there are many !) and bring yourself up to speed. After you've done that and you have some understanding of what modes are, specific questions can be answered here by any number of knowledgable people. Sorry if this seems harsh, but click the links and get started.

http://www.guitartricks.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=6343

http://www.guitartricks.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=6246

[Axl_Rose]

Em.. that was harsh and if I was a new poster I wouldnt be keen on posting again!!

[noticingthemistake]

Hey John. All due respect to you, but chill out man. If it seems harsh to you, don't write it.

And koolen - check your tab again. I think you meant that "3" to be up a string. And to answer your question, A mode is just playing a scale (like C major), but starting on a different note other than C. Like starting on D would be the D dorian mode. The pattern of the C major scale stays the same, just the starting and ending point is different. Need more info, check the search option on this page.

[John O'Carroll]

Koolen: my apologies for my hasty reply.
Good advice for the future "noticing", but the questions & misconceptions on modes comes up here much too often. The search feature here is excellent, and if ALL posters would avail themselves of it, knowledgable people such as yourself wouldn't have to repost the same thing over and over and over.

BTW, I think that modes can be more easily understood if BOTH methods are taken into consideration. Simply saying that "it's the same scale but you start and end on a different note" can help to get "a" pattern down, but understanding the INTERVALS that distinguish modes of the SAME key and why and when they are used MAY help novices understand a bit better; then again, maybe not.

e.g. Intervals of the modes of C ( where w=whole step or 2 frets , h=half step or 1 fret).

Mode...............Intervals........Notes...............................Scale degrees
C Ionian..........wwhwwwh......C D E F G A B C...............1,2,3,4,5,6,7
C Dorian..........whwwwhw......C D Eb F G A Bb C...........1,2,b3,4,5,6,b7
C Phrygian.......hwwwhww.....C Db Eb F G Ab Bb C.......1,b2,b3,4,5,b6,b7
C Lydian..........wwwhwwh......C D E F# G A B C............1,2,3,#4,5,6,7
C Mixolydian...wwhwwhw......C D E F G A Bb C............1,2,3,4,5,6,b7
C Aeolian........whwwhww.......C D Eb F G Ab Bb C........1,2,b3,4,5,b6,b7
C Locrian........ hwwhwww.......C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C....1,b2,b3,4,b5,b6,b7


The intervals remain the same for all of the keys. This applies to harmonic and melodic minor modes also. Then a discussion of WHY & WHEN modes are used ( this can be debated endlessly ) should ensue. The underlying chords will suggest (or demand) a mode (or two or even three) that can be used - again - all this has been posted here before.

Getting the information above to line up exactly is a real pain.
Here's a link that may be helpful and probably a lot clearer than my attempt.

http://www.guitarstuff.com/lessons/lessons.html

[Edited by John O'Carroll on 05-01-2003 at 07:44 AM]

[SLY]

I think someone should make an article that includes almost everything about modes exclusively with few examples on this site , so that whenever anybody ask that question you only have to mention the link , instead of making an intensive post each time.

[John O'Carroll]

One of the hosts here has some good info re: modes.
http://www.guitartricks.com/2000/host.php?input=66

A search here turns up 116 threads relating to "modes"; wading through them all may be tedious but you just may find something that helps.

Edit: Here's another site that covers modes ( and many other guitar topics )
http://www.zentao.com/guitar/modes/



[Edited by John O'Carroll on 05-01-2003 at 01:43 PM]

[Dr_simon]

I dug this up from the newsletter archive. In addition to the above info. it might make a good starting point.

http://www.guitartricks.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=5823

I think of modes in terms of tonality, like the way a minor scale is different from a major scale which in tern is due to different intervals between the notes making up the scale.

best of luck
S

[noticingthemistake]

Yeah I know it seems like after a thread is over 10 days old, someone else asks the same question. Especially about modes and what they are, blah blah. I was actually thinking the samething SLY, until then here's a link to just about everything everyone has added about modes on this site.

http://www.guitartricks.com/2000/search.php?input=mode&PHPSESSID=9a0a97d23b9fed17ba9ac46a7b849716

The Zentao site John posted is cool too. I think the samething to Simon, and all the confusion about them would probably be solved if people would look at them as being an individual scale instead of it's relation with the parent scale.