Description
Let's say you're playing a progression, right? You can find out which modes are what some people say "acceptable" to use, just by looking at the progression. Take the progression: Em - Am - C - F.
(For minor chords the symbol is a lower case m, major chords the symbol may be left out as implied.)
Think about this progression for a moment. If you thought hard enough, you'll realize those chords are right out of the modes we have been fooling around with.
Most simple songs like to stick in one set of notes, also called one key. Jazz, on the other hand, can often change key every few measures. So now that you know what the notes you use are, which mode do ya choose? We all know by now that there are 7 different types of sounds that we could use with these notes.
One simple rule is this: The chord a progression starts out with is generally the mode the song (or solo, in some cases) is. There are many exceptions to this rule, so don't get bogged down if you find that it doesn't work on any given song.
Your ears are your main guide to finding what is right for the chords. Don't always stick to directly playing out of box positions, and flying up and down patterns. Your playing will get mediocore pretty fast. Modes are simply guidelines to playing. Classical composers don't necessarily sit down and say, "I'm going to write a song in phrygian today." I'll bet you have millions of melodies inside of you waiting to come out. Play what sounds & feels right to you, even if the notes aren't falling into place (in one mode).
Ok you've learned the chord scales right? Well, now its time to have some fun and actually use this stuff. Time to make music. For your first flight, we'll start simple. Recall the triads. Now remember how you have Major, minor and diminished chords? What I want you to do is make a progression and melody.
First, a progression:
1) Pick which mode you want to play in. You won't always (or ever) do this in the real context of writing, but it is probably the easiest way and I just want to get you started using this stuff. Now that you have picked your mode, think of its root chord. For your progression, start on that chord. (If you don't know what a progression is, I suggest you refer to some beginners lessons).
2) Now think of other chords in your mode. Select 2 or 3 of them that will be included in your progression (don't do anymore, it will make your song too confusing for just learning how to use this stuff).
3) Make your very own format - decide how many measures your first chord will get, how many measures for your 2nd, 3rd and (possibly) your 4th chord will get. Decide the order of them, and if you will go back to the root chord (something I suggest). Decide how many measures your song will be, and how fast it is.
Now you should have a basic progression. If you can, try and record your playing of this rhythm part, or find another guitarist which you can switch off with rhythm and lead.
Now here's the tricky part, making a melody. First off, the mode you use should be the same as the root chord you have been using. This should establish what mode you are playing in, so for now only use notes out of that scale while soloing and making your melody.
There is no right way to make a melody. Making melodic lines comes easy to some people, and hard to others. I do have a few pointers:
1) Come back to your root note often. When in doubt, make your melody go to the root note. Why? As we know, the scale we have been using is actually seven modes in one. The only way to express feeling, or what mode you are playing in is to come back to your root note, so then those intervals match up.
2) Start and end lines on chord tones. If you are finishing a line, your best bet is to end up on a note that is in the chord you are playing over. Chord tones sound better to the untrained (and trained I guess) ear when listening. It's also a good idea to start lines like this as well.
3) Write your ideas down! You'd be surprised how many times you have a really good idea but you forget it because you don't know how its played. If you can, write it down and record it so you remember it exactly.
Now improvise a solo. A solo is the same thing, in essence, as a melody. Solos just tend to be more flashy. All of the rules of melody making apply here, but there are also some other things.
1) Don't get lost! Listen to your backing, and know where you are in the music. This will help you from making mistakes while you are playing due to not knowing where the next section is.
2) Lines that you make can either build tension or release it. Know when you are doing either, it will make your music sound so much more meaningful.
3) Listen to it in your head. Your brain comes up with great melodies. If you can't instantly take notes you hear in your head and transfer them onto the guitar, write them out and use some of that stuff in your solos.
4) Use repetition, but not too much. Our ears like to hear patterns that are repeated, kind of like they are themes. Don't get overboard on this - or your playing will sound the same the whole time.
Well, good luck with your composition. If you need any help, or would like me to critique your own recordings, feel free to email me with (or without) some sound clips.
Why is this all useful? Let me tell you something, you have to know the rules before you break them. At first your playing will probably sound like scales played up and down, but keep trying new things. Before you know it, you'll be creating meaningful melodic lines for songs and progressions.
By now you should be able to:
- Recall the modes from memory.
- Be able to look at a chord progression and figure out what key it is in. You may still have trouble with this as there are a lot of other scales in music that I have not covered.
- Be able to make your own basic song.
- Know what intervals are, and basic chord construction.
- The movable patterns of all the modes from memory.
- Be able to create melodies
Well, I know this tutorial was kind of long and tedious, but I hope you have learned something. I would rather you do this than just go on not knowing. Have fun guys and gals!
Lesson Info
