Modes, Keys, And Degrees

Alright, Ive been desperately trying to figure out music theory for a couple weeks and all this talk about modes, patterns, keys, degrees and stuff is really freaking me out. I asked this kid whos been playing longer then me but obviously didnt take the time to learn it either cause he didnt know. I have been writeing these notes on a little pad of paper and until now i hadnt anyone to ask. What are modes? How are they used? Why are they important? Keys, same thing. Degrees, I get partially but any info will help. Patterns...i dont have a clue. Again any info on these or anyother aspect or music theory will help SOOO much :) Thanks

Im sorry everyone im feeling rele stupid right now y did i post this thread in songwriting...? please excuse the newbie. :o

Originally Posted by: x0o_BurnOut_o0xIm sorry everyone im feeling rele stupid right now y did i post this thread in songwriting...? please excuse the newbie. :o

[font=trebuchet ms]No worries - it's handled.

BTW: Welcome to the forum.[/font] :)

Originally Posted by: x0o_BurnOut_o0xAlright, Ive been desperately trying to figure out music theory for a couple weeks and all this talk about modes, patterns, keys, degrees and stuff is really freaking me out. I asked this kid whos been playing longer then me but obviously didnt take the time to learn it either cause he didnt know. I have been writeing these notes on a little pad of paper and until now i hadnt anyone to ask. What are modes? How are they used? Why are they important? Keys, same thing. Degrees, I get partially but any info will help. Patterns...i dont have a clue. Again any info on these or anyother aspect or music theory will help SOOO much :) Thanks

Modes are not that difficult once you understand the notes of a scale.

For example:

C Major: C D E F G A B C

Now, if you start on the next note, but play the same sequence of notes you have a mode:

D Dorian

D E F G A B C D

E Phrygian

E F G A B C D E

F Lydian

F G A B C D E F

G Mixolydian

G A B C D E F G

A Aeolian (Natural Minor)

A B C D E F G A

B Locrian

B C D E F G A B

Not so bad eh? Modes just offer different "flavors" to the music.

Patterns or boxes refer to scale shapes:

e|-----5-------8----
b|-----5-------8----
g|-----5------7-----
d|-----5------7-----
a|-----5------7-----
E|-----5-------8----

These notes are played individually and make up A pentatonic minor.

That's one shape or pattern. The thing thats bad about learning this way is players often get trapped inside these boxes and only play the notes within them. You'll hear people ripping on Kirk Hammet for using his penta-licks this way.

It's best off to start learning the notes of the fretboard, then major and minor scales. After that it sort of falls into place.

Hope that helps. Any more questions shoot away, or just do a search. This topics been discussed a million times.

Here is a start

http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=8078&s_id=78

Thanks to everyone who helped me out on this i understand now! :D

Originally Posted by: x0o_BurnOut_o0xThanks to everyone who helped me out on this i understand now! :D

Glad we could be of some service.

hehe sorry I have to let out a small chucke. I am on my 2yrd year of music theory and I still am not even close to figuring it all out. The modes, intervals, vocing, ect ect are just the beginning. It really takes a lot of time and studying to really every get music theory done completely., but that doesn't matter. It is just theory, right?

Originally Posted by: Pantallica1Modes are not that difficult once you understand the notes of a scale.

For example:

C Major: C D E F G A B C

Now, if you start on the next note, but play the same sequence of notes you have a mode:

D Dorian

D E F G A B C D

E Phrygian

E F G A B C D E

F Lydian

F G A B C D E F

G Mixolydian

G A B C D E F G

A Aeolian (Natural Minor)

A B C D E F G A

B Locrian

B C D E F G A B

Not so bad eh? Modes just offer different "flavors" to the music.

Patterns or boxes refer to scale shapes:

e|-----5-------8----
b|-----5-------8----
g|-----5------7-----
d|-----5------7-----
a|-----5------7-----
E|-----5-------8----

These notes are played individually and make up A pentatonic minor.

That's one shape or pattern. The thing thats bad about learning this way is players often get trapped inside these boxes and only play the notes within them. You'll hear people ripping on Kirk Hammet for using his penta-licks this way.

It's best off to start learning the notes of the fretboard, then major and minor scales. After that it sort of falls into place.

Hope that helps. Any more questions shoot away, or just do a search. This topics been discussed a million times.

Got it but. . . . . are these minor or major?
if not how do i make them major or minor?
Thank u

modes & scales hmmmmmmmm


is it french mexican or italian food?



Itghink its the new wenndys combo . . . . .

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ! ! !

Originally Posted by: majestycGot it but. . . . . are these minor or major?
if not how do i make them major or minor?
Thank u

The only mode that's major is Lydian, the rest are minor.

If you're asking how to make C major, minor, that's obvious, and all the modes follow the notes in C minor then. Same concept, different notes.

Originally Posted by: Pantallica1The only mode that's major is Lydian, the rest are minor.

I may be wrong but ive checked a zillion sites and the modes are as follows:

Ionian- Major(this is natural major scale, which the other modes came from)
Dorian- Minor
Phrygian- Minor
Lydian- Major
Mixolydian- Major
Aeolian- Minor (this is the natural minor scale)
Locrian-Minor

I know next to nothing about the dynamics of music but this I thought was right.Someone please correct me if im wrong!

Originally Posted by: x0o_BurnOut_o0xI may be wrong but ive checked a zillion sites and the modes are as follows:

Ionian- Major(this is natural major scale, which the other modes came from)
Dorian- Minor
Phrygian- Minor
Lydian- Major
Mixolydian- Major
Aeolian- Minor (this is the natural minor scale)
Locrian-Minor

I know next to nothing about the dynamics of music but this I thought was right.Someone please correct me if im wrong!

That's correct. I left out Mixolydian, and Ionian, is just another name for Major. C Ionian is C major.

Originally Posted by: Pantallica1The only mode that's major is Lydian, the rest are minor.

If you're asking how to make C major, minor, that's obvious, and all the modes follow the notes in C minor then. Same concept, different notes.

Can u give me an example ?sorry i feel so stupid

Like the patterns ans stuff

THNX

thanks i thought i had been wrong this whole time

Originally Posted by: majestycCan u give me an example ?sorry i feel so stupid

Like the patterns ans stuff

THNX

The natural minor "pattern" is:

e|-------------------------------------------------------------5---7----8
b|--------------------------------------------------5---6----8
g|---------------------------------------------5---7--------------------
d|-------------------------------5---7---9----------------
a|------------------5---7---8-----------------
E|------5---7---8----------------

Which is (A B C D E F G A) repeated over 2 times.

Move the root note (5 on the E string) to say 12 (E) and play the same pattern and you have E natural minor.

Once you know the patterns, it's pretty easy because the patterns stay in order.