Originally Posted by: dvenetian
The modes use all of the same notes as the Major (Ionian) scale, they just start their pattern with a different note, so what's the big deal??[/quote]
The big deal is that it can be very confusing and can take a long time to truly grasp, understand and incorporate.
[quote=dvenetian]
Many players never grasp the concept of incorporating Modal Theory with their style because they view the mode only to the Parent Diatonic scale, not as it's own tonal center and surround it with notes that relate to it.
A mode can't have "it's own tonal center" because the very concept of tonal relates to tonality as distinguished from modality. A mode can have it's own root note, it's own circled 1 on the fretboard patterns.
The primary distinction that is important to make is between a modal approach and a tonal approach.
A modal approach is regarding any given mode as the primary group of notes to used as in creating a piece of music. Typically, the result of this is that a tonal resolution is not present. There is no leading tone cadential resolution, and the chords do not necessarily follow the principles of Functional Harmony.
Example: a song or part of a song that uses the A aeolian mode and has these chords in this order - A min/G maj/F maj/G maj/A min. No leading tone present, no harmonic resolution.
A tonal approach is regarding any major or minor scale (altered to contain the raised 7th when required) as the primary group of notes to used as in creating a piece of music. Necessarily, the result of this is that at some point a tonal resolution is present. There is a leading tone cadential resolution, and the chords at some point necessarily follow the principles of Functional Harmony.
Example: a song or part of a song that uses the A minor scale and has these chords in this order - A min/G maj/F maj/E7/A min. Note that the E7 has a G# (altered 7th) as the leading tone, which then forms the harmonic resolution (V7-i).
So you can think of and use modes when you are playing no matter what. But they have a very specific function and there is an important difference between modal and tonal.
