Originally Posted by: JarsewIm sorry, but is that not exactly what modes are?

To my understanding, E Phrygian means that you play within the Key of C; yet rather than having your resolving note, the tonal center, be C, you play in the key of C in such a fashion where you make the resolving note E, rather than C (even through your in the Key of C)



As for being "able" to play C Phrygian over the Key of C, I personally would never. But hey thats music, that could probably work for some people...

Key of C: C D E F G A B C

C Phrygian: C C# D# F G G# A# C
(Key of G#)

There is just to many "clashing" notes but like I said, that could be preferred for some people.

Check out:

http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=11126 -

I never said anything about how GOOD the C Phrygian mode would sound over the C major scale - it would not be a choice I would make, but it is common in spanish music. The mode played deffinelty will change thae character of a song either in a good way or a bad way.

Have you ever played an Em scale over the Key of E major - very common in rock and blues - that is playing the E Aeolian mode over the E major scale(Ionian mode). Its the diffenence in the intervals between notes that give it a different sound, the "clashing notes" is what give it the distinctive sound. You still need to choose the stronger notes within the mode based upon the underlying chord prograssion.

We need an instructor to chime in on modes from a practical use standpoint, - Lydian and Mixylodian seem to be the more popular rock modes(such as the flatted 5th is part of the Lydian mode, which is very common in hard rock). The youtube videos I linked are really good - I have started using modes based upon this explanation.