Originally posted by griphon2
Get rid of this logic. Root note, etc. You're stuck. My idea is sound. Forget about theory, or whatever you've been told, sort of. Play buddy. Take the knowledge you have acquired, and RUN! Do the work.

Ok, griphon. I'll explain why your "easy logic" is so much harder to learn. First, I hope you understand when you play a scale, you start with the root. That is how it is understood! If your still unaware of this, I'll show you why in a few.

Now correct me if I'm wrong, the idea of learning the C major scale is the same as the G Mixolydian? Because they have the same notes right? Does this mean if you know the C major scale, you also know D dorian, E phyrgian??? NO!!! You have to learn those individually cause they are DIFFERENT SCALES. Here's how screwed up your idea is. First of all, if you are starting with a different note in any scale, you are playing that scales mode. So by playing the C major scale, you learn the G mixolydian. NO! You just learned the Mode of the G mixolydian scale, which is a mode to begin with. So your just learned a mode of a mode which makes no sense, and it only throws you for a loop back to figuring out the G mixolydian scale. WHICH IS WHERE YOU WANTED TO START IN THE FIRST PLACE! I'll explain.

Originally posted by griphon2
Mixolydian - 4th above the root (for G play Cmaj scale) V

With saying it this way and doing it this way. Although it is correct in a way, all you did was reverse the process of what modes are. *A mode is nothing more than playing a scale but your starting with a note other than the root. So with your way, Play the C major scale to learn the G mixolydian scale. Your still gonna have to start with the G, so you just made the process LONGER!!!!! Like I wrote at the end of the previous paragraph. Why not say play the C major scale but start with the G, and you will have the G mixolydian scale. This is more sound, makes more sense, and is a much faster process *2! Getting it??

Unless you start a scale on a note other than the root? You would be the only one, because your going back into the modal scales again. Looping endlessly. WHEN YOU PLAY A UNDERSTOOD SCALE YOU START WILL THE ROOT!!! Scales are based on interval patterns starting with the Root Note! I hope your getting this now. And when someone asks you to play a G mixolydian scale, you dont play the C major scale. Unless you want to be taking for an idiot!

Do it your way Griphon. If it works for you, thats great. But to a beginner who wants to understand modes, or to someone who is just looking for info. Your concept can become very confusing to them. It's almost like your saying there is no need for modes, cause the C major scale has the same notes as the D dorian scale. So in the end, why even have the D dorian?? This won't help anyone who is trying to learn about modes. Your idea of tonalities is good, but not the explanation of modes.

Footnotes:
* There is more to this definition, but it doesn't mean anything to this discussion. And what I mean by root is C to the C major scale (also C Ionain).

*2 I still don't advice this way, because the first thing your thinking of is the C major scale. When you want to be thinking of the G mixolydian scale first and only. Learn each scale individually, like you learned the major and minor scales. It's easier when you need to pull them out and takes less brain power.