Update
If you allready have MASTERED all the scales, Then modes may not apply verry much, BUT If you can't tell me in a spilt second exactly what the third and sixth are to a Cbm7 chord and every other chord right off the top of your head instaly, and be able to locate all the tones of every chord on instaly, then modes are worth looking into.
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Ok. After a lot of mumble jumble, I think I have found an explination for modes.
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I am most likely just rewording somebody elses difinition, but these are my own words on how I used modes to better myself at music.
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The deceptive thing about modes is that even though you think of modes in relation to a key, actually they are a way of "understanding" ALL KEYS at once.
So talking about D Dorian doesnt make sense. But rather talk about "Dorian" as being a small patern (scale) that can "PLACE" you in the right position of a scale, and allow you to "see" where the root, third, fith, etc... is automatically.
Chances are most people can allready do this verry well in at least one or two keys.
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::::So IF your verry intimate with the key of C for example. (You know the whole scale, and the chords that belong to that scale, and the notes and thier relationship to each chord.) THEN you can "transition" that intamacy to another key peice by peice by using modes.
If there were only one key in music modes would not be here. It is the fact that there are MANY keys, and many RELATIONSHIPS to figure out that brings use to modes.
I hope this makes sense. I was playing in C alot, and found that I was uncomfortable in other keys, because I would get lost sometimes. Once I started looking at things in terms of modes, I was able to find my place quickly after getting "off track"
In OTHER WORDS.... You dont play a mode, you use modes to learn. I think I heard someone say it was like a roadmap.... that makes sense to me now... lol
If anyone still looks at modes the ways I used to, I think I can explain it better, so message me.
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Hey everyone. I am new here, and would like some help. :cry: :cry:
Can anyone explain my options while improvising over
Dm7-G7-Cmaj7-Cmaj7
to me.
After a BUNCH of years "playing" guitar, I finnaly found out what it meant to use chord notes in your improvising. I have been blindly using the Blues Scale for years. So I stayed away from anything other than a I-IV-V progression, like 8 and 12 bar blues.
I have allways been familiar with notes and chords, just never understood that the chord tones of the chord beeing played needed to bee on beats 1 and 3.
anyways I played with a iim7-V7-IMaj7 chord progression and realized that I could play a C Major scale and "focus" on the background chord... eg. during Dm7 I played D, F, or A on beats 1+3 and used "runs" and "slurs" sometimes to connect two chords.
I tried finding different ways to play and was refered to "modes", but modes dont really help because I am being told to play what I am allready playing. Like G Mixolydian over G7. Thats what Iv'been doing, but I call it a C Major Scale, just started on G, B, or D...
Then I was told to try G bebop... Well that is a little better because It's different that the C major (G Mixolydian) I have BEEN playing. However, I didnt find the "power" of the bebop... only a little chromaticism between G and F. Whitch I can only to get to sound good decending.
Thanks in advance. Randy.