Modes, Stay on topic Options

[kaznie_NL]

Hey Guys,

Col Roberts was being a nice guy, and he sent me an explanation of modes, because I was a bit confused. I thought, why not share it? So here it is, I hop you guys can use it.

Hi Kaz,
You seem to be a little confused with the modes. Most important thing to remember is modes are scales within a scale. For example,
The C major scale consists of the notes: C D E F G A B C
1st mode is C Ionian (Major)
2nd mode is D Dorian
3rd mode is E Phrygian
4th mode is F Lydian
5th mode is G Myxolydian
6th mode is A Aeolian (Minor)
7th mode is B Locrian

The main thing to remember is that all of these modes have the same notes, only the root note changes. Therefore, you can play any of these modes over chords derived from the C major scale. The phrase " I Don't Play Licks My Aunt Likes" is helpful for remembering the order of the modes.

What can you play the D Lydian scale over?
You can see that Lydian is the 4th mode. Just work back to the Ionian mode to find out what the major scale it is derived from:
1st mode A Ionian
2nd mode B Dorian
3rd mode C# Phrygian
4th mode D Lydian

So D Lydian is a mode of the A Major scale (ie. it has the same notes as the A major scale). The notes of the A Major scale are: A B C# D E F# G#.
Therefore, you can play D Lydian over the D chord (D F# A), but if you try to play it over chords derived from the C major scale you would need to take great care not to play the C#, F# and G# notes.
If you have an A major scale chord progression you can, of course, play D Lydian over all of it.

Now let's look at D Phrygian. Working back to the Ionian (major) mode:
1st mode Bb Ionian
2nd mode C Dorian
3rd mode D Phrygian

Remember, when you are working back to the Ionian mode, the steps are WWHWWWH (the intervals of the Ionian mode) ie. D Phrygian (WHOLE tone back) to C Dorian (WHOLE tone back) to Bb Ionian. The notes of the Bb Major scale (and D Phrygian mode, of course) are: Bb C D Eb F G A
Notice there is no F# in this scale, so it shouldn't be played against a D major chord. It can be played over a Dm7(b9) chord etc.

Note: D Lydian is a MAJOR mode and D Phrygian is a MINOR mode.

Hope some of this helps. Now I'll get back to practicing (with the Kaz-box!!!).

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[Outlaw2112]

Hey Guys,

Col Roberts was being a nice guy, and he sent me an explanation of modes, because I was a bit confused. I thought, why not share it? So here it is, I hop you guys can use it.

Hi Kaz,
You seem to be a little confused with the modes. Most important thing to remember is modes are scales within a scale. For example,
The C major scale consists of the notes: C D E F G A B C
1st mode is C Ionian (Major)
2nd mode is D Dorian
3rd mode is E Phrygian
4th mode is F Lydian
5th mode is G Myxolydian
6th mode is A Aeolian (Minor)
7th mode is B Locrian

The main thing to remember is that all of these modes have the same notes, only the root note changes. Therefore, you can play any of these modes over chords derived from the C major scale. The phrase " I Don't Play Licks My Aunt Likes" is helpful for remembering the order of the modes.

What can you play the D Lydian scale over?
You can see that Lydian is the 4th mode. Just work back to the Ionian mode to find out what the major scale it is derived from:
1st mode A Ionian
2nd mode B Dorian
3rd mode C# Phrygian
4th mode D Lydian

So D Lydian is a mode of the A Major scale (ie. it has the same notes as the A major scale). The notes of the A Major scale are: A B C# D E F# G#.
Therefore, you can play D Lydian over the D chord (D F# A), but if you try to play it over chords derived from the C major scale you would need to take great care not to play the C#, F# and G# notes.
If you have an A major scale chord progression you can, of course, play D Lydian over all of it.

Now let's look at D Phrygian. Working back to the Ionian (major) mode:
1st mode Bb Ionian
2nd mode C Dorian
3rd mode D Phrygian

Remember, when you are working back to the Ionian mode, the steps are WWHWWWH (the intervals of the Ionian mode) ie. D Phrygian (WHOLE tone back) to C Dorian (WHOLE tone back) to Bb Ionian. The notes of the Bb Major scale (and D Phrygian mode, of course) are: Bb C D Eb F G A
Notice there is no F# in this scale, so it shouldn't be played against a D major chord. It can be played over a Dm7(b9) chord etc.

Note: D Lydian is a MAJOR mode and D Phrygian is a MINOR mode.

Hope some of this helps. Now I'll get back to practicing (with the Kaz-box!!!).

thanks for sharing... helps alot and ill be looking at this as a reference point for awhile

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[Marek Rojewski]

Thanks! It sounds quite simple, and is helpful:)

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