modes

[ThroneofbahoS]

could someone sort me out what a mode is and how to use em? I don't know much about theory, so some quite simple explanation would be apperciated...

[Metal Phreak]

Oh god why am I bothering to do this? Okay I'll try to explain it some without writing for an hour (I'm not going to write out all the modes).
The names of all the Major and Minor modes are Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian, Ionian, and Dorian. They are basically just finger patterns that determine the notes and what key your playing in. For example if your playing in C Major the notes are A B C D E F G and Phrygian would start on E (I am doing this from memory so I might fuck up):

(standard tuning)
----------------------------------------0-1-3-
--------------------------------0-1-3---------
--------------------------0-2------------------
------------------0-2-3-----------------------
----------0-2-3-------------------------------
- 0-1-3---------------------------------------

So the finger pattern for Phrygian looks like this:

-0-|-0-|---|-0-|
-0-|-0-|---|-0-|
-0-|---|-0-|---|
-0-|---|-0-|-0-|
-0-|---|-0-|-0-|
-0-|-0-|---|-0-|

The root note of the modes determines what key your playing in. And whatever key your playing in is the root note of Ionian. So for C major, Ionian looks like this (remember I'm doing this from memory):

----------------------------------------------------------10-12-13--
---------------------------------------------10-12-13---------------
----------------------------------9-10-12----------------------------
-----------------------9-10-12---------------------------------------
------------8-10-12--------------------------------------------------
-8-10-12-------------------------------------------------------------

But if you were playing in G major for example you would start that same finger pattern on the third fret instead of the eighth. And if you were playing in A you would start on the 5th fret, and if you were playing in B you would start that same pattern on the 7th fret etc. Once you know the position of that mode all the others correspond accordingly, giving you the ability to figure out where every other note is over the entire neck.
I believe becoming familiar with your modes and understanding how they work is crucial to mastering your spontaneous composition and improvisation. It certainly gave me a lot of direction. There are a lot of more exotic scales that are also a lot of fun. If you want I'll explain this more later but not now. I hope this helps.

[ThroneofbahoS]

Ok... it sure helps... THX!
:beer:

[Darko]

i just posted alot of modes by the way :)

[shredaholic]

http://shredaholic.proboards42.com/index.cgi?board=theory&action=display&thread=1112546709

hope that helps

[davie_gravy]

I think a sticky thread in the theory forum for modes would make a great thread. Esp so we don't get those random "what is a mode" posts every couple weeks or so. Just an idea....

[johnmansley]

Somebody start it up and I'll sticky it.

[powersofterror]

^
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And I'll close this.