This channel is a gold mine. Invaluable material explained easy and for free. I'm sure you need these little daily reminders, so keep at it man, you're helping thousands of people.
+Alessandro Olla ps. I am clearly biased but I would keep at the advanced road, there are way too many videos on the basic stuff on youtube and your talent to simplify things emerges more in these videos (you can bring more value to yt) rather than the basic ones
Hey Michael, I'm a self taught/teaching "musician" and I just wanted to say, your video's on modes (as well as others) have been really REALLY helpful over the past week or so, and I guess I just wanted to say, thanks.
A general comment on your channel. I have been playing music for 34 years, primarily guitar. I have had several teachers, took years of lessons (piano, guitar, voice), but NEVER got music theory. As such, I have been primarily an ear player. But today I watched your circle of 5ths video, and a light came on. So I subscribed to your channel and looked for other interesting lessons when I landed on this mode lesson. As I started watching, another light came on. My point is that you have a knack for teaching this material, your format on UA-cam works. KEEP DOING THIS... YOU ARE A FANTASTIC TEACHER! I will be a regular watcher... this is going to make me a better musician.
+Michael New I think it's because he only covers every aspect of basic theory with the intention of following grading syllabus. And he also started 8 years ago so he had a lot of time. What I like about your channel is that you expect us to already understand those basics so that you can teach us the advanced stuff. Thank you Michael, I really appreciate the work you are doing!
Get Got just found the site. working on modes and scales just realized that I saw mommy kissing Santa Clause is c major pentatonic cdegac. heated checked it out and it is indeed a cmajor 6 with a two.. I'm working on recognizing things was that the Simpsons I am not sure it may have been the Jetsons.
Ok, it's time to write a first comment. I've watched a few of your videos, they all were nice and this one, well... just want to let you know you should most definitely keep doing what you're doing. Thanks!!
+Michael New I was going to post the same thing, your work is unbelievable, I've had many lessons online and otherwise and there is literally no one else who does it as well as you. Had to comment!
+Andrew Smith search better ;-) There are a few more guys doing amazing music theory and piano playing around. But they all (together with Michael) compliment each other; it's only good for all of us.
Full disclosure: I am a hobbyist musician and have a couple years of theory under my belt. Even I came away with new insight by viewing this video. Brilliant, Michael. Simply brilliant. Your content is concise and your pedagogic approach is spot on. Every time you put out a video, it reinforces my initial decision for subscribing to your channel.
I'm 64 years of age and it's taken a very ,intelligent,talented young American man to hammer through to my brain how Modes actually work.The steps of the tones AND how they are used with chords and all the rest of the things that have confused me over the years. I salute you Sir and thank you very,very much :0)
so unbelievably helpful. I've been so confused about how I would use modes at all for the longest time and this clears up so much. On the subject of what you should do next, I think you should stay with the more advanced stuff since so many others cover the basics and you make advanced stuff easy to learn. anyways amazing job on this video. I'm excited to see whatever you post next.
It's completely up to you of course, but most basic stuff is covered in one way or another and the more difficult stuff is usually taught in ways I don't understand. I'll of course watch whatever you post regardless of what it's on. I'm sure whatever you cover will be great.
Never losing your perspective while tackling a hydra-headed subject is a gift. Patiently sharing this with countless people is priceless, for you and for us. Thanks a lot
Hey Michael (my name is Michael too LOL) you did a great job here, very nice. Great to see that someone here on youtube actually is showing folks what to do with modes...that's got to be the #1 thing we hear people wanna know about for sure, people will show what these things are, but no one really shows what to do with them/how to use them in playing music, so hats off to you! I would really recommend that you take this another step further and do one on the Mixolydian mode...even though lots of folks don't like the Phrygian and Locrian modes, it could be cool to do a video on maybe those 2 modes anyway in the sense of just helping people learn more about modes in general--why people don't like using those 2 modes LOL. Even if we don't like using those 2 modes, the more we know about these things, the better it helps to understand the do's-and-dont's of using modes.
+Michael Bishop I agree. I think I was too dismissive of those two modes (especially the phrygian), and even just learning about why they're not commonly used would be useful. I definitely plan to explore modes further.
You do a great job in explaining the do's-and-don'ts of modes. I don't think you we're too dismissive about them, but for folks who are just starting to get into things like modes, it would be a great help to them/everyone who watches your videos. The better we understand the "do this and don't do" concepts, the better we understand how to use them in our own playing, regardless of what instrument we play. Good playing to you! I'll be sending Saxophone videos to you soon to check out.
Great lesson! I love your videos. One suggestion from something I saw in another tutorial video: when you have your camera pointed at a writing/drawing space, look in the camera view and then for each corner put a little dot or mark on the board. This way you won't have to check the camera to see if you're within its view; you can just look at the whiteboard and know that anything within the four dots will be in view. Hope that helps! You've definitely been helping me.
Fabulous. Advanced is the way to go. And more on application of the theory if poss. 30 mins may be long for some but I could easily watch more. Huge thanks for this eye opener. Cheers! Guitar student, Paul.
I have been looking into music theory and found it SO interesting for years, but always felt like my brain just would not mix with the logic used for this stuff... I've watched all the videos in your chronological playlist and am suddenly understanding all these topics I've had multiple classes on in the past. Thank you so much and I hope you keep going!!
I've taught myself almost everything I've ever learned on piano from youtube. I've been struggling the past few years to find a teacher that describes the music theory in a way that is straightforward, logically sounds, and visually relateable. I've been on a bender of your theory videos since I found your channel, and have expanded my ability 10x. I don't know why, but for some reason, these lessons stuck out far more than other videos I've watched, and thing are finally starting to click. Thanks for these videos, and keep up the good work!
It's... interesting how the sequence of Major, Minor and Diminished chords remains the same, whether it's a major scale, minor scale, lydian scale... The only difference being the starting point. Which makes perfect sense, considering how these scales work. If the chord pattern for a Major key (I - Ionian) is: "I ii iii IV V vi viiº" The Lydian (IV) key is the same as the Major key except that the 4th note in the pattern becomes the 1st. Likewise, the 4th chord in this pattern becomes the 1st. So: "IV V vi viiº I ii iii", which, in the new order, becomes "I II iii ivº V vi vii". Aaaand the same rule applies to all the other modes. So cool!! Sidenote: the Locrian mode starts with a diminished key. No wonder nobody likes it. :'(
You sir owe me three fist bumps. I just watched this for the third time. Each time I make progress in music I come back and watch it again. I learn something new or get ideas for things every time. Thanks for putting out this kind of stuff for free.
This is really good stuff, thanks. I've always thought, having been taught music theory reasonably comprehensively but not comprehensively enough, because I never learnt about modes, that using notes outside the key was kind of "odd", so would never have thought of using such notes in my songwriting. But I noticed the use of what I guess are literally chromatic notes in some pop music that I was learning to play on the piano (maybe in some stuff by ABBA), and thought it quite remarkable at the time that it sounded so right, especially when compared with the same melody "corrected" with "conventional" notes, and yet the notes weren't in the key. I found this quite remarkable. Thinking about it now, they may have been borrowing notes from another mode, or they may just have been experimenting, but either way, what's clear is that the key (conventional major/minor mode) is not a straitjacket never to be broken out of.
There are a lot of great UA-cam music theory teachers but Michael, you're right up there with them. You're very articulate and eloquent and your lessons are really comprehensive. I've been producing music for a long time - since the 80's/90's but I've come from a very technological music background, utilizing software on first microcomputers then PC's, but my lifetime ambition has always been to play the keyboard / piano. Although I've always had a very basic understanding of music theory, I said to myself at the start of this year, "I'm going to once and for all put in the time and dedication needed to become accomplished at the instrument," and I've progressed very well in a short space of time. I watched literally thousands of UA-cam piano tutorials over the years but it's only upon watching this particular video that I understand how the chords are either minor or major on each degree of the respective minor or major scales. I've always had recourse to the charts which state that in a major scale the chords on the sequential degrees are maj, min, min, maj maj, min dim - and likewise the chart for the minor scale, but it wasn't until I saw your abstract major scale diagram that I understood how they were determined - the irony is, you weren't even teaching that, it was just a byproduct of your overall lesson that the penny finally dropped for me. Consequently, I feel like letting off a big Homer Simpson type "Doh!" Anyway, thanks for the lessons, they're superb. I've still got a long way to go, mainly with technique more than anything else - just like my music production career, I've tried to run before I can walk, and I actually feel like I'm reverse engineering everything, lol, but like I say, I'm getting there. Anyway, keep up the superb tutorials, and incidentally I like your cat, try and feature him again in one of your future videos, lol. All the best.
+MCForty Sounds like you're on quite the epic musical journey :) Glad I could help you out a little along the way. Personally I try not to use charts or reference books too much, because I feel like it can keep you from making those kind of connections. In fact I think the more you learn new concepts the more you start to realize that there's really not that much to music theory. You're really just taking a group of notes and looking at the different ways those notes interact and what kind of sounds they make. I think it actually gets easier as you go, rather than harder. Anyway, best of luck with everything. I'm excited for you.
PLEASE continue going into the various modes! I have been trying to grasp this stuff on my own for about a year and after watching this video I understand more than I ever have ! THANK YOU!
I would love to see you doing a composition. Like picking a key, a mode/scale, progression(s), melodies etc where you use most of the things you taught so far. Thank you for everything you did!
Michael I can't thank you enough for this video. I watched several videos over the years on modal theory, but they never made sense. This video made my understanding of notes crystal clear.
I am a self-taught bass player(I definitely have to take some serious lessons to improve), with a shallow knowledge of how to actually apply music theory to composition, but every time I watch one of your videos, I feel I am becoming a better musician. These videos are exactly what I needed! Keep up with your great work, you are a very good theacher ;)
Best and most understandable explanation of what modes do that I have seen so far - especially regarding the choice of alternative notes to use in a melody or during a solo depending on what chord of the chord progression you are hearing.
Hi Michael, you're videos have been amazing, I've learned so much in the past few weeks. Your explanations are on point, you don't go too fast and not to slow either, every time you explain something it sticks. Thank u so much for all the work you put into these videos, they've been of great help. And since you're looking for feedback on wheter or not you should go even deeper into this, I would love it, and I think most other people will too.
This is a great crash course and refresher on building the chords and using the scale! One of the trickiest things I struggle with when using modes is sounding like I'm still in the same key. It's really easy for G Lydian to slip into D major, the more often you use the C# the more it's going to start sounding like the leading tone. G starts sounding like the subdominant if I'm not careful, but that's usually just when I'm blocking out chords without a melody
Thanks so much for your videos, Michael. You have a real gift for teaching an advanced subject as simply as possible without making me feel stupid. Hope that makes sense. Loved, LOVED the interrupting kitty. So cute! :)
Your way of teaching music is very clear and visual. I loved that you wrote on your keyboard! I think that helps others. Modes are easily translated to melody/chord combinations for song building. Lydian (CDEF#GABC), Ryukyu (CEFGBC) and so many others have fun alternates where you can play one with left, one with right and your timing makes the hook. I like your take on melody. Can you do a session on melody plus chords explaining left and right hand timing?
I've been teaching myself music with books and other online tools for a few years now, but these videos (this one in particular) really helps me internalize the material, and bridge the gap between knowledge and creativity. I would love some more mode centered vids, just to see other ways to interpret these topics. Thanks for the great work!
You're by far the best piano teacher on youtube. The way you explain things simply makes sense to me. Please more mode videos! It is very interesting and healthy lol! Hopefully you can do one covering how I can apply these types of techniques using a minor scale too. Because I often tend to get stuck playing the "right" keys all the time and not doing this more alot more often. Cheers Michael!
Even though I watched this video way past my bedtime, I couldn't stop watching it. While this might've been your longest video yet, I wished it had gone longer still. This video is brilliant and I thank you deeply for it.
man you are a great teacher... I play by ear and lately I've been trying to learn theory. Nothing has helped I've bought books dvds even bought the more expensive dvd collection but it was a waste of money because i didn't learn anything and it was moving entirely to slow for me....but your videos have propelled me and i understand way more from you then i have from all the dads and book together... keep up the good work and keep them coming
+Himbae Hunt Hey, that's great to hear. Glad my particular style is working for you. If you do happen to come across any material you like, let me know.
I wish I had this information when I was a child. Wow! You are a good teacher. I stopped making music many years ago when the computer industry overtook me like a tsunami. I had to stop watching somewhere in the middle, then continue watching your video after a night's sleep. It was way too much for my attention span. I think I can now start composing music! I just need to buy some instrument. Thank you very much. Subscribed.
These videos are so fantastic. Just started playing piano a few months ago. After watching your basic videos I'm confident enough to make my own melodies, even if I can't play "the Entertainer" yet. your videos are very inspiring and you make music theory seem easier than it is.
I don't know why the dude from Workaholics dyed his hair and is making music lessons, but this is pretty amazing. I haven't taken lessons for 8 years, and your videos have rekindled my interest in theory. I've tried a lot of static websites over the years that didn't lead to anything, but they didn't offer the experienced perspective that you do. I'm actually thinking about music differently after watching a few videos, and it's awesome. Thanks.
You are such a excellent teacher. I finally understand Modes, Circle of 5ths, 7th chords, chords in a key, diminished, aug and minor chords etc etc!! Thank you thank you thank you! I think I've now watched most of your videos.
This was super helpful! Please continue talking about modes. Yes these are a bit more advanced, but you clearly explain it. I find other videos on the subject clumsy with and with heavy jargon.
Really great video man. I've been working as a musician and producer for over 10 years and never quite understood this, and this video cleared up everything.
Thank you so much for explaining this so clearly, everyone else I've seen takes such a non-practical approach that I've been left like "okay I think I get it, but how do you actually use them?" you finally answered that for me.
Really like your videos on writing melody. They're to the point, well informed and well taught. Thanks. I play guitar and have studied modes in that context. It's taken me a while to decipher what is taught on the topic. I've observed two approaches. One is to emphasize the sound of the different modes. I think your lesson does that well. The other is to consider modes as just a different way of playing the same scale but starting with a different note each time. This is important on guitar as you learn to play a given scale in different positions on the neck of the guitar. In the example above, the G Lydian mode uses the D scale (two sharps C# and F#) but with the 'g' note as the root. The scale notes then become g,a,b,c#, d,e,f#. The chords follow as you demonstrated. In the G Lydian mode you end up with all the same chords for the D scale but with the G now as the 1 chord. The various modal names - Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian etc relate to scales created using the notes from the same scale but starting with the 1st, 2nd, 3rd notes of the Ionian scale respectively. Personally I find this the best way to think of a modes. 'Loving you', sung by Minnie Ripeton has a Lydian chord progression. 'Mad World' sung by Gary Jules has a Dorian chord progression. The very distinct sounds of the modes suits the song.
Michael New is at the top of my list when it comes to clearly, cleverly and insightfully presenting music theory concepts. Lucky to have such a talent. Watching is tutorial videos brings on many 'a ha' moments.
The best mode explanation I've ever seen. Thank you very much Mike. I love the way you do lessons and edit videos. Simple, short, straight to the point. Thank you.
Defiantly + one on the more advanced lessons in later videos. As mentioned before in the comments, many have covered the basics, but your teaching style seems to do great with more advanced topics. The way you explain things should be taught more often by other teachers of music theory.
gotta say i have searched guitar teachers far and wide to understand modes and how to apply them and they all have it wrong, they basically say if you're in the key of GM say and the song seems to feel like say a Bminor then play the GMajor scale starting on the B note. So essentially it's really just the GMajor scale starting on and typically ending on a note other than the G note, it's really not the "Phrygian" mode at all, it's the Gmajor scale! Great Great Great lesson!
Please post more videos about the other modes!!!! You are seriously the best theory teacher on UA-cam without exaggeration. Thank you so much, Michael.
I am delighted with your presentation. I am adept in the classic world and being exposed to this is like starting all over again. I have the tools but you have helped me to know what to do with them. Yes, drill down deeper it is all making good sense.
Thanks for that splash card at the beginning. I'm now sitting with a fresh brew, eagerly looking forward to learn. Can't believe it took me 20 years from first picking up an instrument to actually start learning some music theory.
I have only just discovered your videos and they are exactly what I was after - my theory is/was weak. You explain things very clearly and give me a solid basis for things that I've struggled for intuitively. Thank you so much; you put a lot of work into these videos and are very generous with your time and skills.
I’ve watched video after video before this and have not been able to make any sense of modes. This video made everything crystal clear. You did a great job breaking this down!
I feel this was taught the very correct way. Too often do you see Cmajor compared to F lydian, which while valid still does not hammer home the differences as well Vs comparing Cmajor to C lydian......Then when you compare the harmonisations of these scales you can really hear the comparison better. Great stuff Michael.
Great video: it builds perfectly on the previous video on modes and brings together concepts from some of your earlier videos as well. Another video (or another few videos) on modes and how to apply them would be greatly appreciated! Cheers, Joas
I've been trying to get my head round modes for almost a year now and this video has really helped! if possible could you do a similar video with some of the other modes like finding the chords within the mode etc, you're a great teacher! Keep up the good work
please do more on modes! you are the best music teacher ive found online! i would love to see one on phrygian! Metal guitarists like Michael Angelo Batio use it a lot to give that genre an "evil" sound, so as a guitar enthusiast myself i would be very grateful to understand it a bit better. thanks for your videos dude. thank you a thousand times :)
Yes, I agree with the comments that you have made an advanced topic understandable. Thank you! I've been playing music for years and understand a good deal of basic music theory, but could not find an explanation on modes that made sense until now. Thank you!
BRILIANT!, I've been music for years and never really learnt music theory (I know haha) I have watched many of your videos and will keep learning from you as long as you keep uploading. I hope to be able to donate soon! cheers m8 thanks allot, your help is much appreciated
I'm at the point now where I click your videos fully expecting to understand the concept by the time it is finished, and you know, I haven't been wrong yet.
Michael, you have a very easy approach to such a huge topic. I really appreciate your work, keep going! Einstein once said „If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.“
Very helpful. I've been exploring music theory to help my son learn guitar. When I learned piano as a child no one taught me an theory. It was more like paint by numbers. I would have probably enjoyed piano much more if I had been able to create my own music. Thanks for helping to teach this old dog some new tricks.
Incredibly helpful. I'm definitely novice and this was very digestible! The recommended videos in the info are very helpful as well. I like that it gave me ideas on how change things up and why some out of key notes work well. I need to dig through your videos more before being able ask for what I would want to see next.
Thank you so much for these videos Michael. I’ve played music off and on for more than 15 years and I’ve recently decided to pick up piano properly. Your lessons are superbly constructed and communicated. Keep up the great work!
Very well explained material here and very practical ways to make it understandable. I've been watching your music lessons over the years and I'm not getting tired and always learn something new even from an already-seen video. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Suddenly, I feel a lot better by "borrowing" notes to make my music sound a bit better. In, fact, I kinda freaked out when I found this with my set of notes used on the song G# Major G# A# C C# D# F G // F natural minor F G G# A# C C# D# // A# Dorian A# C C# D# F G G# // C Phrygian C C# D# F G G# A# // C# Lydian C# D# F G G# A# C // D# Mixolydian D# F G G# A# C C# // G Locrian G G# A# C C# D# F // So, thanks for make a clear example of how I can introduce different sounds into a key. Your videos are really good, keep up the good work
I have been watching hours and hours of tutorials on modes presented by guitar players - and good ones at that. Only now do I understand it. Your are excellent!!!!!!!! Thanks
Made it to the end and want more. What I have been looking for was covered here. How you can borrow notes from another scale into the one you are playing, as long as you are careful when you are using it. Thanks for that!
![Demonstrating All 7 Modes in Parallel [MODAL MUSIC THEORY]](/img/n.gif)
This channel is a gold mine. Invaluable material explained easy and for free. I'm sure you need these little daily reminders, so keep at it man, you're helping thousands of people.
+Alessandro Olla ps. I am clearly biased but I would keep at the advanced road, there are way too many videos on the basic stuff on youtube and your talent to simplify things emerges more in these videos (you can bring more value to yt) rather than the basic ones
Agreed!
@@carljung6810 follow Rick Beato for that
Truth!
@@nirajtanti8618 I love Rick, he's awesome
Did the people not request more modes videos? This was awesome! I want more modes videos!!
Me too!
Me too!!!!!!
me too, although i get it now and could do it on my own, i'm sure Mike would bring something to the table that we wouldn't necessarily see
Me too
Yeah. More modes videos!
Hey Michael, I'm a self taught/teaching "musician" and I just wanted to say, your video's on modes (as well as others) have been really REALLY helpful over the past week or so, and I guess I just wanted to say, thanks.
+Caleb Helm Pri Hey, well I totally appreciate that :)
A general comment on your channel. I have been playing music for 34 years, primarily guitar. I have had several teachers, took years of lessons (piano, guitar, voice), but NEVER got music theory. As such, I have been primarily an ear player. But today I watched your circle of 5ths video, and a light came on. So I subscribed to your channel and looked for other interesting lessons when I landed on this mode lesson. As I started watching, another light came on. My point is that you have a knack for teaching this material, your format on UA-cam works. KEEP DOING THIS... YOU ARE A FANTASTIC TEACHER! I will be a regular watcher... this is going to make me a better musician.
+Ryan Brown Hey that's awesome. I'm really glad to hear so many lights have been going on, and I'm really glad I've been able to help.
The best music teacher on youtube right now. Second only to lypur but just because of his large catalogue.
+Get Got I honestly don't know how he's able to do so many. These things take me forever.
+Michael New I think it's because he only covers every aspect of basic theory with the intention of following grading syllabus. And he also started 8 years ago so he had a lot of time. What I like about your channel is that you expect us to already understand those basics so that you can teach us the advanced stuff. Thank you Michael, I really appreciate the work you are doing!
Get Got just found the site. working on modes and scales just realized that I saw mommy kissing Santa Clause is c major pentatonic cdegac. heated checked it out and it is indeed a cmajor 6 with a two.. I'm working on recognizing things was that the Simpsons I am not sure it may have been the Jetsons.
I recommend Adam Neely. He's marvelous. Does a lot jazz, may not be your thing, but still a great teacher. Learn all you can learn!
Ok, it's time to write a first comment. I've watched a few of your videos, they all were nice and this one, well... just want to let you know you should most definitely keep doing what you're doing. Thanks!!
+messer7bc Hey, well thank you for a very nice first comment :)
+Michael New I was going to post the same thing, your work is unbelievable, I've had many lessons online and otherwise and there is literally no one else who does it as well as you. Had to comment!
+Andrew Smith Oh you guys.
+Andrew Smith Oh you guys.
+Andrew Smith search better ;-) There are a few more guys doing amazing music theory and piano playing around. But they all (together with Michael) compliment each other; it's only good for all of us.
Full disclosure: I am a hobbyist musician and have a couple years of theory under my belt. Even I came away with new insight by viewing this video.
Brilliant, Michael. Simply brilliant. Your content is concise and your pedagogic approach is spot on.
Every time you put out a video, it reinforces my initial decision for subscribing to your channel.
I'm 64 years of age and it's taken a very ,intelligent,talented young American man to hammer through to my brain how Modes actually work.The steps of the tones AND how they are used with chords and all the rest of the things that have confused me over the years. I salute you Sir and thank you very,very much :0)
so unbelievably helpful. I've been so confused about how I would use modes at all for the longest time and this clears up so much. On the subject of what you should do next, I think you should stay with the more advanced stuff since so many others cover the basics and you make advanced stuff easy to learn. anyways amazing job on this video. I'm excited to see whatever you post next.
+Michael Jones That's a good point; the higher up in difficulty you go the less material there is. These videos are so hard to make though..
It's completely up to you of course, but most basic stuff is covered in one way or another and the more difficult stuff is usually taught in ways I don't understand. I'll of course watch whatever you post regardless of what it's on. I'm sure whatever you cover will be great.
Great explanation
Never losing your perspective while tackling a hydra-headed subject is a gift. Patiently sharing this with countless people is priceless, for you and for us. Thanks a lot
Hey Michael (my name is Michael too LOL) you did a great job here, very nice. Great to see that someone here on youtube actually is showing folks what to do with modes...that's got to be the #1 thing we hear people wanna know about for sure, people will show what these things are, but no one really shows what to do with them/how to use them in playing music, so hats off to you! I would really recommend that you take this another step further and do one on the Mixolydian mode...even though lots of folks don't like the Phrygian and Locrian modes, it could be cool to do a video on maybe those 2 modes anyway in the sense of just helping people learn more about modes in general--why people don't like using those 2 modes LOL. Even if we don't like using those 2 modes, the more we know about these things, the better it helps to understand the do's-and-dont's of using modes.
+Michael Bishop I agree. I think I was too dismissive of those two modes (especially the phrygian), and even just learning about why they're not commonly used would be useful. I definitely plan to explore modes further.
You do a great job in explaining the do's-and-don'ts of modes. I don't think you we're too dismissive about them, but for folks who are just starting to get into things like modes, it would be a great help to them/everyone who watches your videos. The better we understand the "do this and don't do" concepts, the better we understand how to use them in our own playing, regardless of what instrument we play. Good playing to you! I'll be sending Saxophone videos to you soon to check out.
Great lesson! I love your videos. One suggestion from something I saw in another tutorial video: when you have your camera pointed at a writing/drawing space, look in the camera view and then for each corner put a little dot or mark on the board. This way you won't have to check the camera to see if you're within its view; you can just look at the whiteboard and know that anything within the four dots will be in view. Hope that helps! You've definitely been helping me.
You know I always intend to do that and forget almost every time. One day I'll get it.
Perhaps the best and most informative explanation of modes I've come across. Thanks for sharing
Fabulous. Advanced is the way to go. And more on application of the theory if poss. 30 mins may be long for some but I could easily watch more. Huge thanks for this eye opener. Cheers! Guitar student, Paul.
Hahaha the cat said Hi.
Noldy right 😂
I heard it too
Yes but in lydian mode!
Honestly this video blew my mind a little bit. I've never looked at modes in that way before. Thanks for the awesome video!
The Simpson's Theme is in C Lydian.
haha i realized that too while messing around with Lydian
Lydian dominant
I was thinking that same thing! Lydian mode just sounds like Danny Elfman!
I think it goes to C mixolydian at the end right? The end of the riff sounds like a major 2nd leading into a major chord
I think there's a section using the whole tone scale too at one point.
I have been looking into music theory and found it SO interesting for years, but always felt like my brain just would not mix with the logic used for this stuff... I've watched all the videos in your chronological playlist and am suddenly understanding all these topics I've had multiple classes on in the past. Thank you so much and I hope you keep going!!
I've taught myself almost everything I've ever learned on piano from youtube. I've been struggling the past few years to find a teacher that describes the music theory in a way that is straightforward, logically sounds, and visually relateable. I've been on a bender of your theory videos since I found your channel, and have expanded my ability 10x. I don't know why, but for some reason, these lessons stuck out far more than other videos I've watched, and thing are finally starting to click. Thanks for these videos, and keep up the good work!
It's... interesting how the sequence of Major, Minor and Diminished chords remains the same, whether it's a major scale, minor scale, lydian scale... The only difference being the starting point. Which makes perfect sense, considering how these scales work.
If the chord pattern for a Major key (I - Ionian) is: "I ii iii IV V vi viiº"
The Lydian (IV) key is the same as the Major key except that the 4th note in the pattern becomes the 1st. Likewise, the 4th chord in this pattern becomes the 1st. So: "IV V vi viiº I ii iii", which, in the new order, becomes "I II iii ivº V vi vii".
Aaaand the same rule applies to all the other modes. So cool!!
Sidenote: the Locrian mode starts with a diminished key. No wonder nobody likes it. :'(
Jay Nice resumé of the whole video. You have a full understanding of the concept. Anybody short on time, just read his comment 😄
One of the most underrated music lesson channels in UA-cam; sure! We need more modes videos Michael! Thanx and congrats!
You sir owe me three fist bumps. I just watched this for the third time. Each time I make progress in music I come back and watch it again. I learn something new or get ideas for things every time. Thanks for putting out this kind of stuff for free.
Love these lessons Michael! As a songwriter always interested in becoming more musical, these lessons are invaluable!
This is really good stuff, thanks.
I've always thought, having been taught music theory reasonably comprehensively but not comprehensively enough, because I never learnt about modes, that using notes outside the key was kind of "odd", so would never have thought of using such notes in my songwriting. But I noticed the use of what I guess are literally chromatic notes in some pop music that I was learning to play on the piano (maybe in some stuff by ABBA), and thought it quite remarkable at the time that it sounded so right, especially when compared with the same melody "corrected" with "conventional" notes, and yet the notes weren't in the key. I found this quite remarkable. Thinking about it now, they may have been borrowing notes from another mode, or they may just have been experimenting, but either way, what's clear is that the key (conventional major/minor mode) is not a straitjacket never to be broken out of.
There are a lot of great UA-cam music theory teachers but Michael, you're right up there with them. You're very articulate and eloquent and your lessons are really comprehensive. I've been producing music for a long time - since the 80's/90's but I've come from a very technological music background, utilizing software on first microcomputers then PC's, but my lifetime ambition has always been to play the keyboard / piano. Although I've always had a very basic understanding of music theory, I said to myself at the start of this year, "I'm going to once and for all put in the time and dedication needed to become accomplished at the instrument," and I've progressed very well in a short space of time. I watched literally thousands of UA-cam piano tutorials over the years but it's only upon watching this particular video that I understand how the chords are either minor or major on each degree of the respective minor or major scales. I've always had recourse to the charts which state that in a major scale the chords on the sequential degrees are maj, min, min, maj maj, min dim - and likewise the chart for the minor scale, but it wasn't until I saw your abstract major scale diagram that I understood how they were determined - the irony is, you weren't even teaching that, it was just a byproduct of your overall lesson that the penny finally dropped for me. Consequently, I feel like letting off a big Homer Simpson type "Doh!" Anyway, thanks for the lessons, they're superb. I've still got a long way to go, mainly with technique more than anything else - just like my music production career, I've tried to run before I can walk, and I actually feel like I'm reverse engineering everything, lol, but like I say, I'm getting there. Anyway, keep up the superb tutorials, and incidentally I like your cat, try and feature him again in one of your future videos, lol. All the best.
+MCForty Sounds like you're on quite the epic musical journey :) Glad I could help you out a little along the way.
Personally I try not to use charts or reference books too much, because I feel like it can keep you from making those kind of connections. In fact I think the more you learn new concepts the more you start to realize that there's really not that much to music theory. You're really just taking a group of notes and looking at the different ways those notes interact and what kind of sounds they make. I think it actually gets easier as you go, rather than harder.
Anyway, best of luck with everything. I'm excited for you.
PLEASE continue going into the various modes! I have been trying to grasp this stuff on my own for about a year and after watching this video I understand more than I ever have ! THANK YOU!
I would love to see you doing a composition. Like picking a key, a mode/scale, progression(s), melodies etc where you use most of the things you taught so far. Thank you for everything you did!
I've been looking for a lesson like this for 5 years or longer.Thank you.
You are a superb communicator of material that is very hard to get across. Wonderful contribution you are making! Thank you.
Michael I can't thank you enough for this video. I watched several videos over the years on modal theory, but they never made sense. This video made my understanding of notes crystal clear.
I am a self-taught bass player(I definitely have to take some serious lessons to improve), with a shallow knowledge of how to actually apply music theory to composition, but every time I watch one of your videos, I feel I am becoming a better musician. These videos are exactly what I needed!
Keep up with your great work, you are a very good theacher ;)
Him: say hi...
Cat: meow!
Best and most understandable explanation of what modes do that I have seen so far - especially regarding the choice of alternative notes to use in a melody or during a solo depending on what chord of the chord progression you are hearing.
Just came here in coments to say thank you! Plan on watching all of your videos, multiple times! You are doing an amazing job!
Dude I'm falling in love with your channel!
P. S. - why haven't you posted for 2 years! Where you at now
Hi Michael, you're videos have been amazing, I've learned so much in the past few weeks.
Your explanations are on point, you don't go too fast and not to slow either, every time you explain something it sticks.
Thank u so much for all the work you put into these videos, they've been of great help.
And since you're looking for feedback on wheter or not you should go even deeper into this, I would love it, and I think most other people will too.
This is a great crash course and refresher on building the chords and using the scale! One of the trickiest things I struggle with when using modes is sounding like I'm still in the same key. It's really easy for G Lydian to slip into D major, the more often you use the C# the more it's going to start sounding like the leading tone. G starts sounding like the subdominant if I'm not careful, but that's usually just when I'm blocking out chords without a melody
Please don't stop making videos. They are some of the easiest to understand
Man, I've been playing music for 30 years, and this is some of the clearest explanation I've ever seen. Really good stuff.
Thanks so much for your videos, Michael. You have a real gift for teaching an advanced subject as simply as possible without making me feel stupid. Hope that makes sense.
Loved, LOVED the interrupting kitty. So cute! :)
By far the best, most thoroughly broken down and applicable explanation of modes I've seen on youtube. Thank you.
This video is a door, opened to a new world..... Simply the best explanation I found on internet so far.
Your way of teaching music is very clear and visual. I loved that you wrote on your keyboard! I think that helps others. Modes are easily translated to melody/chord combinations for song building. Lydian (CDEF#GABC), Ryukyu (CEFGBC) and so many others have fun alternates where you can play one with left, one with right and your timing makes the hook. I like your take on melody. Can you do a session on melody plus chords explaining left and right hand timing?
I've been teaching myself music with books and other online tools for a few years now, but these videos (this one in particular) really helps me internalize the material, and bridge the gap between knowledge and creativity. I would love some more mode centered vids, just to see other ways to interpret these topics. Thanks for the great work!
You're by far the best piano teacher on youtube. The way you explain things simply makes sense to me. Please more mode videos! It is very interesting and healthy lol! Hopefully you can do one covering how I can apply these types of techniques using a minor scale too. Because I often tend to get stuck playing the "right" keys all the time and not doing this more alot more often. Cheers Michael!
These videos are HANDS DOWN the best I've seen on UA-cam.
Even though I watched this video way past my bedtime, I couldn't stop watching it. While this might've been your longest video yet, I wished it had gone longer still. This video is brilliant and I thank you deeply for it.
man you are a great teacher... I play by ear and lately I've been trying to learn theory. Nothing has helped I've bought books dvds even bought the more expensive dvd collection but it was a waste of money because i didn't learn anything and it was moving entirely to slow for me....but your videos have propelled me and i understand way more from you then i have from all the dads and book together... keep up the good work and keep them coming
+Himbae Hunt Hey, that's great to hear. Glad my particular style is working for you. If you do happen to come across any material you like, let me know.
I wish I had this information when I was a child. Wow! You are a good teacher. I stopped making music many years ago when the computer industry overtook me like a tsunami. I had to stop watching somewhere in the middle, then continue watching your video after a night's sleep. It was way too much for my attention span. I think I can now start composing music! I just need to buy some instrument. Thank you very much. Subscribed.
These videos are so fantastic. Just started playing piano a few months ago. After watching your basic videos I'm confident enough to make my own melodies, even if I can't play "the Entertainer" yet. your videos are very inspiring and you make music theory seem easier than it is.
Awesome video Michael. I've been struggling with this for YEARS, and thanks to you, it's finally making sense.
I don't know why the dude from Workaholics dyed his hair and is making music lessons, but this is pretty amazing. I haven't taken lessons for 8 years, and your videos have rekindled my interest in theory. I've tried a lot of static websites over the years that didn't lead to anything, but they didn't offer the experienced perspective that you do. I'm actually thinking about music differently after watching a few videos, and it's awesome. Thanks.
You are such a excellent teacher. I finally understand Modes, Circle of 5ths, 7th chords, chords in a key, diminished, aug and minor chords etc etc!! Thank you thank you thank you! I think I've now watched most of your videos.
+Jodi Forster Guess I better make more. Thank you :)
This was super helpful! Please continue talking about modes. Yes these are a bit more advanced, but you clearly explain it. I find other videos on the subject clumsy with and with heavy jargon.
Really great video man. I've been working as a musician and producer for over 10 years and never quite understood this, and this video cleared up everything.
Awesome. Great lesson, the cat introduction was also nice hahah. Thanks
God Bless you for this. I'v spent the last 6months learning this on my own without progress until i stumbled on your channel.
Thank you so much for explaining this so clearly, everyone else I've seen takes such a non-practical approach that I've been left like "okay I think I get it, but how do you actually use them?" you finally answered that for me.
Really like your videos on writing melody. They're to the point, well informed and well taught. Thanks.
I play guitar and have studied modes in that context. It's taken me a while to decipher what is taught on the topic. I've observed two approaches. One is to emphasize the sound of the different modes. I think your lesson does that well. The other is to consider modes as just a different way of playing the same scale but starting with a different note each time. This is important on guitar as you learn to play a given scale in different positions on the neck of the guitar.
In the example above, the G Lydian mode uses the D scale (two sharps C# and F#) but with the 'g' note as the root. The scale notes then become g,a,b,c#, d,e,f#. The chords follow as you demonstrated. In the G Lydian mode you end up with all the same chords for the D scale but with the G now as the 1 chord.
The various modal names - Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian etc relate to scales created using the notes from the same scale but starting with the 1st, 2nd, 3rd notes of the Ionian scale respectively. Personally I find this the best way to think of a modes.
'Loving you', sung by Minnie Ripeton has a Lydian chord progression. 'Mad World' sung by Gary Jules has a Dorian chord progression. The very distinct sounds of the modes suits the song.
Hey! Hey! Just the best explanation!
Thanks a million!
Michael New is at the top of my list when it comes to clearly, cleverly and insightfully presenting music theory concepts. Lucky to have such a talent. Watching is tutorial videos brings on many 'a ha' moments.
The best mode explanation I've ever seen. Thank you very much Mike. I love the way you do lessons and edit videos. Simple, short, straight to the point. Thank you.
Defiantly + one on the more advanced lessons in later videos.
As mentioned before in the comments, many have covered the basics, but your teaching style seems to do great with more advanced topics. The way you explain things should be taught more often by other teachers of music theory.
+John B P.S I would love to see how this can relate to the minor scale as well. Keep it up!
honestly, the best music instructor ive found on youtube
The best lesson on Modes for beginners & intermediates.
Please continue with other modes on G.
Lots of room for thought there Michael! Apart from the homework!
Thank you. Key thought for me - chords/melodies and 'stepping out' of the scale!
gotta say i have searched guitar teachers far and wide to understand modes and how to apply them and they all have it wrong, they basically say if you're in the key of GM say and the song seems to feel like say a Bminor then play the GMajor scale starting on the B note. So essentially it's really just the GMajor scale starting on and typically ending on a note other than the G note, it's really not the "Phrygian" mode at all, it's the Gmajor scale!
Great Great Great lesson!
Please post more videos about the other modes!!!! You are seriously the best theory teacher on UA-cam without exaggeration. Thank you so much, Michael.
I am delighted with your presentation. I am adept in the classic world and being exposed to this is like starting all over again. I have the tools but you have helped me to know what to do with them. Yes, drill down deeper it is all making good sense.
Thanks for that splash card at the beginning. I'm now sitting with a fresh brew, eagerly looking forward to learn.
Can't believe it took me 20 years from first picking up an instrument to actually start learning some music theory.
I have only just discovered your videos and they are exactly what I was after - my theory is/was weak. You explain things very clearly and give me a solid basis for things that I've struggled for intuitively. Thank you so much; you put a lot of work into these videos and are very generous with your time and skills.
outstanding material. Never encountered so much information in such a friendly representation. Much love to you, man
Michael, you're the best. Your teaching is something that all of us miss while trying to study music. Thanks, man!!!
I’ve watched video after video before this and have not been able to make any sense of modes. This video made everything crystal clear. You did a great job breaking this down!
This is awesome! Please keep the videos coming, you explain things in a way that makes it really easy to understand.
what a sensational display of theory. It's the clearest explanation with thorough thought & preparation. Great job.
Anthony
Brooksville Fl
I feel this was taught the very correct way. Too often do you see Cmajor compared to F lydian, which while valid still does not hammer home the differences as well Vs comparing Cmajor to C lydian......Then when you compare the harmonisations of these scales you can really hear the comparison better. Great stuff Michael.
Great video: it builds perfectly on the previous video on modes and brings together concepts from some of your earlier videos as well. Another video (or another few videos) on modes and how to apply them would be greatly appreciated! Cheers,
Joas
This Modes video was awesome! I would love to learn more about other modes or other advanced theory topics. Thanks for the great Videos!!
I've been trying to get my head round modes for almost a year now and this video has really helped! if possible could you do a similar video with some of the other modes like finding the chords within the mode etc, you're a great teacher! Keep up the good work
please do more on modes! you are the best music teacher ive found online! i would love to see one on phrygian! Metal guitarists like Michael Angelo Batio use it a lot to give that genre an "evil" sound, so as a guitar enthusiast myself i would be very grateful to understand it a bit better.
thanks for your videos dude. thank you a thousand times :)
Yes, I agree with the comments that you have made an advanced topic understandable. Thank you! I've been playing music for years and understand a good deal of basic music theory, but could not find an explanation on modes that made sense until now. Thank you!
Michael you are Awesome i Understand it much better now, i look forward to watching future Videos you make..
Most of this was over my head, but I feel like I got a good portion of it. Looking forward to watching your other videos!
BRILIANT!, I've been music for years and never really learnt music theory (I know haha) I have watched many of your videos and will keep learning from you as long as you keep uploading. I hope to be able to donate soon! cheers m8 thanks allot, your help is much appreciated
I'm at the point now where I click your videos fully expecting to understand the concept by the time it is finished, and you know, I haven't been wrong yet.
Michael, you have a very easy approach to such a huge topic. I really appreciate your work, keep going! Einstein once said „If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.“
Great video. What I like about your channel is that you really try and simplify these musical concepts. Keep it up!
You are an excellent teacher! Thank you sir, for the time and effort you put into these videos.
18:09 lol the cat actually says hi when told to
Very helpful. I've been exploring music theory to help my son learn guitar. When I learned piano as a child no one taught me an theory. It was more like paint by numbers. I would have probably enjoyed piano much more if I had been able to create my own music.
Thanks for helping to teach this old dog some new tricks.
Incredibly helpful. I'm definitely novice and this was very digestible! The recommended videos in the info are very helpful as well. I like that it gave me ideas on how change things up and why some out of key notes work well. I need to dig through your videos more before being able ask for what I would want to see next.
Thank you so much for these videos Michael. I’ve played music off and on for more than 15 years and I’ve recently decided to pick up piano properly. Your lessons are superbly constructed and communicated. Keep up the great work!
You're killing these videos!
Very well explained material here and very practical ways to make it understandable. I've been watching your music lessons over the years and I'm not getting tired and always learn something new even from an already-seen video. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Suddenly, I feel a lot better by "borrowing" notes to make my music sound a bit better. In, fact, I kinda freaked out when I found this with my set of notes used on the song
G# Major G# A# C C# D# F G //
F natural minor F G G# A# C C# D# //
A# Dorian A# C C# D# F G G# //
C Phrygian C C# D# F G G# A# //
C# Lydian C# D# F G G# A# C //
D# Mixolydian D# F G G# A# C C# //
G Locrian G G# A# C C# D# F //
So, thanks for make a clear example of how I can introduce different sounds into a key. Your videos are really good, keep up the good work
Just awesome!! Nicely explained and encouraging to explore the horizon with other possibilities. Kudos gentleman!
I have been watching hours and hours of tutorials on modes presented by guitar players - and good ones at that. Only now do I understand it. Your are excellent!!!!!!!! Thanks
Made it to the end and want more.
What I have been looking for was covered here. How you can borrow notes from another scale into the one you are playing, as long as you are careful when you are using it. Thanks for that!
Michael, you're terrific. Plays don't stop making these.