What’s interesting about this SECRET is all 5 pentatonic shapes are found in one position when switching through modes. So in EVERY pentatonic position, all 5 shapes are there. The key is learning to dance your way through them at the right times. This is a HUGE OPEN DOOR.
G: Ionian. - Major scale. A: Dorian. B: Phrygian. C: Lydian. D: Mixolydian. E: Aeolian. - minor scale (relative) F#: Locrian. To remember I,D,P,L,M,A,L make up a mnemonic such as - I DRINK POP LIKE MY AUNT LUCY. You can then use the shapes in this lesson, starting in G at the 3rd fret and move down (up) the fretboard towards the bridge. G - 3rd fret A - 5th fret B - 7th fret C - 8th fret D - 10th fret E - 12th fret F# - 14th or back to 2nd fret. The great thing about memorising this this way is the fact that it is based on the CAGED SYSTEM. You have GMajor, CMajor, DMajor (Ionian, Lydian, Mixolydian) representing the Major chords and modes, and Aminor, Bminor, Eminor (Dorian, Phyrigian, Aeolian) representing the minor chords and modes. F# is a diminished scale so don't worry about that one for the moment, it just confuses things. So you will learn the shapes as you move up (down) the neck for each mode. Then it is just a case of finding what root you are in and using that shape. I base all my modal shapes on the minor pentatonic. From there, I then base further scales such as hexatonic or octatonic (bebop jazz) on them too. Really, as noted, the minor pentatonic is the key to the gate of understanding guitar scales and modes. Know that scales, modes and shapes are basically the same thing, but fundamentally different as well. Shapes are just ways of memorising scales and modes. Modes only really make sense against a certain root note or drone note or specific chord. For example, in the key of CMajor, if I start on a D note instead of a C, and I have a Dminor chord backing it, then the mood will be of a folksy medieval kind of feel. It's still the CMajor scale, but when starting on a D and with a Dminor chord droning, it totally shifts the mood and feel of the piece. This would be the Dorian mode of course, remembering our mnemonic: I DRINK POP LIKE MY AUNT LUCY. DRINK = DORIAN! - The next interval up from the Major C. So once you understand this principle, you will be then able to transpose all the modes you want over any key you know, with just a little thought. When it locks, then like this lesson shows, it's just a case of playing that familiar blues minor pentatonic with the added notes. And then to take it further again, as I said, this will work for learning hexatonic (folk/irish) and octatonic (jazz/bebop) scales as well. Diatonic Major scale is heptatonic - 7 notes. Pentatonic - 5 notes. Hexatonic - 6 notes. Octatonic - 8 notes. I think that's right, off the top of my head.? I posted this again as it didn't show up...
Fantastic lesson. From watching this, it turns out I've been playing Dorian and Lydian modes myself without knowing it in my efforts to play with more "flavour". I'm a blues player who, just like in the video, is interested in finding additional voices other than the minor pentatonic. Blues will always have its roots there; the meat and potatoes, but the modes are the salt and pepper! I'm consciously trying to NOT learn these in a mechanical way as I don't want my playing to sound like it's come from a book! Finding the right mix is the tricky/tasteful part! I'll be watching the video again over the next few days. Thank you very much indeed.
NotMarkKnopfler I am a blues player as well. Trying to do the same thing. Well,I should say,I have played a lot of different styles,but I am focusing more on blues,and maybe fusion,or advanced blues,if you will. Good luck on your journey. I hope to start making videos for UA-cam again.
Well put.....likewise I don’t want to sound mechanical........it’s that phrasing and intonation you need to give your guitar a voice. You can spend a lifetime on it😀😃😀🤗
I had been learning the modes "3 notes per string".. and I had been looking for this exact lesson for hours !! How to properly transpose modes over pentatonic scale!! You sir are awesome! And a seriously good teacher btw.. you explain very clearly, I like it! Thanks a lot!
I made this up when I was young, "Hungry for Modes"- I pulled up to the house I own(Ionian), Opened the door(Dorian), Opened the Fridge(Phrygian), Opened the lid(Lydian), Inside the food was mixed up (Mixolydian). I ate it all(Aolian). Locked up (Locrian) and left.- It works great because it tells a simple story and gives the imagery in a logical order. I've taught it to my students for over 20 yrs and they never forget it. For the six strings I use - Every Boy Gets Drunk At Eighteen. - Again, it sticks with them. Rock On!
Incredible....... HOURS of trying to understand the modes and how to use them and finding the right notes. And all it took in the end was a 15 min video of the godlike teacher David Wallimann. Thank you sir!!
This made the all the information in my head click. The simplicity of how you explained integrating the modal notes "into" the pentatonic scale just makes it sound very easy and approachable - you made a whole world of possibilities just available! Thank you so much.
Guthrie Govan touched upon this very briefly one time in one of his teachings. I've been looking for this ever since. This opens up the vocabulary of modes to many of us locked in that freaking 1st position minor pentatonic box. I've been playing guitar a long time professionally and this is an eye-opener. TY David.
Well in fact he does mention where to start from in this case the "E" Note at the 12th fret, the reason that most of these Mode lessons or any lead guitar lesson mentions which note to start on is vital to establishin the tonal center of what your playing over.....A mode is heard depending on 2 things a the tone behind it and the note you are starting on establishes everything ! in this lesson he is pointing out that in order to sound Modal and stay in your comfort zone you can add the 2 missing (flavor) notes or intervals to bring out the Minor 3rd and Minor 7th...
Uh Dude what are you 11 years old ? yes he instructs you to play in E Minor at the 12th fret which happens to be an E Note no not once but twice !! watch at 7:35 and 7:55 he instructs you twice ! I Am a teacher myself and have studied Modes for many years ..... What ? do you hope yopu can play these anywhere you want ? it dont work that way dude lol ! by you reaction and comments i can tell you would do anything to find a short cut lol sorry aint gonna happen and as it goes with modes if you ever ever want to play Modal you must first understand where to play in what conditions !
@@maddi62 This is not a different approach its just the same process using the pentatonic scale which happens to be found right in the middle of the major scale ! you still have to respect and start on the proper notes and all that id decided on you background tone ! It is Not a different approach ! he is highlighting something that has been their all along !
@@TEBAIL-v6o yeh I thought you might be a teacher. Listen, rather than pat yourself on the back about how you’ve been doing it so well all these years using that ‘start on this note’ rubbish, have a good listen to this vid with a view to learning something for yourself. Maybe you’ll get feedback like this vid got - look at the comments. The differences between the modes is about the intervals, the tones that are peculiar to each of them, and is better demonstrated by sticking to the same root for all of them. Dorian is like C Major starting on D…Phrygian is like C Major starting on E…etc, is clumsy and confusing. Furthermore, when you demonstrate these other modes by this approach they all sound the same. I bet you’re one of those who will play a 251 and claim to be playing F# Dorian, B mixolydian and E Ionian, when you could have just said you played the whole thing in E major. Head full of crap, dude. God help ya students
this is a fantastic lesson. Been playing guitar for 2 years and have recently been trying to understand modes a little better. I've been over several written tutorials and videos, but this lesson has it all. It answers all the questions and doubts I had (and then some). thanks a lot!
Good lesson. If I may... For those that this makes sense to, if you'd like to take it a step further, then try this: Starting in G (We will be working in GMajor/Eminor here) on the 3rd fret of the 1st string: G: Ionian. - Major scale. A: Dorian. B: Phrygian. C: Lydian. D: Mixolydian. E: Aeolian. - minor scale (relative) F#: Locrian. To remember I,D,P,L,M,A,L make up a mnemonic such as - I DRINK POP LIKE MY AUNT LUCY. You can then use the shapes in this lesson, starting in G at the 3rd fret and move down (up) the fretboard towards the bridge. G - 3rd fret A - 5th fret B - 7th fret C - 8th fret D - 10th fret E - 12th fret F# - 14th or back to 2nd fret. The great thing about memorising this this way is the fact that it is based on the CAGED SYSTEM. You have GMajor, CMajor, DMajor (Ionian, Lydian, Mixolydian) representing the Major chords and modes, and Aminor, Bminor, Eminor (Dorian, Phyrigian, Aeolian) representing the minor chords and modes. F# is a diminished scale so don't worry about that one for the moment, it just confuses things. So you will learn the shapes as you move up (down) the neck for each mode. Then it is just a case of finding what root you are in and using that shape. I base all my modal shapes on the minor pentatonic. From there, I then base further scales such as hexatonic or octatonic (bebop jazz) on them too. Really, as noted, the minor pentatonic is the key to the gate of understanding guitar scales and modes. Know that scales, modes and shapes are basically the same thing, but fundamentally different as well. Shapes are just ways of memorising scales and modes. Modes only really make sense against a certain root note or drone note or specific chord. For example, in the key of CMajor, if I start on a D note instead of a C, and I have a Dminor chord backing it, then the mood will be of a folksy medieval kind of feel. It's still the CMajor scale, but when starting on a D and with a Dminor chord droning, it totally shifts the mood and feel of the piece. This would be the Dorian mode of course, remembering our mnemonic: I DRINK POP LIKE MY AUNT LUCY. DRINK = DORIAN! - The next interval up from the Major C. So once you understand this principle, you will be then able to transpose all the modes you want over any key you know, with just a little thought. When it locks, then like this lesson shows, it's just a case of playing that familiar blues minor pentatonic with the added notes. And then to take it further again, as I said, this will work for learning hexatonic (folk/irish) and octatonic (jazz/bebop) scales as well. Diatonic Major scale is heptatonic - 7 notes. Pentatonic - 5 notes. Hexatonic - 6 notes. Octatonic - 8 notes. I think that's right, off the top of my head.
I was already on the right path and didn't know it. Thanks to your eureka ingenious lesson I will get to where I am going a lot sooner without confusion. Great E= MC2 lesson
I learn music theory in school and i know what you are talkin about but congratulations for the way you teach , so clear and simple , bon boulot monsieur !
An MRI would show my brain glowing with excitement after this masterful teaching lesson. I just leaped out of a several years-long rut of running modal finger scales and exercises with no soul. Damn!, You’re good!! Thank You, David.
David is a fantastic instructor. A few years ago I got his book Guitars Mode made easy which opened the whole world to me. Albert King used to play blues with 7 notes of what Dawid is talking about here. Highly recommend that book.
I've been playing parts of these scales, but never thought much about what modes they represent. Fantastic tutorial. Extremely clear and professionally presented. Thanks!
when someone asks me what scale I use, my answer is usually "the chromatic, I just leave out the notes I don't want to hear" because that is more or less what i do "naturally" after 45+ years of playing - now I can tell them to watch this video, where it's explained by someone who actually knows what he's doing (and what I am doing)!
Oh My God, "Click!", the sound of my brain after years of occasional modal study but never understanding it! Thank you! I now know what I have to work on. Trying to understand them before, felt like trying to understand the movie Inception.
This lesson is a way to bring Modal flavor to Pentatonic scales you know and understand the function of modes should still be studied in this lesson he shows us how to add to inervals to flavour something we are used to but we must still understand what is happening why are we sounding modal and why not....Cool lesson for folks but an understanding is still requiired or you will get confused here as well...
Robben Ford, the great Fusion (Rock, Jazz & Blues) 1970's guitar player teaches this same kind of workup with blues & modes. Your opening examples we're pure Fusion. Well done.
Excellent lesson. Like another commenter, I've been playing those "extra" notes to color my pentatonics just because they sounded right. Thank you for explaining it better than my teacher did 40 years ago. This lesson addresses not only the modes, but the path to integrating them with what you already know. I feel that once that bit of mental gymnastics is accomplished, the same strategy can be used to slowly expand your scalar vocabulary as far as you'd like. You don't come out and say it, but you seem to eschew the concept of "learn this in all 12 keys". Ya know, it's OK to learn it in one or two keys to start with, then expand. You are an excellent teacher and I watched your marketing series a while back. Your channel is a real goldmine of good content. Thank you.
Thanks so much, have always had a problem just grasping the concept of modes and how to fit it into what I already know. This is excellent, best lesson on modes I've ever seen.
THANK....YOU..This Is all I wanted. Teach me the scales Ill learn everything else by myself. I just wanted a basis(AKA A SCALE) That teaches me the difference between each mode. Took a year. But finally found it
That 2nd position major pentatonic really helps with using the major modes on blues. I have been doing the minor 3, but this lesson really helped with major. Thank you!
This is a GREAT lesson. Love your modal lessons. However.. you often say "using your minor pentatonic phrases and licks that you already know..." to be honest I really could do with some more lessons demonstrating how to create and refine super-cool licks and phrases in the pentatonic boxes... then come back to this lesson to add those missing two notes to take those blues licks to the next level. Thanks again for all your continuing instruction and thought provoking tutorials. They are all very much appreciated.
Combined with other modes lessons out there this was another great step forward, especially in the actual application of modes to music, you were bang on at the beginning with stating while we may know the intervals and how they look, it does little for the actual melody, show the relationship of each to the pentatonic scale and how they flavour the basic form is exactly what we need to know so as to implement the knowledge into our playing. Well thought out, thanks loads. :0
Dorian Mode - Carlos Santana's secret weapon, especially the earlier recordings. The major 6th note was his bread and butter, bending it to b7 was a trademark. Mixolydian Mode - Jerry Garcia's seemingly favorite mode. So much of The Dead's music was major key based. Mixolydian is really the Ionian (Major Diatonic Scale) with a b7th note instead of major7. I think he did these things off the top of his head, he had so much music inside. Lydian worked for him a lot, too ... Basically, mode playing is just starting and ending at different points of the major scale. Then the major and minor modes spin off that because in each mode there is either a major 3rd (which makes a major, a major) or minor 3rd ("flat third"), which makes scales and chords minor ... Nice lesson. Good explanations, excellent playing.
PS - Derek Trucks uses Lydian scale a lot. Of course, he plays EVERYTHING in open E tuning, not only his slide work. I'm sure that contributes to his unusual style and note choices. Your description of the Lydian scale is really the way he plays a lot of those long jams, like Michael Bloomfield on the Butterfield Band's East/West album. Fluid, unusual sounding solos.
Lynch's use of minor pentatonic with Aeolian is an example of spicing things up. Minor pentatonic with an added 6 also provides a cool change of pace, ala Lukather. Rock on. MK
That actually made modes accessible to someone that struggles remembering modes! Awesomely useful lesson related to the much loved and overused pentatonic!!!
i've watched several of your lessons and you explain them very well. i've always considered myself a 'functional musical illiterate' since i've been playing a lot of what you're teaching but not knowing what i've been playing. i learned by listening to better guitar players and copying what they played.so they incorperated a lot of what you're teaching so i picked these techniques up through the years. its nice to put names to things i've already been doing.i learned a major and minor scale. and seems that all the modes you talk aout all derive from the major or minor scale and mostly thats what i've done through the years is modify those two scales to get what i wanted. like throw it against the wall and see what sticks.
Holy crap. I'm going to go ahead and bookmark this on my browser haha. I have just tried to get my head round this and this lesson made a lightbulb go off.
This helped me so much! I will be taking notes,and watching this again. This filled in a lot of stuff, I was missing. I think this approach is best for me.
While I already knew this sort of, this was a great help in solidifying the concepts. I never thought of them in terms of differentiation from pentatonic. Awesome! Thanks!
This is genius David! Thanks I’ve been mixing in Dorian and Aolian with my blues and funk playing for years. And never knew what I was doing or why. Recently saw some guitar tutors who were trying to teach me it all from C Major, and I don’t seem to like / feel major scales and it was all too much real theory to understand. Also learning the modes individually is confusing. - THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO SIMPLY LEARN THEM AS ADDITIONS TO MINOR PENTATONIC. And it keeps it bluesy if that’s what you like already Genius !
Bloody genius David. I think more than anyone else, you open up my world of improvisation. It really fits into my logic. Music is emotional logic to me.
I like that statement. I was listening to Bach the other night and I was thinking the reason it is so powerful is because each of the harmonies is like the journey of life. But the journey of life is filled with logic and emotion. We remember our moments through our thoughts and our feelings. And it is true that chords and harmonies can conjure emotions. So yes, I see what you mean, emotional logic. Adding those harmonies adds to the emotions you can communicate, and thus the stories you can tell and the memories you can trigger. Thanks!
Thank you! That's one of the best and clearest and "to the point" explanations of modes. It is so easy to understand, but people make it so complicated. Obviously things can get more and more complicated with guitar/music theory, and Im sure there are probably reasons and uses to go more in depth, but at their foundation, fairly simple. I have found that teachers very often over complicate things, especially at the beginning. If they were to start simple alot more people could understand the material.
awesome lesson dude, i am an advanced shredder but never linked those 3 scale major minor to each other as you just did. ps very beautiful phrasing you have
imo this(Davids Vids) really is great way to learn modes/scales, that is, simply in terms of what 2 notes to add to the box pentatonic shape that everyone begins with .....I reduced it all the way down to "/r, rs|, r|s, s|r, |sr, r/,+4m2" in terms of the possible shapes relative to only the top 2 strings & the roots position there in. It is cryptic af, but it encapsulates everything required.
Your videos are very instructive, you are a very good teacher. I wish I had all these resources when I was younger. But hey¡ never too late to learn new stuff.
Wow, the aaahhh moment, I've been playing these shapes for years, now it makes sense. I just need to buckle down and back up a bit, I know where the keys lay on the fretboard but I haven't taken the time to find the notes. I can slowly figure out what note is where but I want to improve on that area, along with the modes and interval training that you have presented in your vids. Can't thank you enough for your guidance!!! Aaahhh...
you are the best teacher.....thank you very,very nice...everyiting..is super..a have one answerr;yours set of strig is ?,,,which you expirienced....and what you prefer to use....number..10,or 9....thank you very much.......
Every so often I come across a game changer. A "Eureka" lesson if you will. This is one of those. Thank you.
What’s interesting about this SECRET is all 5 pentatonic shapes are found in one position when switching through modes.
So in EVERY pentatonic position, all 5 shapes are there.
The key is learning to dance your way through them at the right times.
This is a HUGE OPEN DOOR.
I can't believe it, I understand everything this guys says, that's never happened before.
G: Ionian. - Major scale.
A: Dorian.
B: Phrygian.
C: Lydian.
D: Mixolydian.
E: Aeolian. - minor scale (relative)
F#: Locrian.
To remember I,D,P,L,M,A,L make up a mnemonic such as - I DRINK POP LIKE MY AUNT LUCY.
You can then use the shapes in this lesson, starting in G at the 3rd fret and move down (up) the fretboard towards the bridge.
G - 3rd fret
A - 5th fret
B - 7th fret
C - 8th fret
D - 10th fret
E - 12th fret
F# - 14th or back to 2nd fret.
The great thing about memorising this this way is the fact that it is based on the CAGED SYSTEM. You have GMajor, CMajor, DMajor (Ionian, Lydian, Mixolydian) representing the Major chords and modes, and Aminor, Bminor, Eminor (Dorian, Phyrigian, Aeolian) representing the minor chords and modes. F# is a diminished scale so don't worry about that one for the moment, it just confuses things.
So you will learn the shapes as you move up (down) the neck for each mode. Then it is just a case of finding what root you are in and using that shape. I base all my modal shapes on the minor pentatonic. From there, I then base further scales such as hexatonic or octatonic (bebop jazz) on them too.
Really, as noted, the minor pentatonic is the key to the gate of understanding guitar scales and modes. Know that scales, modes and shapes are basically the same thing, but fundamentally different as well.
Shapes are just ways of memorising scales and modes. Modes only really make sense against a certain root note or drone note or specific chord.
For example, in the key of CMajor, if I start on a D note instead of a C, and I have a Dminor chord backing it, then the mood will be of a folksy medieval kind of feel. It's still the CMajor scale, but when starting on a D and with a Dminor chord droning, it totally shifts the mood and feel of the piece. This would be the Dorian mode of course, remembering our mnemonic:
I DRINK POP LIKE MY AUNT LUCY.
DRINK = DORIAN! - The next interval up from the Major C.
So once you understand this principle, you will be then able to transpose all the modes you want over any key you know, with just a little thought. When it locks, then like this lesson shows, it's just a case of playing that familiar blues minor pentatonic with the added notes. And then to take it further again, as I said, this will work for learning hexatonic (folk/irish) and octatonic (jazz/bebop) scales as well.
Diatonic Major scale is heptatonic - 7 notes.
Pentatonic - 5 notes.
Hexatonic - 6 notes.
Octatonic - 8 notes.
I think that's right, off the top of my head.?
I posted this again as it didn't show up...
Thanks for this comment! It explains the mode theory which the video reduces to practical application, tying theory and resulting practice together.
I don't play like my aunt lucy is how I got taught;)
Fantastic lesson. From watching this, it turns out I've been playing Dorian and Lydian modes myself without knowing it in my efforts to play with more "flavour". I'm a blues player who, just like in the video, is interested in finding additional voices other than the minor pentatonic. Blues will always have its roots there; the meat and potatoes, but the modes are the salt and pepper! I'm consciously trying to NOT learn these in a mechanical way as I don't want my playing to sound like it's come from a book! Finding the right mix is the tricky/tasteful part! I'll be watching the video again over the next few days. Thank you very much indeed.
NotMarkKnopfler I am a blues player as well. Trying to do the same thing. Well,I should say,I have played a lot of different styles,but I am focusing more on blues,and maybe fusion,or advanced blues,if you will. Good luck on your journey. I hope to start making videos for UA-cam again.
Well put.....likewise
I don’t want to sound mechanical........it’s that phrasing and intonation you need to give your guitar a voice.
You can spend a lifetime on it😀😃😀🤗
Only a lead guitarist playing pentas for years can truly appreciate the Tesla innovation you just gifted to the world of improvisation. Thank you!
I had been learning the modes "3 notes per string".. and I had been looking for this exact lesson for hours !! How to properly transpose modes over pentatonic scale!! You sir are awesome! And a seriously good teacher btw.. you explain very clearly, I like it! Thanks a lot!
Pure genius. A wonderfully logical and clear intro to modes. Thanks, David.
Ive been playing Aeolian without knowing. Now I can change modes easily. Thanks man this is a great lesson to start on modes
I made this up when I was young, "Hungry for Modes"- I pulled up to the house I own(Ionian), Opened the door(Dorian), Opened the Fridge(Phrygian), Opened the lid(Lydian), Inside the food was mixed up (Mixolydian). I ate it all(Aolian). Locked up (Locrian) and left.- It works great because it tells a simple story and gives the imagery in a logical order. I've taught it to my students for over 20 yrs and they never forget it. For the six strings I use - Every Boy Gets Drunk At Eighteen. - Again, it sticks with them. Rock On!
Thanks for sharing that. 👍👍👍
@@zealest2011 👍
why i like the way you teach is you keep things simple the directions you use helps players
Incredible....... HOURS of trying to understand the modes and how to use them and finding the right notes. And all it took in the end was a 15 min video of the godlike teacher David Wallimann. Thank you sir!!
This made the all the information in my head click. The simplicity of how you explained integrating the modal notes "into" the pentatonic scale just makes it sound very easy and approachable - you made a whole world of possibilities just available! Thank you so much.
Guthrie Govan touched upon this very briefly one time in one of his teachings. I've been looking for this ever since. This opens up the vocabulary of modes to many of us locked in that freaking 1st position minor pentatonic box. I've been playing guitar a long time professionally and this is an eye-opener. TY David.
Refreshing to see a modes lesson that never mentions which note you 'start' on. This is a great lesson
Well in fact he does mention where to start from in this case the "E" Note at the 12th fret, the reason that most of these Mode lessons or any lead guitar lesson mentions which note to start on is vital to establishin the tonal center of what your playing over.....A mode is heard depending on 2 things a the tone behind it and the note you are starting on establishes everything ! in this lesson he is pointing out that in order to sound Modal and stay in your comfort zone you can add the 2 missing (flavor) notes or intervals to bring out the Minor 3rd and Minor 7th...
@@TEBAIL-v6o dude, at no point did he mention a ‘starting note’. This is a completely different approach and works a hell of a lot better
Uh Dude what are you 11 years old ? yes he instructs you to play in E Minor at the 12th fret which happens to be an E Note no not once but twice !! watch at 7:35 and 7:55 he instructs you twice ! I Am a teacher myself and have studied Modes for many years ..... What ? do you hope yopu can play these anywhere you want ? it dont work that way dude lol ! by you reaction and comments i can tell you would do anything to find a short cut lol sorry aint gonna happen and as it goes with modes if you ever ever want to play Modal you must first understand where to play in what conditions !
@@maddi62 This is not a different approach its just the same process using the pentatonic scale which happens to be found right in the middle of the major scale ! you still have to respect and start on the proper notes and all that id decided on you background tone ! It is Not a different approach ! he is highlighting something that has been their all along !
@@TEBAIL-v6o yeh I thought you might be a teacher. Listen, rather than pat yourself on the back about how you’ve been doing it so well all these years using that ‘start on this note’ rubbish, have a good listen to this vid with a view to learning something for yourself. Maybe you’ll get feedback like this vid got - look at the comments. The differences between the modes is about the intervals, the tones that are peculiar to each of them, and is better demonstrated by sticking to the same root for all of them.
Dorian is like C Major starting on D…Phrygian is like C Major starting on E…etc, is clumsy and confusing. Furthermore, when you demonstrate these other modes by this approach they all sound the same.
I bet you’re one of those who will play a 251 and claim to be playing F# Dorian, B mixolydian and E Ionian, when you could have just said you played the whole thing in E major. Head full of crap, dude. God help ya students
this is a fantastic lesson. Been playing guitar for 2 years and have recently been trying to understand modes a little better. I've been over several written tutorials and videos, but this lesson has it all. It answers all the questions and doubts I had (and then some). thanks a lot!
Good lesson. If I may...
For those that this makes sense to, if you'd like to take it a step further, then try this:
Starting in G (We will be working in GMajor/Eminor here) on the 3rd fret of the 1st string:
G: Ionian. - Major scale.
A: Dorian.
B: Phrygian.
C: Lydian.
D: Mixolydian.
E: Aeolian. - minor scale (relative)
F#: Locrian.
To remember I,D,P,L,M,A,L make up a mnemonic such as - I DRINK POP LIKE MY AUNT LUCY.
You can then use the shapes in this lesson, starting in G at the 3rd fret and move down (up) the fretboard towards the bridge.
G - 3rd fret
A - 5th fret
B - 7th fret
C - 8th fret
D - 10th fret
E - 12th fret
F# - 14th or back to 2nd fret.
The great thing about memorising this this way is the fact that it is based on the CAGED SYSTEM. You have GMajor, CMajor, DMajor (Ionian, Lydian, Mixolydian) representing the Major chords and modes, and Aminor, Bminor, Eminor (Dorian, Phyrigian, Aeolian) representing the minor chords and modes. F# is a diminished scale so don't worry about that one for the moment, it just confuses things.
So you will learn the shapes as you move up (down) the neck for each mode. Then it is just a case of finding what root you are in and using that shape. I base all my modal shapes on the minor pentatonic. From there, I then base further scales such as hexatonic or octatonic (bebop jazz) on them too.
Really, as noted, the minor pentatonic is the key to the gate of understanding guitar scales and modes. Know that scales, modes and shapes are basically the same thing, but fundamentally different as well.
Shapes are just ways of memorising scales and modes. Modes only really make sense against a certain root note or drone note or specific chord.
For example, in the key of CMajor, if I start on a D note instead of a C, and I have a Dminor chord backing it, then the mood will be of a folksy medieval kind of feel. It's still the CMajor scale, but when starting on a D and with a Dminor chord droning, it totally shifts the mood and feel of the piece. This would be the Dorian mode of course, remembering our mnemonic:
I DRINK POP LIKE MY AUNT LUCY.
DRINK = DORIAN! - The next interval up from the Major C.
So once you understand this principle, you will be then able to transpose all the modes you want over any key you know, with just a little thought. When it locks, then like this lesson shows, it's just a case of playing that familiar blues minor pentatonic with the added notes. And then to take it further again, as I said, this will work for learning hexatonic (folk/irish) and octatonic (jazz/bebop) scales as well.
Diatonic Major scale is heptatonic - 7 notes.
Pentatonic - 5 notes.
Hexatonic - 6 notes.
Octatonic - 8 notes.
I think that's right, off the top of my head.
123ubuntu666 this isn’t relevant to David’s lesson. It’s not necessarily wrong, but what a spam post. Anyway...
This video is by far the most game changing video I have ever watched regarding my guitar playing.
Wow so simple, so easy. Wish I learned this way in the 90s when I started out playing guitar.
I was already on the right path and didn't know it. Thanks to your eureka ingenious lesson I will get to where I am going a lot sooner without confusion. Great E= MC2 lesson
I learn music theory in school and i know what you are talkin about but congratulations for the way you teach , so clear and simple , bon boulot monsieur !
An MRI would show my brain glowing with excitement after this masterful teaching lesson. I just leaped out of a several years-long rut of running modal finger scales and exercises with no soul. Damn!, You’re good!!
Thank You, David.
Thank you!!
David is a fantastic instructor. A few years ago I got his book Guitars Mode made easy which opened the whole world to me. Albert King used to play blues with 7 notes of what Dawid is talking about here. Highly recommend that book.
I've been playing parts of these scales, but never thought much about what modes they represent. Fantastic tutorial. Extremely clear and professionally presented. Thanks!
when someone asks me what scale I use, my answer is usually "the chromatic, I just leave out the notes I don't want to hear" because that is more or less what i do "naturally" after 45+ years of playing - now I can tell them to watch this video, where it's explained by someone who actually knows what he's doing (and what I am doing)!
Oh My God, "Click!", the sound of my brain after years of occasional modal study but never understanding it! Thank you! I now know what I have to work on.
Trying to understand them before, felt like trying to understand the movie Inception.
This lesson is a way to bring Modal flavor to Pentatonic scales you know and understand the function of modes should still be studied in this lesson he shows us how to add to inervals to flavour something we are used to but we must still understand what is happening why are we sounding modal and why not....Cool lesson for folks but an understanding is still requiired or you will get confused here as well...
It's an awesome awesome lesson for me such an intermediate player stuck in pentatonic boxes. Truely helpful to me. Thanks a lot !!!
Great vid. FYI Lesson starts 06:59... the intro is a useful background to the different modes
Robben Ford,
the great Fusion (Rock, Jazz & Blues)
1970's guitar player
teaches this same kind of workup with blues & modes.
Your opening examples we're pure Fusion.
Well done.
Excellent lesson. Like another commenter, I've been playing those "extra" notes to color my pentatonics just because they sounded right. Thank you for explaining it better than my teacher did 40 years ago. This lesson addresses not only the modes, but the path to integrating them with what you already know. I feel that once that bit of mental gymnastics is accomplished, the same strategy can be used to slowly expand your scalar vocabulary as far as you'd like. You don't come out and say it, but you seem to eschew the concept of "learn this in all 12 keys". Ya know, it's OK to learn it in one or two keys to start with, then expand.
You are an excellent teacher and I watched your marketing series a while back. Your channel is a real goldmine of good content. Thank you.
This is such a practical and descriptive demonstration of using modes from a pentatonic base. Fantastic David. 🤘🎸👍
The final nudge I needed for Modes to sink in. Far more relatable than the usual lessons on the subject. Thanks dude
This is brilliant. I've been waiting for ages for the moment when it all 'clicks'.. now I get what all those Mode caged shapes are too... thank you.
Thanks so much, have always had a problem just grasping the concept of modes and how to fit it into what I already know. This is excellent, best lesson on modes I've ever seen.
This explanation of modal playing has made the most sense to me. Thank you...
best modes lesson out there!!
THANK....YOU..This Is all I wanted. Teach me the scales Ill learn everything else by myself. I just wanted a basis(AKA A SCALE) That teaches me the difference between each mode. Took a year. But finally found it
It has been said that the true master of a subject is the one who can explain so others can understand. Cheers to you David, you are a master :)
excellent! Finally someone explaining this in a simple way that brings out melodic playing. Thanks
That 2nd position major pentatonic really helps with using the major modes on blues. I have been doing the minor 3, but this lesson really helped with major. Thank you!
The first thing about modes that made sense for me. Thanks a bunch.
David is one of the best online. Your safe with this guy !
This is a GREAT lesson.
Love your modal lessons.
However.. you often say "using your minor pentatonic phrases and licks that you already know..." to be honest I really could do with some more lessons demonstrating how to create and refine super-cool licks and phrases in the pentatonic boxes... then come back to this lesson to add those missing two notes to take those blues licks to the next level.
Thanks again for all your continuing instruction and thought provoking tutorials. They are all very much appreciated.
WOW. I'm off to practice the Dorian scale right now!!
Brilliant lesson.
Combined with other modes lessons out there this was another great step forward, especially in the actual application of modes to music, you were bang on at the beginning with stating while we may know the intervals and how they look, it does little for the actual melody, show the relationship of each to the pentatonic scale and how they flavour the basic form is exactly what we need to know so as to implement the knowledge into our playing. Well thought out, thanks loads. :0
I ve been looking for that kind of information for 3 months. Now modes are so clear to me. Thank u so much! :)
Dorian Mode - Carlos Santana's secret weapon, especially the earlier recordings. The
major 6th note was his bread and butter, bending it to b7 was a trademark.
Mixolydian Mode - Jerry Garcia's seemingly favorite mode. So much of The Dead's
music was major key based. Mixolydian is really the Ionian (Major Diatonic Scale)
with a b7th note instead of major7. I think he did these things off the top of his head,
he had so much music inside. Lydian worked for him a lot, too ...
Basically, mode playing is just starting and ending at different points of the major
scale. Then the major and minor modes spin off that because in each mode there is
either a major 3rd (which makes a major, a major) or minor 3rd ("flat third"), which
makes scales and chords minor ... Nice lesson. Good explanations, excellent playing.
PS - Derek Trucks uses Lydian scale a lot. Of course, he plays EVERYTHING
in open E tuning, not only his slide work. I'm sure that contributes to his
unusual style and note choices. Your description of the Lydian scale is
really the way he plays a lot of those long jams, like Michael Bloomfield
on the Butterfield Band's East/West album. Fluid, unusual sounding solos.
Lynch's use of minor pentatonic with Aeolian is an example of spicing things up. Minor pentatonic with an added 6 also provides a cool change of pace, ala Lukather.
Rock on.
MK
Excellent brake down of modes and how and where to apply.
That actually made modes accessible to someone that struggles remembering modes! Awesomely useful lesson related to the much loved and overused pentatonic!!!
Great lesson, my guy!🤟
I'm trying to get my guitar playing motivation back to par...this is working😅👍
Great lesson. You’re a good teacher, man.
Thank you! It's a light in the dark for me!
Thank you, two days in a row you've helped me connect the dots
Continuing dots
Wow! This tutorial has opened up the use of various modes for me! I understand it now. Thank you!
One of the best mode videos out there
i've watched several of your lessons and you explain them very well. i've always considered myself a 'functional musical illiterate' since i've been playing a lot of what you're teaching but not knowing what i've been playing. i learned by listening to better guitar players and copying what they played.so they incorperated a lot of what you're teaching so i picked these techniques up through the years. its nice to put names to things i've already been doing.i learned a major and minor scale. and seems that all the modes you talk aout all derive from the major or minor scale and mostly thats what i've done through the years is modify those two scales to get what i wanted. like throw it against the wall and see what sticks.
Holy crap. I'm going to go ahead and bookmark this on my browser haha. I have just tried to get my head round this and this lesson made a lightbulb go off.
This is brilliant. Even for a seasoned player! 👍
This helped me so much! I will be taking notes,and watching this again. This filled in a lot of stuff, I was missing. I think this approach is best for me.
While I already knew this sort of, this was a great help in solidifying the concepts. I never thought of them in terms of differentiation from pentatonic. Awesome! Thanks!
This is genius David! Thanks
I’ve been mixing in Dorian and Aolian with my blues and funk playing for years. And never knew what I was doing or why.
Recently saw some guitar tutors who were trying to teach me it all from C Major, and I don’t seem to like / feel major scales and it was all too much real theory to understand.
Also learning the modes individually is confusing.
- THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO SIMPLY LEARN THEM AS ADDITIONS TO MINOR PENTATONIC.
And it keeps it bluesy if that’s what you like already
Genius !
You are so Awesome David. lots of Blessings !!!
Bloody genius David. I think more than anyone else, you open up my world of improvisation. It really fits into my logic. Music is emotional logic to me.
I like that statement. I was listening to Bach the other night and I was thinking the reason it is so powerful is because each of the harmonies is like the journey of life. But the journey of life is filled with logic and emotion. We remember our moments through our thoughts and our feelings. And it is true that chords and harmonies can conjure emotions. So yes, I see what you mean, emotional logic. Adding those harmonies adds to the emotions you can communicate, and thus the stories you can tell and the memories you can trigger. Thanks!
Thank you! That's one of the best and clearest and "to the point" explanations of modes. It is so easy to understand, but people make it so complicated. Obviously things can get more and more complicated with guitar/music theory, and Im sure there are probably reasons and uses to go more in depth, but at their foundation, fairly simple. I have found that teachers very often over complicate things, especially at the beginning. If they were to start simple alot more people could understand the material.
Might be the best mode lesson ever for guitarist, Awesome dude
So far the best modes video I've watched so far. Thank you!
I love your work, brother. Thank you for all you do for us!
thank you for this lesson ...you have open a world ......from roma italy
Sounds beautiful. I am not quite there yet but it gives me incentive to continue. Thanks 😊.
A very clever and guitaristic way to abord modes!
This makes my day, merci David !!
Merci! :)
awesome lesson dude, i am an advanced shredder but never linked those 3 scale major minor to each other as you just did. ps very beautiful phrasing you have
Thanks so much man!
imo this(Davids Vids) really is great way to learn modes/scales, that is, simply in terms of what 2 notes to add to the box pentatonic shape that everyone begins with .....I reduced it all the way down to "/r, rs|, r|s, s|r, |sr, r/,+4m2" in terms of the possible shapes relative to only the top 2 strings & the roots position there in. It is cryptic af, but it encapsulates everything required.
Au top ! Je conseille tes leçons sur le blues ou sur les modes, qui vont encore plus loin ! Merci à toi
Your videos are very instructive, you are a very good teacher. I wish I had all these resources when I was younger. But hey¡ never too late to learn new stuff.
Finally understood modals! Thanks David!
Thanks a lot for your work, mate! Your classes are always very helpful and clear...
Excellent lesson , fantastic chart . Thank You Sir .
You cleaned my ideas on modes. Thank you master
Really insightful lesson - thanks man 👊🏽
Man this video was outstanding! Thank you so much this helped me beyond words!
Wow, thanks alot David.
You are the first Guy who was able to explain me.
Thank you, thank you.
Excellent lesson--thank you!!!
Finally the planets aligned, a very important video for my comprehension of bits and pieces that I already knew. Thanks so much
Wow, the aaahhh moment, I've been playing these shapes for years, now it makes sense. I just need to buckle down and back up a bit, I know where the keys lay on the fretboard but I haven't taken the time to find the notes. I can slowly figure out what note is where but I want to improve on that area, along with the modes and interval training that you have presented in your vids. Can't thank you enough for your guidance!!! Aaahhh...
Thanks so much!
Great Lesson. Mind blown - so helpful. Thanks
Reach for the Sky
Awesome lesson
This is just Amazing! Starting to work on this now.
you are the best teacher.....thank you very,very nice...everyiting..is super..a have one answerr;yours set of strig is ?,,,which you expirienced....and what you prefer to use....number..10,or 9....thank you very much.......
thank you! for everything. amazing and intresting videos which help me alot practising improv and theory.
Man, this is just perfect. Thank you!
Greetings from Brazil.
This was SO INCREDIBLY HELPFUL!! Thank you so much!! ❤
Video begins at 1:20
This is great
You really break things down nice and clearly
Great. Exactly what I need right now. Thanks!
Seriously, this is the best video i have seen about this in an easy perspective. Thanks a lot! Subscribed!
Thank you very much!
How did i miss this vid for so long!? I GET IT NOW! Thanks heaps and bunches man!
Great stuff, I always thought it was way over my head this -lidian stuff. It actually all makes sense now wish we had this in the 90s.
Really nice lesson, David. Damn, that’s so very well explained.
Such an excellent video - so well explained. Subscribed!