When to use the modes - Page 2

solus · April 9th, 2006

I have long known the modes, just not when to use them. I can dig mixolydian, lydian if I try hard, and I think I might have heard one song that used dorian. What I'm looking for is songs or snippets that illustrates how these and other modes (phrygian and *shudder* locrian) can be used in a song. If you have some tabs or chord progressions, or even examples of songs, I'll be very grateful.

WernHalen · #16 April 13th, 2006

Kirk by the way the DVD seems to have arrived. got a piece of paper in my box yesterday saying i should pick up a package form the inside. Unfortunately the place was closed already... I cant wait for the long weekend, which starts in a couple of hours... I am going to play guitar, watch DVD and do what my wife says... (chuckles)

I'll even try to record a couple of improv's over a couple of BT's that I could post over here...

Getting back to the issue in the thread... Get free from scales and move to melody. Scales uses a lot of thinking that gets in the way of music. Especially if the piece of music keeps changing key or uses chords outside the key, also if the chord shanges happen quite quickly...

Now i have five cents in the pot...

Kirk Lorange · #17 April 13th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by WernHalen

Kirk by the way the DVD seems to have arrived. got a piece of paper in my box yesterday saying i should pick up a package form the inside.

Great! Too bad you have to wait for the long weekend to be over! Now you're going to see easy it is to use all notes at will, all 12, how the chromatic scale really absorbs all scales and modes so that the argument about which to use and when to use it becomes redundant. Music is really just homogenous background of semitone intervals.

solus · #18 April 13th, 2006

I just find locrian incomprehensible, and somehow very scary. Hence the shuddering.

scotty_b · #19 April 13th, 2006

Hi Kirk
Thanks for your response. I'll just clarify that I was in fact posing that question in response to an earlier comment from wernhalen, and I was curious to know how they would approach such things, so as I could understand a little more about their perception of the issues. I understand that the 6th (or any other tone) will be altered by the key and the function of the chord therein eg, if it is a II chord the 6th degree would be natural, if a VI chord it would be a b6th degree.
Your criticism of that blues I recorded is quite valid, and I would say I over-played in that style. It was just a one take thing, and if I went back there are a few places I would change - however at times I do like that way of playing.That is of course just a snippet of how I may approach something like that, and I felt that it would present a different approach to the others on offer that I had heard. I have been influenced by Mike Stern as much as Stevie Ray Vaughan or Joe Satriani, and so playing in that style comes out at times, be it for evil or good!
I try and be aware of what else has been played and vary it accordingly. I don't know if you have encountered a friend of mine named Steve Edmonds or not, but when I sit in with his band I never try and play in the Hendrix-SRV style, as that is what he has based his show around. No point in me playing like that too. I either think more about how BB King would play over whatever it is we are doing, or I will approach it from the Mike Stern/Coltrane/Kenny Burrell side of things, so that it sounds very different to Steve. And occasionally I have a good night and get it all in there!

And hey, this is a great site! Thanks for all your efforts - and all the other guys on here. Nice to have some intelligent discussion about the guitar and music
Take care

allthumbs · #20 April 13th, 2006

I am not sure if your siting S.R.V. as a scale player or a chordal player. A strong case can be made for the chordal approach. I have looked at many of his tunes and have seen his note choices strongly influenced by chord tones rather than scale runs.

Kirk Lorange · #21 April 13th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotty_b

..... I don't know if you have encountered a friend of mine named Steve Edmonds or not ....

Yes! Steve is a fantastic player. He used to come to just about every gig my band 'The Train' did way back when and get up for a jam ... he's outstanding. Say hi to him for me when you next see him.

scotty_b · #22 April 15th, 2006

Will do - we are trying to get together and have dinner in the next week or so.