Modes 2: Applications and Uses

[FunkMetalBass]

Modes 2: Applications and Uses

Yes it's been a long time since the last lesson, but I am finally doing it, so there is no need to fear!

If you need to review anything from the last lesson, check out Modes: The Basics. (http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=10164374#post10164374)

As you hopefully know, there are different chords that exist within each key. In the key of C, those chords are:

I. C major (C)
ii. D minor (Dm)
iii. E minor (Em)
IV. F major (F)
V. G major (G)
vi. A minor (Am)
viiº. B diminished (Bº)

There is a mode that corresponds to each chord within a key as well. As musicians, it is our job to know which mode pairs up with which chord. Whether or not you noticed, in the previous lesson, I also used the roman numeral chord equivalents that I have above. Those tell you which mode to use.
So, for chords in the key of C, these are the modes I need to use:

C: Ionian
Dm: Dorian
Em: Phrygian
F: Lydian
G: Mixolydian
Am: Aolian
Bº: Locrian

Since the previous lesson (http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=10164374#post10164374) included diagrams of these modes, I thought I'd display each mode in a tablature form. You can also click the letter to hear how each individual mode sounds when applied over its corresponding chord.


C (http://e.1asphost.com/funkmetalbass/Lessons/Modes/Ionian.mid)
|-----------2-4-5----|
|-----2-3-5----------|
|-3-5----------------|
|--------------------|

Dm (http://e.1asphost.com/funkmetalbass/Lessons/Modes/Dorian.mid)
|-------------5-7----|
|-------5-7-9--------|
|-5-7-8--------------|
|--------------------|

Em (http://e.1asphost.com/funkmetalbass/Lessons/Modes/Phrygian.mid)
|---------------7-9----|
|--------7-9-10--------|
|-7-8-10---------------|
|----------------------|

F (http://e.1asphost.com/funkmetalbass/Lessons/Modes/Lydian.mid)
|-------------7-9-10----|
|------7-9-10-----------|
|-8-10------------------|
|-----------------------|

G (http://e.1asphost.com/funkmetalbass/Lessons/Modes/Mixolydian.mid)
|---------------9-10-12----|
|-------9-10-12------------|
|-10-12--------------------|
|--------------------------|

Am (http://e.1asphost.com/funkmetalbass/Lessons/Modes/Aolian.mid)
|-------------------12-14----|
|----------12-14-15----------|
|-12-14-15-------------------|
|----------------------------|

Bº (http://e.1asphost.com/funkmetalbass/Lessons/Modes/Locrian.mid)
|-------------------14-16----|
|----------14-15-17----------|
|-14-15-17-------------------|
|----------------------------|

Feel free to use different octaves of each mode. The ones I have listed are simply for demonstration purposes. Also, remember that this technique can be applied in each and every key. All it takes is knowing the chords that belong in each key.

Previous Lesson:
Modes 1: The Basics (http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=10164374#post10164374)

[PillarFreak]

...Also, remember that this technique can be applied in each and every key. All it takes is knowing the chords that belong in each key.

So, where do you find out which chords belong in each key? That may seem like a stupid question, and I'm thinking it might be since it's sort've placed in your lesson as a kind of afterthought, or at least from my perspective that's what it seems like.

Does it possibly have something to do with the circle of fifths?

[Scooch]

How do you use them?

[FunkMetalBass]

Modes: FAQ

So, where do you find out which chords belong in each key? That may seem like a stupid question, and I'm thinking it might be since it's sort've placed in your lesson as a kind of afterthought, or at least from my perspective that's what it seems like.

Does it possibly have something to do with the circle of fifths?

To some degree, it does have to do with the circle of fifths, as that is a chart that tells you which notes are flat/sharp in which key. To find out which chords are in which key, there is a simple method. For my example, I will use Ab Major.

First, take the key's name, and count all of the notes in it.

A B C D E F G

Now insert the sharps and flats accordingly. (Refer to the circle of fifths if you are unsure which notes are flattened)
Ab Bb C Db Eb F G

Now that you have the order, use the Major, Minor, Minor, Major, Major, Minor, Diminished pattern.

Ab Bbmin Cmin Db Eb Fmin Gº

Now you know the chords of a key.



How do you use them?

However you'd like to use them. They are simply scales awaiting you to play them. Nothing more.

One way to use them is over a standard chord progession. We, as bassists, like to stay within the chord's parameters, but there is far greater possibility.

For example, the chord F consists of F, A, and C. While you can use these notes when soloing or writing a bassline over that chord, you have to know that there are many other notes that can be used harmoniously over this chord as well.

Simply figure out the key, and use variations of the chord's corresponding mode. I hope I explained that well. Modes are not an easy concept to grasp.

[PillarFreak]

Modes are not an easy concept to grasp.

I'm starting to understand that... ;) I just read through your explanation once and I think I understand. I should probably go through and read it a couple more times. ;)

[simonrex22]

This is a really good lesson. I think this is the first time ive actually understood how modes work. This post should be stickied.

[simonrex22]

What are octaves of a mode? Is that just moving up the fretboard? How do you figure out where they are?

Are inversions the same as octaves?

[Bass+Fingers+Amp=Groove]

Remember this, if your in a major key then

I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, vii(diminished) is the progression)

upercase = major, lower = minor,

in minor its the reverse(almost)

i, ,ii(dimin), III, iv, (v/V), VI, (VII/vii)

minor is different, in a natural minor scale (who uses those?) the 5 chord would be minor, and the 7th, or leading tone chord would be major, but in most uses of minor, you raise the leading tone, so v becomes a major chord V, and VII becomes a diminished triad.

so just remeber that in major, 1-4-5 and 5 will always be major triads, in minor 1-4 will be minor, 5 almsot always major.

[Porky]

How do you use them?

Whenever I'm writing and get stuck, I jump around with modes and find my way out.

For example, if I was writing something in C Ionian (C major) and knew I was starting to lose interest in the same major sounds, I would move to the different modes of C Major. Every mode of C Major has the exact same notes as the Ionian mode, and in the same order. The only difference is that they all start on different notes of the scale and therefore have different patterns of whole and half-steps.

C: Ionian (C) W (d) W (e) H (f) W (g) W (a) W (b) H (c)
Dm: Dorian (d) W (e) H (f) W (g) W (a) W (b) H (c) W (D)
Em: Phrygian (e) H (f) W (g) W (a) W (b) H (c) W (D) W (e)
F: Lydian (f) W (g) W (a) W (b) H (c) W (D) W (e) H (f)
G: Mixolydian (g) W (a) W (b) H (c) W (D) W (e) H (f) W (G)
Am: Aolian (a) W (b) H (c) W (D) W (e) H (f) W (G) W (a)
Bº: Locrian- (b) H (c) W (D) W (e) H (f) W (G) W (a) W (b)

W= Whole step
H= Half step
(c),(d), etc.= notes of the scale

As you can see, each new mode starts on the second note of the mode before it, changing the step pattern and therefore the sound of the mode.

HOWEVER, ALL OF THE MODES OF A CERTAIN SCALE CONTAIN THE SAME NOTES

So, if I were again writing that same song in C Major and suddenly decided to switch to natural minor chords without changing keys, I would move to the A Aeolian mode, which is the same as A minor.

A confusing concept, I know, but I hope this helped out a little.