Understanding Modes on Guitar - Guitar Modes Lesson - Part 1

[RawkinOutt]

Well, I do have a better understanding of what modes are, and I understand how they can immensely improve your soloing/overall playing... But damn it's intimidating. The learning curve seems a bit over whelming, especially to a self taught guitarist who's already lacking in music theory.

[fretjamdotcom]

@RawkinOutt I know exactly what you mean. I'm still learning, but the curve seems exponential, if that makes sense. The more you learn, the quicker everything seems to fall into place and make sense. Work your way through my theory and scales sections and see how much progress you make in a year.

[RawkinOutt]

@fretjamdotcom I think I'll do just that. I haven't checked out any of your other videos yet, but you're the first person that actually helped me make some sense of modes. I'll check out some more of your vids. Thanks =] Subscribed.

[Subzro777]

bloody hell

[mulholland1985]

keep the modes in the mind as "i dont punch little men after lunch"..each letter starts with the same letter as the mode order...this lesson is great...

[MrJasonPDK]

Thanks for this!

Your videos and site are really helpful.

But seriously, what's the point of the scary thing at the start and end of videos?

[downhill240]

Wow! I don't get it but I'm going to continue trying! I will now subscribe to your channel. Thank you for sharing!

[corporacionmonstruo]

why you need to know modes?

[fretjamdotcom]

@corporacionmonstruo You don't need to know modes, but it's definitely beneficial to know them.

[corporacionmonstruo]

@fretjamdotcom i formulated the question wrong,sorry. why they are beneficial ?

[fretjamdotcom]

@corporacionmonstruo It's one of those things where you only realise how beneficial they are once you learn them. I think the main benefit is being able to associate a given chord progression with a mode. E.g. a ii IV V progression would imply Dorian (where the ii chord is the tonic). I go into this in the 2nd part. Learning modes helps you connect a sequence of chords to a tonal center. More directly, learning modes gives you several new scales to use in your solos.

[corporacionmonstruo]

@fretjamdotcom thanks for the long answer

[ZeppelinFloydRoses]

I believe I am correct. Just wanna make sure I understand (=

[ZeppelinFloydRoses]

So if you're in the key of G major, and you start on the 2nd of G major (the note A) and play the major scale pattern, you'll be playing the A Dorian mode?

[CasualT840]

@ZeppelinFloydRoses yes.

[casschnur]

Also, some advice on practicing the scales/modes around chord progressions would also be ideal.

Could you tell us for example, What mode could be used in a 1,4,5 in C? That would be great. Thanks in advance, great stuff here!

[casschnur]

I would like to know how to improvise more melodically over a chord progression in any key; being aware of the scales and mode positions for the shapes along the length of the neck that one can use to solo over a specific chord. And, how to pick out the chord tones and strong notes - i.e. resolving a lick/riff to the root and including the chord notes, etc...

[KILL3RKI3R4N]

flippin awesome lesson, i will be able to advance further in my guitar playing :)

[td7474]

The opening dialogue is awesome! LMFAO!!!

[nilla003]

Thanks for the reply. My question (I think my question, that is!) is if I play a Lydian scale over a chord progression of perhaps a I, IV V, in C, would the scale be based on the major scale starting on the forth position with root for the scale of C or of F?

[fretjamdotcom]

@nilla003 in the case of I IV V, the tonic would be C major so yes, the scale would be based on the major (Ionian) scale. If you played Lydian from the root of F, it would still be C major because that's the tonic chord of the progression.

[smashingpoop]

wtf creepy ending

[TheFolksinger]

Thanks for this clearly expressed lesson.

[kamikazie1974]

top banana, finally a video that makes sense :)

[heatmanable]

Finally explained so I could understand ..tks

[MyShassan]

Hello ! ur lesson was v Helpful nd ur way of teaching was perfect, Thank u so much !

[Winzter04]

Great <3

[cyberflea07]

Hi there,I've just noticed how the descending intervallic relation of each mode reflects an other mode:ionian is an upside down phrygian,lydian is an upsidedown locrian and mixolydian is an upside down aeolian...except for dorian which reflects it self....! does this have any practical aplication or is it just coincidence?

thanx for your lessons

[ultramanrichie]

perfect!! you've really made the complicated so simple on this vid :)) thanks!

[TheCastagne]

That's the best video tutorial for modes on the guitar I ever seen, very well explained in fact! But What happen if you start building modes on a Minor Scale? How about the chords attached to it?

Sry for mistakes, english is not my language

[fretjamdotcom]

@TheCastagne please don't apologise. Perfectly clear. There are in fact modes of the melodic minor and harmonic minor scales. However, as the natural minor scale is the 6th mode of major scale (Aeolian) we just use the major scale as the parent scale.

[fretjamdotcom]

Thanks to all who commented. Remember, this is just an introduction to a larger series on the site which looks at each mode individually.

[Soma874]

Nice one. It's given me more of a grasp of the subject than most tutorials have.

[thebrianpm]

Excellent stuff!

[redcarsarasota]

I was listening to the video and I forgot it had that crazy voice altered stuff at the end and it cracked me up when I heard it.

[LohTek]

Keep up the good work!