Modal Backing tracks : How to write them?

[jamesbeth]

Why can't you just build chords from each degree of your modal scale? like you would any other scale

[Wallimann]

@jamesbeth You can do that too, but keeping a constant bass drone will make the modal color shine even more...

[pablomurga]

You just love Dorian, don't you? Haha,

[Wallimann]

@pablomurga Yes I do! :-)

[musicalcem]

excellent!!!

thx

[Wallimann]

@musicalcem I'm glad you liked this!

[deanpool]

EXCELLENT as usual, i would like to see a lesson on actual modal progressions (maybe similar to gambales lol) or pherhaps a lesson on 'chordal melody'.

Thank You!

[Wallimann]

@deanpool Thanks man! :-)

[RandyBakkelund]

interesting concept about modes, I like this

[Wallimann]

@RandyBakkelund Thanks for watching! :-)

[ddNicKbb]

i have a problem.

every time i try to write a chord progression i tend to apply only 4 chords or 3(the classic blues progression) and when i try to apply more chords it becomes an endless chord progression which probably does not make sense.

any ideas on how i can make a better chord progression  with 5,6 or more chords?

[Wallimann]

@ddNicKbb Not sure.. I think having a strong melody might help. You might also look into common chord progressions like ii V I and such...

[ddNicKbb]

@Wallimann ok man!thanx a lot:)

i really appreciate what you do:)

greetings from Samos,Greece:)

[manuorchestra]

Salut !

I think this video is more about creating a modal chord rather than really writing a "chord progression", but it's interesting !

There's the F. Gambale's method to create modal vamps : Take the IV & V chords of the major scale related to the mode you want to use and add the root of the mode.

Ex : if you want A Dorian (is from G major : IV is C and V is D) so play C/A ; D/A

A Phrygian ? it is from F major : IV is Bb ; V is C, so play Bb/A ; C/A

And so on...for each mode.

[Wallimann]

@manuorchestra Nice! Thanks for reminding me of that. His method is great! :-)

[drewhet]

Couldnt one make a chord progression thats ambiguous and then during the improv play the "color notes" to bring out different modes? Or would it sound better to create a backing track that sounds like a particular mode as a whole? I guess i can find out..

[Wallimann]

@drewhet Yeah, you could do that.

It all depends on your intent for the track. :-)

Good comment!

[cjkeegan100]

im finally ready to take this information on board (i think) but why does it have to be this complicated? why cant i just take a key like G major then just record a chord progression from its second chord Am, and resolve it back to Am. then solo over it using a dorian, a minor pentatonic, A blues, G major or em or whatever fits?

[Wallimann]

@cjkeegan100 Yeah, that's how you do it! :-)

[cjkeegan100]

@Wallimann are you sure? :)

[Wallimann]

@cjkeegan100 Yeah :-)

[MrRichardNoggin]

im lost, i wish i knew what hes talking about cut i know what sounds good, but dont know what im actually playing

[Wallimann]

@MrRichardNoggin You should start with intervals! :-)

[MrRichardNoggin]

@Wallimann those are?

[Wallimann]

@MrRichardNoggin Intervals are the distance between two notes and knowing them is a great starting point to get into theory and apply it.

I'm selling a package with theory lessons on my site guitarplayback . com

One deals with intervals. :-)

[philnoll]

@MrRichardNoggin If you want to know what you're playing, learn the notes on your fretboard

[cjkeegan100]

i dont think im ready for this stuff just yet. only know the major, blues, minor and pentanic scale. and i can only solo over diatonic chord proggresions. good vid though ill come back to this in future when it doesnt go in one ear and out the other before i actually hear it :)

[philnoll]

@cjkeegan100 If you know the major scale, you can play all the modes. Its just a matter of starting from a different note. If you play C major starting from C, its C major. If you play the same scale, starting on A, its A minor. And if you play a C major scale starting from D, its D dorian.

[HeroFloyd]

well I've been learning music theory for the past year and have known my modes for a while, but it turned out that i wasn't applying modes properly cause i used them as an extension of the major scale when they are supposed to be individual scales of their own. but now I'm back on track and i would like to ask if you could make a video going into more depth on the "color" tones and passing of the individual modes, how i should go about using them in improvising as a lead guitarist.

Thanks

[Wallimann]

@HeroFloyd I'll add that to the list, no problem.

The key is to work with backing track designed for this.

Check out guitarplaybackdotcom

I developed the site for that purpose and there are a few free tracks on there. :-)

[daannmi]

Really simple, really practical and extremely helpful. Thanks David!

[Wallimann]

@daannmi Thanks a lot!

I'm glad you like this!

[rqorso]

great, Mr Wallimann. Your explanations are helping me in my musical quest..

I started recently to study musical theory, an listen the "colors", possibliities of each mode..

sounds great, expands the feeling...

A valuable excercise for heart, mind and soul.

please keep it groovin!

Thanks a lot.

[Wallimann]

@rqorso I'm thrilled to read your comment! I'm glad you find the videos valuable, thanks a lot for watching them! :-)

[MYJANZ]

thanks man this help me a lot.... keep on rockin

[Wallimann]

@MYJANZ Excellent! :-)

[SlimfullSim2]

OMG that was a lot to swallow O_O I'm so confused.

[Wallimann]

@SlimfullSim2 Hehe!

Just relax man, it will all come together. Just leave that lesson for now maybe? :-)

[toby1kenobe]

Thanks David, great lesson. How about part 2 being joining various modes together to lift mood, create tension etc..

Thanks

toby

[Wallimann]

@toby1kenobe Good idea! Thanks! :-)

[Dan1loBr]

hey... great lesson :O

It ~sounds~ really simple, though you need some musical basis ^^

[Wallimann]

@Dan1loBr Glad you liked it! :-)

[JoaoNGoncalves]

"Until next time, Salut!" ahah, that's getting epic !

Really enjoyed the lesson David. I'll be sure to try to apply that in my daily practice, as nowadays I know almost nothing about music theory and how to apply the modes in different situations.

[Wallimann]

@JoaoNGoncalves Thanks Joan!

So it's catching on! Haha!

Cool! :-)

[Sokton89]

Awesome! Very nicely explained! :-)

[Wallimann]

@Sokton89 Thanks! :-)

[EstevanMusic]

Great lesson man, as usual.

I really like this one (066476) for bringing out E Lydian (Emaj9#11).

These are the kind of lessons that the music world really needs!

[Wallimann]

@EstevanMusic Oh yeah man, what an awesome chord! :-)

[NotSoSuperJerk]

This is awsome! I am amazed that you managed to give that much information in just over 5 minutes! =)

[Wallimann]

@NotSoSuperJerk Glad you like it! :-)

[browncaiman]

great vid man!!! I always get something new from your videos, thank you!! but what software do you use to create this backing tracks?

[Wallimann]

@browncaiman Thanks a lot!

I'm thrilled to read your post!

I used Garageband for this. Quick and easy way to make tracks on Mac. :-)

[ibanezxiphos700]

I love you!

[Wallimann]

@ibanezxiphos700 Hehe! Thanks man! :-)

[miqueldapena]

Great video!

I think you should relate it to your other awesome video "HOW TO USE THE DORIAN SCALE"

[Wallimann]

@miqueldapena You mean the Locrian scale? :-)

Good idea! :-)

[miqueldapena]

@Wallimann Hi David! In fact I was thinking you could explaining how you wrote the backing track for your video "HOW TO USE THE DORIAN SCALE", in which you introduce the Cuban Dorian Maptrack. Why those chords force a dorian scale? Why not phrygian or aeolian?

[Wallimann]

@miqueldapena Oh ok!

I see!

Yeah, I'm hoping to have all the chords explained on my website soon (guitarplayback)...

Good suggestions! :-)

[udsahn]

Great stuff! Gave me quite a few ideas on this subject I was really looking for. I think a great addendum would be on modulating from one key to another one smoothly. I know that modulation isn't exactly easy to do, but I'd think it'd be the next notch :). Overall, great addition!

Oh, and love the shirt today! :)

[Wallimann]

@udsahn Thanks dude!

Yeah, modulation is a great topic, I'll prepare something on that topic. :-)

[col33145]

Hi Dave this might be a big ask ?but can you show the five shapes for the modes please this would help me out a bit ?thanks Dave ,,Colin =uk \m/

[Wallimann]

@col33145 Hi Colin!

I'll try to get a lesson done with that.

In the meantime, here are some:

davidwallimanndotcom/blog/moda­l-positions/

[Jadguitare]

Great lesson david !! clear and well explained

[Wallimann]

@Jadguitare Thanks Jad! :-)

[LiechtensteinGuy]

What's next to your camera that you're looking at? :o)

[Wallimann]

@LiechtensteinGuy Hehe! Nothing, just my computer screen. :-)

[ShredReviews]

Floopin' excellent lesson :) 

[Wallimann]

@ShredReviews Glad you like it man!

[jayblackdogg]

Thanks for this! Although I do modes most of the time in my playing, Ive never really understood modes, until now!

\m/

Jay

[roccckkerrr]

@jayblackdogg \m/? monkey lord? haha

[Wallimann]

@roccckkerrr Haha! :-)

[Wallimann]

@jayblackdogg Awesome Jay! That's very good news man! :-)

[DMachine999]

Great video Dave. You should do a lesson like this on Jamplay man. I read your article on this topic it was great but a full blown lesson would be awesome too.

[Wallimann]

@DMachine999 Great suggestion man! :-)

[burnedoutgolfer]

YAY! First viewer! Another great lesson DW! Thanks for explaining things for us who are guitar and music theory impaired =)