Riff Of the Week™ : The Modes: An Introduction

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Hi, I'm Dave Weiner. Every Wednesday I do a new Riff Of The Week. Here's Season 3, Episode 14: "The Modes: An Introduction"

Don't forget to view the tab and listen to the audio clips for this riff on the ROTW page of my site at: www.daveweiner.com/rotw,

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Thanks for visiting. Enjoy!

Dave

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[joesatriani1200rulez]

wow dave i believe you made a mistake when you were describing flying in a blue dream and yes you are right it is C Lydian but when you were playing it i believe you slide to the note of A# and that note is not in C Lydian but dont matter anyway just wanted to point it out hahaha but your brilliant at describing theory anyway but just ROCK ON DAVE!

[DAVEWEINER]

I was guessing.

[tedhellcaster]

my problem with modes is that when i change the mode, like Cminor to C Dorian, i can't immediately visualize the scale in the fretboard.

i end up playing in just one position

[DAVEWEINER]

daveweiner . com / lessons

[IronDoll2]

can i use modes anytime?

i mean if i have e minor backing track and i wanna improvise on it and add modes like A Dorian or B Phrygian can i use those modes any time? (of course it depends the scale)

[DAVEWEINER]

No, only on every other Thursday.

(yes)

[capsaicinrain]

you gotta be one of the most modest musicians out there

in a good way

youre always lookin out to help us

thanks man, youre a legend

[Covers4Christ]

OK, first of all thanks for puttin' stuff out like this, you are quite talented........got a question though, I really want to learn these modes and such, I'm sure it makes soloing alot easier and more fun....... but when you're talking about the scales and stuff, I'm not exactly sure what you're saying, like a minor 3rd or major 7th, so what do I need to look at before learning modes so I can follow what you're meaning?

[pcollins69]

all this talk of spices and flavours has got me hungry! excellent video by the way :)

[ThaThing1337x]

One question:

When I play D dorian, where the root is a D, why does it feel bettere to end it on a C? =S

Is it just my ear think it's the C major scale?

However, when I play a E phrygian, it feels right to end it on a E o.O

HELP

[deathscythekim729]

Thanks Dave! very helpful!

[guyglowmore1]

good lesson. this will take some time to fully seep in. what would really help, i suspect, would be examples of how the modes are used in popular songs: jazz, blues, etc. for instance what mode is unique to strawberry fields or light my fire or the thrill is gone. that would give a good understanding how these modes sound when used over chord progs. it would also be another way of practicing diff. modes by playing said song. also, with guitar many bends introduce diff. modes.

[pdod09]

how to apply..it...if i god dminor backing track....how to use it....before this...i just played what i want... how exactly....steve vai..joe....apply it...in their solo...

[chikaofg]

Isn't C mixo from G and lydian from F? :P

[glitchystudios]

Are these modes the same thing as the different positions in the CAGED system??

[EstevanMusic]

@Vindfall Kind of...?

They have the same scale notes.

But when you establish a tonal center. The mode becomes apparent and becomes unique.

F Lydian is NOT C major.

Just play C major "scale" over an F in the bass.

If you do not have a established tonal center,

Like if I was just playing an C major and F major chord, I could use C major, or F Lydian.

But make all the chords in a C major progression be /F chords and it will pull to F Lydian not C major.

[shredderwannabe]

are modes what they use in fusion and jazz?