Modern Harmony - Lesson 2: Modes and Tonality (part 2)

© 2017, Alan Belkin

[MikkoHaavisto]

43 videos! What a treat! I'm really glad you decided to open up your intellect for everyone.

[JJBerthume]

Example 9 was really beautiful, I want a whole piece!

[kazrej]

I am a composition major, and your tutorials have helped me significantly. Thanks Alan!

[AaronTrimbleMusic]

I'm a film composer and have a degree in music theory. I love you insight. Thank you for taking the time to make these videos!

[HishamKhalaf]

Great lessons. Thank you so much Mr. Alan Belkin.

[svpagliuca]

A true lesson, maestro.
Best from Maracaibo, Venezuela

[markchapman]

You don't talk about moving from one mode to another within the same key signature, e.g. D Dorian to G Myxolydian. Is this too trivial to discuss (just go there and the listener will eventually realise that the tonal centre has shifted) or too subtle in a wide-ranging on-line course like this? One establishes a mode by dwelling on the characteristic note, but for the pairs of D Dorian and F lydian, or E Phrygian and G Myxolydian, they're the same note!

[stephenrampley]

Isn't the difference between Dorian and Phrygian TWO flats, not one?

[MusicalVenture]

Hi Alan! But how do we distinguish Locrian from Phrygian if we don't play 5b in cadence? Isn't this a flavor sound? Thank you for your videos! I am self-taught, and it is very helpful to have a complete course rather than take parts from here or there.

[Koropokel]

at 2:20 you say the difference between dorian and phrygian is one flat but its 2 ; the flat second and the flat 6

[janneckchristiansen]

Can someone please tell me if there is a mistake in example 10 first measure? what is written, is not what I hear?

[goodcyrus]

Example 9 had a funky sound in the bass, as if the wrong sound patch was used, regardless of the modulation; the top voice was fine. Not sure why circle of 5th modulation is not used in any of these, good to have one as an example, say Dorian to minor to Phrygian. Too obvious? I would say more smooth. Introducing accidentals randomly or those that emphasize the new mode most prominently, as shown here does not make the smoothest transition, just as mode borrowing is not as smooth as say circ of 5th with pivot chords. All that said, it is always good to share experiments so people can choose what works for them.

[jerzh]

Ex 9 sounds a bit like Oneohtrix Point Never