Cracking The Guitar Modes Code

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In today's video we'll take a look at how to approach guitar modes. Most guitar players make the mistake of bringing everything back to the Major scale. Although this might work, it doesn't help musicians truly play modally.
My name is David Wallimann. I am a guitar teacher, product demonstrator, session player, musician and composer. On this Youtube channel you will find free guitar lessons, music development tips, my music and more. Thanks for watching my videos!

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[emiral]

one of the most likeable and pleasant guitar teachers on the web!

[dlees]

C Lydian (Starting Mode)#4
C Ionian (Lydian with natural 4)
C Mixolydian (Ionian with b7)
C Dorian (Mixolydian with b3)
C Aeolian (Dorian with b6)
C Phrygian (Aeolian with b2)
C Locrian (Phrygian with b5)

this way u can change one note at a time. starting from c lydian, then goto c ionian by flatning the #4
then continue for the others

[unfetteredaxes]

Thanks David, that's exactly what I've been working on the past few days. I'm so glad you reaffirmed my actions. you are amazing!

[joaoalex]

The part of taking a "step further" and analysing and understanding the sound of each mode (C Ionian, C Dorian, etc...) was really valuable to me a few years back when I watched your videos. My brain made an instant "click". I remember being so stoked, I was really happy being able to finally understand it! And all thanks to you mr. Walliman, thank you very much.

[tonybates]

T=tone S=semitone

Ionian - T T S T T T S
Dorian - T S T T T S T
Phrygian - S T T T S T T
Lydian - T T T S T T S
Mixolydian - T T S T T S T
Aeolian - T S T T S T T
Locrian - S T T S T T T

[fhidalgo]

This is the exact information I was looking for but where is the sound comparison ? Here is the real value of the concept to feel the different moods.

[FabrizioPeretti]

it helped me a lot when i studied the interval structure of every mode. actually looking a them physycally written as intervals help a lot

[Scias]

Going through the intervals of each mode like this might really help my students thanks for this reminder!

[theguitaruss]

This is fantastic!? After watching 20+ videos- you cleared how so much for

[ourclarioncall]

I also modified the shapes so that they fit over a 4 fret span . There is no need for 5 fret stretches which can be difficult and uncomfortable

Saying that I have currently come back to wider shapes and there are definitely benefits

[DarinJones]

Thanks for this. This caused me no end in frustration about 10 years ago. I ended up having to guess about this conclusion back then...as I was asking questions like you mentioned at the beginning of the video. Nobody could really get me on the right track. I think its almost a crime for books and learning materials not to have at least an * on the front page of the modal section with your exact explanation here.

[BoundInChains]

There is wisdom in learning them as individual scales. Great tip and thanks!

[normanstewart]

A brilliant explanation....easy to understand...

[straightshooter]

And I would say that after you experiment with each mode in one position you can ask yourself which ones you like and would most likely use and then just throw the others away. Hense only learn what you like and not waist time learning the ones you'll never use.

[nscoulter]

Dave, I really enjoy your videos, they're the best around. They've helped my playing tremendously. I hope you get the recognition you deserve. Thanks for everything!

[ronpaulrevered]

This is helping to clear some things up for me. Very curious how understanding the master key of modes will help, but that is a topic for later. My skills are very basic on guitar. I know the pentatonic box shapes and the diagonal scale shapes. I once knew the mode boxes, but I forgot them and have to relearn them. I know some basic chords and some jazz chords I stole from some tabs of someCharles Mingus songs I liked. You are helping me up my game David. Thanks.

[toniogro]

"There 2 elements together create major confusion" I see what you did there

[ourclarioncall]

Yes, it’s much better in the beginning to throw the word “modes” in the trash and any related thinking

Just think about each mode as an independent scale in their own right.

And it’s a great excercise to go through all 7 modes starting from the same roof note . A major, A Dorian, A Phrygian etc etc.

Once you have memorised each shape and formula and play any mode in any key then you can go back and learn them from the perspective of modes which you will then realise is a different, confusing and slow thought process

[juap]

Yeah, i already know that. I was looking the actual shape in the guitar of those modes.

[thomasmartinscott]

My confusion ( for years ) cleared when I saw it this way. C Dorian is actually Bb major. C Phrygian is Ab. C Lydian is G. C Mixolydian is F. C Aeolian is Eb. And C Locrian is B. All major scales that I already knew 5 positions of. I can start each one of those anywhere I want, and I'm getting the Dorian sound, or whichever.