Here's a way to practice the modes using the C major scale. Ascending scale pattern stopping at the 3rd, the 5th, and then play through the full scale. I find this is an easy to help learn the sound of the different modes.
Intermediate Practicing the modes of C major scale
- Thread starter Andy Schultz
- Start date
Intermediate Theory
Fun exercise, but it completely misses the point of modes. This is just a C scale starting on the 1st note , then the 2nd, then the 3rd, etc. It all just sounds like he's playing in C major.
Calling this "modes" is misleading.
If you are jamming in D Dorian - say Dm to G7, it sounds like you're playing in Dm. It never sounds like you're playing in C Major. D Dorian is: D E F G A B C. It HAPPENS to share the same notes as a C Major scale, but it is not a C Major scale. It is a minor scale: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7.
It's a bit confusing, but an important distinction.
Calling this "modes" is misleading.
If you are jamming in D Dorian - say Dm to G7, it sounds like you're playing in Dm. It never sounds like you're playing in C Major. D Dorian is: D E F G A B C. It HAPPENS to share the same notes as a C Major scale, but it is not a C Major scale. It is a minor scale: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7.
It's a bit confusing, but an important distinction.
PG is right try doing some chord progressions taking each chord from the chord family as a I chord
For example in C
C-G7-Am-F
Dm-Am-Bm7b5-G7
Em-Bm7b5-C-Am
F-Bm7b5-Dm-C
G-Dm-Em-C
Am-Em-F-Dm
Bm7b5-Fmaj7-G7-Em7
The mode you're in is not defined by the notes you play in your scale, it's defined by the chords underneath it and you can make certain aspects shine a little more. For example, the b2 is what makes phrygian sound phrygian so it's nice to throw it in there otherwise you may as well be in aeolian but the mode you're in is defined by the chords underneath not the notes itself. This is great exercise to learn the fretboard but it really doesn't teach a lot in terms of understanding the modes.
For example in C
C-G7-Am-F
Dm-Am-Bm7b5-G7
Em-Bm7b5-C-Am
F-Bm7b5-Dm-C
G-Dm-Em-C
Am-Em-F-Dm
Bm7b5-Fmaj7-G7-Em7
The mode you're in is not defined by the notes you play in your scale, it's defined by the chords underneath it and you can make certain aspects shine a little more. For example, the b2 is what makes phrygian sound phrygian so it's nice to throw it in there otherwise you may as well be in aeolian but the mode you're in is defined by the chords underneath not the notes itself. This is great exercise to learn the fretboard but it really doesn't teach a lot in terms of understanding the modes.
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