I am 70 years old and been playing guitar since I was 12.I have learned a lot over the years . Maybe I don't know a lot but I do know the more you know about music theory the better you can play. I have had guys tell me it messes them up. The only thing I will say about that is bull ,you don't have to know everything ,but the more you know and understand the better you will play. Give it a try.
+Williamc Crowe Yes of course, if you know what is going on you will have more to apply - also you understand that when you have attained a decent measure of musical theory, you forget all about it and access the language of music, but you have to get to that point before you can bend the rules to your will.
+Guitar Universe yes I understand that but have you played with guys that knows nothing about building keys and chords ,not saying they can't play ,in fact my friend plays beautiful music he knows nothing about chords or keys but plays only in F sharp and I had to tell him that. So please learn about chords and keys makes it easier to play
Someone posted this on another video and I liked it so I'll put it here too: "I Don't Particularly Like Modes A Lot:" Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian
For those who can't remember the names of the modes: just remember "I Don't Punch Like Mohammed A - Li" the first letters of those words give you the first letters of the modes in the correct order. I still have a question: i understand now how to establish the modal sound by droning the root note, but I still don't get how lead players establish e.g. a dorian feel while the rest of the band is going trough chord changes. Imagine the rhythm guitar playing C - F- G chords over and over, those chords fit into the C diatonic scale ofcourse, therefor I could start playing e.g. D Dorian over the progression, or A Aeolian... but those are simple chords, what do you do when a song's chords deviate from the diatonic scale? Some guitar players I know of just keep strumming major chords, and are just oblivious to chord functions. Then what? e.g. G - D - A - B, ok I haven't checked but imo those 4 major chords together don't fit any diatonic scale.
+Stefan Heyninck (Metal1667) What you're referring to is modulation, it's really common in some popular songs sometimes. In simple explanation, to modulate is to basically travel to a different key by a common chord. For example, you mentioned a simple progression in the key of C, composed of a tonic, subdominant, and dominant C - F - G. The music would then be transposed into a higher key, which would be the key of D. And if you notice G which is the subdominant, can move down to its tonic, being a D chord, and later jump to the key's dominant chord (A major) which in music theory is considered an unstable chord that has a need to resolve to its tonic. However, it doesn't end just yet. The music then gets transposed into a higher key, to the key of E, where the dominant is a B major. Which you'd expect to resolve to E major. Now, why would anyone do this? It's a technique to prolong the music and add variety to it. Hence, modulating from C to D to E.
+Stefan Heyninck (Metal1667) Just a few details I left out, lol i meant the music gets transposed from the key of C all the way to E. And the way they do it is following the I-IV-V chords of the key. Meaning, You can be playing a IV chord in the key of C, that being an F major. And instead of moving to a regular G in the key of C, you could make the F chord a tonic, and say you are now in the key of F major and follow it up moving towards the IV chord of F major and so on.
What Chappers is explaining here is that most people are adept and comfortable using certain scale shapes and you can use any scale (mode) shape to play all of the modes by just using correct degree of that scale shape as the tonic. Since the modes are all based upon the degrees of the diatonic scale if you understand where the intervals that you like to play (scale shape) fall in the modal scheme, you can use that shape to play any mode. It's one of the best explanations I've heard on modes.
Dude, you have no idea how long I have been trying to wrap my head around this stuff. This video hit me like a ton of bricks. I actually understand it now, thanks for not explaining it in a way that you could only understand it if you knew it already.
+Leni Lopez what? Did you not understand what I was trying to say. I'm saying that I finally get it now he explained it perfectly. A lot of the other guys make it sound more complicated than it really is.
I sat through countless lessons with drool coming out of my mouth, with my eyes glazed over trying to understand modes. This is singly the best lesson I ever had. Thank you sir! cheers!
After doing my own exhastive research on Modes and gained an absolute understanding, i decided to go through You Tube to listen to other people teach Modes.. Man its no wonder the world is confused about modes ! These dudes on here purposly leave out very criticle information to ensure confusion. THIS VIDEO SIR IS THE ONLY ONE ON YOU TUBE THAT TELLS THE TRUTH ! You explain the "MAJIC" Like the one big scale shape and the intervalic shift ! You hit it out of the park dude ! THANK YOU
To anyone having trouble understanding modes, don't worry. We all feel like that when we first start learning about modes. Just start by learning the modal shapes as three note per string scales as Rob suggested, you can find these in many places online. Basically all you are doing is learning the major scale across most of the guitar neck. Forget about everything else at first just learn the shapes and you will see how they connect to each other on the fret board. Modes are a terribly confusing topic when you first hear about them. You have to take it slow and not worry too much about modal names and intervals at first as you will learn all that just by using the modes over time.
***** Harmonic minor and melodic minor scales are very useful for many styles of music and they have their own modes too. I think it's important to try to get to know the major scale really well first though as it relates to other scales in one way or another. For chords, rather than trying to memorize as many chord shapes as you can, read a bit about basic chord theory and learn how chords are constructed (would take most people a day or two) then when you come across a chord you've never heard of before, you can simply build the chord from the major scale using the chord's formula. That probably sounds very confusing but just start simple - learn the major scale across the entire guitar neck. After that, modes and chords will become so much more simple.
There's a video or two that I found, as a beginner in this, very handy.."Chords, what they are and where they come from" by Kirk Lorange. There's another one after that on "Extended chords". He says the same thing as you if I remember rightly- major scale is the mother of all.
Rob I am a fan of your art and teachings now for about a year. I have watched this video over and over again and now I can say I not only understand but also have been unwittingly using this formula for a good 30 days now. Still light years away from becoming the musician I believe lives inside of me, but definitely on the right path......THANKS
This was one of the best lessons I've ever seen. Just out of reach of my grasp at first and then boom, it clicked and the concepts are now so crucial and useful, I don't even know how I played without knowing them. Thanks, Rob. I really appreciate it.
I've been watching RUclips guitar lessons regularly for over two years. It's no exaggeration to say that is the most useful video I've ever seen. You do a great job of simplifying the nuts-and-bolts of using modes for improvisation. Thank you very much.
As a pianist, primarily, I didn’t get guitar modes until I put the guitar back in the stand and sat at my piano. They kept saying C Ionian, D Dorian, E Phrygian and they all sound like C major. I was completely confused Guitar modes are also called Church modes on piano. Forget black keys for now. White keys only. CDEFGABC is C lonian, AKA C major. Now see the black keys and you see its in full steps and half steps. EF is half, BC is half, CD is full (C Db D) etc. CDEFGABC is C lonian or WWHWWWH White keys again, DEFGABCD is D Dorian, but the pattern of whole and half steps is different. WHWWWHW Why? Well, EF is a half step or semi tone, and always will be, but its shifted one place left because we went D-D not C-C. We are still thinking in C though, and want to know C Dorian. Just key in that D dorian WH pattern (WHWWWHW) but start on the C C D Eb F G A Bb C Ping a C note and play it. Its minor. It's C Dorian. If you want to know the others, key them in (you have to do some work to get it for yourself) Here is the formula for modes and how they are derived. (Watch those half steps shift left as the white note octave shifts right) WWHWWWH C Ionian C to C WHWWWHW D Dorian D to D HWWWHWW E Phrygian E to E WWWHWWH F Lydian F to F WWHWWHW G Mixolydian G to G WHWWHWW A Aeolian A to A HWWHWWW B Locrian B to B So, for example: C Mixolydian would be C D E F G A Bb C, according to the Mixolydian rule WWHWWHW D Phrygian would be D Eb F G A Bb C D, according to the Phrygian rule HWWWHWW Voilà !
***** True. I am breaking the fretboard down now. All my guitar playing is by ear and from shape and pattern memory. I do ok, but my brain is completely piano hard wired. Sounds ridiculous that you can play guitar and not know what any of the notes are. Pebber Brown has helped. And Chappers of course !
I wouldn't call myself a pianist but that's how I learned them. Just all the modes in C Major, it really helps to get the sound out of them and then re applying to guitar and I am starting to get them.
While I agree that Rob Chapman's explanations and examples for using and understanding modes are not necessarily flawless, I still think his mode lessons are some of the best I've come across in any teaching medium. For me, mode theory was one of those things that required an epiphany. It took awhile afterwards to become proficient and really get practical use out of them, but the basic understanding came all at once after a lot of head scratching. Rob Chapman does a very good job with bringing about that part of it. You're not going to be an expert on modal theory after watching a few of his videos, but in my opionion, you'll understand what modes are, how to get them into your brain and fingers, and how to use them effectively in your music. If you don't get it, hang in there. You will.
I watched this video about 12 times over the last couple years. I can finally say.......I understand what your saying Rob!!! Just like seeing the matrix for the first time!!!
Same here, its like discovering quantum physics. BTW, for those that might care, the riff in Zep's Dancing Days is in Lydian, Randy Roads' Crazy Train is Aeolian.
Although I knew of most of this theory already, I never quite understood the implications of it until now. I'm going to have to go back and really look at all the modes and shapes and see how I can apply them
I learned the basic modal concepts from a friend about 35 years ago, and reinforced them about 10 years later in a night-school jazz class. The theory behind modes is fairly easy to grasp. The hard part is that 7 modes in 12 keys quickly becomes a blur of fingering patterns that I've never been able to sort out in any practicable fashion. I just watched Rob's video, and within an hour my pattern universe has expanded exponentially! This was the missing piece for me: Taking a single, versatile pattern that can be applied to all modes in all keys, requiring only a few seconds of very basic interval counting to find your start position. Brilliant! And because I've been familiar with modal patterns for so long, after only a few minutes of practicing Rob's all-purpose pattern, I quickly saw all the other patterns attaching to it, with Rob's pattern acting as the jumping off point to any position on the fret-board. I am now playing 7 modes in 12 keys up and down the entire neck. Amazing! Thank you so much, Rob Chapman!
always be humble never make fun or show disrespect of any guitar player and you will find they will show you a lots of tricks .Hang in there you will make it.
Bro... I understood about 35% of that. Which is about 2000% MORE than I've ever understood before. I'm gonna have to watch this video about a bajilion more times, but I think your explanation is FAR superior to any I've come across thus far.
THANK YOU ROB!!!!!!!!!!!! I've been playing, writing, recording and touring for 35 years and I could never rap my mind around the modes. I even went to college for music and took lessons from a guitarist that had his Bachelors in Music from Berklee. So for the past 35 years I've using the Penitonic Minor/ blues and Penitonic Major during improv. Thanks to your video that is no longer the case. THANK YOU AGAIN!!!!
I read this before I watched the video and it put a grain on my mug, now when I got to hear this in the video I peeied myself. Other than that, great video, which explained a lot, big fan of the Guildford crew :)
I'm a percussionist and drummer. My wife bought me an acoustic to jam on whenever I'm not banging on things. After coming across this video, this just totally motivated me to learn more than just simple chords. This guy is bad ass!
Great lesson! Chapman, you are a great teacher! Thanks for helping me to grasp modal theory. Love how I can now apply this when playing anywhere on the neck! This is genius! Question 4 locked it in for me. Basically, the mode names are the same as the number system. For instance, saying "D is the fifth of G major" is the same as saying "D mixolydian is the same as G Ionian". Same if I say "F is the fourth of C major" or "F lydian is same as C major". Another example: "A dorian is second of G, so relative minor E Aeolian would also work over A dorian." Similarly, "A aeolian is sixth of C major, so D dorian which is 2 of C major would also work as well as F lydian and G mixolydian". Do you catch the drift?
Watched this three times now over the pst few months but finally had a lightbulb moment last night where I got it. Could have cried tears of joy. I know it's old now, but thanks so much for this video Rob - it's a brilliant lesson!
If only my guitar teacher would have told,12 years ago, me about the modes and scales like Chappers here, I would have saved years and years of frustrading time.
Nailed it in the first five minutes. It’s one big diatonic scale shape that moves depending on the key. The mode is the flavour created by emphasizing specific scale notes and their relationship with the key signature.
With respect Modes are not scales. Yes I know I know but give me a chance and I will explain. Taking G Major Key as an example we have 7 notes GABCDEF#. Each one of those notes are used to make a scale from but the only reason for this is to cover the neck NOT to make modes. The way to FULLY understand Modes is to look at them from a Chordal point of view. So we have to Harmonise the scale and make a chord from each note of the scale. If we do this we get 1/ GMaj7 2/ Am7 3/ Bm7 4/ CMaj7 5/ D7 6/ Em7 7/ F#m7-5. Play the GMaj7 and play your G Major scale ANYWHERE and your playing Ionian. Keep playing the same scale change the chord to Am7 and now it's Dorian. This applies even if your playing in G Major first position it does not matter. What does matter is the chord underneath also now you can see why some Modes are minor and some Major. If you are into vamping on an F#m7-5 chord then playing the G Major scale gives you the Locrian tonality. PLay the five chord (D7) and play G Major scale you get Mixolydian etc etc. Some will tell you this does not work as it's it is not succinct ie you don't land on the right notes roots etc, but that's what Arpeggios are for. This approach works for any scale so Harmonic minor etc simply harmonise the scale to get the chords from the scale and off you go. There is no need to learn any other scales other than the seven Major positions that cover the neck. Nor do you need any special scales or Dorian/MIxolydian scales because it is the chord underneath that gives you the tonality. Hope that this helps :-)
I agree. I think to teach them you should make someone make a unique chord progression in a mode first (Its not going to be a basic normal riff or progression.) Then show how using the modes first note as the root works as you play melody's/solo's around it. Only way you understand the color of the mode
I started learning theory about 6 months ago to help me get better. I finally get modes. It is simply shifting scales on top of keys to create different intervallic feels. wow. I overthink everything. Thank You so much.
+Warlock..F. even though you shift it 2 steps the root note is the 2nd note of the scale therefore when you shift you are hitting the same root note from the major
***** Hmm okay...how did you come to Cmaj over the dmin chord being Dorian? Let me show you my thought process; you say key of D dorian..which means my major/Ionion is C....and from that I'd think D is my dorian in key of D dorian.....where am I going wrong?
There is no Dorian key. You're correct that C is the major/Ionian. So, the key is C, you want to play in Dorian mode over your Dmin chord, Dorian is one step up from Ionian in the order of the modes (ie Ionian, Dorian Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian) so count one tone up from C and start with Chappers' slidy scale. It really helps if you can get hands on a looper pedal just to play endless Dmin chord to run this method over. The effect really hits home then. Good to go. Apologies for being late with a reply, I've just seen this vid.
Great lesson Rob ! I have been studying jazz for the last couple of years and your info is spot on. You opened the door even wider for me with your use of the Aeolian mode with your unique lick (pattern) applied to everything. I never thought of that one. Very creative. Love all your videos and website. Sometimes a teacher, but always a student. 46 year player, it never gets old, even if I do. Cheers and thanks !
I know this video has been out for a while but it has really helped me with modes, all you have to do it learn the major scale shapes and remember each pattern as a mode, eg pattern one Ionian, pattern 2 (or shape 2) Dorian and then place the pattern for the mode on the root note of the key and then shred away.
here's what annoys me about these kinds of scale learning "tricks" - if you want to play (say) F-Lydian, you're not actually going to. You're going to play A-Aeolian instead, because that's the one shape you know. Sure, the notes are the same, but the notes you'll emphasize when playing should NOT be. It is vital to know, where the root, 3rd, 7th etc. of the CHORD you're playing to is; not the root of the aeolian pattern you're using to "simulate" lydian. I mean, if you're playing a minor lick in your aeolian shape, it's probably going to emphasize the third, seventh and root heavily. Play the same thing in Dorian and suddenly you're emphasizing the fifth, seventh and fourth (of the chord), which might sound awful. so even if you can play the same scale shape to play all modes, you can't play the same licks, melodies etc. in that shape, which is confusing and forces you to learn the modes seperately anyway to figure out what to play ;-)
I look at this method as just another way of playing the modes not the only way. In Rob's method you can traverse the neck in a scalular way. A couple of other things - 1) Once you have the hang of this method it will dawn on you that, say using your example, starting F Lydian on A, you can start it on any A like the open A string, or A at the 12th fret and so on and continue the pattern. 2) Using your example again, you start the mode on A - once you get to the F you can learn to start the mode there. When you get used to that you can just move it around to play in any key, just move the pattern down to E for instance and you have E Lydian. You can do this with all the modes. For example Rob started with E Dorian and that starts on B. Once you get to E you can just start from there and move the pattern down a couple frets and you have D Dorian. It takes a little more effort but it pays off. Of course, like a lot of blues players do where they drift in and out of the Pentatonic scale you can drift in and out of the modes.
you are 100% right. there s not really a shortcut to reasonably applying modes. you have to understand the theory and learn/get used to the "feel and differences" of the several modes and the function of chord tones. of course you can get to some results by facilitating access, but then there s a lot to learn to use them in a musical way. But, well : no pain no gain. …Or try shredding :-)
Thanks you Mr. Chappers, I now realize that I know absolutely nothing about guitar playing .. I took lessons for two years as a teen and then not a thing else .... In stopping playing playing guitar for two decades and then coming back the one thing that I absolutely lost .. was the ability to play any sort of lead. You've provided the map to find my way ....
I have no idea what he's talking about. Probably because I am a butthead and refused to study any theory about guitar when I learned it. I can play pretty well now, but I have no idea what I'm doing the whole time. I wish I listened more to my teacher LOL
@Nation of Spikes. Yep, I see your point, I was like that. I worked out in the end (& I'm not implying this is you, but it could help) that I knew some stuff on the guitar, and I was afraid of losing that little bit of knowledge if I moved forward to something else. Sometimes if you're a climber, you have to let go of one grip which you know is safe, and traverse through a questionable or doubtful phase to the next safe hold, and a lot of people just can't let go to move forward. So all I did was looked at my self from a different position - "What if I was a great guitarist, say, Al Di Meola, how would I see myself". So my approach, and my thinking, and the "buttheadedness" changed. Now, if it's on the guitar, guitar related or music related, my thinking is "I want to know this, regardless of the damage it can cause" because I like guitars. I'm never going to be like one of my heroes, a Joe Pass or Al Di Meola, but when someone like Chappers sticks a video like this up there, I can see the value in what he's giving me almost straight away, and I'm on it like a cheap suit. The real secret here is what he said quite early on - getting on to that mode in the position you're already playing in. Don't even particularly try to understand what he's doing yet, just do it. It's a bit like the old "Wax on, wax off" thing, only after you've done it for a few days does it finally filter through the skull to the grey bit on the inside (haven't totally stopped being a butthead yet). Next thing you know, "Hey, just like a real guitarist..." :-)
Mind Blown. Modes are a new concept to me, but thanks to these lessons, I'm getting the gist of it way faster than I ever would have. Thank you very much1
The problem with your system is that you need to think of a mode (which is already a specific starting point of a major scale) to play another mode - way too complicated ! The best way to internalize things : - Choose a scale, mode or whatever : learn the whole steps/half steps sequence. - Choose a position (second finger locked on a specific fret ; the first and little may have to do an extention depending on the scales). For each scale/mode, there are seven positions. - Sing the notes names while you are playing. Try to be musical, don't play the scale up and down. - Take your time and don't try to learn every modes in every position, it's useless because you are covering way too much ground at a time.
This is great. If you use 3nps scale, there are only 3 shapes for each mode (if you ignore the fifth string shift). First for 1 note on the first string , first is two notes and the third is 3, and the shapes are interchangeable when you get to the next root/octave. If one memorizes 3 shapes x 7 modes = 21 , they should be able to play all over the entire guitar and be able to easily swith between relative modes AND modes of the same key
james donal faulkner 3nps is a "three note per string" scale. Its a scale arranged that doesn't move to the next string until its played 3 notes Instead of memorizing a perfectly horizontal scale, its slightly diagonal and covers more notes. A 3nps scale allows for you to play much, much faster because you don't have to ever skip strings or keep track of where your pick is because it always ends up on the otherside (because its an odd amount notes it always passes through the string).
james donal faulkner www.discoverguitaronline.com/diagrams/6.png this is G major. If you memorize this you've already subconsciously memorized ALL the mode shapes of the diatonic scale. Once youve memorized it, try taking certain notes in the scale and playing up 7 notes. You'll begin to notice that the whole scale breaks down to even simpler shapes that cycle between themselves depending on if the root YOU are counting from starts from the top, middle or bottom of the 3 notes on the string of which you starting counting.
james donal faulkner I know what i said sounds convoluted but I.E. look at the bottom image and count out 7 notes from a root G (ionanian), with G having two notes come after it before moving to the next string. You'll notice its the EXACT same pattern ALL over the neck.
Best explanation I’ve ever found for modes. Been struggling to understand and got more and more confused as I was searching about it. This video is short but packed up with great info. Thank you Rob!🙏
I've been playing since childhood, soloing for 15 years. The major, harmonic minor, pentatonic, and blues scales I learned quickly due to relentless practice and finger torture exercises. I've heard others talk of modes and understood the Theory to an extinct. What I mean is, the patterns are all familiar and committed to memory. The Theory and routine of determining each mode was vague, until 3 weeks ago. I watched this just because I stumbled across it. After the 3rd time through it completely I was like kid again!! I was excited again! Like some may relate, that first day when it all comes together for a minute and you nail some three note rolls!!! You're in your jam room by yourself and let out a big "WooooHoooo Baby"!!! Right?! I just wanted to say thanks for the clear and common sense description! And to any that may struggle, Like Mr. Fred touched on, Hang in there and remember, You can't play like a Champion unless you Practice like a Champion!! Don't Despair, Keep going, it'll come! Thanks again Chapper!!!
I know that before this vid, you need to know the order of the modes etc... but.. Allmost all the explenations of modes and scales etc sound like this to me: "blabla its really easy blabla Mixolydian, blabla, Locrian, blabla perfect fifth, blabla major scale, blabla deminised blabla" I cannot really find a single dude that says, why I need to know modes, triads and all the scales an patterns. Or, when I can use a mode.
Rob, you're a beast, after watching this video for two days, I was able to answer all of your questions correctly in 5 minutes. The modes have always been daunting to me, though, with your help, they have become so simple!
Hey Chapper I know you have all this knowledge and technical ability but some constructive criticism, your playing sounds like most of the time your throughing a bunch of notes together in rapid sucession with no emotion or musicality.
way to fast man slow down your gonna screw people up please i think you like to just here yourself play man teach more people need to see and understand what your doing with your fingers .
mate you are just amazing ... I've been searching for this type of a lesson for a while now and here it is by the good old chappers, you are a great influence and inspiration to me so thank you and keep going :)
Shot! LOVE the excellent manner in which you present the ideas, and you demostrate this really cool technique, which, despite some people who may think it's too simple, imho is PRICELESS!!! It's a springboard from sucking at guitar to making some self-pleasing sounds, and from there, it's a creative climb up the experience ladder...
I am a beginner. I watched the 2 "learn modes in 15 minutes" and combined it with this video and looked up the notes on the fretboard and suddenly it all makes sense. Now I just have to get my fingers to catch up with what I now comprehend. but it's all good. great videos. thks
Chappers, thanks for giving me another tool to add to my guitar arsenal. I have for user used Frank Gambale's three note per string method, and primarily used Major, Dorian and Mixolydian shapes. Why I never thought of a cooler patter for modes is beyond me. Thanks for opening my eyes a bit wider. You are a great teacher.
thanks chappers, i'm a self taught guitar player and all of your videos not only help but inspire me. especifically thanks for this video cause even though i may not know everything about the required things it helps me understand everything i wanted to know :)
HOLY CRAP, CHAP! ive been self taught for years, playing basically off scales and ear, and just now discovered youtube video's like this one.. very inspiring. for the first time, i acutally wrote down the modes and want to go learn do all my research until this entire video makes perfect sense. please leave it up for a long time lol
This is the best lesson on you tube, You are AMAZING at what you do, keep it up. I feel like I have not improved my playing for years and after only watching a few of your training videos I have already improved my playing.
as as guitar player with...some...knowledge i was looking for an explanation or a starting point to start it working out by myself (by my ear) as i am used to...this is the first video that did this.... finally. a great practical explanation :) now...let's go exploring :D
thanks allot for this! really cleared up allot. i used to think of modes as shapes and thats why i was confused about why modes in the same key had the same notes and what made them different. now i understand that a mode is determined by which note on a scale your call "home" or end on
Rob, Incredible incredible incredible I had gone thru the mental gymnastics of playing the diatonic scale starting on I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, viidim (7 different scales) Your example of using the same Aeolian scale, counting modes up/down, and orientating it to the key is a major BREAKTHRU in my understanding, familiarity, technique and teachability. I am a freed man!
If anyone is confused by this, I suggest starting to watch at the 14:50 mark, watch till 15:47, then go back and re-watch from the beginning. That bit is the key, and probably should have been covered first! Important concept, thanks for the video!
thanks for this video. It was a lot swallow at first but it's coming together now . Lots of practice,practice practice. And a bit more practice .wish I learned this 25yrs ago. Thanks
This is one of the best guitar mode tutorials I have ever seen . I actually learned everything you taught. Thank you so much for your time and well descriptive easy to understand lesson....Much appreciated. You have a new subscriber.....
This is without a doubt, one of the best (and clearly) explained music lessons I've seen/heard on 'modes'. Usually I just see you (Chappers) messin around with the Captain flogging guitars ;)
This video was posted long ago but have a delayed thanks. You made it easy and i was able to answer the questions at the end after watching this for the first time ! Thanks dude.
Rob I have been playing guitar from the age of 10. I had 3 lessons when I was 14. I have been stuck in the blues box and any improv comes from that box. I'm 45 now and I love to make music! Your videos have taught me more than I have learned in 35 years of playing. I know you're a professional musician and you obviously have love for the craft, but your voice is a gold mine! I ran into you totally by accident. I was researching Epiphone Les Pauls. Great stuff!!!!!!
I really don't know what to say about this video. I like Rob's mode of presentation and I have found some of his other scale and mode lessons really good. This one confused the hell out if me and deepened the mystery.
This tutorial does a great job of covering the theory, and the pace of the video is really comfortable for introducing beginners. One big suggestion would be to play your modal examples (10:08-10:15) more like you play your minor scale (7:38). You ramp up the speed to quickly for beginners to be able to follow - especially when dealing with something that can be very confusing.
An important lesson! Personally I would put this on a par with Vinnie Moore's lesson on modes.. If this doesn't sink in at first, don't write or put it off, bookmark this page, try watching Vinnie and just come back to this.. Don't give up on modes - Eat your greens....! Cheers for taking the time again Chap..
this is one of the best explanations of modes i've ever seen. I'd like to see something said about the particular "sound" of a mode and what makes it that way like a major 6th or whatever etc
and then build those chords from that mode so you get the sound you want rhythmically as well as melodically. Most only are focusing on the melodic aspect of modes and the other side should be explained as well for a full understanding imo
Jeez! I can't believe the caustic comments by some of you who viewed this...just bc you don't understand something doesn't mean you have to blame the person trying to help you understand. I thought this was VERY helpful and actually gave me a new perspective on how to think/use information regarding them. Do keep in mind that simply understanding the half step/full step approach (semi-tone/tone) to modes so that you will know what notes to sharp/flat when soloing is not a complete picture of what a thorough understanding of modes can do for you. I think understanding that each key has 3 major chords, 3 minor chords and one diminished would help someone understand how modes can be used. Also, if you could understand that some songs are written in modes (White Rabbit-phrygian; What Child is This?/Greensleeves-dorian; Maria-Lydian (from the West side Story) you would know that knowing to flat the 2nd, 3rd, 6th & 7th note in whatever key you are in would be necessary in order to play a song written in phrygian. All this guy is trying to do is show you an approach of how to get there from what MOST PEOPLE are already familiar with: the minor key aka the aeolian mode. Go get a keyboard - even online ones would do - bc the VISUAL of the steps/distances between the notes is really helpful.
Starting at 12:38 it all became clear!!!! I wasn't getting what Rob meant when he was saying 'look for the scale you're using' until he actually moved up the neck sounding out the modal steps. Ding ding!!! I totally get it now. AWESOME lesson. Now I want to go hunt down all my old guitar teachers and make them pay me back for waste-of-time theory lessons that I paid hundreds of dollars for!
I am 70 years old and been playing guitar since I was 12.I have learned a lot over the years . Maybe I don't know a lot but I do know the more you know about music theory the better you can play. I have had guys tell me it messes them up. The only thing I will say about that is bull ,you don't have to know everything ,but the more you know and understand the better you will play. Give it a try.
+Williamc Crowe i am 43 i totally agree with what you said.
Hell, I'm 13 and I agree too.
I'm 31, learning sucks but it pays off. So I'm agreeing in advance
+Williamc Crowe Yes of course, if you know what is going on you will have more to apply - also you understand that when you have attained a decent measure of musical theory, you forget all about it and access the language of music, but you have to get to that point before you can bend the rules to your will.
+Guitar Universe yes I understand that but have you played with guys that knows nothing about building keys and chords ,not saying they can't play ,in fact my friend plays beautiful music he knows nothing about chords or keys but plays only in F sharp and I had to tell him that. So please learn about chords and keys makes it easier to play
Someone posted this on another video and I liked it so I'll put it here too:
"I Don't Particularly Like Modes A Lot:"
Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian
A good one
@God Love you get the chord from the root note, which might be based on the scaled Key in the ionian scale and whether it is a minor or major.
Or "I Do Personally Love Modes A Lot"
For those who can't remember the names of the modes: just remember "I Don't Punch Like Mohammed A - Li" the first letters of those words give you the first letters of the modes in the correct order.
I still have a question: i understand now how to establish the modal sound by droning the root note, but I still don't get how lead players establish e.g. a dorian feel while the rest of the band is going trough chord changes. Imagine the rhythm guitar playing C - F- G chords over and over, those chords fit into the C diatonic scale ofcourse, therefor I could start playing e.g. D Dorian over the progression, or A Aeolian... but those are simple chords, what do you do when a song's chords deviate from the diatonic scale? Some guitar players I know of just keep strumming major chords, and are just oblivious to chord functions. Then what? e.g. G - D - A - B, ok I haven't checked but imo those 4 major chords together don't fit any diatonic scale.
+Stefan Heyninck (Metal1667) brilliant mnemonic
+Stefan Heyninck (Metal1667) thanks lovely mnemonic. adopted it immediately. But as I played it I shortened to "I Don't Punch Like Moh A - Li"
Tnx, I just wish Rob would answer my question :(
+Stefan Heyninck (Metal1667) What you're referring to is modulation, it's really common in some popular songs sometimes. In simple explanation, to modulate is to basically travel to a different key by a common chord. For example, you mentioned a simple progression in the key of C, composed of a tonic, subdominant, and dominant C - F - G. The music would then be transposed into a higher key, which would be the key of D. And if you notice G which is the subdominant, can move down to its tonic, being a D chord, and later jump to the key's dominant chord (A major) which in music theory is considered an unstable chord that has a need to resolve to its tonic. However, it doesn't end just yet. The music then gets transposed into a higher key, to the key of E, where the dominant is a B major. Which you'd expect to resolve to E major. Now, why would anyone do this? It's a technique to prolong the music and add variety to it. Hence, modulating from C to D to E.
+Stefan Heyninck (Metal1667) Just a few details I left out, lol i meant the music gets transposed from the key of C all the way to E. And the way they do it is following the I-IV-V chords of the key. Meaning, You can be playing a IV chord in the key of C, that being an F major. And instead of moving to a regular G in the key of C, you could make the F chord a tonic, and say you are now in the key of F major and follow it up moving towards the IV chord of F major and so on.
What Chappers is explaining here is that most people are adept and comfortable using certain scale shapes and you can use any scale (mode) shape to play all of the modes by just using correct degree of that scale shape as the tonic. Since the modes are all based upon the degrees of the diatonic scale if you understand where the intervals that you like to play (scale shape) fall in the modal scheme, you can use that shape to play any mode. It's one of the best explanations I've heard on modes.
Dude, you have no idea how long I have been trying to wrap my head around this stuff. This video hit me like a ton of bricks. I actually understand it now, thanks for not explaining it in a way that you could only understand it if you knew it already.
+Leni Lopez what? Did you not understand what I was trying to say. I'm saying that I finally get it now he explained it perfectly. A lot of the other guys make it sound more complicated than it really is.
I sat through countless lessons with drool coming out of my mouth, with my eyes glazed over trying to understand modes. This is singly the best lesson I ever had. Thank you sir! cheers!
I like how Rob is like "this is your scale shape" WIDDLY WIDDLY WIDDLY WAAAA! Slow down, mate.
After doing my own exhastive research on Modes and gained an absolute understanding, i decided to go through You Tube to listen to other people teach Modes.. Man its no wonder the world is confused about modes ! These dudes on here purposly leave out very criticle information to ensure confusion.
THIS VIDEO SIR IS THE ONLY ONE ON YOU TUBE THAT TELLS THE TRUTH ! You explain the "MAJIC" Like the one big scale shape and the intervalic shift ! You hit it out of the park dude !
THANK YOU
To anyone having trouble understanding modes, don't worry. We all feel like that when we first start learning about modes. Just start by learning the modal shapes as three note per string scales as Rob suggested, you can find these in many places online. Basically all you are doing is learning the major scale across most of the guitar neck. Forget about everything else at first just learn the shapes and you will see how they connect to each other on the fret board. Modes are a terribly confusing topic when you first hear about them. You have to take it slow and not worry too much about modal names and intervals at first as you will learn all that just by using the modes over time.
***** Harmonic minor and melodic minor scales are very useful for many styles of music and they have their own modes too. I think it's important to try to get to know the major scale really well first though as it relates to other scales in one way or another. For chords, rather than trying to memorize as many chord shapes as you can, read a bit about basic chord theory and learn how chords are constructed (would take most people a day or two) then when you come across a chord you've never heard of before, you can simply build the chord from the major scale using the chord's formula. That probably sounds very confusing but just start simple - learn the major scale across the entire guitar neck. After that, modes and chords will become so much more simple.
I've been playing for awhile and I finally decided to buckle down and learn this! Wish me luck!
There's a video or two that I found, as a beginner in this, very handy.."Chords, what they are and where they come from" by Kirk Lorange. There's another one after that on "Extended chords". He says the same thing as you if I remember rightly- major scale is the mother of all.
I'm not understanding...walnut?
Supernova1987A For some reason I find this oddly hilarious. Though it could be that I've been drinking...
Rob I am a fan of your art and teachings now for about a year. I have watched this video over and over again and now I can say I not only understand but also have been unwittingly using this formula for a good 30 days now. Still light years away from becoming the musician I believe lives inside of me, but definitely on the right path......THANKS
This was one of the best lessons I've ever seen. Just out of reach of my grasp at first and then boom, it clicked and the concepts are now so crucial and useful, I don't even know how I played without knowing them.
Thanks, Rob. I really appreciate it.
I've been watching RUclips guitar lessons regularly for over two years. It's no exaggeration to say that is the most useful video I've ever seen. You do a great job of simplifying the nuts-and-bolts of using modes for improvisation. Thank you very much.
As a pianist, primarily, I didn’t get guitar modes until I put the guitar back in the stand and sat at my piano. They kept saying C Ionian, D Dorian, E Phrygian and they all sound like C major. I was completely confused
Guitar modes are also called Church modes on piano.
Forget black keys for now. White keys only.
CDEFGABC is C lonian, AKA C major. Now see the black keys and you see its in full steps and half steps. EF is half, BC is half, CD is full (C Db D) etc.
CDEFGABC is C lonian or WWHWWWH
White keys again, DEFGABCD is D Dorian, but the pattern of whole and half steps is different.
WHWWWHW
Why?
Well, EF is a half step or semi tone, and always will be, but its shifted one place left because we went D-D not C-C.
We are still thinking in C though, and want to know C Dorian.
Just key in that D dorian WH pattern (WHWWWHW) but start on the C
C D Eb F G A Bb C
Ping a C note and play it. Its minor. It's C Dorian.
If you want to know the others, key them in (you have to do some work to get it for yourself)
Here is the formula for modes and how they are derived.
(Watch those half steps shift left as the white note octave shifts right)
WWHWWWH C Ionian C to C
WHWWWHW D Dorian D to D
HWWWHWW E Phrygian E to E
WWWHWWH F Lydian F to F
WWHWWHW G Mixolydian G to G
WHWWHWW A Aeolian A to A
HWWHWWW B Locrian B to B
So, for example:
C Mixolydian would be C D E F G A Bb C, according to the Mixolydian rule WWHWWHW
D Phrygian would be D Eb F G A Bb C D, according to the Phrygian rule HWWWHWW
Voilà !
***** True. I am breaking the fretboard down now. All my guitar playing is by ear and from shape and pattern memory. I do ok, but my brain is completely piano hard wired.
Sounds ridiculous that you can play guitar and not know what any of the notes are. Pebber Brown has helped. And Chappers of course !
I wouldn't call myself a pianist but that's how I learned them. Just all the modes in C Major, it really helps to get the sound out of them and then re applying to guitar and I am starting to get them.
Wow thankyou
While I agree that Rob Chapman's explanations and examples for using and understanding modes are not necessarily flawless, I still think his mode lessons are some of the best I've come across in any teaching medium. For me, mode theory was one of those things that required an epiphany. It took awhile afterwards to become proficient and really get practical use out of them, but the basic understanding came all at once after a lot of head scratching. Rob Chapman does a very good job with bringing about that part of it. You're not going to be an expert on modal theory after watching a few of his videos, but in my opionion, you'll understand what modes are, how to get them into your brain and fingers, and how to use them effectively in your music. If you don't get it, hang in there. You will.
I watched this video about 12 times over the last couple years. I can finally say.......I understand what your saying Rob!!! Just like seeing the matrix for the first time!!!
Same here, its like discovering quantum physics. BTW, for those that might care, the riff in Zep's Dancing Days is in Lydian, Randy Roads' Crazy Train is Aeolian.
It was a lot to take in. I also watched the video multiple times and finally got it. Interesting stuff.
Wow! Such a great lesson! One of the best I've found on the net yet. Please don't EVER take this down.
Although I knew of most of this theory already, I never quite understood the implications of it until now.
I'm going to have to go back and really look at all the modes and shapes and see how I can apply them
I learned the basic modal concepts from a friend about 35 years ago, and reinforced them about 10 years later in a night-school jazz class. The theory behind modes is fairly easy to grasp. The hard part is that 7 modes in 12 keys quickly becomes a blur of fingering patterns that I've never been able to sort out in any practicable fashion. I just watched Rob's video, and within an hour my pattern universe has expanded exponentially! This was the missing piece for me: Taking a single, versatile pattern that can be applied to all modes in all keys, requiring only a few seconds of very basic interval counting to find your start position. Brilliant! And because I've been familiar with modal patterns for so long, after only a few minutes of practicing Rob's all-purpose pattern, I quickly saw all the other patterns attaching to it, with Rob's pattern acting as the jumping off point to any position on the fret-board. I am now playing 7 modes in 12 keys up and down the entire neck. Amazing! Thank you so much, Rob Chapman!
always be humble never make fun or show disrespect of any guitar player and you will find they will show you a lots of tricks .Hang in there you will make it.
Bro... I understood about 35% of that. Which is about 2000% MORE than I've ever understood before. I'm gonna have to watch this video about a bajilion more times, but I think your explanation is FAR superior to any I've come across thus far.
great lesson
THANK YOU ROB!!!!!!!!!!!! I've been playing, writing, recording and touring for 35 years and I could never rap my mind around the modes. I even went to college for music and took lessons from a guitarist that had his Bachelors in Music from Berklee. So for the past 35 years I've using the Penitonic Minor/ blues and Penitonic Major during improv. Thanks to your video that is no longer the case. THANK YOU AGAIN!!!!
''Sits on my nut'' I laughed out loud!
satchfan2010 you just saved me typing the exact same thing. Haha
me too . I think the word play was intended, lol
I read this before I watched the video and it put a grain on my mug, now when I got to hear this in the video I peeied myself. Other than that, great video, which explained a lot, big fan of the Guildford crew :)
I'm a percussionist and drummer. My wife bought me an acoustic to jam on whenever I'm not banging on things. After coming across this video, this just totally motivated me to learn more than just simple chords. This guy is bad ass!
Great lesson! Chapman, you are a great teacher! Thanks for helping me to grasp modal theory. Love how I can now apply this when playing anywhere on the neck! This is genius! Question 4 locked it in for me. Basically, the mode names are the same as the number system. For instance, saying "D is the fifth of G major" is the same as saying "D mixolydian is the same as G Ionian". Same if I say "F is the fourth of C major" or "F lydian is same as C major". Another example: "A dorian is second of G, so relative minor E Aeolian would also work over A dorian." Similarly, "A aeolian is sixth of C major, so D dorian which is 2 of C major would also work as well as F lydian and G mixolydian". Do you catch the drift?
This. Thank you! Sometimes it takes more than one person to digest this stuff and spit it back out. Well said.
Thanks mate, I really got it thanks to you!
Watched this three times now over the pst few months but finally had a lightbulb moment last night where I got it. Could have cried tears of joy. I know it's old now, but thanks so much for this video Rob - it's a brilliant lesson!
If only my guitar teacher would have told,12 years ago, me about the modes and scales like Chappers here, I would have saved years and years of frustrading time.
Nailed it in the first five minutes. It’s one big diatonic scale shape that moves depending on the key. The mode is the flavour created by emphasizing specific scale notes and their relationship with the key signature.
when i get hungry, i play the rephrygadorian mode :-)
Best instructional video on the modes for guitar that I've ever seen. Thank you!
With respect Modes are not scales. Yes I know I know but give me a chance and I will explain. Taking G Major Key as an example we have 7 notes GABCDEF#. Each one of those notes are used to make a scale from but the only reason for this is to cover the neck NOT to make modes. The way to FULLY understand Modes is to look at them from a Chordal point of view. So we have to Harmonise the scale and make a chord from each note of the scale. If we do this we get 1/ GMaj7 2/ Am7 3/ Bm7 4/ CMaj7 5/ D7 6/ Em7 7/ F#m7-5. Play the GMaj7 and play your G Major scale ANYWHERE and your playing Ionian. Keep playing the same scale change the chord to Am7 and now it's Dorian. This applies even if your playing in G Major first position it does not matter. What does matter is the chord underneath also now you can see why some Modes are minor and some Major. If you are into vamping on an F#m7-5 chord then playing the G Major scale gives you the Locrian tonality. PLay the five chord (D7) and play G Major scale you get Mixolydian etc etc. Some will tell you this does not work as it's it is not succinct ie you don't land on the right notes roots etc, but that's what Arpeggios are for. This approach works for any scale so Harmonic minor etc simply harmonise the scale to get the chords from the scale and off you go. There is no need to learn any other scales other than the seven Major positions that cover the neck. Nor do you need any special scales or Dorian/MIxolydian scales because it is the chord underneath that gives you the tonality. Hope that this helps :-)
I agree. I think to teach them you should make someone make a unique chord progression in a mode first (Its not going to be a basic normal riff or progression.) Then show how using the modes first note as the root works as you play melody's/solo's around it. Only way you understand the color of the mode
***** Omg. You blew my mind. MAGIC.
Ricky Gee glad to be of help :-)
*****
So far,that was the most enlighting comment on YT for me! Thank you! :-D
+gurbhani
Always try to be helpful Glad to be of help :-) I think i'll do my own video because so many folks seem confused by this.
Finally!! I swear I've watched 100 videos on people trying to explain modes but none of them make sense, but you've made it so clear!
Omg all the pieces just fell together
I KNOW RIGHT?! :)
I started learning theory about 6 months ago to help me get better. I finally get modes. It is simply shifting scales on top of keys to create different intervallic feels. wow. I overthink everything. Thank You so much.
Why's it still Dorian when you shift it 2 steps back from the major?
+Warlock..F. even though you shift it 2 steps the root note is the 2nd note of the scale therefore when you shift you are hitting the same root note from the major
***** Hmm okay...how did you come to Cmaj over the dmin chord being Dorian? Let me show you my thought process; you say key of D dorian..which means my major/Ionion is C....and from that I'd think D is my dorian in key of D dorian.....where am I going wrong?
There is no Dorian key. You're correct that C is the major/Ionian. So, the key is C, you want to play in Dorian mode over your Dmin chord, Dorian is one step up from Ionian in the order of the modes (ie Ionian, Dorian Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian) so count one tone up from C and start with Chappers' slidy scale. It really helps if you can get hands on a looper pedal just to play endless Dmin chord to run this method over. The effect really hits home then. Good to go. Apologies for being late with a reply, I've just seen this vid.
But in the video Chapper moved 2 steps "back" instead of 2 steps "up"???
Great lesson Rob ! I have been studying jazz for the last couple of years and your info is spot on. You opened the door even wider for me with your use of the Aeolian mode with your unique lick (pattern) applied to everything. I never thought of that one. Very creative. Love all your videos and website. Sometimes a teacher, but always a student. 46 year player, it never gets old, even if I do. Cheers and thanks !
*sigh* I'm gonna need a coffee
I know this video has been out for a while but it has really helped me with modes, all you have to do it learn the major scale shapes and remember each pattern as a mode, eg pattern one Ionian, pattern 2 (or shape 2) Dorian and then place the pattern for the mode on the root note of the key and then shred away.
here's what annoys me about these kinds of scale learning "tricks" - if you want to play (say) F-Lydian, you're not actually going to. You're going to play A-Aeolian instead, because that's the one shape you know. Sure, the notes are the same, but the notes you'll emphasize when playing should NOT be.
It is vital to know, where the root, 3rd, 7th etc. of the CHORD you're playing to is; not the root of the aeolian pattern you're using to "simulate" lydian.
I mean, if you're playing a minor lick in your aeolian shape, it's probably going to emphasize the third, seventh and root heavily. Play the same thing in Dorian and suddenly you're emphasizing the fifth, seventh and fourth (of the chord), which might sound awful.
so even if you can play the same scale shape to play all modes, you can't play the same licks, melodies etc. in that shape, which is confusing and forces you to learn the modes seperately anyway to figure out what to play ;-)
Dennis Müller exactly..
I look at this method as just another way of playing the modes not the only way. In Rob's method you can traverse the neck in a scalular way. A couple of other things - 1) Once you have the hang of this method it will dawn on you that, say using your example, starting F Lydian on A, you can start it on any A like the open A string, or A at the 12th fret and so on and continue the pattern. 2) Using your example again, you start the mode on A - once you get to the F you can learn to start the mode there. When you get used to that you can just move it around to play in any key, just move the pattern down to E for instance and you have E Lydian. You can do this with all the modes. For example Rob started with E Dorian and that starts on B. Once you get to E you can just start from there and move the pattern down a couple frets and you have D Dorian. It takes a little more effort but it pays off. Of course, like a lot of blues players do where they drift in and out of the Pentatonic scale you can drift in and out of the modes.
you are 100% right. there s not really a shortcut to reasonably applying modes. you have to understand the theory and learn/get used to the "feel and differences" of the several modes and the function of chord tones. of course you can get to some results by facilitating access, but then there s a lot to learn to use them in a musical way.
But, well : no pain no gain. …Or try shredding :-)
Thanks you Mr. Chappers, I now realize that I know absolutely nothing about guitar playing .. I took lessons for two years as a teen and then not a thing else .... In stopping playing playing guitar for two decades and then coming back the one thing that I absolutely lost .. was the ability to play any sort of lead.
You've provided the map to find my way ....
I have no idea what he's talking about. Probably because I am a butthead and refused to study any theory about guitar when I learned it. I can play pretty well now, but I have no idea what I'm doing the whole time. I wish I listened more to my teacher LOL
Nation of Spikes Don't we all!
@Nation of Spikes. Yep, I see your point, I was like that. I worked out in the end (& I'm not implying this is you, but it could help) that I knew some stuff on the guitar, and I was afraid of losing that little bit of knowledge if I moved forward to something else. Sometimes if you're a climber, you have to let go of one grip which you know is safe, and traverse through a questionable or doubtful phase to the next safe hold, and a lot of people just can't let go to move forward. So all I did was looked at my self from a different position - "What if I was a great guitarist, say, Al Di Meola, how would I see myself". So my approach, and my thinking, and the "buttheadedness" changed. Now, if it's on the guitar, guitar related or music related, my thinking is "I want to know this, regardless of the damage it can cause" because I like guitars. I'm never going to be like one of my heroes, a Joe Pass or Al Di Meola, but when someone like Chappers sticks a video like this up there, I can see the value in what he's giving me almost straight away, and I'm on it like a cheap suit. The real secret here is what he said quite early on - getting on to that mode in the position you're already playing in. Don't even particularly try to understand what he's doing yet, just do it. It's a bit like the old "Wax on, wax off" thing, only after you've done it for a few days does it finally filter through the skull to the grey bit on the inside (haven't totally stopped being a butthead yet). Next thing you know, "Hey, just like a real guitarist..." :-)
Mind Blown. Modes are a new concept to me, but thanks to these lessons, I'm getting the gist of it way faster than I ever would have. Thank you very much1
aolian mode? isnt that the mode that tasted of garlic mayonnaise?
no mayo in proper aioli but it might taste good anyway :P
Mat Wetton dont bother persuing a comedy career, you are tragically unfunny
I hope Rob makes more of these videos they were his BEST WORK online.
The problem with your system is that you need to think of a mode (which is already a specific starting point of a major scale) to play another mode - way too complicated !
The best way to internalize things :
- Choose a scale, mode or whatever : learn the whole steps/half steps sequence.
- Choose a position (second finger locked on a specific fret ; the first and little may have to do an extention depending on the scales). For each scale/mode, there are seven positions.
- Sing the notes names while you are playing. Try to be musical, don't play the scale up and down.
- Take your time and don't try to learn every modes in every position, it's useless because you are covering way too much ground at a time.
This is great. If you use 3nps scale, there are only 3 shapes for each mode (if you ignore the fifth string shift). First for 1 note on the first string , first is two notes and the third is 3, and the shapes are interchangeable when you get to the next root/octave. If one memorizes 3 shapes x 7 modes = 21 , they should be able to play all over the entire guitar and be able to easily swith between relative modes AND modes of the same key
What is a "3nps" scale?
james donal faulkner 3nps is a "three note per string" scale. Its a scale arranged that doesn't move to the next string until its played 3 notes Instead of memorizing a perfectly horizontal scale, its slightly diagonal and covers more notes. A 3nps scale allows for you to play much, much faster because you don't have to ever skip strings or keep track of where your pick is because it always ends up on the otherside (because its an odd amount notes it always passes through the string).
james donal faulkner www.discoverguitaronline.com/diagrams/6.png this is G major. If you memorize this you've already subconsciously memorized ALL the mode shapes of the diatonic scale. Once youve memorized it, try taking certain notes in the scale and playing up 7 notes. You'll begin to notice that the whole scale breaks down to even simpler shapes that cycle between themselves depending on if the root YOU are counting from starts from the top, middle or bottom of the 3 notes on the string of which you starting counting.
james donal faulkner I know what i said sounds convoluted but I.E. look at the bottom image and count out 7 notes from a root G (ionanian), with G having two notes come after it before moving to the next string. You'll notice its the EXACT same pattern ALL over the neck.
Best explanation I’ve ever found for modes. Been struggling to understand and got more and more confused as I was searching about it. This video is short but packed up with great info. Thank you Rob!🙏
Nope, didn't understand a single thing. I guess I'll have to watch it a couple more times...
CoTeCiOtm That's the key, and practice of course, and then one day the penny will drop! I'm still waiting for that moment - by the way!
I think I have watched this video about 4 times each time I understand more all I can say is Wow glad I stumbled upon this lesson.
I Doubt People Like Meeting After Lunch
haha nice! I learned: I Don't Punch Like Mohammad Ali (then you just add Locrian at the end)
I Don't Play Like Malmsteen A Lot
+Mark Heyne lmfaooooo that one is great!
If Dora Plays Like Me All's Lost......
I Don't Play Locrian Mode A Lot. Which is true :D
I've been playing since childhood, soloing for 15 years. The major, harmonic minor, pentatonic, and blues scales I learned quickly due to relentless practice and finger torture exercises. I've heard others talk of modes and understood the Theory to an extinct. What I mean is, the patterns are all familiar and committed to memory. The Theory and routine of determining each mode was vague, until 3 weeks ago. I watched this just because I stumbled across it. After the 3rd time through it completely I was like kid again!! I was excited again! Like some may relate, that first day when it all comes together for a minute and you nail some three note rolls!!! You're in your jam room by yourself and let out a big "WooooHoooo Baby"!!! Right?! I just wanted to say thanks for the clear and common sense description! And to any that may struggle, Like Mr. Fred touched on, Hang in there and remember, You can't play like a Champion unless you Practice like a Champion!! Don't Despair, Keep going, it'll come! Thanks again Chapper!!!
I know that before this vid, you need to know the order of the modes etc... but..
Allmost all the explenations of modes and scales etc sound like this to me: "blabla its really easy blabla Mixolydian, blabla, Locrian, blabla perfect fifth, blabla major scale, blabla deminised blabla"
I cannot really find a single dude that says, why I need to know modes, triads and all the scales an patterns. Or, when I can use a mode.
Piekartz To write or improvise solos over jazz chords, or even to give a sophisticated feel to soloing over non jazz chords.
Piekartz ignorance is bliss
Rob, you're a beast, after watching this video for two days, I was able to answer all of your questions correctly in 5 minutes. The modes have always been daunting to me, though, with your help, they have become so simple!
Why does he keep stressing to place the key on the nut?
cos all the notes of the mode will be relative to the nut/open string (E)
Matt Revell alright mate. :). thanks.
;)
This was by far the best mode lesson on the tube, thanks Chap
Hey Chapper I know you have all this knowledge and technical ability but some constructive criticism, your playing sounds like most of the time your throughing a bunch of notes together in rapid sucession with no emotion or musicality.
Then post your own video if you can do better.
"for an artistic choice / reason rather than to find a safe place to play" great words!!
way to fast man slow down your gonna screw people up please
i think you like to just here yourself play man teach more people need to see and understand what your doing with your fingers .
Rob, this lesson is brilliant. The concept of using the 3oct pattern to open up the various modes is genius! Bravo sir
Thank you Rob, this video completely opened the world of modes for me, what a epiphany! Lots of love from Trondheim, 🇳🇴
By far the best lesson on modes I have seen on the internet!
mate you are just amazing ... I've been searching for this type of a lesson for a while now and here it is by the good old chappers, you are a great influence and inspiration to me so thank you and keep going :)
Shot! LOVE the excellent manner in which you present the ideas, and you demostrate this really cool technique, which, despite some people who may think it's too simple, imho is PRICELESS!!! It's a springboard from sucking at guitar to making some self-pleasing sounds, and from there, it's a creative climb up the experience ladder...
I am a beginner. I watched the 2 "learn modes in 15 minutes" and combined it with this video and looked up the notes on the fretboard and suddenly it all makes sense. Now I just have to get my fingers to catch up with what I now comprehend. but it's all good. great videos. thks
I've watched this through a few times and it is slowly starting to sink in. Thanks so much.
Chappers, thanks for giving me another tool to add to my guitar arsenal. I have for user used Frank Gambale's three note per string method, and primarily used Major, Dorian and Mixolydian shapes. Why I never thought of a cooler patter for modes is beyond me. Thanks for opening my eyes a bit wider. You are a great teacher.
Using any of our favorite scale shapes to play any mode was an awesome eye opener!
Thank you so much!
thanks chappers, i'm a self taught guitar player and all of your videos not only help but inspire me. especifically thanks for this video cause even though i may not know everything about the required things it helps me understand everything i wanted to know :)
HOLY CRAP, CHAP! ive been self taught for years, playing basically off scales and ear, and just now discovered youtube video's like this one.. very inspiring. for the first time, i acutally wrote down the modes and want to go learn do all my research until this entire video makes perfect sense. please leave it up for a long time lol
This is the best lesson on you tube, You are AMAZING at what you do, keep it up. I feel like I have not improved my playing for years and after only watching a few of your training videos I have already improved my playing.
Hi
I set up a RUclips account just so that I could say Thank you...now I understand. After forty years. Really clear explanation.
This video is mind blowing... I have been struggling with this for awhile
as as guitar player with...some...knowledge i was looking for an explanation or a starting point to start it working out by myself (by my ear) as i am used to...this is the first video that did this.... finally. a great practical explanation :) now...let's go exploring :D
one of the best lessons regarding modes i have seen
thanks allot for this! really cleared up allot. i used to think of modes as shapes and thats why i was confused about why modes in the same key had the same notes and what made them different. now i understand that a mode is determined by which note on a scale your call "home" or end on
Rob,
Incredible incredible incredible
I had gone thru the mental gymnastics of playing the diatonic scale starting on I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, viidim (7 different scales)
Your example of using the same Aeolian scale, counting modes up/down, and orientating it to the key is a major BREAKTHRU in my understanding, familiarity, technique and teachability.
I am a freed man!
This is the video i have been needing for so long! Superb explanation, every guitarist trying to learn modes needs to watch this. Thanks m8!
Mr. Chapman, you are a truly gifted player as well as a great teacher. Cheers mate!
this is the best explaination of modes and the mother scale on youtube
If anyone is confused by this, I suggest starting to watch at the 14:50 mark, watch till 15:47, then go back and re-watch from the beginning. That bit is the key, and probably should have been covered first!
Important concept, thanks for the video!
Thanks Chappers. I actually for the first time got a real sense of what modes are all about.
thanks for this video. It was a lot swallow at first but it's coming together now . Lots of practice,practice practice. And a bit more practice .wish I learned this 25yrs ago. Thanks
This is one of the best guitar mode tutorials I have ever seen . I actually learned everything you taught. Thank you so much for your time and well descriptive easy to understand lesson....Much appreciated. You have a new subscriber.....
Thank you Chapman for an awesome lesson on MODES. Your teaching had lots of gems in it and I have found some. :)
Can't believe how much of a difference throwing the drone note in made a huge difference to the musicality of the scales / modes Chappers.
This is without a doubt, one of the best (and clearly) explained music lessons I've seen/heard on 'modes'. Usually I just see you (Chappers) messin around with the Captain flogging guitars ;)
Watching again. From 4:39 to 4:41 the picking is some sort of black magic. Excellent skills.
I literally just watched this video, picked up my guitar and my playing was instantly improved. No bullshit thank you so much Rob!!
This video was posted long ago but have a delayed thanks. You made it easy and i was able to answer the questions at the end after watching this for the first time ! Thanks dude.
Rob I have been playing guitar from the age of 10. I had 3 lessons when I was 14. I have been stuck in the blues box and any improv comes from that box. I'm 45 now and I love to make music! Your videos have taught me more than I have learned in 35 years of playing. I know you're a professional musician and you obviously have love for the craft, but your voice is a gold mine! I ran into you totally by accident. I was researching Epiphone Les Pauls. Great stuff!!!!!!
We must think alike because that is the first description that made sense to me ever!
Rob Chapman. You are the man. I finally get it. You answered so many questions I had. You rock man!
I really don't know what to say about this video. I like Rob's mode of presentation and I have found some of his other scale and mode lessons really good. This one confused the hell out if me and deepened the mystery.
This tutorial does a great job of covering the theory, and the pace of the video is really comfortable for introducing beginners. One big suggestion would be to play your modal examples (10:08-10:15) more like you play your minor scale (7:38). You ramp up the speed to quickly for beginners to be able to follow - especially when dealing with something that can be very confusing.
This was superb Rob.
Super simple way to explain the modes.
Requires a bit of knowledge before hand but you clearly highlighted that
An important lesson! Personally I would put this on a par with Vinnie Moore's lesson on modes.. If this doesn't sink in at first, don't write or put it off, bookmark this page, try watching Vinnie and just come back to this.. Don't give up on modes - Eat your greens....! Cheers for taking the time again Chap..
this is one of the best explanations of modes i've ever seen. I'd like to see something said about the particular "sound" of a mode and what makes it that way like a major 6th or whatever etc
and then build those chords from that mode so you get the sound you want rhythmically as well as melodically. Most only are focusing on the melodic aspect of modes and the other side should be explained as well for a full understanding imo
Hey Dude, this is a very well constructed lesson. Modes beginning to make theoretical sense and I’m understanding how to apply it to my playing.
oh my god.... this just completely broke me out of my plateau and I owe it all to you!!! Thank you sooo much!!!!
Jeez! I can't believe the caustic comments by some of you who viewed this...just bc you don't understand something doesn't mean you have to blame the person trying to help you understand. I thought this was VERY helpful and actually gave me a new perspective on how to think/use information regarding them. Do keep in mind that simply understanding the half step/full step approach (semi-tone/tone) to modes so that you will know what notes to sharp/flat when soloing is not a complete picture of what a thorough understanding of modes can do for you. I think understanding that each key has 3 major chords, 3 minor chords and one diminished would help someone understand how modes can be used. Also, if you could understand that some songs are written in modes (White Rabbit-phrygian; What Child is This?/Greensleeves-dorian; Maria-Lydian (from the West side Story) you would know that knowing to flat the 2nd, 3rd, 6th & 7th note in whatever key you are in would be necessary in order to play a song written in phrygian. All this guy is trying to do is show you an approach of how to get there from what MOST PEOPLE are already familiar with: the minor key aka the aeolian mode. Go get a keyboard - even online ones would do - bc the VISUAL of the steps/distances between the notes is really helpful.
Starting at 12:38 it all became clear!!!! I wasn't getting what Rob meant when he was saying 'look for the scale you're using' until he actually moved up the neck sounding out the modal steps. Ding ding!!! I totally get it now. AWESOME lesson. Now I want to go hunt down all my old guitar teachers and make them pay me back for waste-of-time theory lessons that I paid hundreds of dollars for!