Method to learn the modes in the 12 keys

[Langueta]

Hi
I will share with you a good method that came to my mind and I will study.

1)Memorize (Without your bass) the 2nd and 5 mode of the 12 major keys. (For example in G major, A minor and D Mixolidian)
2)Memorize (Without your bass) the 2nd and 5 mode of the 12 minor Keys (For example in E minor, F# Locrian/Dorian b9 , B Phrigian/mixolidian b13)
3)Memorize (Without your bass) the relative minor of all the natural minor keys(E minor and G major)

After knowing this you will memorize six of the seven modes of every scale. I think It will be a good method for me to work on.
I want to learn them as good as I know the Multiplication table of 2.
What do you think???
Can you recomend me different aproaches to study this?? I am not used to memorize things without my bass. Every time I tried I got bored and left it.

[Col E Loc]

one thing i don't understand is why do it without the bass. sure, when i'm at work and i'm thinking about modes and scales, I can't have a bass on me - so i do what i got to do. I'm still sending muscle memory to my hands, bass or no bass. I would bet sitting in a living room, across from a bass guitar imagining what it sounds like in the 24 scales would make me walk away too.

remember, it's all about feel

[BigOldHarry]

One reason to work on this without your bass, for me, is THAT I'M STUCK AT WORK IN A CUBICLE!!!!

I actually have a chart of key sigs stuck on my cube wall to keep reminding me the 3 sharps is infact the key of A major... So something like this approach would work for me as well..

[Rudreax]

It helps to know this without an instrument because you can use the info you learn without the instrument around.

One thing, though: I can understand wanting to know the 5th of every key, but why the 2nd? Why not just every scale, along with every harmonization?

[Langueta]

It came to my mind learning this way because the 2-5 is the most comon progression in popular music. By learning the 2-5 of 12 keys and relate them to the relative key, would make you think and not only memorize them.

[Schlyder]

Use other intervals as well,(3rds and 6ths) incorporate ear training in with the memorization. Also use visualization of the shapes of the intervals, on the bass itself.
ie; pick a note for a root, say C and any interval, say a flat 6th (Ab) and learn the relationship of where all the C's and Ab's are.

[Langueta]

Originally Posted by Schlyder

Use other intervals as well,(3rds and 6ths) incorporate ear training in with the memorization. Also use visualization of the shapes of the intervals, on the bass itself.
ie; pick a note for a root, say C and any interval, say a flat 6th (Ab) and learn the relationship of where all the C's and Ab's are.

How can I practise ear training

[Already In Use]

From another TB member....Stumbo

http://www.good-ear.com/

[ugly_bassplayer]

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

One reason to work on this without your bass, for me, is THAT I'M STUCK AT WORK IN A CUBICLE!!!!

I actually have a chart of key sigs stuck on my cube wall to keep reminding me the 3 sharps is infact the key of A major... So something like this approach would work for me as well..

or F# minor.

[Schlyder]

well start by learning the sounds of each interval. Pick songs that you can refer to to get the sound in your "ears"..... for example... if we start again on C.

C - C# = minor 2nd (b2) sounds like the theme from Jaws

C - A = Maj 6th sounds like the first part of the melody in the song.
"My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean"..... "My Bonnie.....


find songs that you can easily remember an interval from a phrase. do this for each of the intervals.

[J-B'ass]

Hey Langueta, was just wondering why you seem to be using the word 'grade' in place of 'mode'? I haven't encountered this terminology before.

[Schlyder]

Originally Posted by Already In Use

From another TB member....Stumbo

http://www.good-ear.com/

very good site... too bad it didn't have a bass for one of the instruments, but the piano is good enough.

[Langueta]

Originally Posted by J-B'ass

Hey Langueta, was just wondering why you seem to be using the word 'grade' in place of 'mode'? I haven't encountered this terminology before.

Sorry, I am from Argentina, I confused with the translation

[Schlyder]

No need to apologise. I don't think you were completely refering to modes though. Unless you were meaning scales from within a key center.
But I believe you were refering to intervals. ie: an interval is the distance between two notes(pitches). Intervals are very important to be able to hear in your head. All scales,modes, chords, phrases, everything can be anaylized by their intervalic relationship. This is the basis of eartraining. Just memorizing that the dorian mode starts on the second degree of a major scale (even memorizing the note names of a given chord or scale/mode) does nothing to help you hear that scale/mode... or chord, double stop phrase etc.
With eartraining you will learn to hear the flat3rd and the flat7 in a dorian mode, which gives the dorian mode it's characteristic sound.
Also, eartraining with all other musical elements, you will begin to hear and recognise their respective qualities ie: Major, minor, dominant, diminished, augmented, etc. etc. can all be analyzed by their intervalic relationships.

[JOE_MARSH]

Just learn the patterns, of dorian and mixolydian! Then you can apply it to all 12 tones in any key signature!