Scales/Modes-What's the difference?

[mambo4]

The difference between modes and scales is that modes cause longer, more argumentative talkbass threads....

calling a scale a mode simply implies that it belongs to a set of related scales that utilize the same cycle of tones.

[MarkMgibson]

I used to teach this kid (he was 18), and he was a good young guitarist. Then he got it into his head to start studying modes. The police found his body in his room, but no head. The official autopsy said that "while studying modes, his blood pressure reached such a level that his head exploded".

"Death by Misadventure" was the official verdict, but his tragic death should serve as a warning to us all.

[slybass3000]

Originally Posted by MarkMgibson

I used to teach this kid (he was 18), and he was a good young guitarist. Then he got it into his head to start studying modes. The police found his body in his room, but no head. The official autopsy said that "while studying modes, his blood pressure reached such a level that his head exploded".

"Death by Misadventure" was the official verdict, but his tragic death should serve as a warning to us all.

LOL

Please don't teach no more.

[seang15]

There quite literally is no difference. Two ways of saying the same thing.

[tomilchik]

Originally Posted by seang15

There quite literally is no difference. Two ways of saying the same thing.

Almost agree, with my 2c:

True, both are words to describe a particular complete sequence of notes, out of which one can build musical phrases.

The only slight difference to me is that when people say "mode" they often say it in a context like "scale XYZ is a mode of scale ABC", implying that two scales are related because they contain same notes, but in different sequences.

To describe a standalone note sequence, IMHO, both, "scale" and "mode" are interchangeable.

[chadgrimes]

I'm going to tell you that Jazz bass players and Bass players of the past DON'T SEE THINGS AROUND SCALES. They see things around chord tone Arpeggios. Now here is an experiment. Go look at any bass lines of any song, jazz walking, rock, blues, etc., and look at each note of each measure and compare it to the chords above EACH measure. You will find that each measure of notes are mostly CHORD TONES of the chord written above the measure. Only an occasional non chord tone used as a passing tone or approach note. I would think it would be an amazing coincidence that jazz bass players would hit so many chord tones in all the right places and on strong beats if they saw things around scales. The point is they don't see scales or even think about scales. They see chord tone arpeggios. Scales should be left in a music theory class only!