Should I learn modes ?? How usefull are they ??

[magnusdeus123]

I've taken great courage in posting up this thread , coz I blieve that the Bass verterans are gonna shoot it down immediately....."Yes ofcourse you peasant !!! Modes are the sweet nectar of improvisational heaven.." . In any case , regardless of my little satire , I've got a few questions ;

I'm currently suffering from the curse of trying to lap up a lot of theory info , which I'm sure isnt that bad , but I'm getting ahead of myself . I spent quite a while last night reading up on the various talkbass theory related threads on modes and keys and chords and Dorian and Phyrgian and such.....they all sound like something a mage uses to cast a fireball at the opponent , as far as my pitifull mind can take it...

Uptill now , the way I've figured it out is that Modes literally allow the player to 'figure out' the most appropriate series of notes he can use over a certain Chord Progression , which seems to be a critical factor in jazz . I dunno if I'm right in this thought , and If someone can expand on that without making me think that Japanese Kanji would be easier to learn , I'd really be gratefull .

I'm just wondering , for someone who doesnt plan to do Jazz or Progressive , and just wants to focus on constructing good rock and metal basslines , how much am I gonna need modes , coz seriously speaking I wouldnt mind learning them , but I need you guys to convince me that it's a very worthy investment of my time .

Thanks in advance for any help anyone decides to offer .

[GeezerFleaWoote]

hey. i am really bad at explaining things, but i will try. modes can help you look at scales in a completly different light. for example, the minor scale (1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, 7, 8) is the Aeolian mode of a scale. In other terms, C major and A minor are the same scale, but they start on different notes. (C maj- C D E F G A B C, and A min- A B C D E F G A)

[Phalex]

You really don't run a ton of scales in rock, this is true. But to know them or not to know them, well, I'd say given the choice you are always better off knowing something you don't necessarily need rather than needing something you don't know. Years and years ago I bought a set of wrenches that had both metric and SAE. I got a really good deal on them at the time, but I didn't really need the metric sizes. 20 years later, you know what? I use the metric wrenches more than the SAE. The point is, you never know what you'll need in the future, and if you can afford to stock your tool box with a variety of tools, someday they are bound to come in handy if not absolutely necessary.

[ThomasG]

Modes are simply scales built off the major scale. I would say learn them, it will make you a better musician. Not to say you have to spend a religious amount of time as a Jazz cat,but play the related mode to each chord your working on and you will understand the chord/scale relationship and how they relate to the overall scheme of the song. For example the song your learning has a Dm7, a good mode for that would be D Dorian. So play the arpeggio ( notes in chord), then the mode, and you will learn them, rather than playing modes for modes sake.

[mutedeity]

Yes, you should learn [edit: ABOUT] modes. They are not simply just scales built off the major scale. Modes manifest as the way that degrees of any particular scale voice the "parent" scale. Even the major scale is a mode to other scales. It is probably more important to understand how modes work than to just learn the diatonic modes as shapes or notes in sequence.

In the long run understanding how modes work will give you a bigger picture of tonality and how groups of notes tend to relate to each other on more than one level.

[ryco]

Whether or not you choose to recognize them they are there. Anytime you play in a cerain key, or other harmonic sequence, modes are there so you may as well take the time to explore their characteristics and how they relate to each other.

Originally Posted by magnusdeus123

Up 'til now, the way I've figured it out is that Modes literally allow the player to 'figure out' the most appropriate series of notes he can use over a certain Chord Progression , which seems to be a critical factor in jazz.

I don't know if modes are a "critical factor" for playing jazz. Jazz is more about experimentation and conversation between instruments than it is about running an appropriate set of notes over a progression of chords. Some guys go out of thier way to play notes that don't belong to the "correct" diatonic scale/chord/mode. In the 60s some jazzers explored modal compositions which may be why ppl associate modes with jazz. Modes certainly offer some options and alternative note choices for walking lines.

I'm just wondering , for someone who doesnt plan to do Jazz or Progressive , and just wants to focus on constructing good rock and metal basslines , how much am I gonna need modes , coz seriously speaking I wouldnt mind learning them , but I need you guys to convince me that it's a very worthy investment of my time

Only you can decide if learning modes is a useful or judge it as a worthy use of your time. Any knowledge you attain can only benefit your playing and writing skills. Learn them because they're interesting and offer different sounds. Learn them because you are interested in music. They aren't that hard to learn.

It seems to my ear that a lot of Metal lines consist of minor and diminished runs. Whether or not you learn the names of the sounds of the scales/modes you are incorporating them. When you learn the names that go with the sound characteristics then they will be immediately at your disposal next time you want to use that particular sound sequence. Theory isn't all about rules, it's about labeling sonic ideas so you can use them at a future date or communicate to another player what you're hearing or want to hear.