Common Rock Scales?

[Pacman]

When talking about modes, we generally compare them to the parent major scale, to prevent confusion. Thusly:


Lydian: Raised 4th
Ionian: major scale
Myxolyidan: lowered 7th
Dorian: lowered 3rd, lowered 7th
Aolean: lowered 3rd, 6th and 7th
Phrygian: lowered 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th
Locrian: lowered 2rd, 3rd, 5th, 6th and 7th

 

[Rockin John]

I'm totally, utterly, completely, 999% baffled.



John

 

[moley]

What's baffling you, John?

 

[Brooks]

I'm guessing here, but I think he probably has a problem with only 3 things, just like me... the beginning, the middle...and the end

 

[Rockin John]

The whole concept, Moley.

It seems not to make any sense at all.

There's been you, Brucie, Pacman, Ed, Mflattery, Jazzbo's lesson, uncle Tom Cobbley an' all explaining scales (esp. Locrian) and I'm still none the wiser......

'scuse me whilst I solder my son's necklace back together......LOL. I thought it was supposed to be silver. But it's actually magnetic

Anyway, whilst it's probably only a matter of memorising the scales, it might as well be Chinese I'm being asked to understand.

[Slumps back on stool, dejected]

John

 

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally posted by Rockin John
I'm totally, utterly, completely, 999% baffled.



John

I can sympathise, as for many years, I played in bands with no reference to theory.

The things about modes, only made sense to me when I started to try to play Jazz and actually put this into practice in playing solos each week at Jazz classes.

So you can see for example, that Dorian is very useful, as it is just a mode of the major scale, but you can play it over a minor chord and it sounds "right"- so you can solo over sequences that include minor chords and major chords, just using modes of the major scale. (Similarly for different types of chords - like those with b5 - just pick a mode with b5 i.e. Locrian)

So you only have to remember the major scale and then to start it at the right place - rather than complicating things with all sorts of scales.

Of course once you have that "under your fingers" then you go on to others and apply the same lessons!

 

[Howard K]

I can sympathise, as for many years, I played in bands with no reference to theory.

As did I. The only issue now is that the other band members have no idea about any theory and I do which can make it even more frustrating!

Lessons are good place to start if reading a written article doenst suit you too much.

So you can see for example, that Dorian is very useful, as it is just a mode of the major scale, but you can play it over a minor chord and it sounds "right"- so you can solo over sequences that include minor chords and major chords, just using modes of the major scale. (Similarly for different types of chords - like those with b5 - just pick a mode with b5)

That Bruce, me old mucka, is a pretty darned good explanation. I've gotta remember that!