Modes for Major Scale

[MalcolmAmos]

So, I have a song (Not to Us, by Chris Tomlin) that I've determined is in the key of B, and is Dorian, since the song contains B (root), a Natural D (Flat 3rd), and a Natural A (a flat 7th) notes in the song. Does this mean the song is in B Dorian, or A Dorian? (since B is the 2nd degree of A)? Also, does this mean that if I want to improv/solo during an instrumental in this song, I can play the Dorian scale starting on B?

You could, but, your Dorian sound may get drowned out because ----- Most Chris Tomlin songs have a bunch of chords in them. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] Keep reading..... Any time you have a full chord progression the tonal center of the V-I cadence will drown out the modal sound. Yes you played Dorian, but the Dorian sound is wasted with all the chord changes. As mentioned in other posts here - the signature note for Dorrian is the natural 6 note (sound). That sound needs to be dronning in the background for the Dorian sound to sustain. We do that with vamps not chord progressions.

The Dorian sound (mood) does not have time to develop. But, to answer your question; yes you could play Dorian, but, don't count on Dorian's sound coming through, as long as the harmony chords revolve around a V-I cadence.

There are very few places a mode will fit into a bass line. Into a solo, perhaps, if the other guys will move from the V-I cadence to a modal vamp while you are playing your solo. Good luck with that happening.

 

[SquierJazz72]

Modes always confused me as a guitarist. The way most books and articles taught them was Relative, but with seemingly vague or overcomplicated explanations of how to use them, which still left me confused.

It took taking up bass again and finding a resource that used the Parallel method and really simplified the explanations, as well as telling straight up what each mode is for, for me to get them.

Such as:

Here's C major scale and it's intervals.
Change this note, you'll get C Lydian and it's intervals.
And here's where you can use it.

It went through every mode that way, showing the intervals you end up with for each mode, and how to use it.

Once I understood it that way, I could go back and finally understand the other way too.

 

[MalcolmAmos]

Modes always confused me as a guitarist. The way most books and articles taught them was Relative, but with seemingly vague or overcomplicated explanations of how to use them, which still left me confused.

It took taking up bass again and finding a resource that used the Parallel method and really simplified the explanations, as well as telling straight up what each mode is for, for me to get them.

Such as:

Here's C major scale and it's intervals.
Change this note, you'll get C Lydian and it's intervals.
And here's where you can use it.

It went through every mode that way, showing the intervals you end up with for each mode, and how to use it.

Once I understood it that way, I could go back and finally understand the other way too.

Yes! Here is a backing track that will help with what Squier talks about:

Little more detail:

Scales
• Major Scale = R-2-3-4-5-6-7 Home base
• Major Pentatonic = R-2-3-5-6 Leave out the 4 & 7
• Natural Minor Scale = R-2-b3-4-5-b6-b7 Major scale with the 3, 6 & 7 flatted.
• Minor Pentatonic = R-b3-4-5-b7 Leave out the 2 & 6.
• Blues = R-b3-4-b5-5-b7 Minor pentatonic with the blue note b5 added.
• Harmonic Minor Scale = R-2-b3-4-5-b6-7 Natural minor with a natural 7.
• Melodic Minor Scale = R-2-b3-4-5-6-7 Major scale with a b3.

Let the major scale be your home base then change a few notes and you have something different. No need to memorize a zillion patterns. Let the major scale pattern be your go to pattern - then adapt/adjust from there.

Major modes
• Ionian same as the Major Scale. Home base for all major modes.
• Lydian use the major scale and sharp the 4 - yes, it’s that simple.
• Mixolydian use the major scale and flat the 7. Change one note.....

Minor Modes
• Aeolian same as the Natural Minor scale. Home base for all minor modes.
• Dorian use the Natural Minor scale and sharp the b6 back to a natural 6. Change one note.
• Phrygian use the Natural Minor scale and flat the 2. Again change one note.
• Locrian use the Natural Minor scale and flat the 2 and the 5. OK here you have to change two notes.

Have fun.

 

[datsaxguy]

Here is a run down I did on another thread. http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f22/need-help-understanding-modes-975175/index2.html