Jake Lizzio

Another Lesson On Modes

Added 2022-09-10 00:23:25 +0000 UTC

This is a part-two follow-up to the lesson I posted last week about Modes. Last time we focused on Relativity by always thinking back to the parent major scale. This time, we're thinking more Parallel, by considering what can exist atop a single chord.

The only edit I'd make to this lesson is that the "bad examples" don't actually sound THAT BAD. Mixing 7ths, as demonstrated in this vid, isn't really the worst sound in music. Mixing thirds (minor and major) is much more severe of a sin to the ears, but some "messy" things we can actually get away with. That said, the "bad examples" are really missing the modal point. They work, but in a clumsy way that could work better.

The last thing I'd remind you all is that the leads I'm playing here and improvising are for demonstration purposes, I'm trying to use as much as the whole scale as possible to get the point across. But in the real musical world, I usually try to limit my note pallate to less-notes-per-minute. There's also a few ugly improv moments in there - my strength is definitely composing, not improvising :P

I'd love to continue this series for longer, but it will require some more specific questions from you all on what is confusing and where you need guidance. Hope you enjoy and please ask any questions you have here or on the YT page!