0
What gets tricky, however is using modes for jazz jamming where the mode may change frequently eg every few bars or every chord. By this stage you really need to be able to recall your modes, their positions and fingerings as you can imagine, rather quickly. For me (not being anywhere near that stage yet), its a thing that hurts brain quite easily. I imagine at some stage of proficiency, as with most things, you "forget" to consciously recall your theory and it just happens.
However, before we jump in and try to learn modes it is necessary to learn reasonably well your Major Diatonic scale. It is from this that all of your modes are derived. Know these scales and you can figure out any mode.
Below are the 5 scales of G major diatonic. Each scale, by definition should start and end on the root note, but other notes above or below this that are in the scale may be included.
G Major Diatonic Scale
http://www.soundpunk..._serialNumber=2
[mp3=200,20,0,center][/mp3]http://www.soundpunk..._serialNumber=2
[mp3=200,20,0,center][/mp3]http://www.soundpunk..._serialNumber=2
[mp3=200,20,0,center][/mp3]http://www.soundpunk..._serialNumber=2
[mp3=200,20,0,center][/mp3]http://www.soundpunk..._serialNumber=2
[mp3=200,20,0,center][/mp3]Now to interpret the notation:
1. The numbers above the fret board represent the fret number.
2. The numbers in the circles represent the finger to be playing the note.
3. The circle that is blue represents the root note.
4. Start at the root note on the 6th or 5th string and play left to right, bottom to top. Hit the highest root note and come back down.
NB: when possible, start and end the scale on a root note.
Why do it this way? There are many ways at notating things like this. This one is essentially trying to drum in a pattern which can be repeated anywhere on the board to produce any major scale you want. Obviously by starting scale one on the 10th fret and you have D Diatonic. Being a visual and pattern based method, it's a little easier than learning all the notes on each string then memorising the actual notes for each scale. Bler. However, if you can remember "2, 4, 1, 2, 4, 1, 3, 4, 1, 3, 4, 2, 4, 1, 2" then you already know the first major diatonic scale for any key you like.
Modes and Corresponding Chord Scale Examples
http://www.soundpunk..._serialNumber=2
So what does this all translate to?
a) the root chord of the scale is chord I (the left most)
the rest of the chords in the scale read from the root note to the rightc) the mode associated with the chord is shown above the respective column
d) one could figure out the remainder of the chord scales by starting at a given root chord, then writing the rest in,
remembering to add in the appropriate sharps or flats for the given root chord.
How it all fits together:
The naming of the modes is related to their respective root notes or chords. If you are playing the G major scale over a song in the key of G major, you are essentially playing in Ionian mode. If you are jamming to a song in the key of Am7 using the G major scale you are still playing in Ionian mode. If however, you play the exact same notes as the G major scale but start and end the scale on "A", then you are playing in A Dorian mode. Easy?
So back to Metallica:
The chords under nothing else matters solo are: Em, D, C, Em, D, C, Em, D, C, G, B, Em. Repeat.
This song has a particularly minor ("sad") feel about it, with Em being the root chord. Lets figure out mode to play over the top of it. For starters we can see that there are 3 modes with a minor feel. Dorian, Phyrigian and Aolian. The Dorian and
Aolian are by far the most commonly used. Now if we refer to our Mode chart, we can see that the mode that would best fit this song would be E Aolian. E Dorian would probably not fit as the C is raised ie there is a C# thoughout which would be discordant over the natural C in the song.
So if you recall that the E Aolian scale is identical as the G major scale (except with an E root note), then you can start to jam over the top of these chords using the E Aolian scale (or G major scale with E root notes) it'll sound schmick.
For comparison play E Dorian over the top (D major scale with E root note) and see that although most of it fits the C# will make things sound tad wrong.
Metallica with solo:
[mp3=200,20,0,center][/mp3]
You will notice that this solo is not note for note. That's not the point of this exercise (though you could make it that if you wish). The point is that I played the E Aolian scale over the given chords and just jammed it out - and it fit. If you are saying..."hang on how the hell is this anything like jazz??" listen to this...
Metallica with solo (jazzy version):
[mp3=200,20,0,center][/mp3]
Still the same basic chord progression but with jazzier versions of the chords (Em9, D7, Cmaj7, Gmaj7 and Bm7) and of course jazzier rhythm. As for the notes played over the top - identical to those above: E Aolian. Fun.
And onto Santana:
[mp3=200,20,0,center][/mp3]
This song is a pretty basic minor progression. Dm, Am, Dm, Am, Gm, Dm, Am. The mode that best fits this is D Aolian or if we have a quick glance back at the mode chart, F major diatonic with D root notes.
Alright. So thats the basic stuff to get one started in improvisation in general. Learning and recalling these 5 scales in all positions is the key to learning to jam and improvisation.
A few tips:
Practice these scales until bored shitless. Practice them in all keys - not much instant gratification but in the long run you'll be better off.
Pick a favourite solo. Find or figure out the chords underlying it then using the above theory figure out which scale would best fit it. Jam these scales out and try to pick apart the solo note for note.
Record some favourite chord progressions onto computer or tape or whatever. Try and make it loop based so you can just jam to it using the scales. NB: watch Soundpunk for a jamming thread to be launched soon.
Find musicians who are better than you and jam with them. Sure fire way to improve.
Soon: how the above scales can be used to derive the ever popular blues pentatonic scale and variants
Back to top
:clap:
