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Expanding modes


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Posted

I hate to be beating the bush, to a certain extent, but here goes:

 

I was given the advice to stay in the box when using a mode over a chord progression. I think the example was using G Dorian over gmi-Cma-Dmi-Cma. Anyway, I played around with this and found that what I was played was limited by my having to stay in a four/five note box. So, would it be a good idea to just take the intervals of each mode and expand them over a 12-fret area? That way, I could get out of a box and still play the same notes.

Posted

You're exactly correct.

As much as I try to avoid it, some of what I play is due to 'muscle memory', and each position is a little different, so I'll change positions often to keep from repeating myself too much.

Try to work out things in multiple positions all the time. This will help you 'breathe' a bit on the fretboard and not be confined to certain areas that you know something well at. It will help you become a more complete navigator of the fretboard.

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Posted

Definitely learn to play every mode all over the fretboard. I think I gave you (or someone) a link to this chord generator http://www.blackbeltguitar.com/Generator.php You can just punch in a key and a mode and it will show you where the notes are all over the first 12 frets.

The whole idea of modes and scales is that you're dealing with a group of notes. For instance, G dorian is G A Bb C D E F. As long as you're playing these notes, it doesn't matter where on the fretboard you are.

Something you need to realize about those "boxes" is that they're just a learning tool. If you're going to learn something over the whole fretboard, it's easier to start with a small area first. Once you've got that area or "box" memorized, move on to adjascent areas until you've got the whole thing down.

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Posted

Hey Roadstar,

Why don't you just ask the one who gave you the advice.. He might have a good reason for this (He might think you should spend more time to explore one position, so you know it inside out).

From a musical point of view there is of course no reason to limit yourself.

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Posted

Originally posted by Little Dreamer

Definitely learn to play every mode all over the fretboard. I think I gave you (or someone) a link to this chord generator
You can just punch in a key and a mode and it will show you where the notes are all over the first 12 frets.


The whole idea of modes and scales is that you're dealing with a group of notes. For instance, G dorian is G A Bb C D E F. As long as you're playing these notes, it doesn't matter where on the fretboard you are.


Something you need to realize about those "boxes" is that they're just a learning tool. If you're going to learn something over the whole fretboard, it's easier to start with a small area first. Once you've got that area or "box" memorized, move on to adjascent areas until you've got the whole thing down.

 

 

My whole problem with staying in a box is that limited feel. By being able to move around the fretboard, sure I will be playing the same notes, but it won't feel like it so much. I'll go ahead and chart out each mode over the entire fretboard. I could use a theory exercise to brush off some rust right about now.

Posted

Originally posted by Roadstar II



My whole problem with staying in a box is that limited feel. By being able to move around the fretboard, sure I will be playing the same notes, but it won't feel like it so much. I'll go ahead and chart out each mode over the entire fretboard. I could use a theory exercise to brush off some rust right about now.

 

 

I know what you mean. While most of what I play does physically fit into scale boxes, I'm never thinking about them. I'm thinking more about fixed note names so I can move about freely over the entire neck.

 

The idea you have about mapping the entire neck as one really big position is kind of how I've ended up visualising things. It takes a while to get the hang of it, but it is worth it. I admit though I am in the minority in my sort of mental imagry, but that's mostly because I've been a horn player before I started guitar, and this seemed more logical to my mind. I'm sure if guitar were my only instrument I might be approaching things differently.

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Posted

Originally posted by Little Dreamer



Check this out:




It's about the best explanation of modes I've ever seen.

 

 

Many thanks! I finally get it. I found that I already know the patterns, but it all depends on which mode you use for the root note. So, with a chord progression I should just identify a mode that includes the notes of the chords in the progression and use that mode as my foundation? Or would I base the mode I pick on only the root notes of the chords in the chord progression?

 

 

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Posted

remember that chords are notes from a scale or mode being played simultaneously - they're one and the same thing!

so work out the moe you need from all the notes in the chords - not just the root notes.

if you find you have more than seven notes, then your chord sequence uses more than one mode and you'll have to change mode as you solo over the chords.

non-functional isolated chords (chords that don't belong to the mode that all the other chords do) should be treated as a "one" chord - so an isolated minor 7 chord is usually a dorian chord and an isolated major 7 chord is usually a major or lydian chord.

here's an example of a modal sequence...

Cmaj7 / G7 / Am7 / Fmaj7

write out all the notes of the chords...

C E G B, G B D F, A C E G, F A C E

get rid of the duplicates and put in order...

C D E F G A B

so this sequence is in C major

if the sequence was this...

Cmaj7 / Gmin7 / Am9 / Fmaj7

then the basic sequence is in C major, but the Gmin7 is outside the key and should be solo'ed over with G dorian

hope that helps

sim

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