Lead Guitar Tactics

Posts Tagged ‘Music Theory’

Modes probably cause more confusion than anything else when it comes to learning the guitar and music theory. But it does not have to be that way. Modes are simply scales. The two words are interchangeable. Don’t try to make it it any more complicated than that.

Modes (scales) shift the location of the half steps and the chord tones in relation to a major scale. This shift in the half steps changes the way we hear the scale. The locations of the half steps also determine if a scale is major or minor.

By playing a mode we are also highlighting different notes as the chord tones. It then gets down to the amount of tension that the non chord tones create. Again this is determined by the half steps. Notes that are a half step apart create more tension than notes that are a whole step apart.

In this video lesson I do a comparison of the three minor modes (Dorian, Phrygian and Aoelian). Take note of the difference in flavor each mode produces. Decide which flavor you like the best.

Let me know if you have any questions or comments.

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