MikeTalbot wrote:
What happened to those great posts where we discussed scales and modes? It's not exactly like those topics can be said to be concluded simply because one of us says, "Yeah, cool..."
So can someone explain why there are three types of minor scales (natural, harmonic and melodic) and why we'd select one over the other? How does that affect the modes played against minors? (and poor dummy Mike - I'm
trying to understand from the perspective of guitar, bass and piano)
Talbot
Well, since your question was only met w more name calling and $hit slinging, let me take a stab at answering as best as I can.
I think it best to start with the naturally occurring different minor chords/scales/modes that you find diatonically appearing within the "parent" or "home" key that you find yourself playing in.
Let's work with the key of C Maj and a two octave C Maj scale to explore the different modes/scales/chords that lie within that set of notes.
we're gonna look at one octave "groups" . I'm gonna put a bracket around the first 8 notes like this:
[ C D E F G A B C ] D E F G A B C - within the bracket is a simple C Maj scale aka C Ionian mode
now we're gonna do the same for each of the seven letter names (notes) and each time we'll start on the next note than the previous scale /mode....
C [ D E F G A B C D ] E F G A B C within this bracket is a Dm scale, but not just any Dm scale...it's Dm dorian, the second mode of C MAJ
next we move to next starting point "E" :
C D [ E F G A B C D E] F G A B C this is an Em scale built on the third degree (note) of a C Maj scale aka Em Phygian (of interest here is the half step that immediately appears between the E and F notes.. a big characteristic of this mode)
now, you're on your own for the others! but if you do this same bit thru ALL the different eight note scale possibilities, you've covered all seven modes.
and without introducing ANY new notes you will have played SEVEN different scales that are really all the SAME scale but they just start and end in different places!
those seven scales will be
CMaj -ionian
Dm-dorian
Em-phrygian
FMaj-lydian
G7-mixolydian
Am-aeolian
Bmb5-locrian
notice that within that C maj (and EVERY major key) you have four minor scales and their respective chord voicings.....and they ALL are different!!!! yeah, they ALL have a minor third but they all have little subtle differences that are easy enough to figure out if you spend some time playing them and paying attention to the intervals as they unfold.
so, how do know which minor to use? well, you look at the key signature.....and that will tell you which to go with. just stick with the parent scale of the key you're playing in and you're golden.
hopefully that makes some sense.
BREAD IS GREAT!
PRAISE CHALLAH!!!!
PRAISE CHALLAH!!!!