Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Spot on, Jeff - I don't think anybody except true theory geeks set out to write a song in a weird mode.

A band I used to be in, singer/songwriter/rhythm guitarist had less music knowledge than myself (yes, it is possible). Conversations went like this- Him: Can you play the middle part different?
Me: How so?
Him: I dunno, prettier?
Me: No.

LOL!

Another agreement with Jeff here...theory rules and can really help your understanding of what you're trying to play but your fingers will still need to meet the fretboard and hopefully they will connect to your musical thoughts (soul).

Both ways are cool. I think that it is neat when someone can explain what another gets from his gut. The rare one is the person who can have both working for them to the max. There are not a whole lot of Leonardos around. It always amused me when our drummer used to go ‘how do you count that?” and I’d respond “I don’t, I just kind of feel it.”

FOr a good exercise in counting, listen to Willow Farm Apocalypse in 9/8 (co-starring the delicious talents of Gabble Ratchet)
by Genesis on the Foxtrot Album. FWIW, we always just called it Apocalypse in 9/8.

Good one, Charly. I've always wondered how they landed on the final result of a 4/4 keyboard solo over a 9/8 rhythm section riff.

Modes [even the Swanky ones] make my brain hurt. I've never been able to get them through my thick head.

The coolest mode is Fridgian.

The hottest mode is Solarian.

The dullest is Borian.
The silliest is Monty Pythorian.

The sexiest is Monroian.

OK, here is my (extremely) SIMPLIFIED rundown on Modes. My teacher (and some of you) may shoot me for this but I hope it helps someone at least get started on the right track.

First, I think part of the problem is the (silly) use of all those Greek names. Forget ‘em (for now).

The next problem is that people get stuck right away in the formula for the modes. Forget it. Formulas are for math and science.

Just think back to when you were first learning how to play. And you learned what a “key” was and what the “tonic” was and what “1” was and that all your solos should be centered around the “one” and that every solo and every song resolves to the one (root, tonic, etc.). Remember that?

OK, let’s use the key of C for an example (as almost everyone does). What if I was noodling around by myself on just the notes in the key of C. Would you really know that I was in the key of C (Major)? Probably not. What if I was noodling around (soloing) with only the notes in the key of C but I was emphasizing the note D? I made D my “home.” But I’m still only using the notes in the key of C. And what if the chords being played under the solo were emphasizing D(min). Guess what? I’d be in the No. 2 (II) mode. (Dorian.) If I was emphasizing E, I’d be in the III. Etc.

The Grateful Dead did that all the time in their jams. Made for some great music.

That’s it. End of lesson one. Told you it was simple. OK, I said “simplified.”

I like these king of lessons.

And the sexiest mode would be Livian (as in Tyler), although she is way younger than me. Not that there is anything wrong with that.........

kind not king. I am typing in the dark.