Got a stupid mode question

[Rushfan2112]

Are the key of C modes (G mix, A aeolian, B locrian, etc. ) only good for the key of C? Can you move them up and down, like the Key of D modes would be G Aeolian, A locrian, etc.? I guess I really can't grasp modes yet.

Thanks.

 

[Omni9X]

Re: Got a stupid mode question

That definately isn't a stupid question.

The modes work in any key, for example, D ionian is two steps up from C ionian, so you just move all modes up two steps.

so, your modes in the key of D major are as follows:
D Ionian (Major), + two steps D to e
E dorian, + two steps, e to f#,
f# phrygian, + one step,
G Lydian, +2
A Mixolydian, +2
b aeolian, +2
c# locrian, and adding another step to c# gets you back to D
so, you have

D Ionian, e dorian, f# phrygian, G Lydian, A Mixolydian, b aeolian, c# locrian.

I hope this is helpful.

The modes are just the major scale starting at that step, so e dorian has the same notes in it as D ionian, it just starts on the second step of ionian.

So, in order to find the notes the modes start on, you could just count up your major scale.

 

[gavantia]

Re: Got a stupid mode question

Labelling modes like this is confusing people more than anything in my opinion. A mode is not a mode until you can hear it. Basically if you are in the key of C major if you play a G mixolydian shape over the chords you are still playing C major. If you start doing A aeolian, D dorian or E phrygian or any of those shapes you are playing in C Ionian everytime.

Thats why when people give different scale shapes modal names it confuses people. They assume because they are in a dorian shape they are playing the dorian mode which is just not the case at all. It all comes down to what the chords or band are playing, if they are playing a C dorian progression using chords based in the dorian mode then u can use C dorian to get the dorian sound which you will hear instantly.

Likewise if your band starts going into a spanish sounding phrygian progression in C, then feel free to solo over this progression using C phrygian.

The point is the modes are not just a simple scale shape, they are a key or "sound".