View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
etj92
Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Posts: 3 Location: UK
|
Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 10:59 am Post subject: Modes in Creative Guitar 1 |
|
|
I'm new to this forum and wonder whether anyone can enlighten me. I'm having real difficulty with modes in the Creative Guitar 1 book. Guthrie's statment on Page 83 3rd para of modes "you can make a natural-minor scale in any key by taking a major scale three frets higher up from its root and starting from its sixth note." has me totally baffled. I don't understand waht he means and, having looked through this section several times, am now totally confused. Can anyone offer some enlightenment |
|
Back to top |
|
|
digitalkettle
Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 132 Location: Lincolnshire, UK
|
Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 11:37 am Post subject: |
|
|
Welcome.
He's talking about the 'relative' relationship between major and natural minor scales.
A minor (A B C D E F G)
uses the same notes as (and, thus, is the relative minor to):
C major (C D E F G A B)
See how the A minor starts on the sixth degree of C major? _________________ SoundCloud |
|
Back to top |
|
|
digitalkettle
Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 132 Location: Lincolnshire, UK
|
Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 11:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
Actually, re-reading your post, this is another way of expressing the same information...
- play your C major scale (C D E F G A B)
- now play your major scale 3 frets higher (this is Eb major: Eb F G Ab Bb C D)
- starting from the sixth degree of your Eb major scale, the notes are C D Eb F G Ab Bb (same notes, just starting from a different place) which is the C natural minor scale
Formulas:
major - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
nat minor - 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 _________________ SoundCloud |
|
Back to top |
|
|
etj92
Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Posts: 3 Location: UK
|
Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 1:17 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks for getting back so quickly digitalkettle.
Your second post has shown me what he means. I think I was confused because most books talk about a relative minor scale being created by playing the notes of the major scale starting and ending on the 6th degree, so in your example, in the C major scale, playing on the 6th you wind up playing the A relative minor scale. If I understand it correctly, Guthrie is showing how you get a C natural minor scale from the C major scale; I'd never thought of it that way. Many thanks for your help. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
digitalkettle
Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 132 Location: Lincolnshire, UK
|
Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 1:35 pm Post subject: |
|
|
No worries, I never looked at it that way myself either.
I think the distinction between the approaches is derived vs parallel.
C major and A minor are derived from C major (and are 'related').
C major and C minor are different structures from the same root, hence parallel.
This might help: http://www.stetina.com/lessons/modes.html _________________ SoundCloud |
|
Back to top |
|
|
etj92
Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Posts: 3 Location: UK
|
Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 2:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
digitalkettle,
Once again thanks for the reply and thanks for the link. Looks like a very useful site. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Chilton-a-tron
Joined: 11 Feb 2009 Posts: 50 Location: Perth, Western Australia
|
Posted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 11:33 am Post subject: |
|
|
modes can be a bit daunting when you first look at it. However i think the best way of getting your head around it is taking it 'mode by mode' learning the 'formula' e.g. 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 for natural minor (Aeolian) and improvising melodies around this learning which notes give the particular mode it's distinctive flavour. In the Aeolian the b3 in particular and to a lesser extent the b7 give it a 'minor' sound but for example it is the b6 that differentiates it from the similar minor mode the Dorian scale (1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7) - so in one way it is the b6 that is a kind of 'calling card' for the aeolian. Finding out for your self the characteristics of each mode really helps understanding modes and how to use them, also i highly recommend not just playing them but actually making yourself sing them will really help. _________________ "Only dull people are brilliant at breakfast" |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|