Robben Ford Discussion

[guitarguy3612]

Hey,

I'm a freshmen at Mcnally Smith College of Music (formerly Musictech) in St. Paul, MN and I'm getting into studying modes more now and it's a little challenging for me. I'm wanting to know what kinds of uses they can have and how maybe I can use them in a Robben type situation. basically how can i use modes within improv. Any info and or book suggestions would be awesome!

Thanks,

Chris
________
Blackwood

[JackD]

I'm not a huge model guy, but there are a few simple ways I use some modes that I think sound great and are easy:

1) on a minor 7 vamp or over a minor 7 chord, I like to use the Dorian mode over the natural minor scale (Aeolian mode). I think the natrual 6th just sound a little sweeter and you hear it used a lot. I know Robben does this.

2) I know it goes with out saying, but you should know how to play the hell out of the mixolydian (dom 7th) scale. I know that everyone knows this is the scale you play over a 7th chord, but a lot of guys don't really know how to work the scale as they would a major scale or a natural minor scale. I particularly like to break up the intervals and especially lean on the tri-tones within the scale to bring out the 7th sound.

3) Another simple yet cool thing to do is in a blues. Say your are in a blues in C and you are playing your standard C minor pentatonic licks or ideas on the I chord. When you go to the IV chord (F 7), play the C dorian mode. What happens is you still sound rooted in C minor (because you were just playing C minor pentatonic) but when you switch to the C Dorian mode, you essentially playing the F mixolydian scale (kind of a mode of a mode). It totally works and seems to provide more continuity than switching from C pentatonic to F mixolydian.

Anyway, I hope these help. Now stop thinking so damned much and go have some fun and play music!

[Leftbender]

Hi Chris,

Check out this site: http://chrisjuergensen.com.hosting.domaindirect.com/lessons.htm?ID=1047

I find it really helpfull!
_________________
"Don't play what's there, play what's not there" Miles Davis

[Red Suede]

Get "Modes: No More Mystery" by Frank Gambale. It'll cut through all the confusion and explain it so you can hear the concepts musically and retain it.

[bodhi]

for a little different use of modes, work it out so all of the chord scales for your tune are in the same position on the fretboard:

the following exercise illustrates this technique:
record these chords in order. 4 or 8 measures each. (all major chords)

1) C
2) B flat
3) A flat
4) G
5) F
6) E flat
7) D flat

use the following modes to practice soloing... keeping the same starting note C.

1) C Ionian (for the first chord)
2) C dorian (for the second chord)
3) C Phrygian (for the third chord)
4) C Lydian ( for the fourth chord)
5) C Mixolydian ( for the fifth chord)
6) C Aeolian (for the sixth chord)
7) C Locrian (for the seventh chord)


if you get tired of all major chords, substitute a relative minor for every other one.
ex. C G minor A flat E minor F C minor D flat

or a dorian minor chord for every other one:
ex. C C minor A flat A minor F F minor D flat


try to keep your ideas, phrases and patterns moving through the changes.
have fun...
~bodhi

[lemonjefferson]

for me the best way to think of modes is the sound it makes playing from the root :

for example G mixolydian over a G7 has a blusey sound and E Phrygian a spanish sound over Eminor - A Aeolian - traditional classical scale when playing on top of a Amin chord etc. etc

so learn your chord scales (in C = Cmaj - Dmin - Emin- Fmaj- G7- Amin- Bdim )and practise each mode to hear its unique sound against its root chord.

Secondly you can use modes as mentioned before, remember C Ionian is the same as Ephrygian and G mixolydian etc - I often play C ionian licks over a G7 vamp and they work just fine because Im starting on the 4th note of the G7 scale as opposed the G (which is the first).

A cool thing is say thinking Dmin7 (Dorian mode) over G7 (mixolydian) Blues - maybe that will force you to play lines you wouldnt normally think of.

Remember you want to internalise the information so you no longer think "modes" instead I think the greatest players just think G7 ideas/lines or Dmin7 lideas/lines that way you are hearing a sound rather than thinking of a theory.

anyway i better stop waffling on - Im even confusing myself here! Good luck with your studies!

best wishes
BB

[david mcclellsn]

Stuart Bull : chords and scales that fit them dvd from licklibrary might help. Bodhi's little exerise is fun too! Great idea Bodhi.