https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/guys-i-need-a-hand-with-the-modes/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Thu, 04 Jun 2026 15:31:47 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/guys-i-need-a-hand-with-the-modes/#post-386359 Mon, 17 Aug 2015 07:45:51 +0000
Your post has also missed the point about the notes - we're not in Am, A Phrygian is a mode scale in the key of F.]]> Guitar Players Discussion Alan Green https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/guys-i-need-a-hand-with-the-modes/#post-386359 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/guys-i-need-a-hand-with-the-modes/#post-386358 Mon, 17 Aug 2015 07:28:41 +0000 Guitar Players Discussion Romance1984 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/guys-i-need-a-hand-with-the-modes/#post-386358 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/guys-i-need-a-hand-with-the-modes/#post-383160 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 01:04:42 +0000 Guitar Players Discussion NoteBoat https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/guys-i-need-a-hand-with-the-modes/#post-383160 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/guys-i-need-a-hand-with-the-modes/#post-383159 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 00:21:15 +0000
In what you stated, I would have to stay away from Bb, how does that make it A Phrygian when Bb is the "Phrygian note" in that context?

Or are you saying I would only have to stay away from it over that one chord?

Thanks,
Al]]> Guitar Players Discussion almann1979 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/guys-i-need-a-hand-with-the-modes/#post-383159 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/guys-i-need-a-hand-with-the-modes/#post-383157 Sun, 11 Aug 2013 21:26:56 +0000
For example, if the progression is a typical Am - Dm - E7

Scale tones: A-Bb-C-D-E-F-G

Am chord tones: A-C-E (you can play any notes from A Phrygian)
Dm chord tones: D-F-A (any tones work)
E7 chord tones: E-G#-B-D... you'd stay away from G and Bb. Or you'd find an Am progression without a V7 chord (which is how most modal tunes are structured)

Leaving out the tones over the E7 chord won't change the scale you're using (unless you start playing B natural and/or G# over that chord). The scale just gives you the set of notes that you could use; there's no mandate to use all of them over every chord.]]> Guitar Players Discussion NoteBoat https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/guys-i-need-a-hand-with-the-modes/#post-383157 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/guys-i-need-a-hand-with-the-modes/#post-383156 Sun, 11 Aug 2013 20:31:30 +0000
You can't play in A Phrygian unless the chord progression contains the notes of A Phrygian AND is an A minor progression.]]> Guitar Players Discussion almann1979 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/guys-i-need-a-hand-with-the-modes/#post-383156 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/guys-i-need-a-hand-with-the-modes/#post-383154 Sun, 11 Aug 2013 19:19:03 +0000
Phrygian is a minor scale, so to get a Phrygian sound, let's start off with your natural minor scale. In A minor, those notes would be A B C D E F G. Now take the second, and flatten it, so your notes are now

A Bflat C D E F G

This fingering starting on A, gives you the phrygian scale you were referring too, but this time in a context that will give you a Phrygian sound.]]> Guitar Players Discussion almann1979 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/guys-i-need-a-hand-with-the-modes/#post-383154 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/guys-i-need-a-hand-with-the-modes/#post-383147 Sun, 11 Aug 2013 16:47:55 +0000 Guitar Players Discussion Anonymous https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/guys-i-need-a-hand-with-the-modes/#post-383147 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/guys-i-need-a-hand-with-the-modes/#post-383117 Thu, 08 Aug 2013 21:27:30 +0000
1) if you track the chords when you solo you can almost forget modes exist.you will almost certainly get the modal sound of the progression anyway.This won't work 100% unless you know which note has been altered from the normal scale. For example, if you don't emphasise the f# over the D major when playing in A Dorian, you won't get the Dorian sound. However, if you are the type of player that outlines chords, then you will be hitting that note, so again, forget about modes :-)
Edit... obviously the f# could also appear in the G major 7 too.

2) If you're a scale player, then do not take the easy option of assuming for example, A Dorian and G major are the same. This will lead you to play G major licks over an A Dorian progression and that won't really give you the sound you're looking for. It is simpler I feel to start with the pentatonic as a starting frame, and just learn the notes that you need to add for that mode.
For example, to turn an A minor pentatonic into A dorian, I will add the raised 6, (f#), if I want to turn A minor pentatonic into A phrygian, I will add the flat 2nd (Bb). This way, my home scale, is A minor, and my licks are A minor, but I get the modal feel by hitting that "modal tone" as and when I want to.

That's my experience of modes so far. I used to find them confusing, but I can't understand why now.

I will however brace myself for being corrected though :D]]> Guitar Players Discussion almann1979 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/guys-i-need-a-hand-with-the-modes/#post-383117 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/guys-i-need-a-hand-with-the-modes/#post-383051 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 22:14:44 +0000
He doesn't know anything about modes - and that is okay with me. He's the kind of guy that is so good that he probably has used modes by accident (as many jazz guys did I believe especially in the early years - they would unwittingly use modes while analysts told them they had done so later)

Anyway the only real relevant thing about him is not what he does or doesn't know but that he can a.) play great ideas b.) convey them to you so you get them under your hands. Found him very inspiration and he has renewed my love for playing - I feel very happy with what I have acheived and modes were nowhere to be seen. :lol:]]> Guitar Players Discussion fleaaaaaa https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/guys-i-need-a-hand-with-the-modes/#post-383051