I’ve posted Pattern 1 of the Blues scale. Work this pattern until you can do it forward and backward. Move it around the neck a bit too while paying attention to where the root notes are. I’ll be posting the other patterns for the Pentatonic over the next couple of days as well as some information about how to use them.
After posting the video of the guy playing the improvisation in Gmaj, I thought it would be helpful to post what the patterns are for the major scales. Note that the red dot is the root note of the pattern. For those new to using patterns, I should mention that these patterns are movable. You just need to know where the root note is. For example if you want to play in Gmaj you can play pattern 4 starting with the red dot on the third fret which is G on the 6th string.
When practicing these patterns it’s important to start on a root note and finish on a root note. This will help you learn where the root notes are in the pattern.
You really should get good at these before you can even think of tackling the modes. I pretty much use 3 of the patterns and need to add the last two to my arsenal. So I’ll be doing a little practice and also start working on the putting together some graphics for the blues and pentatonic patterns.
Major Scale Pattern #1
Major Scale Pattern #2
Major Scale Pattern #3
Major Scale Pattern #4
Major Scale Pattern #5
If you’re in a position to close some of your credit cards, you’ll want to be aware of this practice. Most credit card companies do it - it’s called “two-cycle billing”. What this means is that you get charged interest on balances two months back, not just one. If you pay a card down to zero in May, look for a bill in June, for April’s interest. Almost all of them do it. What this means is that you don’t have a closed-out card until you have two consecutive zero-balance bills. Not just one.
So if you pay off the balance on your statement and then call to close your account, it won’t close because of the interest that will hit. Even though the person on the phone tells you they closed it, it won’t be closed becaused it’ll “wake up” when the interest hits the balance.
Your best bet is to pay off your card and then let it sit for two cycles until ALL the interest and charges are completed. You can then call or write to close the card with confidence that it’ll actually happen.
Rich
The IRS added this little feature to their web site that will tell you when to expect your stimulous payment. It doesn’t work for everyone though. Apparently if you payment is scheduled for more than two weeks out it may not show it. Check it out here…
https://sa2.www4.irs.gov/irfof/IRServlet?app=IRACTC
Here’s another one for my wish list. I watched this dude play guitar the other night at one of the local restaurants and he had one of these. It was amazing! He’d lay down a rythm track and then improvise on top of it. He clearly had a handle on his scales and modes and was able to turn each song into something unique.
This guy played an really cool version of the Pink Panther theme. He laid down the famous background track (da-da-da-dum) and then did some really cool licks on top of it.
Rich
Check this guy out. He’s improvising in Gmaj but it’s also a really good example of modes as described in the Derivitive manner. By starting on different roots, he’s taking the Gmaj scale to a more interesting level where nice phrasing and different sounds are possible.
Note: I had a video link to You Tube but the video was pulled. Bummer, because it was a great example of using the modes.
I’ve been getting back into guitar lately. So much so that I’m planning on buying a Fender Strat real soon. See my previous post. I had a jazz improvisation class in college and have always been intrigued by the modes. I’ve been working on the Dorian mode lately and thought I would put some info up about it as well as the other modes.
Derivative
One thing you need to understand about the derivative manor is all of the modes have the same notes as the major mode, they just start on different notes other than the root.
Ionian mode (In the key of C it is known as C Ionian). The note formula is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. It starts on the C note. The notes are C, D, E, F, G, A, B. And the formula is W W H W W W H. EX. The key of G is G (1), A (2), B (3), C (4), D (5), E (6), F# (7).
Dorian mode (In the key of C it is known as D Dorian) The note formula is 1, 2, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7b. It starts on the D note of the C Major scale (again in the Key of C). It has a minor quality. The notes are D, E, F, G, A, B, C. The same notes as the C Major, just in a different order. D Dorian is actually in the key of D.
Phrygian mode (In the key of C it is known as E Phrygian) The note formula is 1, 2b, 3b, 4, 5, 6b, 7b. It starts on the E note of the C Major scale (again in the Key of C). It has a minor quality. What key is it in? E (E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D#), Use the formula you get E is 1, F# is 2 but 2is now flat so it becomes F, G# is 3 but 3b = G, A is 4, B is 5, C# is 6 but 6b = C and D# is 7 but 7b = D. So the notes are, D, E, F, G, A, B, C.
Lydian mode (In the key of C it is known as F Lydian) The note formula is 1, 2, 3, 4#, 5, 6, 7. It starts on the F note of the C Major scale (again in the Key of C). It has a major quality. What key is it in? F (F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E). Use the note formula and you get F is 1, E is 2, G is 3, A is 4, Bb is 5 but 4# = B, C is 5, D is 6 and E is 7. The notes are F, G, A, B, C, D, E.
Mixolydian mode (In the key of C it is known as G Mixolydian) The note formula is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7b. It starts on the G note of the C Major scale (again in the Key of C). It has a dominant quality. What key is it in? G (G, A, B, C, D, E, F#). Use the note formula and you get G is 1, A is 2, B is 3, C is 4, D is 5, E is 6, F# is 7 but 7b = F. The notes are G, A, B, C, D, E, F.
Aeolian mode (In the key of C it is known as A Aeolian, it’s the natural minor scale!) The note formula is 1, 2, 3b, 4, 5, 6b, 7b. It starts on the A note of the C Major scale (again in the Key of C). What is the relative minor scale in the Key of C? A Minor. So Aeolian is the relative minor scale in the key of C. It has a minor quality. What key is it in? A ( A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#), Use the note formula and you get A is 1, B is 2, C# is 3 but 3b = C, D is 4, E is 5, F# is 6 but 6b = F and G# is 7 but 7b = G. The notes are A, B, C, D, E, F, G.
Locrian mode (In the key of C it is known as B Locrian) The note formula is 1, 2b, 3b, 4, 5b, 6b, 7b. It starts on the B note of the C Major scale (again in the Key of C). It has a diminished quality. What key is it in? B (B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#,), Use the note formula and you get B is 1, C# is 2 but 2b = C, D# is 3 but 3b = D, E is 4, F# is 5 but 5b = F, G# is 6 but 6b = G and A# is 7 but 7b = A. The notes are B, C, D, E, F, G, A.
Parallel
Using modes in parallel you start the mode from the root. This is where you need to know the notes in each key and have the note formula memorized! So in the key of C you always start the note formula with C as 1. Again we will stay in the Key of C.
1. C Ionian mode note formula is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. The notes are C, D, E, F, G, A, B.
2. C Dorian mode note formula is 1, 2, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7b. The notes are C, D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb.
3. C Phrygian mode note formula is 1, 2b, 3b, 4, 5, 6b, 7b. The notes are C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb.
4. C Lydian mode note formula is 1, 2, 3, 4#, 5, 6, 7. The notes are C, D, E, F#, G, A, B.
5. C Mixolydian mode note formula is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7b. The notes are C, D, E, F, G, A, Bb.
6. C Aeolian mode note formula is 1, 2, 3b, 4, 5, 6b, 7b. The notes are C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb.
7. C Locrian mode note formula is 1, 2b, 3b, 4, 5b, 6b, 7b. The notes are C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb.
Rich
