This is the second of two lessons on Modes of the major scale and I’ll be covering walking basslines, extended scale patterns over the fingerboard, chords within a mode and quartal harmony.
Why Not Just Play A Major Scale?
If you already have a basic knowledge of modes and their construction then you will know that modes are simply the major scale starting from different scale degrees. This could make you question why it is worth learning so many new scales when you could just play a major scale. Using a basic major scale over a major chord is absolutely fine and some players always do this without giving any thought to modes. However, every mode has a unique sound that can spice up your playing by including some interesting intervals that don’t occur naturally in the major scale.
Let’s look at an example in the key of Bb:
Bb C D Eb F G A
I – Bb Major – Bb D F
ii – C Minor – C Eb G
iii – D Minor – D F A
IV – Eb Major – Eb G Bb
V – F Major – F A C
vi – G Minor – G B D
vii – A Minor 7 b5 – A C E
You can see here that the second chord in the key of Bb major is C minor and the notes of the C minor triad appear in the Bb major scale. Because of this, we could use a Bb major scale to improvise over this chord, but we would be centred over a root of Bb, rather than C like the chord. This would work as the notes fit within the key, but it would not sound as suitable as a scale with C as the root. This is where modes come in. If we were to play the same Bb major scale but starting from a C, we would get a C Dorian scale. This means that we keep the same notes but use a different starting point that correlates to the chord underneath.
Melodic Devices
Now you can match a scale to a chord, you need to know how to use that scale to outline the harmony appropriately. Here are a few different techniques you can use to support a chord using a scale:
Scale Motion: Simple stepwise movement up and down a scale. Example of C major scale motion:
Arpeggio Motion (Leap): Simple movement by a third or more. Example of a C major 7 arpeggio:
Enclosures: Enclosure of a target note from notes above and below. Example of both types of enclosure around a C note:
Sequencing: Sequential movement of scale step formula to other scale degrees. Example of 1, 2, 3, 4 formula through other steps of C major:
Repetition: Repeating a short phrase. Example of a descending phrase in C Dorian:
Scale Positions
It is highly recommended that you learn more than one way to play every scale you learn as then you will be able to play them from anywhere on the neck and starting from different fingers. Here are three different fingering patterns for each of the seven modes:
(Each pattern is in the order 2nd finger, 1st finger, 4th finger)
C Major (C Ionian)
C Dorian
C Phrygian
C Lydian
C Mixolydian
C Aeolian
C Locrian
A String Tonic Position (Lower) C Dorian
A String Tonic Position (Upper) C Dorian
E String Tonic Position (Upper) C Dorian
Complete Positions
C Dorian E String Position (Lower):
C Dorian A String Tonic Position (Lower and Upper to outline 4th finger)
Building Chords In Different Modes
As well as using the modes as scales that we can apply over certain chords, we can also build chords off the scales to create an entirely different sound. Traditionally, we do not tend to say that anything is in the ‘key of D Dorian‘ for example, as technically the key signature would still be the same as C major. However, building chords off of this scale would mean that we could write a song that is rooted around D, while still sharing the same notes as C major. To do this, we simply need to harmonise the Dorian scale the same way you would the major scale but starting from the second degree. This is what C Dorian would look like harmonised in the key of Bb:
Chords Of C Dorian
Chords Of Each Mode Of The Major Scale
We can do this for any mode, here is a table showing all of the modes harmonised:
Quartal Voicings of C Dorian
If these voicings are too high for your bass then just move down an octave.
These lessons on modes are great.
Is there an opportunity to purchase these video lessons?
I’ve been toying with that idea but always been put off by the fact that they can be seen for free on Youtube. But I’ve been having a bit of interest in this so I might put some of the series up for dale on DVD or as a download complete with documentation.
Yes, do that, Mark! I was thinking of downloading all the videos from YouTube, but decided against it for several reasons. A DVD-box would be perfect – with a nice print edition of the supplements. Also, this would be a great opportunity for us fans of your work to give something back (money) for your effort.
Great lessons on the Modes Mark.
It would be great if you did a structured on line Course of Bass lessons as I would be one of the first to sign up.
There are others out there charging money for bass lessons and they don’t have even a fraction of your knowledge or capable of
delivering a lesson that students can understand.
Like Bjorn stated in his post it would be a great opportunity for us to give you something back for all your time and effort.
Great lesson as usual….although I’ll probably need to watch it a dozen times to taken in all the information. Anyway…tons of thanks for spreading your knowledge ( which to me seems without boundaries). Having said that…I wholeheartedly support Bjorns idea :-)
Amazing! As I was watching this I had that Ah hah! moment. This is my second time passing thru the Theory section. According to the board of education, it takes a teacher to say it 7 times before it gets through to students. Since I have my interest on learning, I think 3 times is enough, counting from my 1st time with previous teachers. I will come back if I start to forget.
Mark if you can’t teach anyone anything, it’s not your fault. There is such a thing as good teachers and bad teachers. I wonder how much effort was put into making each lesson. So smooth and thorough. For this I salute you.
Thanks, great stuff.
You really know your s*^t man. I love this, thank you so much.
Are you saying I can play a line using C Dorian over a Bbm7 vamp…or would it still need to be over a C just using the C Dorian notes??
Is part 1 of this the Intervals videos?
Hi! Mark. Thank you for this great lesson. I can seem to find the downloadable pdf to part two of the lesson on modes. I need the tab and sheet music for the walking bass lines you played in this lesson. It seems not included in the write up provided. Would be glad if you could help me out… Thanks again. . Elias😃