MODES: How to Understand & Actually Use Them | Music Theory

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  • čas přidán 5. 12. 2021
  • Instead of thinking of modes as subsets of the major scale, learn their unique characteristics.
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    #musictheory #modes #harmony
    0:17 One way to think of modes
    0:59 A different way
    2:07 Ionian
    2:40 Mixolydian
    3:24 Lydian
    4:00 Aeolian
    5:15 Dorian
    6:18 Phrygian
    7:05 Locrian
    8:16 What makes them special?

Komentáře • 521

  • @RyanLeach
    @RyanLeach  Před 2 lety +38

    🍿 CHORDS Film Composers use for the HOLLYWOOD SOUND czcams.com/video/ouyRJSt_dM8/video.html

    • @jamclass
      @jamclass Před rokem

      Ryan, Great video. Have you seen “Harmonic Experience” by W. A. Mathieu? He has a wonderful approach to the modes. Great video.

  • @epicbo
    @epicbo Před 2 lety +418

    The way I'm going to remember them is as following:
    If we start with the major scale, we got Ionian.
    Want to go brighter? Sharpen the 4th, and we have Lydian.
    Want to go darker? Flatten the 7th, and we have Mixolydian.
    Both modes close to the major scale have lydian in their name, I'm sure that's helpful.
    If we start with the minor scale, we got Aeolian.
    Want to go brighter? Sharpen the 6th and we have Dorian.
    Want to go darker? Flatten the 2nd and we have Phrygian.
    Want to go even darker than that? Flatten the 5th and we have Locrian.
    In other words, I think it's easier to remember, Dorian, Phrygian and Locrian by their relation to the minor scale, rather than to the major scale.

    • @thermitty_qxr5276
      @thermitty_qxr5276 Před rokem +6

      Phrygian is the darker one. Mixolydian is the mellow one. Dorian is a less sad mode for cheerless songs. Give hope and brightness. Aeolion has a cool more laid back sound. Locrian sounds bad because of the b5 a tritone. So use the phrygian to avoid the tritone. If you want to use locrian avoid the 5th. Lydian has a magical sound.

    • @thermitty_qxr5276
      @thermitty_qxr5276 Před rokem

      Dorian is like a minor but with a b6. Making it less minor
      edit:Oops i meant because of that sharpend 6 from the minor scale

    • @kelasbebas8742
      @kelasbebas8742 Před rokem

      Is it really work for any kind of genres? I will give some try...

    • @CrankyRayy
      @CrankyRayy Před rokem +2

      @@thermitty_qxr5276 oh i guess you’re like the magical gatekeeper of subjective music then.
      I’ve heard songs in Ionian major which sound dark.

    • @thermitty_qxr5276
      @thermitty_qxr5276 Před rokem

      @@CrankyRayy wdym

  • @iamfrankbiesta
    @iamfrankbiesta Před 2 lety +369

    Finally an extremely clear explanation of modes. I love your use of the ranking from light to dark - makes a lot of sense. Thanks a million!

    • @RyanLeach
      @RyanLeach  Před 2 lety +11

      Glad to hear it was helpful!

    • @aysegulozguler7712
      @aysegulozguler7712 Před rokem

      it's pretty common to rank them like that. you'd find it in almost any book

    • @iamfrankbiesta
      @iamfrankbiesta Před rokem +3

      @@aysegulozguler7712 Although that may very well be true not all books explain this as clearly as Ryan does. So: well done Ryan!

    • @aysegulozguler7712
      @aysegulozguler7712 Před rokem +1

      @@iamfrankbiesta yes he indeed did a good job! well done ryan!

    • @adaptercrash
      @adaptercrash Před rokem

      Just go to the store buy a book

  • @ignatiusjackson235
    @ignatiusjackson235 Před rokem +293

    I think it's CRUCIAL to know BOTH ways of interpreting the modes. I found it more confusing when it was explained this way. Once I started interpreting modes as "scales" beginning on certain degrees of the major scale - the method against which you advise, then everything made sense to me. From there, I was able to piece together the "major with a flat 7" approach. It probably depends on how you first learned it. BOTH METHODS OF INTERPRETATION ARE NECESSARY, and people are usually only taught how to think about it from one direction. That leaves you staring at the wall instead of looking around the room. It doesn't matter which wall you're facing. This was a very thorough explanation of one approach, though. Well done!

    • @scottmoyer1357
      @scottmoyer1357 Před rokem +16

      Very true. I was never able to comprehend altering the C Major scale in so many ways because there was no explanation as per how everything in music is relative and must be placed into it's proper "context." to fully see the whole picture. When I started to see that there are 7 C modes located in 7 different Keys, it all started to make more sense. Here are all of the C modes and the actual Keys each C is contained within. G, C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, & Db. Uniquely, these Keys are all conveniently located on the Circle of 5ths in a perfect sequence moving counter-clockwise in 4ths. Since this kind of musical perfection can happen for the Key of C, then it can also happen for all modes which will summarily show up in 7 Keys with each starting point on the 12 degrees of the Circle. All of the answers are right in front of us all the time. We just need to perceive how to see them. The key to learning this thought process is knowing your scales both alphabetically and numerically. All the rest will fall in place when you begin to think alpha-numerically..

    • @prettygneissproductions
      @prettygneissproductions Před rokem +6

      Exactly. This is a little more towards just memorization, vs a fun trick that can help you if you can’t remember. I have a memory disability, so the fun trick is what got me through school. I do wish my professor had spent more time relating the darker scales to minor, though, this was really helpful, even if I won’t remember what to flat or sharp.

    • @angelacherrington208
      @angelacherrington208 Před rokem +4

      Thank you. Very useful. I had only considered starting on different degrees of each scale before. The examples are very helpful.

    • @lucashatt8871
      @lucashatt8871 Před rokem +1

      ​@@scottmoyer1357 what is the name of your channel ?

    • @Mikemcjr
      @Mikemcjr Před rokem

      Yep.

  • @tmusic99
    @tmusic99 Před 2 měsíci +2

    In addition, 1) Lydian, Ionian, Mixolydian are built on a major pentatonic; 2) Dorian, Aeolian, and Phrygian are built on a minor pentatonic.

  • @gavinmackinney8484
    @gavinmackinney8484 Před rokem +72

    Excellent explanation, thanks. Those “dark” modes don’t sound so dark in cultures that use them a lot, eg Greek, Persian, Turkish, Arabic have gleefully happy music that is all kinds of minor. Ethiopian music often uses flattened 5th scales/ modes. Balkan music often includes flattened 2nd with major 3rds.

    • @VRNocturne
      @VRNocturne Před rokem +5

      I was going to ask if Locrian was rarely used in music in general or rarely used in Western styles of music.
      You named a lot of Middle Eastern/Eastern Europe cultures and an African culture as using these "rarely used" types of scales.

    • @MechaUsagi
      @MechaUsagi Před 9 měsíci +1

      Yes, the whole light-dark thing is self-reinforcing cultural biases.

  • @zachkester3
    @zachkester3 Před rokem +48

    I really appreciate your dry/strait forward approach. A lot of youtubers try to 'spice up' the info, but I find this much more helpful.

  • @sarahstyles6859
    @sarahstyles6859 Před rokem +2

    What's so important about knowing this is being able to transpose to any key easily. When everything is learned from C, people struggle to do this.

  • @sandgaijin
    @sandgaijin Před 2 lety +19

    For me, instead of memorizing which notes are flattened from it's major or minor counterpart. I figured which notes have the half step between them. Each mode should have two, everything else is a whole step.

  • @wwjjss33
    @wwjjss33 Před 3 měsíci +3

    I really like this angle on modes; the arrangement from 'brightest' to 'darkest' appeals to my emotional memory vs the intervals moving which appeals to my logical memory
    Thank You! --instant new subscriber👍

  • @thermitty_qxr5276
    @thermitty_qxr5276 Před rokem +7

    Heres every information i have wih these modes.
    Dorian- a less sad mode. Giving more brightness and hope for cheerless songs. Applying ethereal intriguing quality to a melody. A less minor mode
    Phrygian - Sounds dark & unnerving but also exotic. Gives elusive mysterious sort of sound. Most appear in rock and hiphop songs giving the right tonality and mood.
    Lydian - has a bright, ethereal magical sound. Has a potent sound.
    Mixolydian - sounds mellow, relaxed, bluesy yet bold sound. Its a less directional than a major scale. Its like a cool c major scale and gives joy to a song
    Aeolian - has a mournful solemn sound. Gives a song a cooler more laid-back sound
    Locrian - Not recommended and hard to use for composing music because of the dissonance of the b5 a tritone. Instead use the Phrygian to avoid the dissonance. But if you wanna use locrian just avoid the 5th.

  • @ipudisciple
    @ipudisciple Před rokem +25

    Also, Phrygian is strongly associated with Spanish guitar. For example, _concierto de aranjuez_ (second movement - the famous bit) is basically just a phrygian scale.

    • @magnusemeritus
      @magnusemeritus Před rokem

      I'll look it up. I love spanish guitar. And the eerie sound of Phrygian.

    • @RicardoMarlowFlamenco
      @RicardoMarlowFlamenco Před rokem +1

      Actually it is just B minor normal key stuff. Spain by chick corea borrows the form. However the solo cadenza passage toward the end, is actually in G# Phrygian. Compare the two sections to hear the difference

    • @SheetFiber
      @SheetFiber Před rokem

      I associate phrygian for arabic and metal music

    • @murk4552
      @murk4552 Před 5 měsíci

      ​@SheetFiber that's Phrygian dominant, as most Arabic music uses a ton of semitonal, if not microtonal degrees for their styles.
      Spanish music is typically diatonic and will frequently "borrow" chords, other voicings, etc

  • @chameleon-dream-band-official

    Perfect! This is exactly how I think of modes and I also think it's easier for the brain to remember differences relative to other scales than remembering all the absolute intervals.

  • @kevincage1641
    @kevincage1641 Před 11 hodinami

    Thank you Mr Leach. Way back in the 1970’s when I was at college, was a guy from NoVA who “knew the 7 Modes.” He played a fender Stratocaster. and he kept the info to himself, and wouldn’t even tell his fraternity brothers.
    Now, 43 years later thanks to You, I can apply it myself with some work.
    Additionally, thanks for pairing a specific mode with various sentiments…purely medieval mindset. Thanks greatly.

  • @danielyapesque
    @danielyapesque Před 2 lety +24

    Super clear. And a pro tip on modal interchange, mixing chords from different modes. Makes me wanna write.

    • @InventorZahran
      @InventorZahran Před 2 lety +3

      Even when playing existing pieces, I sometimes use modal interchange to accentuate the emotion of a certain musical moment. For example, if I want to inject some hope or triumph into a song that's written in Aeolian, I might play a major IV chord where a minor iv should be, momentarily moving into the Dorian mode.

    • @lucasimmons075
      @lucasimmons075 Před 2 lety +4

      Ever since I started listening to Yes I have been fascinated with the way they (Steve Howe especially) jumps around keys with modes so fast you can't tell half of the time. I recommend them for learning some interesting ways to use modes and parallel keys

    • @SheetFiber
      @SheetFiber Před rokem +1

      ​@@InventorZahranIsn't in Aeolian mode the 4th already in major?

    • @InventorZahran
      @InventorZahran Před rokem +1

      @@SheetFiber No. In Aeolian, all the primary chords (1, 4, and 5) are minor. Dorian is the mode where the 4 chord is major.

    • @SheetFiber
      @SheetFiber Před rokem +1

      @@InventorZahran Ah yeah, I count it wrong. In A aeolian, the 4th note is D not F.

  • @MarcoLongoMusic
    @MarcoLongoMusic Před rokem +21

    It's a very good way to explain it to someone who is not very familiar with modes. However I always wonder why people explain just the modes from the major/natural minor scale. There is so much more to say about the different modes of the other minor scales, especially for someone interested in writing music for media. I'd love to see them covered in a coming video, it could give people a lot of interesting ideas

    • @Theo-oh3jk
      @Theo-oh3jk Před rokem +1

      I hate when people try to explain them as being just the Ionian or Aeolian but a bit different. Each mode is its own thing!!

  • @mikescofield
    @mikescofield Před rokem +2

    I have spent many hours in workshops, reading and watching CZcams videos trying to understand modes. I mostly understand them now and how to use them. However, I wish I had seen this video before all that. This is the clearest, easy-to-understand, dare I say 'obvious' explanation of modes I've encountered. I find all your videos terrific. Thanks.

  • @FractalMelody
    @FractalMelody Před rokem +7

    This is the best explanation of modes I have seen, and I genuinely feel more informed. Thank you!

  • @polyrhythmia
    @polyrhythmia Před 2 lety +9

    I find it is definitely easier to think of modes as modifications of major and minor scales. Mixolydian and Dorian are quite common in pop music.

  • @tsongyt7539
    @tsongyt7539 Před 2 lety +12

    For the beginners thats even more confused as me
    Ionian = all white keys starting with C
    Dorian = D
    Phrygian = E
    Lydian = F
    Mixolydian = G
    Aeolian = A
    Locrian = B
    It confused me even more for some reason
    But I still learn something on this video, like when to use those kinds of scales. Still a great video

    • @sarahstyles6859
      @sarahstyles6859 Před rokem +4

      But can you play them in every key easily? You need to know the pattern of each in order to play in every key. Add what you know about starting on C then add all of this so you can move around the keyboard with ease. I have an issue with teachers stick with C and in the middle of the keyboard. Students are then scared of black notes and the other octaves. They cannot easily transpose.

    • @maddog2314
      @maddog2314 Před rokem

      Nice! I was wondering because he mentioned it but never revisited it

  • @ChristopherJGould
    @ChristopherJGould Před rokem

    Very clear explanation - this video (and one from Jason Zac) finally unlocked my understanding of modes. All of your videos take concepts otherwise presented as obscure and difficult and reveal their simple inner elegance. We are indebted.

  • @sharonkaplan6674
    @sharonkaplan6674 Před 2 lety +2

    I like the way you think. When I teach the modes, and my students are supposed to recognize them aurally, my first question is always "is it basically major or basically minor." They get it easily that way.

  • @tarasmith3696
    @tarasmith3696 Před rokem +1

    I was a music education major in college, and I have never heard the modes explained so well and clearly! Thank you!

  • @ncpolley
    @ncpolley Před 2 lety +30

    I have a really big question:
    How do you keep the gravity of the scale around the 1st degree?
    How do I keep the Dorian C from falling into the BbM or the Gm?

    • @maheshpadalingam3137
      @maheshpadalingam3137 Před 2 lety +4

      Probably the same way Mozart pinned down chromaticism to a key. Chords, triads, open triads probably? Maybe that would work.

    • @ncpolley
      @ncpolley Před 2 lety +1

      @@maheshpadalingam3137 I've been experimenting with this ever since asking. I'll try incorporating open triads as a concept. I really like the sound of that wide tone spread.

    • @PhucNguyen-yn7ng
      @PhucNguyen-yn7ng Před 2 lety +2

      Just end at C, you will make C sound like the tonal

    • @JohnnyBoy14532
      @JohnnyBoy14532 Před 2 lety +4

      Figure out the things that make Bb Maj/Gm sound like Bb Maj/Gm and stay away from these things. For example (Bb Maj): the chords **Bb** - Eb - F (these can also sound like they belong in Gm), melodies from the Major Scale and common chord progressions like 1-5-6-4 or 2-5-1. You _could_ use these eventually but if you do use them sparingly
      You can play melodies from the Dorian (Focus on the 1, b3, 6, b7) or use a V7 (G7 in this case) to make your rote note C, more significant. (V7 in Dorian would be out of key but acceptable.) You can also just Play Cm very often and for a very long time.
      Dorian is a very ambiguous mode. It doesn't really have a clear sound of its own. Its not _quite_ Major and it's not _quite_ minor.
      It is Closer to Minor than Major however, hence the Cm chord being the root of the Dorian mode.
      I would suggest listening to music in Dorian to get a better feel the mode. One example would be 15 Step by Radiohead

    • @tonybarron282
      @tonybarron282 Před rokem

      the actual pitch of the written notesvaries from one mode to another (he does touch on this) Enharmonic equivalence is a artefact of equal temperament,and doesnt work in just intonation

  • @patrickrobinson317
    @patrickrobinson317 Před 9 měsíci +2

    The Best explaination I've ever heard !!! 😀 You were born to teach !!!
    Thanks !!!

  • @Blondesax
    @Blondesax Před 2 lety +40

    I so hope we keep talking about and talking about this mode brightness hierarchy on the internet until colleges go beyond "There are modes. They start on these scale degrees. Cool." I totally agree: I was left feeling "Ok... well that sounds kinda unhelpful. What do I do with them, though?" There should be SOOOO much more discussion on this, especially mode mixture/parallel modes and what kinds of chords you get. Then you can move beyond "C major has C Dm Em F G Am and Bº" and say "It also can have Eº Gm and Bb from mixo, Bm D F#º from lydian, etc. etc." Then it's like "Oh! We have more color here than I thought!

    • @Theo-oh3jk
      @Theo-oh3jk Před rokem

      If you mix the modes, you're not in a mode anymore but are making chromatic music.

    • @psychoticbreaks167justletm4
      @psychoticbreaks167justletm4 Před rokem

      Mixing modes involves chromatic movement. Changing tonal center basically requires it. And yet, we do not refer to pieces with one or two key changes as "chromatic music." Because it still sounds (and largely still is) diatonic and not like Flight of the Bumblebee. Like, putting borrowed notes in a chord or melody does not make chromatic music by default - it can be otherwise diatonic with a splash of chromaticism or atonality. Even The Beatles did that.

  • @brayden1306
    @brayden1306 Před 2 lety +3

    I’ve been trying to understand these concepts for years, whereas I considered only 14 scales now you opened my eyes to 98. (Or 91 I’ll use). Thank you so much!!

  • @FishingForLife28
    @FishingForLife28 Před 6 měsíci +1

    This is by far the best guide to modes I've found. I'll be watching this atleast once a day for the next month and a half when I have my entrance exam for the music conservatory

  • @TheJonesy138
    @TheJonesy138 Před 2 lety +19

    Absolutely brilliant, I’ve known for a while the relation modes have with the major scale, but not really come across clear examples highlighting their purposes before now!

    • @PIANOSTYLE100
      @PIANOSTYLE100 Před 2 lety

      After years of playing. Mostly by ear on 🎹 and 🎸. I started hearing about modes.. possibly 10 years ago and only learned their purpose last year A very quick way to learn them is write out 12 major scales. I only learned them accurately about a year ago Anyways .copy them in a row.
      All the modes there. It's amazing.
      Let's worked with just a few. Bb is not for beginners, but is a confidence builder. Bb (C D Eb F G A Bb) C D( Eb F G A Bb C D Eb) F G A Bb C D Eb F G A Bb.. It really is amazing that the Eb Lydian is in the third parentheses. Lydian is the major scale with a #4.. An A I think this works in every scale. Eb Lydian is
      as above is (Eb F G A Bb C D Eb),
      Eb major scale has no A in it..
      Just write out the C scale continuously ..as I did the Bb scale.
      C D E F G A B C D E .... Try to G to G. A quick way to get the G mixylydian G A B C D E F G . Scale degrees of G
      1 2 3 4 5 6 b7 .. It's amazing that this can be done in all 12 keys.

  • @peterchetty3169
    @peterchetty3169 Před 8 měsíci

    This video is brilliant and awesome explanation of how to practically use modes, love the description of what kind of music it used for too. Bravo!!

  • @laapprentisorciere5241

    A great video and thank you very much for this. Every time I'm having trouble, or I'm stuck, or even when i am just trying to relax, your videos really help me through anything.
    This is also how a friend taught me these modes, with the characteristic interval and thinking with sharps and flats instead of mode names. Again, thanks..

  • @rxw.8862
    @rxw.8862 Před 7 měsíci +2

    This is INCREDIBLY helpful and clear!

  • @oliverlacota3112
    @oliverlacota3112 Před 9 měsíci +2

    A fantastic explanation! I have a piano student who's interested in learning about modal scales, and another student who's exploring composition - this video (and your other video on the music in the Lord of the Rings films) will be perfect to help them!

  • @jamiebriggs8277
    @jamiebriggs8277 Před rokem

    This is a great primer on modes, and I wish I had found it a year ago :)
    I don't know a lot of music theory, but I've spent the last couple years trying to learn more. Originally learning about modes I was convinced I'd just never get it. Every source I ever found make it so opaque...
    I eventually did the same thing you do here, by starting with Ionian, and diagramming which degrees differed and how, and identifying the major vs minor modes. I was blown away by how relatively simple it actually is to understand.
    The extra details you've included here really help tie it up for me.

  • @Zeromusicvideos
    @Zeromusicvideos Před měsícem +1

    I cannot thank you enough for this video and how you approached this. So helpful, man! SUBSCRIBED!

  • @zach_in_space5150
    @zach_in_space5150 Před měsícem

    This was incredibly helpful! Thank you so much.
    I've learned the "starting from X scale degree" in the past, but never understood to apply it to the HARMONY.
    It lead to me trying to do a Dorian Melodic phrase over a C Ionian backing track (when the D would come by) and feeling like it was just over complicated. Especially as when I Improvise I try to follow the chord changes anyways.
    Hearing the different harmonies and 1-4-5 examples using different modal positions made it much more clear what the characteristics/feelings and purpose of each mode is.
    Thank you very much

  • @joshuaholke
    @joshuaholke Před 2 lety +4

    This is very interesting to me. My first theory teacher briefly introduced us to finding the modes by knowing which notes are sharped/flatted, and then he said "but there's an easier way" and showed us the first way you described, the starting on different notes in the major scale. I still find that way easier when it comes to finding the notes of the mode I'm looking for, but I'm gonna try using the other tips you have to know when to use each mode in compositions and what each one sounds like.

  • @muralist_
    @muralist_ Před rokem

    I'm so happy I already learned all of that when I was a 9 year old kid. Using the different modes and the 'colour palettes' of chords and sounds that typically come with each mode is therefor like a natural thing to me to apply when composing and looking for a certain feeling, a mood an thus... a MODE. 🙂

  • @midwinter78
    @midwinter78 Před rokem +6

    Another handy thing to remember about the six non-locrian modes is their relationship between major and minor pentatonic. I like to think of major pentatonic as the background of lydian, ionian and myxolydian, and minor pentatonic as the backbone of dorian, aeolian and phyrigian. The modes are about how you make seven from five, and where you put those pesky minor seconds and tritones.

    • @MrElfOwl
      @MrElfOwl Před 6 měsíci

      Excellent footnote. Very useful.

  • @keithlillis7962
    @keithlillis7962 Před rokem +1

    This is great - I have been confused watching other videos, but this explains Modes well 🙂

  • @tag1123
    @tag1123 Před 2 měsíci

    This was the way I was taught modes in my theory 1 class in undergrad, and I'm so, so grateful for it, because it was so clear and made so much sense relative to scales I was already familiar with (major/minor). It took me until my second year of grad school (right now, and about 7-8 years after aforementioned theory 1 class) to understand the scale degree version at all, and I would still not use it if given the choice between the two methods.

  • @Panos.Koutroumanis
    @Panos.Koutroumanis Před 2 lety +3

    This video is amazing!!! As a composer myself, I find these informations extremely helpful!!! Thanks a lot!

  • @DepressedCapitalist
    @DepressedCapitalist Před 10 měsíci +1

    As usual, thank you Ryan for your top notch videos. It would be interesting if you could make a video on the harmony used with modes, the tonic and the dominant/sub dominant chords, the harmonic rhythm, the strong and weak stress, the chords that should not be used since they imply resolution to the I. the duration of vamps, chord line cliches, ostinattos and such and such. I took Modal harmony at Berklee and I still believe there is a lot to be said about the harmony. Even more than the melodic aspect of modes. Cheers from Argentina.

  • @vikingguitar
    @vikingguitar Před 5 měsíci

    You put a BIG smile on my face using Link to the Past for the Dorian example. 🙂

  • @jslonisch
    @jslonisch Před 2 lety +1

    That’s really helpful. I already knew how to derive the modes relative to the major scale but a lot of them seemed really complicated. I hadn’t twigged that you when you do the minor modes relative to the minor scale it’s just one single accidental each.

  • @HenryPley
    @HenryPley Před 2 měsíci

    Super clear and concise explanation in less than 10 minutes. Thank you!

  • @blackfootelite2800
    @blackfootelite2800 Před rokem

    That was a good refresher. Thanks for taking ur time to explain.

  • @thandosilinda2590
    @thandosilinda2590 Před 11 měsíci

    Thank you, I start music college in the fall and I don't want to fall behind in classes! amazing and simple video.

  • @MikeDial
    @MikeDial Před 8 měsíci

    Thank you for this explanation. I had heard the first explanation and had only recently made baby steps toward your explanation, but the ranking of brightest to darkest put it all in context.

  • @davidkempmail
    @davidkempmail Před rokem

    Great explanation - this is how I remember the modes from bright to dark. But always good to refresh your memory - fave for electronic music is definitely Phrygian 🖤

  • @kymanimc3599
    @kymanimc3599 Před rokem +2

    Do you think you could do a video similar to this talking about the modes of the harmonic minor scales etc? Your explanations are so well recieved… hoping to take lessons in the future🤞🏽

  • @vspatmx7458
    @vspatmx7458 Před rokem

    I love David Ben and also his video bout modes and brightness and darkness. But this video is absolutely superb. I love ur approach and data.
    Infact I can't wait to binge watch ur videos over the wkend.
    You rock. And you now have me as a subscriber.

  • @Mr.SharpNumber1
    @Mr.SharpNumber1 Před měsícem

    This video is great, it gets to the point and teaches exactly what is needed, kudos to

  • @jameslabs1
    @jameslabs1 Před rokem +1

    Beautiful and clear. Thanks

  • @CMVM1990
    @CMVM1990 Před 7 měsíci

    I couldnt for the life of me figure out the practical use of modes until you broke it down with examples. Great video. Thank you.

  • @domacimacak7502
    @domacimacak7502 Před 2 lety +4

    best explanation so far on yt

  • @GregHarradineComposer
    @GregHarradineComposer Před 11 měsíci

    This is great Ryan, very succinct - I'll point my students to this video when we start talking about modes. Thanks!

  • @kushito3693
    @kushito3693 Před rokem

    Finilly someone who explain the modes very clear!!! Thank you!!

  • @jncrook5409
    @jncrook5409 Před 2 lety +1

    I didn't realize each mode had such a specific character, thanks for enlightening me!

  • @cheshirecat5824
    @cheshirecat5824 Před 4 měsíci

    This finally makes sense to me. Great work!

  • @McGuire40695
    @McGuire40695 Před rokem +1

    I've been telling people for YEARS about relating modes to the major and minor scale. I pretty much tell everyone that there's 3 modes based around a major chord (Ionian, Lydian, Mixolydian), 3 minor chords (Aeolian, Dorian, Phrygian), and a diminished one. Modes are often taught rather ineffectively, and so many people get confused with them. This was a great video!
    I also try to explain to people that learning how resolutions happen and where the progression resolves would be your tonic, or the key of the song. I pretty much tell everyone keys are most likely going to be in a major or minor key, and the characteristic notes of the modes are just unique accent note within the key that provide extra color and tension to the root.

  • @thedesignnerd
    @thedesignnerd Před 10 měsíci

    THANK YOU! I FINALLY UNDERSTOOD THIS CONCEPT! ugh I was so exhausted with all that theory coming at me in the other 184892 CZcams videos I had to watch to finally get to your video. I just wanted to understand how to apply it and you finally helped me understand this. You're a great teacher

  • @Joselito1951
    @Joselito1951 Před 6 měsíci

    Great and simple way to explain modes. Excellent job.😊

  • @christianleonardotalarico7080

    So interresting this connection between light and Darkness and the Modes and their chords: Yin Yang translated into music, so beautifull and amazing!

  • @paulstodolny3091
    @paulstodolny3091 Před 2 lety +3

    GREAT EXPLANATION!!!

  • @iwanjones4705
    @iwanjones4705 Před rokem

    Thank you! I needed that explanation

  • @kintubeats
    @kintubeats Před 5 měsíci

    Thank you, ur explanation is superb!!

  • @GDM223SR
    @GDM223SR Před rokem

    Thanks - you’ve changed my understanding of modes.

  • @tomtoss2463
    @tomtoss2463 Před rokem

    You are the first person to actually explain this. I am subscribing.

  • @MrShaktirock
    @MrShaktirock Před 2 měsíci

    Finally a good explanation. I tried the so-called easy ways several timed but never really understood. This one is easier to understand for and easier to remember.

  • @louie1litk619
    @louie1litk619 Před rokem

    Thanks for using video games as examples and thanks for breaking down the interval formula for all the modes

  • @Markrspooner
    @Markrspooner Před 2 lety +2

    Really great video Ryan. I think this is a better way to think about modes

    • @RyanLeach
      @RyanLeach  Před 2 lety +2

      Thanks, then mission accomplished!

  • @vincentbobun4575
    @vincentbobun4575 Před rokem +1

    So open minding ! THANKS SO MUCH !!!

  • @stephenbingham5935
    @stephenbingham5935 Před rokem

    Best lesson on modes I have seen and better understood. Wonderful work, thank you.

  • @ML0694
    @ML0694 Před rokem

    Thank you for this. It's brilliant! Really helped me understand and appreciate it.

  • @zara11135
    @zara11135 Před 4 měsíci

    Thank you so much!! You made them so understandable

  • @Whoiskimb
    @Whoiskimb Před rokem +1

    Dude used modes to make a pokemon type chart and explained everything in 8 minutes🤯🤯this some top notch music education!

  • @strahnbrad3979
    @strahnbrad3979 Před rokem

    I like that graph at 8:21, it sums it up perfectly

  • @indii8417
    @indii8417 Před dnem

    Loved this, really enjoyed it, thank you!

  • @Iconoplastt
    @Iconoplastt Před rokem

    One of the best explanations of the modes, nice

  • @tonygamer4310
    @tonygamer4310 Před 7 měsíci

    This is *so* much more helpful than the typical style of teaching. When I was first taught modes, I was just like "ok, that's cool, how is this any different from the major scale?" and then immediately forgot about it because it seemed useless, and now I'm realizing how incredibly indispensable it is

  • @dpadilla1127
    @dpadilla1127 Před rokem

    this was SO helpful THANK YOU!

  • @justinreilly3107
    @justinreilly3107 Před rokem +1

    Great job explaining this 🎉

  • @oneworld9071
    @oneworld9071 Před 2 měsíci

    I was taught to consider "mode" and "mood" as having close association. It can be quite helpful to associate certain modes with certain players......... Lydian mode with Joe Satriani, Phrygian with Al Di Meola, Dorian with Carlos Santana, etc.

  • @fionanogawa1730
    @fionanogawa1730 Před 2 lety +2

    Thanks for a fantastically useful and interesting lesson

  • @wanyinclara
    @wanyinclara Před rokem

    Thanks so much for explaining this so simply! I feel like I’ve been unlocked! 👍🏻

  • @soulmusic7979
    @soulmusic7979 Před 2 lety +2

    Just found your channel two days ago and I’ve been binging

  • @aleenashafaat2295
    @aleenashafaat2295 Před rokem

    Wow.. You actually made sense of modes. Made it easier to get. Thanks

  • @Steven_Beddall
    @Steven_Beddall Před 2 lety

    Fantastic video, very well explained. Subbed!

  • @timwallace6486
    @timwallace6486 Před 9 měsíci

    Thank you for your explanation. I have watched many videos on the topic and this is by far the clearest. What is missing from all of these videos is a video that describes how to use this knowledge. I understand the mechanics of the modes but still don't know how to incorporate them into a composition or solo. How do I create harmonies for these scales? What chords will work with each scale? Should I change modes every time I change chords within a song? A follow up video that applies this knowledge would be appreciated.

    • @RyanLeach
      @RyanLeach  Před 9 měsíci

      The chords for the mode are built from the notes of the mode. In the same way you get the triads for C major from the C major scale, you get the chords for D Dorian from the D Dorian scale. In other words, the exact same chords as C major but starting on Dm.
      The challenge/tricky part is not accidentally making D Dorian sound like C major by using expected chord progressions from C major.
      This video is in a composition context, not for taking a jazz solo over shifting harmonic changes. So in the sense of composition, you write a piece of music using that mode as your home 'key'.

  • @HansPeter-hx5dx
    @HansPeter-hx5dx Před rokem

    Perfect Explanation. Thank you very much.

  • @larissarose4796
    @larissarose4796 Před rokem

    This was an amazing explanation. Very helpful!

  • @nealgoldstein4578
    @nealgoldstein4578 Před rokem

    Great clear lesson. Thank you.

  • @DPiano
    @DPiano Před 11 měsíci

    Thank you soo much for this video ! Very informative and clear one 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

  • @anzatzi
    @anzatzi Před rokem

    Clear, concise and musical--fun examples!

  • @sachachanyan
    @sachachanyan Před rokem

    Best approach I‘ve heard of so far.....

  • @wewereborn2beloved
    @wewereborn2beloved Před rokem

    Great video I will be watching this over and over.

  • @Zoey5374
    @Zoey5374 Před rokem

    My band teacher teaches scales this way. Last semester in jazz studies we had to do all 12 major, mixolydian, dorian, and blues scales. For example I remember blues as 1 b3 4 #4(b5) 5 b7 1. And in concert band we have to do just one key at a time, for example right now we have been doing D major, the natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor. Just start of the 6th scale degree to switch to the minor, then raise the 7th for harmonic, or for melodic raise the 6th and 7th on the way up and lower on the way down. I remember last year I didn’t really bother remembering what scale degrees to change, I just read the scales. After taking jazz studies I find it easier to remember what scale degrees are changed.

  • @fish_throw3909
    @fish_throw3909 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Imagining Homer Simpson going "mmmm.. aioli.." then drooling when you mention aeolian

  • @YoshTown
    @YoshTown Před 2 lety +9

    I like to order it from light to dark with the numbers
    4,1,5,2,6,3,7 but to remember it I start at 4 and add 11 to find the next two modes
    4
    15
    26
    37

    • @JimMonsanto
      @JimMonsanto Před 2 lety +2

      I do this, too, but a little less. . . numerical. Lydian is home base. Lydian is the first mode of the Lydian Mode. The second mode of the Lydian scale is the Ionian scale. The third mode is the Mixolydian scale. The fourth mode is Dorian, the fifth is Aeolian, the 6th is Phrygian, and the 7th is Locrian. Thus, if you're in C lydian, to go darker, just move down the circle of fifths. If you're in in C phrygian, and want modulate to C ionian, move up the circle of fifths from Db to C.

    • @YoshTown
      @YoshTown Před 2 lety

      @@JimMonsanto Interesting