Composing with Modes 🎵
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- čas přidán 5. 08. 2024
- www.patreon.com/michaelkeithson
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Another instalment from me on Modes! This is a deeper dive on some approaches to composing or writing songs within a specific mode.
I hope you find it useful.
I'd like to say a big thank you to my Patreon members Peter Trickett, Ryan Harris, Tommy, Chris Davis and Svilen Stoilov for their support. 🙏
Here's a link to Adam Neely's Locrian video I mentioned in the video: • Making the LOCRIAN sca...
Video Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:12 Writing in a Major key
02:03 Same technique, different scale
05:30 Points to be mindful of
07:38 Character tones
10:00 Find the semitones
12:50 Dorian
13:25 Aeolian
14:04 Mixolydian
14:51 Lydian
18:17 Locrian
You’re playing a dangerous game here, Michael. I’ve watched literal dozens of videos about modes on CZcams over the last decade and you just gave away information about modes that has been jealously guarded. Keep it up and people might actually learn something.
😂 Thanks for the great comment. Glad you enjoyed the video and really appreciate you taking the time to comment 🙏
Criminally underrated channel
🙏
Clear and concise without a whiff of self indulgence? A relaxing lesson with a bit of humor sprinkled on top? Just what I’ve come to expect from this channel.
Thanks man, I really appreciate this comment. It's just how I hope people receive the videos so it's great to hear that's how you feel. Thanks for sharing 🙏
That locrian piece was absolutely beautiful despite revolving around a diminished tonic. I brushed it off as an experimental “useless” mode but I seem to have completely underestimated it. Thanks for the inspiration!!
Ah, cheers man. Glad you enjoyed it. Have fun exploring Locrian! 🎵
It truly is criminal that all teachers are not at your level. I always go away with a new found knowledge on everything that you teach. Thank you so much for this mode lesson. Great Job Michael.
😳🙏 Ah, thanks Bill! I really appreciate your kind comment.
Agreed,
Many other youtubers make this topic seem more difficult than it have to be, and also hard to understand.
Michaels strength is he breaks down the subject and seamlessly connect all the dots. He also provides golden tips on how one can apply everything and practically use whatever he is addressing.
Also there is no showing off, going through all modes in superspeed just to show how good he is.
Just true and authentic intentions to really teach others what he knows.
Definitely one of my favorites to learn more from 💯
It's easy to make things more difficult and it's difficult to make things easy.
But you succeed Michael.
Many thanks Michael, wish you the best!
@@WP-pn6nu Thank you 🙏. I really appreciate the kind comment. Great to hear you're enjoying the videos. Cheers
the on-screen graphics are really helpful. i'd have a lot of trouble following along if it weren't for them. thank you
Awesome! The extra work was worth it then, glad that they're helpful. Thanks for the comment 👍
What software did you use to create them?
@@learningideas Hey Duncan! The music notation is simply created using the free app Musescore. Then I can export selections as transparent png files and drop them into Final Cut, all the other elements and animations are done directly in Final Cut.
The midi keyboard is done through Midiculous. Hope that helps! 👍
Another great video Michael! Language teacher Luca Lampariello (speaks 14 languages) says “Find a guide, not an instructor.” Well you’re definitely a guide Michael, showing the path through the music jungle while pointing out beautiful views along the way. Thanks again.
@@johngration9336 Thanks John! 🙏
One trick to make Locrian sound good is to not use full chords. You can omit the 5 from the i chord and it will still sound like Locrian but won’t have the same dissonance.
Another trick with modes is that you can borrow chords/briefly modulate to other modes. In Phrygian, the b5 can be quite nice to “modulate” to Phrygian on the iv instead of the i (like adding a bit of D Phrygian to A Phrygian). Brief modulations can also help stabilize Lydian more, particularly to vi. E7 -> Am can help a lot in C Lydian to strengthen the sound of C. Borrowing other notes (like bb7 or b4) can also help destabilize Locrian enough to make the tonic sound like a reprieve and be more resolved.
Modal music does not have to box itself into 7 notes-major and minor certainly don’t!
Thanks for sharing, appreciate your contribution to the conversation. 👍
The Screen Graphics/Animations are amazing! So helpful. Thank you ✨
Awesome! The extra work was worth it then, glad that they're helpful. Thanks for the comment 👍
You’ve got a real gift for teaching. I was just recently lamenting that I know what modes are, but don’t know how to make a particular mode feel like home base. Seems pretty obvious now that you explain it. Great explanation, especially for people who play alone
Well said!
Thanks Darren, I really appreciate the kind comment. Glad the video was useful. Happy exploring!
Top notch discussion and ability to articulate the areas of importance.
🙏 Thanks for watching and the kind comment, much appreciated!
Wow! I've been trying to understand modes for some time. Honestly, this is the best lesson on the subject that I've ever seen. Thank you!
Hey Reba, thanks for the nice comment. Glad you found the video helpful.
The edition work to show what is being played and its place in the scales is extremely helpful. Love the channel, keep up the great work!
Thanks Lucas! I appreciate the nice comment. Thanks for watching 👍
Another trick for Locrian is to use quartal chords instead, which mixes in this additional "quartal" flavor but still feels very Locrian.
Awesome, thanks for sharing!
I agree -- one of the best presentations of modes I've seen on CZcams.
🤗🙏 Thanks Elliot! I really appreciate the generous comment. Glad you enjoyed the video. Cheers
You sir are one of the best music educators I've come across. Thanks!
Cheers Tom, I appreciate the kind words 🙏 Glad you enjoyed the video.
So happy for your growth on the platform, great work Michael 🙏🏾
Cheers brother, I appreciate the support Dan 🙏
What a chance to preview this video. You've always got a flair for teaching. Every time, I say to myself: but of course, it's obvious! Your approach to modes using semitones is just incredible. I'm going to give it a try!
🙏 Thanks Corentin. I really appreciate your comment. Glad you could find something in there that was useful or interesting.
I understand that not every video is going to appeal to every subscriber but I’m grateful for the continued support. Thank you 😀
This teaching connected SO MANY DOTS for me. Thanks for sharing this with so much clarity.
That's great to hear Cory, thanks for the comment 🙏
Thanks indeed, I first learned about modes doing a unit of Baroque music at University 50 years ago. I've always wanted to do more with them. Your explanation chrystalised into a simplicity and consequently I have produced three pieces.
In this composition I used the E Phrygian mode. The piece is made up of three sections, A, B and C, which are each played twice. Then there is one more time through the A section.
I did three different treatments of the chord progression. The first two use the same Acoustic Jazz style (on my Yamaha arranger keyboard), but the solo's are developed differently. In "Waiting for the Rain" I improvise with just four notes (C Major pentatonic avoiding the C, just D E G and A.) It has a slightly monotonous feel, combined with the morose tone of the mode, I likened it to that feeling of when we are waiting for the weather to break.
"The Sands of Time" has a little early King Crimson feel, mostly long notes.
"Tango Friz" has just the backing track so you can hear it clearly. I could have done a solo but there is enough going on with this style.
Waiting for the Rain
czcams.com/video/FNJG0TH32Fs/video.html
The Sands of Time
czcams.com/video/g9gfbS1onCs/video.html
Tango Friz
czcams.com/video/o73emTdMUHg/video.html
This is awesome! Thanks for sharing David. So cool that the video inspired you to create something. 😁👏
Very helpful, clearly explained. Top drawer, Mr K!
Cheers Stephen, appreciate the comment 👍
That was the best video I have ever seen on modes. Incredible!
🙏🤗 Thanks Doug! I really appreciate your kind comment.
Thank you Michael for your effort on putting these videos together!
@@epweiland No worries man, thanks for showing your appreciation. Glad you enjoyed it. 👍
Incredible video! Your teaching on the modes has been the single biggest help for me in understanding and using them in my playing.
Thanks Matt, that's great to hear. Glad you've found them useful. Thanks for leaving a comment 🙏
Best teaching lesson ever about modes- Thanks so much.
@@TheLillid Thank you 🙏. Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the kind comment. 👍
Yeeeeaaah! so nice i had to watch it twice! I was eagerly waiting for yet another of your super amazing and extremely well crafted awesomely explained music masterclasses. Merci beaucoup Maestro. Best music theory Channel on the tube!!
🙏 Cheers. I appreciate the love. Thanks for watching (twice!) and leaving a comment, really appreciate it.
Each time i watch one of your videos , i thank you and send my love and prayer for your teachings to universe And i just pray you get millionssss of subscribers❤️❤️❤️🙌🏼you have my out most respect for love and knowledge that you put out for us for free. 😊Thanks to you a ton❤️❤️❤️❤️
🙏🤗 Thank you Yashasvi for your kind comment, it's much appreciated. I'm glad you're enjoying the videos.
ps. I'm hoping for millions of subs too! Don't tell anyone! 🤫
What a precious lesson! Excellent!❤
@@raffaelrameh14 Thanks Raffael! Appreciate the comment 👍
You’re doing everything right! Thank you for this
🙏 Cheers for the nice comment.
"mooch about for a bit" Sir, I resemble that remark. 😎Your explanation of color and mood of the modes related to the tonic and how they want to resolve is mammoth for me. Delicious lil example of Dorian at 13:00. Soundtrack worthy. Thanks again.
Thanks Mike, I appreciate your kind words and support 🙏
So... AGAIN AND AGAIN... In the current glut of throw away videos w/poor information from "hey watch ME! - I'm another guy who knows the shit and shows it to the world", Mr. Keithson (and very few others) shines so bright in this pathetic swamp of darkness. Brilliant as always, good language, top knowledge, way to deliver it. Simply NICE! AGAIN AND AGAIN!
Now Michael... how cool and challenging would this be if applied to the Melodic Minor scale modes... the world of dual tritones? There's some amazing stuff in there. Composing with those modes? Send out the chords and I'll add the melody to them! I swear.....
Haha I just made a similar comment. It’s like so many youtubers who talk about modes only know the basics and can only teach the scales, or they want to sell a course. Actual application is rarely approached.
😳🙏 Thank you kindly, I appreciate your generous comment and glad you're enjoying the videos.
I've not explored doing the same with the modes of the melodic or harmonic minor scales - maybe it's worth a little play!
I'm a self-taught musician and I regard myself as 'barely conversant' with music theory. I must say that this is the most informative video I have ever watched on the topic of modes.
🙏 Thank you for the kind comment. Glad you enjoyed it.
You're a good teacher Mike! I'm very inspired by the way you used Lydian, that's opened a few doors for me
Cheers Zak! Great to hear that it's inspired you to create. Happy exploring!
Incredibly useful subject area for me right now -
Thank you
Cheers Paul, glad you found it helpful 👍
Great lessons! 👋 Thank you Michael.
🙏 Thanks Luc, glad you enjoyed it.
Great video! Nicely explained 👏
Cheers man, thanks for watching 👍
Excellent Michael!
Thanks John!
Fantastic tutorial, I especially appreciated the graphic showing the chords in each mode together with the treble clef and the notes you played in the melody. Before your tutorial I had been using the circle of fifths to understand which chords were in each mode, however had not appreciated that the root note would remain a C or the one chord. Once again thanks very much for a great tutorial, cheers from sunny and warm Switzerland keith
🙏 Thanks for your comment Keith! Glad you found it helpful.
I really enjoy all your videos Michael; in context, as well as your style of explaining things, keep up the good work!
Another neat trick I learned at some point during my "intensive learning years", which helps highlight modes, was based around the strong relationship of triad V-IV movement (or even the other way around) in a major scale (Ionian mode). Keeping the root of each mode on top of that movement, e.g. in the form of a pedal tone, creates a strong basis which helps bring out the character of each mode.
Well, it might be more suitable for creating vamps rather than composing interesting modal sequences, imho, but it's effective nevertheless in terms of learning to hear the character of each mode.
Once again, kudos for another great video! Greetings from Greece!
Thanks for sharing George! Glad you're enjoying the videos, I appreciate you leaving a comment 🙏
Easy to understand ,thanks for simplifying it 🙏🙏🙏
Thank you! I appreciate the kind comment. 🙏
Thank you for the lesson. Very informative and easy to understand.
@@NguyenThinhPhat You are very welcome and thank you for the kind comment! Hope you found it helpful.
Hey Michael, thanks for your video lesson on Composing using Modes. The possibilities in music are endless. When you understand the fundamentals (like Modes) there's a lot of creativity things you can do. I
Thanks again, from
Kingsville, Ohio 🎶🎹🎶🎹❤🙂👋👋👋
Thanks Cynthia! 🙏
You have a very good understanding of Harmony.
I remember trying to compose in locrian as a freshman.
it sounded worthless to me!
great insight!
Thanks man, appreciate the comment. 👍
Another banger mate.
🙏
Awesome! - so much deep knowledge - got me nerding out about the unstable tritone in the Lydian mode... never thought about that before 🙂🙃🙂🙃
😂 Happy that I've brought out your inner nerd!
3 years of Uni wrapped up in a 20 minute video ❤❤❤
Please do a beginner's guide to modes. I found this video very informative and would love to know more. Modes seem very powerful!
Thanks Philip, good to know there's an audience for that. I'll add it to my list! 👍
Thank you!! This is really helpful :)
Cheers Kevin, I'm glad you found it useful 👍
Thank you! Great lesson.
@@wpaganperez You’re very welcome! Thanks for the comment William 👍
love your voice man
Great video. The best explanation of how to use the modes I’ve ever seen
@@learningideas Cheers Duncan, I appreciate your kind comment 🙏
@@michaelkeithson I've been teaching composition to high schoolers for 20 years (mostly focusing on songwriting) but your video has inspired me to try and new approach with my seniors this term. Thanks for all the great work you put into the video
@@learningideas Ah thanks man, that’s really great to hear. Thanks for the support and encouragement. 👍
Incredibly concise. Thanks for a great lesson.
You are very welcome. Thanks for the kind comment 🙏
Really helpful, thanks!
Good to hear. Thanks for the comment Phil 👍
I don't know if it's luck or not but damn, so haapy to have acces to these videos ! for me it's the perfect video that that will improve my improvisation !! this is so underrated
Great to hear! Glad you've found some value in the videos. Thanks so much for the comment nice comment 🙏
Amazing lesson ❤ thank you 🙏
@@tosco53 Thanks Carlo! Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers for the comment 👍
Thanks for a fascinating and very informative video.
You are very welcome! Thanks for watching and leaving a comment, much appreciated!
Thank you. Very helpful.
Glad it was useful. Thanks for the comment 👍
I love this channel!
Cheers Christopher, I appreciate your support.
Absolutely!!!@@michaelkeithson
I know basic theory and this was so approachable and made sense!
🙏🤘
@@knowbody3751 Awesome, glad you could get something out of it. 👍. Cheers for the comment.
bravo!! great lesson thank you
🙏 Thank you! I appreciate the kind comment.
Well explained. Thanks.
Cheers. Appreciate the comment 👍
Thanks for the tips
You are very welcome! Thanks for watching.
Is it possible to play, 'It's coming home !, it's coming home !' in Locrian Mode ? because I am convinced most of England's fans sing it thus...ha! ha! If I had a hat, I would certainly take if off to you as this - without exception - is simply the best explanation of Modes. Us guitar players love 'em but can never understand what the hell they are. Brilliant.
Ha! And hopefully we'll be singing it loud and proud on Sunday! Come on England! 🏴
Glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for the comment 🙏
Superb
Thank you for the great video. Phrygian is my favourite mode for melody and most frustrating for harmonisation. Because any melody sounds absolutely fantastic in that mode, but that moment I add the (Phrygian) chords it all collapses like a house of cards. :( I wish I could have Phrygian melody and Aeolian chords at the same time. :)
You can! They're only one note different from each other. Look at Harmonic Minor, originally it wasn't invented to be a scale that stands on its own, but a modification of Aeolian (with a major 7th) to get that stronger V-I cadence in minor key songs. Sometimes the 7th would only be sharpened on those V chords (and nearby, wherever it was needed to sound right). And melodies might use major 6ths and 7ths ascending and flat 6ths and 7ths descending (melodic minor), it was all considered part of the minor key. The point is they varied those notes freely in the same piece and different preferences for harmony and for melody.
Or think of it as composing in an octatonic key with both minor and major 2nds: 1 b2 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7. You can lean into the b2 melodically but allow the natural 2 in harmony when it helps the progression, while creatively avoiding any unwanted minor 9ths (between the 2 and the b2) using different voicings, rhythms, etc or just altering one of them for the bar.
And anyway the fifth mode of Aeolian is Phrygian (and the fifth mode of Harmonic Minor is Phrygian Dominant aka Phrygian #3, characterized by the chord V7(b9)) so melody over the minor V naturally wants to be Phrygian (rooted on that V chord). If you hang out on the V enough you get to have a lot of Phrygian melody. It might not sounded rooted there but you can do some things to make it ambiguous like omitting the 3rd of the V so it gravitates less to the I.
More analysis videos with chords and notes. I could listen/watch to that Phrygian improvisation forever and probably learn a lot from it! Thanks!
Ah, thanks man, I appreciate the kind comment 🙏 Glad you enjoyed it.
Hey man, you're really what i was searching for on yt for a long time. You're really gifted for teaching and this format is simple, catchy and straight to the point. Btw i've got a request for a future video, could you spend a lesson or two on voicings? Like from basics to advanced, and maybe your favourite/most used ones. Thank you for everything.
Thanks for the comment, really glad you're finding some value from my videos.
Thanks for the suggestion too. Are you looking for specifically jazz voicings or something else? You might typically use different kinds of voicings depending on the style of music you're playing?
@@michaelkeithson look, i've had an idea, maybe you will not like it but i'll write it anyway. You could make a video on jazz voicings, and you're favourite ones, and at the same time you could put you're favourite ones in a specific video, for example, let's say you're talking about major 7 chords you'll put as like a bonus tip your favourite voicings about those, or let's say a video about extension you'll put your favourite ones in there, like spending 2 minutes in the video. In that way if you're talking about jazz we world learn jazz voicings, and if you're talking r&b we'll learn r&b ones etc. Let me know if you like the idea. It's like they're contextualized in the video.
@@xsfusionx I think that could maybe work! I'll add it to the list. Thanks for the suggestion 🙏
Nice!
you are amazing, nothing else to add but thanks
🙏🤗 Ah, thanks very much. I appreciate the kind words. Glad you enjoyed the video. 👍
locrian.
I'd love to watch about composing with Harmonic Minor, Melodic Minor, Double Harmonic Major and their modes!
@@ssaamil Composing in those keys works very much the same. I don’t have much experience composing with their modes though and fear they might be tricky but maybe worth some exploration!
Yep, just about to make the same comment! I love the melodic minor modes, particularly Dorian b2 and Lydian augmented (now that's a tricky one to compose anything!). Same principle, you just get a few stranger chords. For example the iii chord is a maj7#5 in melodic minor (I think. Im terrible at theory!).
Amazing.
🙏
congratulations grate lesson
🙏 Thanks
Now you gotta teach us how to modulate between modes!
Oh! Look here! I have a new favourite music theory channel 😎
@@JohnnyCameo Welcome Johnny! Glad to have you here! What took you so long?! 😉😂
Thank you. That was the basics, but it presented very well. Better than anything I've seen so far. This is also why I purchased a keyboard. Much easier to implement than the guitar. I'm improving at the guitar, but the added difficulties make it challenging to map out and practice all 7 modes. I tend to stick with Dorian and Mixolydian to assist with ii-V-I, for example. Mixo for blues, Dorian for minor songs. It does not work for me to stick to the major and start on a different degree to play a mode. The mode does not manifest. So, I need a chart; I can't remember all that since I'm a part-time musician.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts too. Cheers.
I loved this video Michael, it's moved my level up a bit. Thank you. Could you make a video on how to get proper fingering please 🙏
🙏 Thanks Jade! Glad you felt like it was helpful.
What sort of fingering are you having trouble with? Fingering will be different for different types of stuff and most of the time it's just about working out what's most ergonomic for the movement you're trying to make.
I love your channel! Subscribed. To some, even the Phrygian example you played can sound more like a really good example of well placed modal interchange/mixture even in the melody, than it may a strictly modal progression/melody. The last i - vø - i resolution may not sound like a strong enough resolution to some ears to really establish i as the final tonic resolution, and may give the impression that the more permanent resolution needs to happen after the final i. The typical bII, or bvii movement to i to establish a Phrygian i modal tonic is the most common. Used a lot in film scoring too that way just like the Lydian example you used - camels, endless sand, pyramids, all that good stuff. Strictly Modal progressions outside the relative major/minor are just generally unstable and tough for anything other than a few chord vamp.
Thanks Joseph! I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge too. Thank you 🙏
@@michaelkeithson keep on going with this channel. I happened across your modal interchange video about a month ago, and for how concise you had to make it for the 20-30 min playtime, thought it was one of the best if not THE best dives into the subject for its run time. It really was that good.
@@josephnazari688 Thanks Joseph, that's nice to hear 🤗
3:50 - 4:36 Beautiful and inspiring .
Thanks David! Appreciate your support 👍
This is great; I've been trying to write a bit in locrian for a few months as an exercise, but there was a lot of me to learn in what you played in the locrian section. I think the fact that the A chord is a sus chord, leaving the ear wanting the C, might have something to do with why it sounds resolved -- or maybe I have it backwards and the absence of the C helps the progression to feel more like it goes somewhere before coming back...?
Thanks for the comment Joseph! Pleased you found it useful.
To be honest, there wasn't a great deal of thought around the Absus and absence of the C, but thinking about it now, it probably helps strengthen the resolution. Cheers! 👍
beautiful resolution at 13:13
@@whitenoise9371 🙏 Thank you!
Can you make a video on rhythm and chord progression? Specifically, on how to mix them correctly to give sense to our music? Sometimes, I feel like I'm always doing the same thing with rhythm and chord progressions. How can I improve?
Hey man, my pal The Keys Coach has dropped a video that might be useful for you: czcams.com/video/EsSecYkBDR8/video.htmlsi=0CRFgpgAII5sJdAr
@@michaelkeithson Hey ! Oh wow thank you very much for coming back! It's very nice, I'll have a look right now 😉 thanks ✨🙌
Im sure you get this a lot, but you look a lot like Michael keaton and almost have the same name too!!
Anyways, great video as always!
Ha! I don't think anyone's ever said they think that I look Mr Keaton, although I have had a few Batman comments!
Glad you enjoyed the video 👍
Modes for beginners please!
👍 You not the first to say that so, looks like it might be worth doing. Cheers
Michael Keithson is a Super Mode(l) ...
@@md-ps2hx 😳
Content so good...No doubt you've considered this but surely you should put some short courses together and sell individually and then as bundles - at rates ordinary mortals can afford and you'll do well. Go on a deeper dive and you folk will pay. PS Seems to work for the other high quality producers and you've earnt a big and appreciative audience.
@@wae2kwick4u Thanks for the comment mate. I have ideas and desires for some separate video courses but I’m struggling to find the time to work on them. Hopefully I’ll get to them eventually though.
How do you write a song in BEAST mode! When you accidentally took high caffienated drink?
😂
In beast mode your song writes itself. 🤯
To put it simply the mod borrows the key/notes from a different key. I find myself having to subscribe
👍 Hey David! Thanks for the sub 🙏
Would it be possible to stop leaning into camera and whispering like a creep?
Sorry, no can do. It's my USP 😉😂