How to Actually Use Modes in Your Playing w/ 4 Examples 

If you liked this series, definitely stop by and check out my website www.zombieguitar.com !

Perfectly explained. I've never understood the point of explaining modes using only one chord or tone just to hear how the mode sounds like or feels. To me, modes are primarily patterns which enable me to play in one key using the whole fretboard and not getting lost. If a D major chord pops up in the key of C major I know that I'm temporarily in the key of G major and have to temporarily play G ionian or A dorian or B phrygian ... All those other youtube videos explaining modes are for jazz players or film music. If you are playing in C Lydian mode, you have to be aware that you are in the key of G major, that's the FUNDAMENTAL stuff.

These mode videos you are putting up are great and your method of how to choose what to play over a borrowed chord (using circle of fifths) is new to me. Thanks mate 👍

This guy deserves more subs share him around!

Brian thank you for all 3 videos,nobody explains modes like you do 🎸.

BRILLIANT EXPLANATION!!! Best I've seen on modes, you've really brought great clarity to the subject with these lessons. Many thanks!!!!

Really appreciate all your lessons on here Brian, thank you so very much for helping me understand music theory in relation to guitar!

Thank you Brian 👏 That’s the most comprehensive explanation of modes (across the 3 videos) I’ve seen to date. It has also highlighted the importance of knowing where all the notes are on the fretboard; something I still haven’t mastered.

Your explanation of how to select a good key signature/scale for the out of key chord ... why have I never thought of that? Another great tip, Brian. You are the best!

This knowledge is GOLD! Thank you so much Brian. How I wish this video had been available 35 years ago. Amazing,thank you.

It's so nice when someone explains something they actually understand. Your videos are the best and you make this stuff as straightforward as possible. Keep doing what you do man

Thanks Brian. Almost every other video on modes I watched focused on the scales but not the chord progression. I sort of figured that out on my own, but your video confirmed that and took me so much farther. Thanks

Thanks, Brian, you filled a theory gap in my circle of fifths knowledge re: finding the closest key for an out of key chord. Love your explanation of the options to solo over out of key chords.

This lesson is absolute gold. I doubt you can find this stuff anywhere on YT (I for one didn't). Excellent teacher.

great lesson! will have to come back to this one a couple times to get my head round it lol. cheers brian!

Thanks Brian, this series has been the definitive explanation on how modes fit into the picture.

Thank you. This is exactly what I’ve been looking for. Thorough and clear explanations. I learned a lot more than I was actually thinking I needed to learn.

This video is the one. The ONE. The one which have made me understad what on earth I can use the modes for. Technically I've learned the modes quite a long time ago but I could never understand what those magical spellings like "F lydian" is all about. Finally, I do. Thanks Brian!

Vous êtes le meilleur pédagogue et le plus honnête de tout cette bande de ………

This is huge for me. Now it's making more sense!

Excellent ! Best explanation out of thousands. Thanks, subbed

Hey Brian again gotta compliment your way of explaining, thanks man

Thank you so much! I truly mean it. I’ve completed basic music theory classes in years past and understood what modes were in context of the circle of fifths and different keys but struggled to really apply it in my guitar playing. This helped me connect the dots and I finally feel like I can start to apply what I know in a practical manner. Great lesson and the graphics were super too.

Best lesson on modes... very clear

This is game changing. Thank you. I was making it way harder.

Whoa you just connected some dots together for me. I’ve had most of the individual parts but never could connect it all in my head before. Huge help Brian, thanks!

it is becoming a lot more understanding but i still have a lot to learn. Many thanks Brian and KEEP ON ROCKING IN THE FREE WORLD

Love your lessons Brian, I would love to see an in depth video in triads. I know your a busy guy and have a lot going on but I know you could make triads easy to comprehend. Best of luck and will be waiting for your next lesson bro!!

the best video in you tube about modes!congratulation sir thank you so much!

I'm glad you remembered to switch on the light this time. amazing series Brian, thanks for sharing

This is the best Explanation Thank U

So a great way to start adding chromaticism is to start using non diatonic modes over the different chords. If we take the first example (I V vi IV in C) sure we can use C major over the whole progression or we can use C Ionian over the I chord G mixolydian over the V etc. OOORRR we can can play C lydian over the I chord and G Mixolydian over V then A Phrygian over vi and F Ionian over IV (these are just examples, you can use any major mode over a major chord as long as you pay attention to phrasing and how it transitions into the next chord/mode). This adds in non diatonic notes but will sound good over each chord. You can even mix and match modes if the chord sticks around long enough so if the I chord sticks around for a whole measure play C ionian for the first half of the bar then switch to lydian in the second half of the bar and make it really hip by using the F# to resolve to G at the beginning of the next measure. Another hip move would be playing C mixolydian over the I chord then using A to Bb to B with the B landing on beat one of the V chord. This essentially treats the Bb as if it’s and A# which is the #9 of the G major chord.

Thank you. Your explanation makes it all simple and clear ...

Wow I learned mode from a friend that went to GIT you are the only one on here I have seen that really understands modes

excellent teaching...i wish i could have had the lesson back as a kid but now i'm a 62 newbie

Again so helpful Brian thanks again brother!🙏🏻

Great video..i am so hapy pick up guitar 3 y.ago and start learning gutar scales..after that startin with caged to visualize my roots 3 5 b7 Triads all other notes are pasing notes..guitar is such great instrument..for simple camp fire sing song or to dive deeper and knowing basic theory is only plus..its fun..

Thanks, Brian. Brillant lesson. I think we can consider progressions 3 and 4 as modal mixture : C ionien and C dorien (4), C ionien and C aeolien (3).

These three videos you've created are OUTSTANDING. You seriously "thumbs upp'ed" / validated my way of thinking at 8:12 !!! Thank you!!! I've been trying to put the pieces together in my head to develop a very basic set of "rules" for making sure I'm playing the "legal" notes. (Rules are mean to be broken, but as you said in one of these videos, it's good to know the rules, then break them!) My way of thinking: "What is the function of this chord in the progression...?" OK, we're playing the 4th chord, so I'll play the Lydian "scale / shape" for the chord being played, emphasizing the Major Triad Notes OK, now we're on the 6th chord... I'll play the Aeolian "scale / shape" for that chord, emphasizing the Minor Triad notes OK... now we're on a "borrowed" major chord that doesn't fit into the Key signature... I'll play it safe and only use the major pentatonic scale so I don't trip over anyone else's notes... (in case the other musicians think the notes are from a different key signature than I think they're from...) OK... now we're on a "borrowed" minor chord that doesn't fit into the Key signature... I'll play it safe and only use the minor pentatonic scale so I don't trip over anyone else's notes... (in case the other musicians think the notes are from a different key signature than I think they're from...)

Man this REALLY HELP! THANK YOU!

Great explanation Brian!

Great job of explaining. It's about time someone took the time to explain in detail thanks again Big B. 😎👍👌💯🎸🎸

This was the theory on modes i was looking for..you are brain boosting😍❤🔥🌻legend

Amazing, as usual!!

Nice explanation of using a non diatonic chord in a diatonic harmony. Ex: was Bb Maj as the 4 of F so Bb lydian is a good choice as F is closer to original C maj harmony. I think I got that - very good lesson!!

EXCELLENT !!! as usual ... THANK YOU !!!

Another great one Brian. One question though (I haven't thought it through yet): In the 3rd progression with the Bb, the first thing that came to mind for me was Mixolydian since the Bb would be the flattened 7th in C Major. I realise you couldn't play mixolydian throughout the chord sequence but wouldn't it be possible to think C mixolydian, rather than Bb lydian, when soloing over the Bb?

Great video Brian. Thanks man 👍

yes thank you best ever .....nice how you review it over and over for some of use slooow learners

Thank you Brian ! I am starting to decipher the mystery !!! You explanation , just great my friend! I am becoming a Zombie!!

It was a wonderful lesson

Thank you, this is great!!

Another great video man, great explanation!! I have one question tho, let’s say I’m soloing over a minor chord like Am for example couldn’t I use any of the three minor modes, aeolian, Phrygian or Dorian depending on a certain feel I want for the solo?

best modes explenation on youtube

Great, practical examples!

Right on buddy 😎👍👌💯 🎸🎸🎸

Thanks, dude.

Thanks for the Clarity on Modes. I think it shaved a few months of wasted time off my plate so I can stay focused on the fundamentals.

Hey Brian (or if anyone else knows) I was wondering what makes a harmonic major “harmonic” and what makes the harmonic minor “harmonic “? Basically I don’t understand why it’s quality is “harmonic “. I get the difference between a minor scale and a major scale being the 3 being either major or flat. I understand basic theory but I’ve never stumbled upon the meaning or reason that a scale is “harmonic “. Natural minor has the flat 7 and a harmonic minor has a regular 7. The harmonic major scale is a major scale with a flat 6. Why does the flat 6 make it harmonic? Why does the regular 7 in the harmonic minor make that scale harmonic as opposed to the natural minor. Just need clarification on the terminology and the why if anyone can explain or post a link to an explanation. Thanks Brian or whomever has any feedback.

Bing, light bulb goes on, thanks Brian.

super duper video for learner

Hey Brian. Not necessarily relevant to this video but I was trying to find an answer to this and I didn’t delve too deep but I figured you might be able to answer this pretty quick. What is the difference between a C min b5 and a C minor 7 b5. Just wondering what the comparison of the formula would look like. I know that the C minor seven flat five is a R-b3-b5-b7 but is the formula for a C min b5 as follows R-b3-b5? Or is that just another name for a diminished triad? Basically I know how to do a full diminished I know how to do a minor seven flat five but I saw somewhere some cord was a C minor flat five. Is there even such thing as a C minor flat five or would it just be a C minor (add flat five). I just wasn’t sure if this cord actually existed. And if it does exist what is the formula? Thanks in advance and if anybody else knows and wants to answer the question I’d appreciate it.

❤❤❤ helped a lot!😊

Nice one B..

To be honest you really added to the confusion you mention in the beginning in the video for me. You talked about a wrong way of looking at modes. Then you started talking about the parallel perspective which sounded to me like what you called the “wrong way” to look at it. Both perspectives together made the difference and I realised I had understood all along.

Brilliant lesson Brian ..... and it's great to see you with the light on!! LOL!! I wonder who the jerk is that cannot wait to give every one of your videos a thumbs down within minutes of their release ...... he's a very sad dude!!

Damn finally got it

Hi Brian, when you show the shape you are playing for the F Major Chord (7.07) shouldn't it be a b flat, not the B note shown ? Thank you so much for all the great lessons you share

Brian...u COOOOOLLLL

Hi, Can you explain how the A harmonic minor scale would apply to the chord progression with the f minor chord and how that relates to the key of f minor? Can you also provide a method for figuring out which key a chord out of key is the most closely similar without using the circle of fifths? I memorized the major keys, but I never learned the circle of fifths, but I can learn. I enjoyed watching your videos on modes. There is one thing I am unsure about. If I were in the key of c and I were playing an f chord, would it really be f lydian if I played the notes in the c major scale without targeting the f note? Thank you so much

A great part 4 would be how to construct modal chord progressions (beyond a Santana-like two-chord vamp). In Parts 1 and 3, it appeared that you played the 4 and 5 chords in the key, along with a minor chord as the tonal center. Are there other possible ways to do it? Can you do a four-chord modal progression? How do you figure that out?

YES!

I have one question about the circle of fifths, how come the key signatures only contain 6 of the diatonic chords when a key actually contains 7 notes or chords?

You’re the Best

If I'm in Dminor key but the G major chord is used in the song,then how would i figure out which mode is used??

Where I get stuck is patterns or scales there seems to be a lot but I have a lot of the theory I need so that's good i see players doing all these patterns that sound right but I'm overwhelmed with how many teresa are.

Wow, a bit complicated, but I like the idea of just targeting the note that is missing from the scale. That seems simpler and more doable.

thx

Everybody’s always quick to kiss ass on the internet… But really thanks a lot for your mode series. I really understand now. Literally almost figured this all out on my own and my guitar teacher said no , like I was dumb. Wtf? I wonder how he thinks about it. I’ll never know we had a communication barrier apparently or ego got in the way. Are your sweatshirts cheap and thin? I’m buying something for sure

In "modal" chord progressions you won't ever use the fifth chord of the scale (the Dominant and even the Sub Dominant sometimes) you are using because that leads you back to the Diatonic approach of the "tension/release" thing, being the fifth the tension you introduce that WANT to take you back to the One chord. So if you make the E minor your tonal center(as in your second example) avoid the G chord all the way....otherwise it has nothing to do with a "Modal approach", you can hear clearly that once you hit the G, landing back on E minor does not sound "right".

🤙🏼

kind of complicated, need to practice!

i find modes and scales very hard to understand on the guitar and very hard to play on the guitar !!!!! there are so many different notes that are actually repeated all over the entire fretboard of the guitar and the notes seem to appear in different random orders on random different strings and on random different frets that seem to be all over the place on the guitar with all sorts of tricky intervals inbetween and seems very messy !!!! but on the piano i easily understand modes and i can easily play modes and scales on the piano ! cause there is only 1 semitone/half step interval between each note on the piano and you can easily play the scales and the modes in asscending order and in descending order on the piano cause everything seems to be very easily accessible and very organised on the piano ! so on the piano things get so much easier ! i have had 20 years of experience on the piano, but i am a total beginner at guitar and am not so good on the guitar. so i don't think i shall ever like to improvise on the guitar ! far too hard for me ! lol. If i want to do a guitar solo i think i shall just learn the original solo tab from the original record verison of my favourite song that you hear on the radio and i shall pay money to get that solo tab transcribed for me professionally from a professional musical website like fivree, or i shall get the original transcription for the original solo tab for my favourite song from a website like youtube ! other than that i shall just stick to just playing chords and chord progressions and just basic songs on the guitar ! so much easier for a beginner like me ! lol

I bought a "scale bible" book off Amazon and spent weeks and months trying to memorize all the different mide scale shapes.... What a waste of time. Thank you for un****ing the whole mide thing.

First

Adam Sandler😃

you talk too much