Untold Secrets of Modal Interchange 

A true sign of greatness is when you show the friend you love and has contributed to your life in a significant way and acknowledge him before the world. Greatness rests lightly on Rick beato! Apart from the amazing lesson, thanks for a valuable lesson in humility. God Bless!

You're a national treasure, maestro Beato

I'm slowly but surely becoming a somewhat decent musician because of you, Rick. Thanks man.

The mode videos are probably the best music lessons I ever got and they are the Crown Jewels of this channel.

Lesson begins at 8:11 in!

The video finally gets going around 8:30.

For the basic 7 modes, each one only has one tritone interval. So for the Ionian Scale, that would be the P4 to M7. Because it is a tritone you could also say M7 to P4. For Dorian it would be the m3 to the M6. The Lydian is the A4 to the P8, so its tritone location is the same as the Locrian (R to d5). Every other note is different between Locrian and Lydian, so any other note after the R - (A4/d5) will establish between them. So every tonality can be established with 3 notes (within the basic modes)

Been playing guitar for 10years now (its amazing how long you can go if you don’t stop!). Subscribing to your channel is the best decision I’ve made on RU-vid. Seriously. Your videos have got me excited about music/ production/ and performance. Thanks Rick!

I go back and watch them Rick, all the damn time. Still working my way through the Beato book and I love it. A year and a half into it and I'm completely different musician. Thank you so much Rick

I love all your videos, but for I am in my musical development, this video is a real gem. Thank you Rick. Its like the Rosetta Stone for using and understanding modes.

Rick, disgusted ,when someone says they don't like music theory 00:00

Great lecture on modal interchange. I started playing around with some of these ideas on my acoustic guitar and it really produced some interesting results.

Simple concept: whatever mode you desire to play, reference its major key and simply use that major (ionian) mode to play the desired mode. Example - if I want to play A phrygian, I think to myself i need to play in the key of F major (F ionian). If I want to play A aeolian, I play in C major (C ionian). Now go jam it out!

its cool how the 3 minor modes built off the 2, 3 and 6 are the minor chords (containing minor 3rds) of the major scale. and the locrian is built off the 7 which is diminished, thus giving all the modes their pattern. since it begins on that chord type, it has that quality embedded into the mode when you shift them to the same root and compare it to the major (1 2 3 4 5 6 7).

By the way, THANK YOU for sharing so much of what you know. Most of us self-taught musicians desperately need this kind of stuff so we can get better.

Thanks, Doug! :-) We're all winners because of your influence on Rick :-)

Hey! Congrats on the 16 pounds dropped. I see that it was three years ago, but... better late than never. I just lost a bunch myself over the course of the last year, and it's a great feeling. Wearing the size jeans I wore in college, here at 58 years old - I can dig it.

That intro face is gold. Should be the beato book cover

Great video. It was a different view of Modal Interchange for me. I like the way you took care to identify the "key" notes in each mode, and also put them up on the chart. I can now picture the "sweet notes" that I might be bringing in when I play C Aeolian over a C Major Chord, instead of the C Ionian.

One of the most emotional but positive sounding aeolean mode phrases at 36 min mark. That was almost like how eric johnson would use a minor key. Irrespective of the key, he manages to make his songs sound positive. That was a great example how you sequence notes to make something sound different compared to when you play regular scale tones

I really love your videos.

The Coldplay was great imo. Thanks for doing it. It’s amazing the things I can pick up on with out realizing it til a bit/much later. Appreciate it.✌🏻🎸🤘🏻

Sos un capo Rick. nunca cambies!! abrazo!

Classic opening squint at the top of this video! Brilliant...

man is so fun to jam over this. i just found it and i know i'm goofing around but. i'll rewatch this until i get some sort of revelation.

Mr Brownstone, the congas or bongos in the background complete that opening groove so well. Id like to see a video on that one!

This why we got the best arpeggios in the EDM game. Thanks!

You start breaking things down into more bitesize topics would be an idea, as there is more than one concept at play here. you start using soloing concepts (most of these from Scott Henderson or Joe Diorio) but nontheless, another interesting improvisation concept is to work out Pentatonics for use over altered and extended chords... such as what Peter Leitch would do. For example Cmaj7#11 C E G B F# Just use Bminor Pentatonic (1/2 step down from the root) B = maj7 D = 2/9 E = 3/10 F# = #4/#11 A = 6/13 for Mixolydian - just use the Indian Pentatonic = 1 2 3 5 b7 = C D E G Bb, or even Emin7b5(half dim.) arpeggios or Gmin6. Best of luck Rick!

A lot of people ragging on Rick - This is the best music theory teaching available anywhere for free.

I feel that a piano oriented video would be great in terms of breaking down the chord qualities of each mode. And of course showing us how each chord has unique note which is characteristic of that mode. In any case, I love the guitar and really learned a lot from your explanations and guitar demonstrations. God bless .

insightful delightful opening up my musical world,,,, u have humour and wit,,,,,,,,

In the middle ages when composers used modal “interchange,” theorists at the time referred to it as “mutation.” This usually had more to do with avoiding the b natural (h) in certain contexts, but the concept was the same. Keep these videos coming!

If you are going to do GNR - then Rocket Queen is my fav. :-) Love your stuff Rick!

I first learned in 5 positions too. I find that it's often, but not always, best to think in parallel between chordal function within the progression of a song and the modal changes as both augmenting these functions and emphasising the isolated melody.

Seriously, a Pantera video is coming? I'm excited! Looking forward to it.

i love the part where Ricks talking about the letter from Berklee regarding diminished scales cracked me up right on Ricki

Always lovely to hop into a video and see a welcoming face like at the beginning.😂

You are amazing, a genius and a great teacher. Man I wish I had a guitar teacher when I was a teenager. Back where I am from, after I passed the first mandatory year in the conservatory school learning (Solphege) I could not get assigned to a teacher because of corrupt administration, they rather give it the son of so and so, even though I came on time for the registration that year. I was hurt so much and since that day I never really learned much in theory mostly. I spent almost 40 years playing just by ear and trying to figure things out the hard way and by guessing which doesn't lead anywhere but I learned a little especially when I decided a couple years ago to start reading articles about music theory and watching videos on youtude. And Music is a big part of my life, I don't know why and it so ridiculous. Man I just wish I had one of your videos or I wish I knew someone like you in the 70's when I first picked the guitar

Hi, Rick! I have been watching your videos for a while. And I thought: "Wow, what a great teacher! It would be so nice to have a blog or something text-oriented to learn from". And in the end of the video I have found that there was a book and now it is completely reworked! Ah, that's cool! Thank you so much for that, I just bought a copy of it, my printer is working hard right now! And video is good as usual, спасибо :)

29:05 Modes are confusing to people and some of that is because some theory instructors don't or won't give guitarists the "aha" shortcut as I call it. Yes we ideally need to learn the notes and intervals of the scales and break out of the "pattern" playing but for players that had the "these are the pent scale patterns and 90% of rock is in this scale" type of lessons that were prevalent for years in guitar shops around the nation and want to really understand theory and modes it can be hard to break out of that thinking. The best tip I ever got to start the journey was: there is only one scale pattern (Major) and if you want to play Dorian in C for example you are just playing D major scale patterns (with a different root) behind a C progression. Phrygian? E major. Mixolydian? G major, etc... Understanding this is by no means the end of the journey, it is in fact just the start, but it is a little bit of a bridge between the scale/pattern player and true understanding of the modes that can help to demystify the modes for guitar players trying to break out of the pattern box. Anyway, love your stuff Rick... challenging, valuable and applicable knowledge! Thank you.

Happy new hair! Best wishes to Doug! I always wondered if Pat Martino had a copy of the beato book! Hahaha! brilliant stories and I enjoyed listening to you play while explaining too. I've "got to know this", and even though I'm way behind your level, your style/method of educating is guiding me to improve, thanks Rick.

Great informative lesson. However, please plug into a cleanish fender type amp for the playing part as your guitar sound is to the detriment of your lesson... (trying to be diplomatic). Just add some reverb...

This video is really useful, thanks! Big step forward for my understanding. I never thought of the modal sounds as arpeggios.

Amazing!!! Thank you for this Gold, Rick! Really appreciate this!

Heard your story before, but Great to see your friend Doug in Person!! Nice of you to bring him on Rick:-)....oh and Another Great Lesson!!

as opposed to just playing Imaj IImaj arpeggios over a Lydian chord (or any Maj chord0 to get a nice Lydian sound, I like to put in a minor pentatonic 1/2 step down (Scott Henderson) and (Peter Lietch) use this method a lot. Example: Cmaj7#11 (effectively Bmin/C) so B(maj7) D(2/9) E(3/10) F# (#4/#11) A(6/13) . Avoids all the root notes. not enough is done on Pentatonic usage. there is a wealth of information out there, and with a little detective work, you can uncover useful Pentatonic scales to play over all chords.. Another one is say for a Dom7#5/b9. Essentially an A7#5/b9 is A C# E#(f) Bb(b9) = so effectively, it's a Bbmin/A. by breaking things down like this, you can uncover a simplicity that unmasks complex altered chords and what to play over them. Similarly, a straight Augmented I just see as an Emaj/C C E G# B = Cmaj7#5 Emaj/C. Emaj Pentatonic would sound nice - E(3) F#(2/9) G#(#5) B(maj7) C#(b9!)

That was awesome, Rick! I learned so much! Between you and Dave Frank's videos, my music is really progressing...

Hey Rick, could you do a video on fence painting please.

I've got a suggestion for a future "What Makes This Song Great?" video: Would you cover The Allman Brothers' Band's "Southbound," from "Brothers and Sisters," or, what is probably a more obvious choice, "Jessica?" Or, perhaps a track from "Idlewild South," such as "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed." I leave it to your judgment, of course, depending on whether their music appeals to you or not. Thanks for reading.

I just got the beato book 2.0... loving you Rick

Mr. Brownstone was always my favorite song of theirs.

Paradise City.. great solo in that.

Is the term “ modal interchange/ mixture “ meaningful ? Does that simply mean that you can play any chord anywhere?? D is ii- Ionian, II- Lydian, bII- Phrygian etc.... what’s the point?? Thnx cheers

You should totally make a montage of the first 5-10 seconds of every livestream. I bet it would be hillarios!

your first guitar lesson seem to have been the best first guitar lesson of all time

I'd love to hear you break down Al Stewart's Year of the Cat.

I really miss these types of videos

Liked the modal interchange video by qjam tracks on modal chord substitution very helpful for interesting chord progressions.

Do you realise wat a blessind you are?!👏👏

PanterA?!! Yes!! Can't wait for that!

Jimi tuned in the middle of songs all the time. :)

Thanks for the Master's or Doctorate level theory lessons. I didn't get this in undergrad...

Excellent video, I like how you get right into it.

I think the same handful of people keep thumbing down all the cool videos on youtube.

I loved the Coldplay video whaaa

I sometimes go back and look for videos on scales or modes that I'm starting to get more familiar with them. Would be nice to see a Scale Wars episode on the Enigmatic Scale vs Prometheus Scale. Or something about Jeths Mode.

14:56 King Crimson!

Really Great Rick! Thanks.

I'm learning so much thank you

Congrats on the weight loss. I'm down 12 pounds myself.

Thanks for everything you do man 👊

I'm going back and watchin' 'em all :-)

@rickbeato: Correct me if I am wrong, but I guess you could think of playing a mode as passing tones that give a certain flavor. Also, do the notes of a scale only apply on certain beats? If so the is it the down beats? For instance, 1 and 2 and 3 and 4. The downbeats being the numbers "1 2 3 4." These would "have" to be the notes of the scale? The "and" can be any note? Is this true theoretically? I think in this way and play better than just "noodling" randomly. I know the notes of the pentatonic scale over the whole neck and apply this "theory" using progressions mix with ideas that sound good to my ears. Great videos on everything. I recommend you to everyone! Now, if I can just understand the Beato book I bought. Lol I read tab fluently, but standard notation is slow reading for me.

I love you sir you are wisdom to the words

Great videos, just bought the book

suggestions for GNR... NOT Jungle or Sweet Child! What about Mr. Brownstone, It's Not Easy or Rocket Queen?

Great lesson!

G 'n R, gotta do Mr. Brownstone.

The Coldplay rocked!

Super video!

Mr Brownstone, Paradise City, It's So Easy, Nightrain

Everything starts around 8:00 for those of you trying to get right into the lesson. Its just banter otherwise.

Good luck w/ the weight loss! I wasn't gonna say anything, but I noticed you put on weight over the years and now I noticed you taking it off. Keep it up! Best decision you could make!

Say you are playing a b aeolian progression. Bm A maj G maj. Are you ripping b aeolian licks over everything? Do you think a mixo over the a and g Lydian licks over the g?

Congratulations on getting a Silver Jubilee amp. I look forward to seeing/hearing it in your videos. Is it a reissue or original? Originals are starting to look like something to hold on to from an investment perspective.

Phrygian Dominant.....yes! Go there a lot for klezmer and co.

LOL - You've outlasted Blockbuster! :-) How sweet it is...

I'm a bit confused about the modes. If say, you're in the key of C major, holding a drone bass, D, in the left, then you play with your right hand E locrian, which mode are you in, D dorian (left hand) or E locrain (right hand)? thanks...

Good Stuff Rick! When did you get the Sterling Ball JP Majesty? I love your approach to soloing, I was fortunate enough to pay attention to my Grandad H.R. before he passed, and really get my triads and chops together. However your bring a freshness to your dialogue and teachings that will pass on to all my pupils. By the way, I heard some shades of HR's playing as well as many others, especially on the b5, #5 and melodic minor stuff.. Well done again mate! Thanks!

Thanks for another great video! As someone who does go back and watch your earlier videos I can say I will be revisiting this one. Too much good stuff not to. On the question of which GNR song; November Rain would be awesome, please.

Do Estranged! That song is immense

U r Awesome Rick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just looking at what tracks on AfD would have have some interesting things to talk about. Welcome to the Jungle is a song with so much going on it it. Add to that Mike Clink's production work and that one seems like it would have all you would want to present in a video. But then again, isn't the whole album great? It changed everything back in 1987.

Rick - can you please repeat the questions before answering?, I can't hear Carol very clearly.

Would you consider doing Genesis. Something while Peter gabrial was still in the band. Maybe foxtrot or the lamb lies down.

Very important thanks 🙏

I'm only 10 minutes in, but I heard you say that the demonstration on the board is explaining notes that are different that that of the major scale... Based on my understanding the modes of any given key are all of the major scale of that given key. Based on my limited understanding of the modes, I can create a different sound if I stress different sections of the scale. I guess if you look at each mode objectively you can reference a note being flat or whatever but when you look at the whole map it's simply all the regular notes of the major key no sharps or flats beyond that of the given major key.

Brilliant.

Someone give carol a raise

Ha! I still tune by ear. I get them up to pitch after changing strings with a tuner, though. After that I tune by ear, unless I'm recording something and need to be sure, but if I don't use the tuner after a string change I always end up in D or D flat.