The 3 Modes We USE The MOST On Guitar

[@MicCostanzo]

I cannot emphasize enough how important such videos and information are. I've been playing for over 40 years and teaching for a good 30 years. Of course, this is nothing new to me, but I see again and again how such information doesn't just help beginners, as well as advanced players. In fact, such theoretical information opens the door to rediscovering music. And that's what we teach for. Sure, also for the money. But it makes my heart smile when one of my students suddenly rediscovers the music and guitar playing that he loves so much.

[@FergusVonMarkusson]

Thank you TIm! One of the best and most humble teachers out there...

[@m.vonhollen6673]

I) Ionian, the major scale, Cmaj7/9/6. 4) Lydian #4, Cmaj9#11. 5) Mixolydian b7; C7/9/13. Those 3 work over a Major triad, and different Jazz chords. 2) Dorian b3/b7, Cmin7/9/6. 6) Aolian b3/b6/b7, Cmin7/9. 3) Phrygian b2/b3/b6/b7, Cmin7. Those 3 work over a Minor triad, and different Jazz chords. 7) Locrian b2/b3/b5/b6/b7 works over a Diminished triad, and a Min7b5 chord. - Copy this. Post it where you practice. Memorize it. - Download a free ear training app. Teach yourself to associate a different song with each of the 12 intervals. Work with it until you ALWAYS score 100%. - To hear the difference, you MUST start all 7 modes from THE SAME STARTING NOTE. Otherwise of course they will all sound the same. - Come on now!

[@andy196414]

Would be useful to have a set if chord diagrams at hand associated with each one. Can you help a student struggling?

[@M5guitar1]

Thanks the guy never explains the modes

[@proltd203]

​​@@andy196414 I've tried to post some useful links to help you with learning modes but not sure if you received them. Hope it helps!! If you search for dannypage modes you will probably find them...

[@craigorear1869]

Thank you for this lesson in modal training! Much appreciated!

[@Moit4000]

It's impressive how you remain so humble. Thank you for the lessons, got the same colour guitar but a Lefty Epiphone Sheraton. Glad you're breaking down these modes, things that I already do but glad to have it explained logically. Thank you, Tim.

[@mike42441]

This is the best video I've seen on modes. Also the coolest studio background of effects lights. A legendary guitarist sitting in the control room of a music time machine !!!

[@timpierceguitar]

Wow, thanks!

[@teddyyed]

@@timpierceguitar hello Tim thanks for this very cool video ! how to get the free backing track please ? I don't find it on your web site . thanks have a good day

[@castleanthrax1833]

​@@teddyyedThere's a link in the video description.

[@teddyyed]

@@castleanthrax1833 the link goes to the site web and after I don’t find the backing .😞

[@skeymoson]

Thank you Tim for your generosity. This is one that I will be revisiting. Just so valuable.

[@woozyjoe4703]

"It hasn't stopped me" I love it! This guy is amazing. Fantastic

[@albertoruiz6992]

Blown away by your teaching TIM.

[@RoyChavezSer]

After playing for 40 + years, and after watching this, I realize I play in "L" which is the Lostonian scale. A session artist on Tims level is an amazing thing to watch.

[@rajeshgumber363]

Awesome lesson Tim! Thankyou for the lesson and jam track! I'm going to start working my way through the 30 lessons, looking forward to that.

[@CWilliams-q6w]

Great to see a master at work! Tks for showing the basic along with the esoteric; artistry in the truest meaning!

[@alanjanda696]

And you always gotta love that flat 5 option! And when you get the diatonic Highway down you can stop off at triad station and then move on to arpeggio shopping center for just for a second.

[@scottc7952]

Unconfusing modes... Thank you Tim ! A huge help Lightbulb moment 💡🙂🎸🎸🎸

[@frankdardano3182]

You let people know secrets that are obvious to only you, Mr. SMILE. THIS helps overall knowledge that can be invaluable in creative endeavors. Your incredible playing incorporates so many important abilities, and you have effective ways to learn,which is the whole point. When a professional player over 70, says this, it's not a 12 year old kid, although they could learn as well from you. You still have the uncontrollable smile, when you do it the way you wanted it. Man, you are a TRIP!

[@MrDMF567]

That 335 is stunning 🤤

[@dylanevans16]

The modes got introduced to me by my comprehensive school guitar teacher. I was only 14 and couldn’t get my head around how to use them together at all. That’s the way it stayed until I watched this video. Thanks Tim!

[@drtonydc1]

This lesson was captivating. You have a way of introducing a concept and making us feel like we knew it all along, that it was so obvious. So many lightbulb moments, thank you for this. Definitely going to transform my practice around backing tracks.

[@timpierceguitar]

wow, thank you so much:-)

[@drtonydc1]

@@timpierceguitar I just tried it on a few backing tracks and it opened up the fretboard for me that was indeed transformative. I just never thought to look at it that way, so the concept you put forward expanded my awareness, kinda like teaching us to fish (as opposed to giving us a fish) so instead of having to remember a bunch of patterns and scales (useful of course, and arguably necessary to get from A to B), we remember a concept that we can apply to unlimited examples. So this becomes a purer teaching and really streamlines the process. Thanks again......

thank you Tim,, that was excellent, throwing in the middle about the Guitar was so cool

[@darringodden7225]

I just loved this one. I understand modes and you really nailed it Brilliant explanation

[@danstipe2221]

Geat lesson, Tim! Jam packed with super useful concepts! Thank you!

[@artemisXsidecross]

Thank you for a clear explanation using language as a templet

[@eatingsound373]

Excellent lesson as always. Thank you, Tim.

[@timpierceguitar]

thanks so much :-)

[@johnsworldofvideopoker]

So grateful for your incredible creativity, talent, experience, and awesome ability to share and inspire others to master their craft. So well done, Maestro!🙌🏻🙌🏻🍎

[@situational.analysis]

Your sense of musicality is so strong that these basic mode lessons sound like an album I want to buy.

[@Wendell309]

Thanks Tim and I really appreciate your lessons and overall input. 👍

[@jeremythornton433]

As a keyboard player, modes are super easy. Just learn your scales. Once you've got them down, you now can play all of the regular modes. All a mode is, is a scale not starting on the root of the scale.

[@bassprofishe1549]

It's the same on guitar really people just don't want to learn scales starting on the 4th or 3rd string so we come up with extra patterns start on string 1 and 2 and teachers expect us to learn all that for some reason

[@tdesq.2463]

Yep. It's amazing what we can see so clearly when mapped out on a Keyboard. Never underestimate the educational value of a linear layout.

[@gearoiddom]

I started with guitar. But music only really clicked for me when I looked at keys. I know some keys folks who have benefited in the other direction. The more instruments you tackle the better your insight. A cursory look at drumming taught me plenty too!

[@tdesq.2463]

@@gearoiddom Same here. That's exactly how it worked for me. The watershed moment was when I was doing some side work for someone who happened to be a piano instructor. She had a book of George Gershwin sheet music lying out. I told her how I love Rhapsody in Blue. Her response: "It's in there. It's yours. Take it." So, I did. Jackpot!!! As a bonus, I acquired a whole new appreciation for Def Leppard. Yes .... "Foolin'" from the Pyromania album. It's straight out of Rhapsody in Blue! Good Comment! 🎼TD

[@brucerichard2904]

Making purposeful choices is some of the simplest and best advice I've ever heard.

[@donlawler9510]

Yep! I think of it as 4 modes (in the order of most frequently used): Mixolydian, Dorian, Aeolian, and Ionian. For those very rare occasions that it's one of the other 3, I just think of it as one of the 4 I know but not starting on the root - just like you said. Of course, there is the rare harmonic scale like Joplin's version of Summertime... Good video!! Thumb's up!

[@jimwar1890]

“Modes”, or what portion of a key signature scale are emphasized, are totally based on chords. A fact that very, very few teachers discuss, including Tim in this video, who I greatly admire and enjoy. (I subscribe to his Masterclass - excellent stuff!) My teacher here in Atlanta made sense of it for me. There are seven chords associated with the seven notes in a major scale. The “mode” your solo work should follow in that scale depends ENTIRELY on what chords are in the song and THE mode is dependent on The emphasized main quasi-“root” chord. Take CCR song “Born on the Bayou” for example. It’s in the key of A. The dominate chords are A (I), D (IV), and E (V). But E, which is the fifths of the A scale is the primary chord. The song keeps coming back to it. Since E is the fifth, the solo scale that John F plays for this song, is based around that note. He keeps coming back to E. Therefore, the solo (in the key of A) is played in the mixolydian “mode” of A. Check it out. The song chords follow a progression of E, A, E, D, A, E. Always coming back to E. It’s not in the key of E, even though I’ve seen it erroneously written that way numerous times, because D is not in the scale of E. D# is, not D. Bottom line. Modes depend on chords and chord progressions. Entirely! Not the other way around! …and very few teachers talk to that basic reality. PS (correction): When I wrote the above I hadn’t watched the entire video. About halfway through Tim does “touch” on relationship between scales and CHORDS. But it’s brief.

[@stevekachinsky4438]

Good points, thanks!

[@tdesq.2463]

They're definitely bound together. The chords in any Key are built on its Modes. So, yes, if your in the Key of E Minor, and playing a B Minor chord, one should be aware that they are operating in the Dominant Minor (Phrygian) Mode. Excellent Note! 🎼TD, Boston

[@NoaGabo]

In your example, when you say the Mixolydian "mode" of A, that means E Mixolydian, right?

[@tdesq.2463]

@@NoaGabo That's what he's saying. Actually, lots of Rock songs are written "in the Dominant."

[@jimwar1890]

@@NoaGabo yes, correct and I’ve played for a long time but only recently learned the correlation. I’m taking face to face lessons and my teacher finally explained it to me in a way that made sense.

[@rickelliott821]

Very concise.. it’s the target or root note that determines the mode. THX Tim for all your insights.

[@stephanripianzi4004]

Thank you! I play about 1,000 hours per year for 35 years now! Self taught from a book called rhythm guitar. I appreciate the tips and wish I could jam some originals with you! I learned drums as a kid, way easier than guitar!

[@imacmadman22]

D Dorian - the "Santana mode" or as Frank Zappa observed; "Variations on the Carlos Santana Secret Chord Progression." This explanation of the modes is much easier to digest, or maybe I'm just dense. Thanks once again, Tim!

[@johnnylayton1672]

Glad I watched this video to be corrected on which note to use in pointing to a specific mode & the key being used. Personally I think sticking with the root of the key would be a lot easier but maybe that's just me...

[@M00nkat55]

I learned long ago the minor/major pentatonic like G/Em C/Am etc

[@brynjones7371]

Larry Carlton and Tim are so alike in their approach to guitar, it's wonderful to watch and learn from them. 2 Mr 335 players. ❤

[@tdesq.2463]

Pentatonics are handy for improv, because the 2 notes that are struck out of your primary pentatonics are the 2 notes that form the Devil's Interval (Lydian & Lochrian Roots (F & B, respectively, in C Major (or A Minor, D SubDom Minor, E Dom Minor or G Dom Major)).

[@DreidMusicalX]

Tim I love your cosy little nook studio surrounding you. I live in a smaller space then you but reminds me of my little nook. I don't have all you have though. Wish I did!

[@jep1267]

This gave me a complete revelation. I've learned the CAGED system but never connected, if I understand it correctly, that by playing the A pattern you're essentially Mixolydian mode, the E pattern puts you in the Locrian, the D pattern puts you in the Dorian mode, etc. All these years and its finally starting to make sense.

[@kungstu22]

This is like the whole Chord Chemistry book without the chord diagrams boiled into a single video. This video is life altering for me.

[@ianandrew626]

Hi Tim from the uk. Great guidance as always.

[@Kevboy888]

Nicely done. Good instruction video for musicians.

[@Thecrd2]

Sup Timmy P!! Love you man. Keep the fantastic content coming. You're a legend!

[@timpierceguitar]

Thank you so much!

[@lawncuttingplusdelta]

Very good lesson to get me to connect the dots better along with the caged thing 👍🏻💪🏻

[@firstbornofthedead1]

Tim this was soooo good & very helpful. Thank you.

[@soylentkris]

Love the channel, you are a titan. Personally, the modes from ascending Major I use most often are Lydian, Dorian, and Locrian.

[@soylentkris]

I do employ Mixolydian as well, but usually going back and forth between Mixo an dorian... the clapton trick

[@345builderman345]

Finally, I get it! Thanks for sharing this one Tim

[@sirwinston2368]

Tim, this was a really good lesson. I will learn a lot from this as I watch it and practice several times (say, 75 😎). sw (sub - 63 year old hack... but getting better every day!)

[@josephmann6675]

Good lesson. Your lessons are very good. Especially for “intermediate”/“beginning advanced” musicians. Lol I don’t know what level I am. I had lessons til people stopped taking me. I play for $ & ❤ now. If you want lessons? I really do like Tim Pierce and Rick Beato.

[@josephmann6675]

Super important thing Mr. Pierce talks about is how musicians communicate. We don’t talk a lot about modes. They are cool to know. He’s also right about learning rules - then you can break them. Also? The no Beatles album was made by telling John, George, Paul & Ringo to “explore mixolidian mode” 😂 because? They didn’t (and Paul may still not?) know what that means.

[@josephmann6675]

Mr. Pierce may be most correct about keeping a guitar in your hand if you wanna get good. He’s such a good teacher.

[@roballen49]

Great eye opening lessson! Thanks

[@MiniShowProductions]

I’ve always done it this way since i was around 17 its flavours against the diatonic chords that go by if you learn the 5 positions of the pentatonics and then add the additional notes from the major scale plus the blue note i think this sway simplifies it all you get used to the sound/flavor and away your go no need to think about what you actually playing just play what you hear in your head just before you play it kind of thing

[@KenFernbach]

Love the way you play, hope that watching your posts, maybe will get this to sink in to my understanding of whats goiing on here, but dude- you can play!😂👍🙏

[@butterflywing61]

OMG there it is at last ! Thanks Tim !

[@davidhoxit4274]

Love your content Tim🎼‼️

[@elenbrandt290]

I love your common-sense practical approach to attacking the guitar neck (that often torments me), thank you Tim! (p.s. your example licks are tasty as cream and shugah!)

[@finetuning417]

Thanks Tim, this really helped to fill in the blanks for me!❤

[@frankdardano3182]

Tim, I hope you don't mind my nickname for you.. in poker it's called a TELL,a involuntary movement or expression that gives a idea of what the other player may have. There are all kinds of these things in Las Vegas at the big money tables. Again, when you match your sound in your head,with the link or sound you were attempting to play, your small, but noticeable smile appears like magic. Keep me informed please, and don't go to Las Vegas!

[@yippy327]

Thanks so very much! Looking forward to some serious learning.

[@m.vonhollen6673]

Mr. Tim Pierce is a fantastic player! Much, much better than me! HOWEVER, he doesn’t properly understand modes. Respectfully, please see my other comments.

[@johnanthony6201]

Excellent, as always.

[@richardamantite678]

Thank you Tim, you are very helpful! Great playing too 👏

[@MurnerJoel]

Waow best teacher ever

[@ianbarnes1406]

You mentioned your Strandberg. Would love to see you playing that!!

[@rutsneischmitz]

Changing the IRs made it pretty usable for me. Bought a few from York, Tonefactor and Eminence. The downside for me is that you can only place one IR at time for each amp model. If I could duplicate the amp modelers, instead of being stuck with the ones I don’t like it would be much more practical.

[@RoanHayden]

Major scale with a sharp 4th = Lydian Major scale with a flat 7th = mixolydian Minor scale with a major 6th = Dorian Minor scale with a flat 2nd = phrygian Minor scale with a flat 2nd and flat 5th = locrian

[@randykalish7558]

Every morning I fall out of bed and grab the guitar right there and play myself into consciousness. I'd like to get my pick to balance on my finger while I wave my hand around, looks like fun!

[@MrPrincebass99]

Great hands-on lesson, Tim! One of the best I have ever seen, and you make it so simple. 👏🏻

[@Dan.50]

Modes are scales for each chord of the key.

[@JoePerry-r4j]

Once again Tim takes us on a musical journey that not only makes sense but demonstrates in real time how to apply these concepts to real music which stretches these concepts into magic. Tim if you could recommend a poor man's 335, what would it be? I currently have a Washburn from the 80s, which i love but would love your opinion . As always so grateful for your wisdom also i find secongd hand prs are showing up wondering if you have any recommendations

[@Mickferndalespeedy]

Great lesson

[@katsunori.bb.kawai.6633]

Thank you Tim san, good lesson!. 👏👍🙏😎

[@calebsj]

my couch is booked ended with acoustic on one side and electric and small tube practice amp on the other and my jam room is about 20 feet away with an all tube amp head twin speaker cabinet pedal board And recording equipment

[@MDavismdphotonet]

Just ordered Tim Pierce Humbucker Set 😃

[@marcsullivan7987]

Lydian and Phrygian are also used, but less frequently.

[@------YeahOK------]

Lydian is my jam..

[@michaeloxlong5697]

If you're going to say Ionian and Aeolian are the same thing why not extend that logic to every other mode since they're also the same exact scales with a different root?

[@m.vonhollen6673]

Exactly! What nonsense that was.

[@edryba4867]

@@m.vonhollen6673Really? If you could corner Tim for 10 minutes and say that to him, he could easily prove what he says. Going on KZbin and LYING to you is NOT what Tim does!

[@charleshuguley9323]

I have a 1968 ES335 with a 1.56" nut width. Really skinny, but my hands are small and I like it. On wider necks I'm unable to grab the sixth string with my thumb.

[@trained_monkey_with_a_tele]

How do you decide what modes you use when and where? I guess the bigger question is. If they all have the same notes, why are they even different modes in the song? Correct me if I'm wrong, but they're all the key of C Major.

[@randykalish7558]

I look at it as the notes orbit around chord centers, so when the change comes, the notes orbit around that new center and their emotional relationship to each other changes though their whole step/half step intervals do not. Thus, the A center is the minor feel and the C center is the major feel, etc. The different feel is because the intervalic layout of the scale changes when a note of the scale becomes the center or Tonic. Meaning there are 7 unique intervalic layouts (modes). The beauty of it is once you understand it really well, you can forget about it 😂

[@BluStile3]

I know what a mode is. I know I tend to stick in minor modes and that causes problems for me but this is going to take me a bit of time to master. I’ve looked at “Mix” but haven’t been able to move quickly in it yet.

[@roadwork.1]

Good stuff tim thx!

[@timpierceguitar]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@HollywoodRareGuitars]

Awesome video Tim!

[@vincemendoza28]

Lydian is pretty cool. Raised 11 makes it sound interesting.

[@ferenclucas2842]

one awesome song is flying in a blue dream in Lydian

[@dongpedroyi]

Another approach by Frank Gambale, whose VHS tape made my penny drop, is to go through all modes with the C note as the root-C Ionian, C Dorian, C Frygian, and so on-this way, one can feel the flavor of each mode.

[@TheRealBalloonHead]

Never underestimate the MixoDorian mode. The Phrygian dominant over a V7 always works too. But, fully understanding the major scale (Ionian mode) is the key to music.

[@m.vonhollen6673]

There’s no such thing as the “Mixodorian” mode.

[@TheRealBalloonHead]

@@m.vonhollen6673 i hope your kidding, or maybe you don’t know yet. You mix in Dorian and Mixolydian in your playing.

[@simonwilliams7608]

Thanks, Tim. I guess I often felt the pentatonic was a lazy option. You've just clearly shown me otherwise.

[@singthroughyourguitar]

Thanks for explaining all this and thanks to everyone who asked questions. I missed the live stream as it is 4am my time, but watched an advertisement so you can make some money. Take care.

[@LApianoplace]

Cool 🎶 jam, thank you

[@ALtheDoctorWho]

You Inspire me tim Thank you 👍

[@mekoskim1]

Just like you said, the Ionian and Aeolian modes can be seen as one, just starting from different notes. The same is true with the Dorian and Lydian modes, which can also be viewed as one. Similarly, the Phrygian and Mixolydian modes can be seen as one. This leaves only the Locrian mode as the odd one out.

[@m.vonhollen6673]

They are all different if you start them all from the same starting note. Of course they are all from the same scale, and will be same if you start them from different scale degrees (including Locrian).

[@mekoskim1]

@@m.vonhollen6673 Sure! Referring to Tim’s point about seeing the Ionian and Aeolian modes as one, you can view the other relative modes similarly. That was my point, and it leaves the Locrian mode out. It might be helpful to someone to see it this way since there are only three patterns to learn.

[@ratwynd]

Things I have learned from Tim Pierce: 1: Don't play too much. 2: Don't play too loud. 3: Play to serve the SONG 4: Play in short discreet phrases. 5: Be prepared for the gig or session. 6: Never EVER play over the SINGER!

[@brynjones7371]

Great advice.

[@thesaintscorner4490]

Grande Tim 👌❤️

[@glebe9]

Great video as always. Tim.....i stumbled on Rick Springfield's Live Aid set earlier - i remember watching it as a kid and remember loving that white HSS strat you used. Out of interest, do you still have it?

[@joegrant413]

Nice lesson. I'll checkout the Jam Track. Hey, I agree with your take on modes. But are you saying to not worry about all the chord changes, including the IV ? I know in general I can always play the pentatonic to the key, which would be the Major/ Aeolian thing. I ask because playing along with iReal Pro jazz tracks with lots of chord changes has always been tough.

[@wiredsport1]

Hi Tim, I have a question for you. I always think of this as playing the relative scales. For instance, playing C major and A minor. When I think of playing a mode, I think of actually a key change such as playing A mixolydian rather than A Ionian. Is that an incorrect understanding?

[@jwinchester1320]

Haven’t watched the video yet but I only use 2: Locrian #2 Dorian Literally covers all the bases

[@utahprepper8925]

Man, you need more gear! I don't know how you squeak by with such meager choices in equipment!

[@sseltrek1a2b]

there's a reason Tim's been on so many recordings...very strong, but tasteful player...

[@garryallanjoyce]

I used a broom handle while on holidays without my guitar lol

[@alexgramm5170]

Anybody have the Guitar Handbook? Very good overall guitar handbook.. :)

[@BoomerLicks]

So if I'm in C Major and I want to play G mix, the pattern beginning on G is the same W-W-H-W-W-W-H pattern as a C Major scale?

[@matguerra333]

@0:57 I THINK this is the "John Frusciante" scale. Almost positive, he uses it ALOT. Almost always on solos...