This Is Not Tool's Favorite Scale

In this week's video, we discuss Rick Beato's claim that Tool's "secret weapon" is the Phrygian Dominant scale.
#Tool #AdamJones #rickbeato
This video is brought to you in part by the following Patreon supporters: Bryan M, Dustin D, AJ M, Matthew S, Chris M, James G, Erin D, Jarrod D, Michael DR, Chase M, Gregory S, Jonathan W, Bryan, Benjamin P, Stephen M, Jeremiah E., Wyatt Y., and Steven G.
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[@axeofcreation]

Rick has since completely changed the title of his video as well as the thumbnail. It is now "Why the Pros Love This Scale" and makes much more sense contextually.

[@DK-pi3rd]

I think you meant to pin this but it isn’t showing as pinned at least for me

[@vyacheslavkhristolyubov413]

In the video itself he only played this passage and named the song and the scale - so he may have meant that this part of the song is Phrygian dominant.. Happy he changed that clickbaitish title anyway (cause he literally only mentions tool in the beginning)

[@noonesfang131]

Tools secret weapon is making odd time signatures not sound like they are odd time signatures. There are so many bands that use odd meter but when you listen to them even as someone who knows nothing about music there is something that sounds "off". Tool has the ability to use time signatures in a way that unless you sit down and count it out to the average listener it could be in 4/4.

[@user-oy6qc5dj9i]

Because they often repeat their odd time signature riff 4 times.

[@imac84]

Tools secret weapon is alternating between a measure of X beats and a measure of X+1 beats making it sound way more complicated than it is. Once you realize that's all they're doing 90% of the time, it becomes way less impressive. Their secret is being able to pay attention enough to keep that alternating pattern going over and over and over again for minutes on end through numerous various iterations.

[@fatfrumos1163]

This

[@ukaszukasz7059]

+ drop D tunning

[@SapperRJMorgan]

Nailed.

[@pocketdialmusic]

My experience with Rick is that you gotta consider his titles and thumbnails almost separate to the video, he knows how to play the KZbin game

[@mikebrennan9633]

I am no where near your level of Music Theory, and light years from Beato, but you are 100% correct here. Tool is D Minor pentatonic for the most part. And your videos for years have helped me understand that and become a better player. There isn't one time I take the stage in my Tool tribute band and don't think about the times you helped me learn whatever song our band is playing at that moment. Thanks for the years of help man!!!!!

[@wammons007]

very cool

[@Ruprecttt]

Love Rick. But you're the tool master.

[@axeofcreation]

Rick is great. Big fan.

[@juanignaciorusso3706]

Clearly. Greetings from argentina

[@user-bf6gz8ej4o]

Thanks for being so brave and putting this video up. The Beato fanboys will not be amused, no one in the comments even mentioned your points.

[@StewartLogan-q4x]

Always my first stop if I get stuck on tool songs. Thanks buddy much appreciated.❤

[@cortical1]

Thanks for this, Greg! Rick is a friend and a treasure, but I had the same reaction. You're absolutely correct here. 🧠👍🏻

[@axeofcreation]

Rick is great. Big fan. Hopefully people will see there was no malice here in anyway.

[@nmek42]

I really appreciate you doing these videos. Tool is my favorite band and you have really helped me tackle their whole discography and understand the theory of it. Thank you for doing what you do!

[@ErnestoSchnack]

I agree with your overall point, but 46&2 actually has a lot of F#'s in the vocal melody. In fact, the main hook of the song "my shadow" uses it.

[@DylanSterling]

Ernesto! The legend. 🙌

[@ReyCarmesi97]

yea it has F# and natural F as well

[@stephencoxbass]

Right? Isn't it fair to say that the song switches back and forth between the 2 modes? Plenty of songs do that.

[@ReyCarmesi97]

@@stephencoxbass exactly, this. a song can easily change modes or key/tonal center as many times as it's necessary

[@chrismartin6418]

“There are Fs everywhere.” 😂😂😂 I have a hard time finding any on Friday afternoon. Great response video to the mighty Rick B!

[@wizaxed]

Nice response, Greg! I think your response was spot on - Rick is a wealth of musical knowledge and talent, but you are correct. To categorize Phrygian dominant as Tool's secret weapon is just false.

[@axeofcreation]

Didn't even mention Tool after the scoring session. Baited.

[@jasonwest4952]

I love Rick but seemed like a way to grab an audience for some of his personal compositions. AJ/Tool always brings the clicks. Still happy to see any Tool shout outs from Rick though.

[@mattvgyo]

Rick has been playing a bit of a game of click bait with some of his more recent videos. This one was definitely an example.

[@DavidAaronson1]

That was exactly my reaction also, after checking out Rick video about Phrygian dominant (skepticism) and being Tool tribute band guitar player on most of their discography. The point is that Adam likes art in any form, he puts (even unconsciously)out of rules spicy and flavours everywhere like a painter draws invisible details that together make the difference in a paint. Nothing is plain vanilla on his music style, that's why we love him even though technically fairly easy. Easy to replicate but impossible to imitate Anyway I was expecting something like this from you Greg ;)

[@SterlingSimmons22]

Great video man, it’s good to see this type of “communication” between KZbinrs. Would love to see if Rick Beato sees this and then makes a better follow up video to his last video. To Rick Beatos credit, I think that video was a bit of a clickbait title 😅

[@jessessears4515]

Love Rick but he definitely blew it right out of the gate when he played the intro riff on guitar.

[@nick3718]

RIGHT

[@peterduncan9277]

Lol

[@morganmaclaverty4036]

My 10-year-old son loves your tutorials! He learns so much from you and especially likes the TOOL & APC videos... he wants me to ask you to please do a lesson on The Package by A Perfect Circle. Thanks!

[@stevej3454]

Sad to see you move from SD, will miss you, u are great with tool lessons and a great tool guitar teacher, best I've had even when it was briefly. Best wishes my friend

[@cuteasxtreme]

That Rick video was just a redo of his classic old style videos about the modes with Tool thrown in for clickbait. Thanks for clearing this up.

[@billscheid3675]

This response is perfection! haha! so, you got me thinking about what songs use an F#... and all i could think of is Reflection. But that song starts with B... so is it B Phrygian dominant (accidentally starts playing the riff from "Gotta keep em separated" and realizes i'm in way over my head).. Also since Disposition Reflection and Triad are supposed to be one long song... how in the hell does that all work? there's a theory vid idea for you!

[@dougstubbs4351]

Hey what up man. I totally agree with you on this. They definitely stay in a minor mode. It kinda of reminds me of what Rhandy Rhoads would do in his lead sections. He seemed to use the pentatonic scale but like you were saying he would borrow notes and tones from other scales for flavor and color.

[@smack6426]

Hahaha… nicely put. I’ve learned several tool songs from your channel and haven’t found any reason to doubt the notes used are correct (although as you’ve stated you sometimes don’t know where on the neck the songs are played but the notes are still on point). I recall quite a few times where you stated the scale used is Phrygian and can’t once remember hearing you mention Phrygian dominant. Not once. Thanks for all the help.

[@Meshuggapeth]

Natural minor and minor pentatonic are tool’s go-to

[@HeavyInHawaii]

Thanks for pointing this out.

[@rnrmfguitarworks]

I had the same “huh?” reaction when Rick talked about the F#. I love Rick’s channel, and am constantly amazed and inspired by his ear, chops and knowledge, but the title of that video did feel like pushing a square peg into round hole somewhat.

[@hannibalwantsahuggrande3433]

Just found this channel. Always been a big Tool fan, maybe ill pick my guitar up again soon. Thanks for your work.

[@samsonkoll1119]

Thx for sound video. Also Jambi solo harmonic phrygian just for triton effect...

[@oscarplaybass0013]

Bless the internet because i learned a new mode with rick and a lot of things with this video, thanks

[@cheetorb]

Great video Greg! I liked this “discussion” format, very informative. I feel like this taught me more about the way Adam creates music instead of actually learning one of his songs. OK maybe not more but at least equally important. thank you 🤘

[@skippityblippity8656]

You Could use some reaction face and red circles in your thumbnail 🤣

[@ricktheexplorer]

So they are bouncing from Phrygian Dominant to Phrygian normal. Very cool; thank you for clarifying.

[@SapperRJMorgan]

Also a Rick Beato fan even though I’m on board with Pat Finnerty (Beato!) but you are the TOOL guitar teaching god. Thank you for all your teaching videos. One of my favorite bands.

[@atomicsun72]

Well done. I hope Rick sees your video and reads the comments. I've been subbed to his channel for years too and have also learnt a lot from him but he is slipping and losing his relevance faster and faster with his recent videos with click bait titles and monotonous spiels about his training material. I'm now subbed to your channel and look forward to future content. Cheers.

[@irti_pk]

Great response, respectful and, to my knowledge, accurate. You hear phrygian dominant in the intro but like you said, the rest of the song doesn't stay there. Just Phrygian is super common in Tool songs though, so he probably should've said that.

[@joshuanathan4626]

Love you AOC!! Your vids are the best. Thank you (:

[@nkhjk3457]

The weird , or , idk odd timing lets say in their songs is more of the secret weapon i believe 😅

[@wes1]

rickcels will never recover from this massive axechad w

[@Skute]

Lol. Can’t help but laugh at the repeated “ we’re just having fun here”. Last time I saw someone critique or correct a Beato video there was a major backlash against them in the comments.

[@axeofcreation]

I pretty much praised him at every opportunity I had. I just pointed out that Tool doesn't really use phrygian dominant. Ever.

[@dallanby]

Hey Greg, just noticed Rick's changed the thumbnail/title...you got his attention it seems. And also echoing other comments, I really got a lot out of you shifting about the fretboard with all the tool riffs and helping me with the F/F# point. Enlightening.

[@peterduncan9277]

Nice video Greg! Makes total sense!

[@radiolocke]

I think your point is true for the guitar, but the vocal melody very much uses the F sharp, I’ll use capitals to highlight F sharp in the first verse; SHA-dow, SHED-ding skin, I’ve been picking, SCABS again UP down, DIG-ging through, my old muscles looking FOR a clue Considering the bass is hitting a D on everyone of these, that means we’re getting major thirds implied. The two lines above that don’t start with F sharp start with F natural, so we’re getting D minor thirds there. I think that gives a cool sound of switching between D major and D minor through the verse and means that they’re really using both modes.

[@juicybiscuit527]

Tool's secret weapon is Danny Carey. End Rant.

[@medvidmaks]

Yeah, he is great at assaulting Kappa

[@shamitoson]

100% Carrey. It sure isn’t 2 riff jones

[@cembellsteve]

Ladies and Gentlemen. Tonight we have in one corner Greg The Great . In the other corner we have Slick Rick B. They will be battling out between Tool's scales. HAHAHAHAHA just kidding around with both of you. Rick should do a, What Makes This Guitar Teacher Great video, about Greg. Both you guys have earned yall's respect 100X's over. Thank God yall wanted to do KZbin.

[@cristianstern5210]

Great video! I would like to see more music theory on your channel.

[@Amsty]

A secret is what it is - a secret! Like a secret , omnipresent , sauce.

[@andrewnevermind4902]

Hey A of C you legend. ✌️🇨🇮

[@kellenpotter1170]

You tellem Steve-Dave!

[@DrummerDaddio]

2 banana stickers for mentioning the Picardy 3rd. The effect of that raised 7th in this case totally has a similar flavor.

[@drinsouthwestWA]

We know your ear is atuned to Tool more than most Greg, thanks for the clarity.

[@sum1plz]

As far as F# goes. You've got the Invincible intro which changes back to F for the rest of the song. It's definitely not Phygian Dominant or even Harmonic minor. It is similar in the way that it just adds a little flair to the track. But I must say I totally agree with you. And immediately clicked this video because I had the same reaction to the Beato video. Love your channel and Rick's too. Good on you for addressing this respectfully, while also setting the record straight.

[@ukaszukasz7059]

Phrygian Dominant is main Nile (band) scale but not Tool

[@jupiterfalls8751]

Anyway you could or would be willing to show us your set up that you use if you were playing live idk if you have or not but I'm curious what your personal set up is for live gigs. 🤘

[@jaredwilliams1031]

I've heard other people mentioning Tool using exotic scales, and while I'm sure it happens, I'm with you 100% on this one. They have a very unique way of standing out from the crowd without focusing too much on scales.

[@Therankinlife]

Don’t forget to do the AiC video sir!

[@jackslate99]

There is nobody else but Greg who can legitimately take on Rick Beato on KZbin when it comes to tool!!!🔥🔥🔥😆

[@eds4754]

When you say about the F and F# being used, are you including the notes sung by vocals? I haven’t checked side by side but with AIC and Tool, a lot of the cool sounding moments are when the singer borrows some notes like that (particularly a major 3rd when you expect minor)

[@axeofcreation]

That's a great point. I've never really paid attention to that aspect. I'm only approaching it from the instrumental viewpoint. But even if he's adding those notes in vocally, the overall harmony is not phrygian dominant (throughout their discography.) This song, sure.

[@eds4754]

@@axeofcreation Yeah I definitely side with you. It took me a second to understand what Rick was on about, but I think if you take in their music as the overall sound rather than just guitars and bass then I think his point makes a little more sense. You’re totally right though, his video implies that it’s all over their music when really it’s more of an atmosphere that might linger in your head after listening to them. I do think the vocals should be included when analysing how Tool sound though, it’s arguably the most important aspect of any band and Maynard certainly gives Tool a TON of their personality. Heavy riffs often just need to stay more harmonically plain while the vocals can embellish the heavy chords and riffs with interesting harmony. If the guitars rammed exotic scales down your throat constantly it would sound really overbearing and force fed. I think it’s quite tasteful how they occasionally pick interesting notes. I’d also say that sound isn’t really unique to tool, a lot of singers unwillingly do similar stuff where they have these habits that become part of the bands sound. Would be awesome to see a follow up that kind of explores how the guitars and bass are playing predominantly pentatonic and how the vocals colour it.

[@Gustavobc0]

4:43 jones _does_ use F# somewhat regularly, to be fair (opiate², wings, and culling voices, just off the top of my head), but i will agree that it's never in a phrygian dominant context as it's never accompanied by the Eb. It's always either adding a touch of major or it's a rare occasion of a tool song in a different key

[@wesleytrott6397]

I thought the same thing when I watched Rick Beato's video.

[@TrentEaston379]

What about the song Reflection? Are you ever going to go over it? I mean I know I can just go look at tabs but I'd like hear your musical perspective on it: feel, scales, timing etc...

[@IVI4DMAX]

Tool's Secret Weapon 😅 .. oh AXE, I love you !

[@kozy9807]

Beautiful guitar

[@TheMickyAngus]

For one moment I thought I miss identified D minor pentatonic all this time 😅 Thx Greg for confirmation 😉

[@jarroddevore4252]

Such a great breakdown!

[@josephwhite8554]

Yeah it was an odd video that kind of briefly just extrapolated the theory from 46 & 2 without other examples to back it up, and then soundtrack improv for the rest of it. No hate on Rick at all but it was just a bit of a strange one. Enjoyed the peer-review much more 😉Looking forward to that AIC video.

[@jeffallen3382]

I've never been a fan of any of Rick Beato's videos. Just gives a high & mighty vibe...

[@SatanSplainer]

He changed the title of that video after this! Lol.

[@danielantoniosorescu5171]

That phrygian dominant bass riff that Rick played on guitar was just a pretext for him to dive into the harmonies of the scale and all that. 😁 That's how i see it. But other than that, great vid from yourself, man. On point, as always!

[@harshtruth9148]

You’re amazing bro

[@dadoboogins7833]

thank you

[@MichaelLeeMetalProject]

yea, you're right. Its just used as a turn around once. That doesn't make the whole song a dominate scale in my opinion as well. Nice catch!

[@bryanclegg7636]

Masterful🙌🏼 so I’m about to order my first kiesel and it’s a cs6 I’m big on tool and always appreciate your gear and content! Am I seeing things or is there slight fade on your guitar🤔

[@axeofcreation]

Awesome! No sir, no fade.

[@bryanclegg7636]

@@axeofcreation ok haha after second look I realized I was wrong and just light hitting it differently🤦🏼 beautiful guitar though! Been waiting for my AJ standard LP to arrive it’s been 4 months now and earliest I’ll receive it is November but probably more like St Patrick’s Day😕

[@cjparkser6102]

Hey can you transcribe personal promtheaus by puscifer.. that would be great.. thanks.. you are awesome keep it up

[@bladeMatster6]

Glad you did this coz I instantly thought the same.. D minor all day for TooL

[@rexfordhazelton7601]

Tool's music is both atmospheric and nuanced. Their music has peaks and vallys and hidden trails and could be classified as progressive rock and/or metal with a hint of classic rock flavor. I also think Tool is a groove metal band, not to be confused with Nu Metal. A lot of their songs are based on rhythmic hooks and repeating groovy motives, i.e. the entire Aenima album sounds like it was crafted around rhythmic ideas. Tool is fantastic. The guitar work is deceptively simple with no shredding or virtuostic noodling. Yet it is a challenge to put one of their songs together. You may get a main riff down pretty easily, but putting all the parts together in time with proper dynamics and pick scrapes and dead notes and pull offs from nowhere all come together and are a challenge for most.

[@VhangorD2]

greaaat video!! Loved it.

[@CNiswatching]

More like TRICK BEATO!! Big D Minor

[@JAFOpty]

*rises minor 3rd a half step to major 3rd

[@BBGuitars]

I am by no means music theory versed beyond basic notes and what an octave is, but his video just confused the F out of me, I was listening to his demos and I just could not place them into any tool flavour at all. This definitely cleared it up for me though!

[@whaleguy]

Yeah, I can't think of any song that has an F#. That F to G move is such a Tool thing. The most common half step moves they use are A-A# and less commonly, D-D#. Sometimes we get an E-F, but they don't hit E too much.

[@hyppyrotta71]

Can you make analysis/lesson of Revocation or Artificial Brain stuff?

[@jimmieerickson3598]

Speaking the truth! I like Rick a lot, but his theory tends to be a lot of unnecessary jargon. The way you explained it as a single altered note is the way the way to go about it. You also gave context as to what “phrygian dominant” is actually derived from-it’s just a harmonic scale using a different note as the tonic. It’s too much to get bogged down in an eccentric scale naming system to that degree imo.

[@jsebastian9547]

I'd argue most of tools stuff is in natural minor. Yeah, they'll play with phrygian here and there, but I think I hear way more straight aeolian.

[@jessewest2109]

Yup. Your right

[@mikehamel1622]

If I'm hearing correctly Twelve Foot Ninja seem to use that Phrygian Dominant would that be correct? Asked by a vocalist and not a guitarist. LOL!

[@jamimbi]

anyone got the link to Ricks video? I cant find it

[@knightsolaire5348]

Opeth use a lot more dominant phrygian than tool

[@juanandres6081]

I follow you man.🤙

[@flashbak01]

Dude, hold your ground on this debate!!

[@groundpounder0541]

Haha you really did it 💀

[@cbfdxbxsb]

Had the same reaction

[@kaan144]

Let that be a lesson to all music gods incl Beato….. check with AoC before nerding out on Tool!!

[@nick3718]

lmao im pretty sure rick just used adam jones in the thumbnail as clickbait. only like 1/6 of the video was about tool.

[@youngphilip]

I knew it lol Rick made me doubt....

[@magicman1798]

i thought it was the d minor pentatonic, but i don’t know much about music theory so iounno.

[@cembellsteve]

Sorry to bother you again Greg. What is behind you on the wall? Regardless it is cool

[@axeofcreation]

Sound absorber/diffusers. (Acoustic treatment)

[@allboutthemojo]

@@axeofcreation you are the Tool master . Thank you for all your videos. BTW, I heard Rick just canceled your dinner reservations. No soup for you ! 😀

[@axeofcreation]

haha

[@ChrisWilliamsRMWpigeon]

I think these scales have made musicians not see the playfulness of minor and major spiralling in and out of play and rhythm

[@axeofcreation]

They definitely can.

[@theopinson3851]

Yeah. Interestingly enough raising the F to F# is pretty much what you would be doing if you were playing the relative minor/harmonic minor key, so it is a smart move. *steals*

[@nickywhitmore4350]

I watch Rick beato he does have lot of music knowledge

[@RM-hr7ug]

Not the first time Rick is Rick Baito.

[@BANJ0BENJI]

a song that uses the f# is crawl away off of undertow

[@axeofcreation]

Yes but it's not in the Key of D though, so the F# is in that key signature. Again, no where close to Phrygian Dominant.

[@BANJ0BENJI]

@@axeofcreation damn your right. thanks for the response your stuff is killer i 've learned a lot from watching you videos.

[@user-ql1pc7pi9x]

This is what happens when you just have to churn out videos to keep up with the youtube monetization format. Sometimes you just get a video for the sake of a video.

[@drack1997]

did rick delete his video?