Understanding Modes Part 8: Modal Playing

[@lewisshorrock1352]

Fantastic series! Guitarists seem determined to learn all these different scale shapes but miss the critical part about how/ when to use them. I've not understood the latter part for years, meaning I know all these patterns but can't do anything with them. This has completely changed the way I look at the fretboard. Massive thanks!

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks for reaching out man! I appreciate you watching!

[@iuhyeah1641]

Your videos have an amazing clarity. Thank you for teaching me modes!

[@snyderkurva]

Thanks for the lesson, especially this last video explaining when to use them.

[@seandaniel23]

Happy to help my man!

[@koolaid6937]

This is the best explanation of modes I have ever seen and these lessons will change my playing forever, Thank you

[@seandaniel23]

Man thanks so much for watching :)

[@miikamessi]

Thank you for this series! You taught this topic the best that ive seen

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much and congrats on making it to the end!

[@13thLegio]

Got to the end of these videos recently. Thanks for taking the time Sean, it's been great learning this stuff. During the videos, I found myself making up tunes and solos that have taken me down unexpected music bunny holes. ;) I feel like it has given me a toolkit to take me forward in my guitar playing. I warmly thank you sir!

[@seandaniel23]

+13thLegio So awesome to hear! Thanks for saying so!

[@thekarmapolice1]

This was hands down the best video explaining modes, I feel like I finally get them. Thank you!

[@philjames1019]

Another tutorial in the high quality we have come to expect from you Sean .... thanks!!

[@sketchquest]

Sean Yo Have no idea how much yo have given me in terms of finally understanding the Modes! Thank You Linda G. Sanders

[@seandaniel23]

So great to hear, Linda. Let me know if you ever have questions.

[@sketchquest]

I will.

[@KingSchik]

you are a good teacher. thanks for all your lessons

[@seandaniel23]

+Isaiah Brew Thanks for the compliment. I'll keep em coming!

[@ElectricGuitarManiak]

Just finished working through this series, really looking forward to getting these techniques ingrained into my playing. Learnt huge amounts just from these short videos, keep it up man I look forward to your future videos. :)

[@seandaniel23]

Awesome to hear! I'll keep it up!

[@nakamaka162]

Thank you so much man! I'v been playing a guitar for 3 years and when it came to improvising i didn't know where the right notes are placed. But it all became clear because of you, also it's so usefull when you try to compose smth. Thank you very much!I wish your channel to become more popular)

[@seandaniel23]

So great to hear it was helpful! I appreciate you reaching out and I'll keep the videos coming!

[@nakamaka162]

Sean Daniel your style of telling it easy and short is great ) usually this kinda videos are long and boring)

[@TheGreatman2011]

never seen a lesson with that quality... thanks a lot.

[@seandaniel23]

+Eduardo Oliveira Happy to help!

[@uri4m]

Thank you so much sean!!! It's been a wonderful journey, I finally got to understand this stuff... I also wrote a cool intro to "layla" using the d phrygian mode, thanks to this series of lessons!

[@seandaniel23]

Awesome! So cool to hear that it helped!

[@spektaloza]

MIND.... BLOWN !!!!

[@seandaniel23]

Great to hear it!

[@hYpYz]

excellent video series....watched all parts. Now I'm going to pick up the guitar and go back to the beginning. Found the channel through 100 chords in 8 minutes video. I assume same kind of thing can be applied to 5th string root chords. NVM this modal lesson is amazing. I'm a hobbyist guitarist so i have nuggets of knowledge I got from internet and it takes videos like yours to reinforce and tie everything together. Thank you man

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks for reach out man! Glad they're helping, you're right on about the A string rooted chords too, and I did a video on that with some different voicings if you're interested. Keep on practicing and let me know if you have any questions :)

[@BiswajitMondal01]

your lessons is very helpful to me,and you teach better than any one, thank you for helping us😃😃

[@seandaniel23]

+BISWAJIT MONDAL Happy to help my man!

[@looganne9598]

this was the last thing on modes that i needed. thanks!

[@seandaniel23]

So happy to help.

[@mrartistbill]

I finally understand this stuff thanks Sean.

[@seandaniel23]

Happy to help!

[@gilschaffer1184]

Sean, could you do a breakdown lesson involving modes using the song "if i ever get around to living" by john mayer? Great song, that i can't seem to figure out mode wise and jam wise. i think it would be useful and give you a lot to work with if you're interested. thanks for all of the great content!

[@seandaniel23]

That's a great one! I'll put it on the riff deconstruction list!

[@AdrianVisan]

This is quite interesting, could help us if you use a backing track/looper to have the chord strumming in the background while you play something on top. In any case the examples are great and the ideas you presented can help us expand our musical vocabulary.

[@seandaniel23]

+Adrian-Florin Vișan Great idea! I'll see what I can get together. Thanks for the support!

[@shajay4111]

Whenever I’m having a musical existentialist crisis, I go to your channel and I get inspired all over again, so thank you Sean :) I feel like I need to fill in more gaps before I can contemplate modes, and so I have a question- is the minor pentatonic (in the five shapes) like modes minus the two notes? My next question is, I’d like to know if there is a recommended approach to learning these things e.g. chord voicings -> major scale/minor penta -> arpeggios -> modes…? I’d appreciate any advice. Thank you so much for doing what you do :)

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks for reaching out! You're exactly right about the minor pentatonic. I also think learning chord building from the major scale is the best place to start and work into modes from there. I'll have some more vids coming out on those!

[@adnansusic1650]

I have a question about playing in the context of a band ( 7:33 is your example). What Does the band have to do to make it work? Because you told me earlier it only works if they know what you are doing. And if it isnt in a band context and i play by myself does it work then?

[@seandaniel23]

Yeah as long as the whole band knows the changes it'll work. I think it's kind of tough to keep that playing tight and together unless everyone is really well rehearsed, but of course if you're just doing it solo you can keep switching it up as long as it sounds good to you!

[@shayh.3556]

So I can play which ever mode I want over a C chord basing it on the root being a C note?

[@adnansusic1650]

8:34 - 8:44 Sean i really hope you dont get annoyed by all My question because i ask a LOT but what did you mean by Exploring. Did you mean what you talked about earlier about trying different modes for chords in a key. And i had a question earlier and i didnt get as developed response as i wanted. As you maybe remember i asked about what does the band have to do to make it work( 7:33 ) and i wonder what they have to do theory wise, Like which chord should they play in a key or note without exploring because it wont work then as you said. Or does it simply not work because it is a key change and they have to be prepared for it

[@seandaniel23]

Definitely meant they more have to be prepared for the key changes, if you're randomly switching modes with every chord it can work, as long as the band knows what's coming. As far as exploring goes, it's just trying any of the 3 major modes (ionian, lydian, mixo) on any major chord, same with the minor ones ;)

[@lancewilliams6614]

I take more notes of his videos then I do for my classes

[@seandaniel23]

Awesome to hear!!

[@lancewilliams6614]

Sean Daniel thank you so much for your videos your videos helped me improve a lot faster then the rate I was already at

[@isaiah30v8]

Sean, If I play a blues in the key of A where the 1,4,5 is A, D, E and in the chord progression I play A minor pentatonic over the A, D minor pentatonic over the D and E minor pentatonic over the E. Instead of A minor pentatonic over everything. How does that differ from playing "modally"? Your answer might help me make a quantum leap in understanding. ......... or not

[@seandaniel23]

Well it's a lot like playing modally, but a little simpler. Since it's Blues in A, A minor pentatonic the whole way through is your best 'bluesy' bet. Playing the minor pentatonic over each respective chord will give it more of a 'modal' sound, but can be harder to pull off musically.

[@tommybelgum8504]

last thing I don't understand about modes is when can you root/start on the A string? can you play any mode on the A strings in any spot or what?

[@seandaniel23]

Yeah so let's take the modes in the key of C. if you want to start on the A string (C ionian would be the 3rd fret) just think of the G mixolydian shape you learned on the E string root, but just begin on the C and finish it.

[@millerviz]

I don't know about the approach you describe. The locrian mode in C major should be played over the 7 chord B-7b5. Then it will sound like Locrian. . It's okay to force other modes over the "wrong" chords. It will give you various altered sounds with a lot of discord and tension. But as you say, better let the band know what you're doing!

[@ec8107]

A big thanks for all the outstanding content Sean. I'm trying to wrap my linear, "1+1 always equals 2" brain around modes and "playing in key". If I am in the key of C, to stay in C the fifth position G is mixolydian. However I can play C mixolydian with the understanding that, technically, I have changed key to F. And that this is fine as long as everyone in the band is on board. Would this then be what is termed Modal Interchange? This is what makes jazz so "out there", yet everyone in the band is out there together? Please tell me I am on the right path 🙏, Sean. If not, I may Townshend my Telecaster.

[@Kitsonsonvacation]

I am a total beginner and I tried the backing track in the description, one thing I would like to know is that: can I play the same mode for the whole bar? for example the track go from I, VI, II, V, if in this situation can i play the C ionian mode for the whole progression without changing to VI / II / V mode with the track, even the track changes from I to VI, can i still play the Ionian mode with the VI in the track ? or should I follow the chord progression, when the track go to a VI, ( A minor) I should always play the 6th mode to blend with it or there is no strict rule about it?

[@seandaniel23]

No strict rules at all. You can always play the same mode over any chords in the same key.

[@Kitsonsonvacation]

Thanks Sean! I am starting to understand how improv works :)

[@Kurtis-hs9il]

Ok so If Im understanding this correctly - what would be most musically correct is to play the corresponding mode number (ionian=1, dorian =2, phrygian=3 etc) that equals a chord progression. Therefore if you were playing in Gmaj and started with G ionian, then the progression went to the 5th (D), the most 'correct' idea would be to play the fifth mode (mixolydian) in the key of G. Someone please advise I got that correct. Would it make a difference If I wanted to start my 1 - 5 , G - D, progression on say, Mixolydian, for example. Would the fifth mode, therefore the same mode, make the most sense when the progression switched to D?

[@seandaniel23]

You've got it! So in your G-D progression, you can totally play D's mixolydian mode at any point in that progression and it'll sound great (and perhaps will sound most 'right' when you land on the D chord) but you can always experiment with them and play the G mixolydian mode over the G chord, and then switch to d mixolydian over the D chord. Even though they don't exist in the same key, you can get some cool 'modal' results.

[@Kurtis-hs9il]

Thanks -Sean Daniel , this is very helpful.

[@adnansusic1650]

Sean Daniel didnt you say you cant do that around 7:25

[@samittapkire190]

Beginner question : Say I'm in key of C (common knowledge to use is A minor or C major scale for improv) What if I wish to infuse a Spanish/flamenco tone ? Would it be okay to use a C phyrgian mode let's say along with A minor ? (As technically that would still be the same key, right?) So confused about modes !

[@seandaniel23]

Well I think your best course of action would be to play A phrygian over A minor, it'll give you a darker sound.

[@adnansusic1650]

7:33 Sean please explain why that doesnt work i feel like you just went against what you Said erlier. Like I interpreted it as you Said you can play a chord like C as an example and then you can play any random mode but rooted on a C so why wouldnt it work there????

[@seandaniel23]

Well unacceptable is a little strong, I was talking a little more of how it would work in a band context, so if the rest of the band was aware you were going to do something like that, it could work. But going rogue on guitar and switching to a different mode every single time might not get the best results.

[@adnansusic1650]

Sean Daniel what does the band have to do to make it work? And id it isnt in a band context and i play by myself does it work then?

[@sineadzara8458]

If i want to play 'modally', using the back in track you linked, on the C maj chord I can play G mixolydian shape starting on the c on the a string. Is this correct? or can I go: "okay, over the c chord I will play F Ionion because why not?". I am a bit confused. You're basically saying that in C major i could play the modes as you've taught (the shapes) but this is boring and to spice things up throw in random modes, like over an A min (in C major key) play the b locrian shape?

[@seandaniel23]

Yup pretty much! Like for example, in a C major track, play C lydian or C mixolydian and you'll get more of a modal sound.

[@sineadzara8458]

If I play c lydian, I will be playing the g major scale? can I play c lydian over the whole fretboard or just the c lydian box (of the g major scale) starting on the 8th fret? And I will have to avoid f# probably...? Sorry if I am misunderstanding something basic. (thank you very much for responding!!!!!)

[@JimenezFernando]

awesome thanks !!!!

[@seandaniel23]

+Fernando Jimenez Thanks for watching!

[@robford3211]

They kicked Ornette Coleman out of any band in Texas and looked what happened? Last time I saw him SF gave him a key to the city : a genius player that always played to his own tune

[@SoonerTruth]

In reality Sir Every Mode Shape you taught is in effect Incorrect ! Because Those patterns are like (camelians) they all become ionian they all become dorian depending on the Tone you put behind it.....Its all simply 1 giant Major Scale, Your "Chord will decide" what mode is created and its that simple.

[@klumpytheklown3798]

Hey there! Congratulations on having your comment featured on Sean Daniel's. I would just like to say that while your critique of Sean's instructions is seriously on the harsh side, I found your observation of them all resolving to Ionian quite profound. I think that youur comment being featured in a video could possibly be Sean's way of saying, "Hey that's what I was trying to say." At any rate, thanks for encapsulating the message for me. Sometimes Sean uses way too many words when he explains things.