I have a few suggestions for you that might help kick-start your playing into a new level of sound and textures and you can bypass hours and hours (and I mean lots of hours) of learning and practicing modes. Because, in the end, once you have mastered modes, you then have to find a way to NOT sound like you are just running up and down some complicated scalses that you just learned. Don't get me wrong, it is not time wasted, and you will impress people with your echnique. But, neither Van Halen, nor slash, nor Eric Clapton, nor Stevie Ray (or probably whoever else you are into if you listen to alot of Blues and classic rock) sat down and memorized modes, I can promise you that.

What these guys DID do (and did very well) was listen!

Many guitgarists overlook the importance of listening, and building your ear. My suggestion to you is to focus on scale degress, and make it your business to really tune your ear to hear how each scale degree really adds different flavors. To start off with, here are your typical 7 scale degrees:

1: The root. Safe, centered, a feeling of "Resolved" or "Completion" zero tension (in the key of "C" this would be the note "C")

2. Leading, yearning, an immediate feeling of movement. Unresolved and indicating that sometning is coming next. (in the key of "C" this would be the note "D")

3. Harmony. Your most obvious choice when thinking what note should I harmonize with. Minimal tension, a sense of connection with the previous note and somewhat resolved sounding. You can really do wonders with the 3rd degree of the scale. The most obvious move is to flat the 3rd, for the "Blue" note. (in the key of "C" this would be the note "E")

4. The "Next Step" many many many songs start on the 1 or "Tonic" chord, and soon go to the fourth "IV" chord. 99% of all Blues tunes do this, and more pop / rock songs do this than you may think. Technically, the 4th degree of the scale is dissonant. But when treated right as far as tempo, it can still have a soothing effect. A very strong and anchord note to play against the tonic. Not so much resolved, but not as "Yearning" or "Leading" as the 2nd. (in the key of "C" this would be the note "F")

5. The "FIVE". A sense of near-completion. The "FIVE" or "V" always wants to go back to the "One" but alot of great stuff can be done with the "V" (in the key of "C" this would be the note "G")

...read the full guide with pics here

really cool stuff that a lot of players really don't think of when thinking of a lead. It also can help if you think of what you want the listener to feel when starting or playing the lead like you can hit a 6th note to give a sad feel or th 5th for a happier one to start off. And both work in all the major or minor notes.

learning the modes will help you do that and much more.

the link wasn't really saying not to use them it was giving you a different way of thinking on using them

no - it was trying to sell a book !

Yep, more spamming.

(Wishes for banning power for christmas)

uncle meat wrote:

no - it was trying to sell a book !

HE SHOOTS, HE SCORES!!!!








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Play what you want, play what you feel and don't look so suprised when the people you play for don't get it.

well, thing is, this did give a slight lesson on guitar so it really isn't spam. it's in the right section at least. but they just plugged the 'book' at the end of it. i learned some stuff from it honestly. it's a different approach