Chord scales

Music Production Music Tech Discussion
1

Hey guys, new to the forums and SA! Can’t wait to learn and get to know everyone.



I’ve recently watched the Music Theory section worth of videos and I’ve got a few questions concerning the chord scales in them.



In the Music Theory - Chords videos, Phil provides you with a basic template for making C Minor and C Major chords scales (Thank you, so helpful) but then in the Music Theory - Scales and Modes, James gets into how he believes Phrygian, Locrian etc… may be used more by the popular producers.



I’m not sure, but do the C Minor and C Major chord scales apply to these as well? Is there some easy fix here that I’m just over looking?



Thanks



-James

2

One way to think of the modes is just as an extension of whatever chord your playing.



For example lets say your in the Key of C Major, and you play the dominant chord which is G Major, If you play starting on G all the white keys untill you get to the next G youll have played the mixolydian scale.



So lets say you were to write a tune in the Major scale with chords, and in that tune your harmonizing the notes of your melody with the chords… you may unknowingly be playing a mixolydian scale or a dorian scale etc.



I think that the first theory series you watched was teaching chord progressions. like I6-VI-VII-iv type stuff, with modes tonal harmony starts to fall apart and the progressions dont “progress” so you cant really have a I-IV-viio in a G mixolydian scale.



Instead you use the scales to accent the chords in the Major or minor scale, so you really have to shift your thinking.



But yeah, if you dont understand try playing the chords in the C major scale and then firing off the corresponding Mode that begins on the chords root note,



Also try making the chords of the C Major scale into 7ths as you do this, it makes it even stronger!

3

Appreciate the help Fluxyz



So there are only minor and major chord progressions, but the notes contained in the mixolydian scale (for example) would also be able to be used and still sound correct to the ear?



I’m a total beginner when it comes to music theory so some of that was a little over my head:Whistling:



I was confused thinking that there were also chord progressions for mixolydian scale as well that just weren’t provided.

4

Yeah, because the c major scale shares the same notes, so you could do a little phyrigian mode solo or something and it wouldnt sound incorrect.



And just keep at the theory thing, alot of this makes more sense the more you understand key signatures and voice leading stuff. Try to take information from as many sources as possible and itll make more and more sense.



Check out this video on ear training, in my opinion ear training gives you ‘talent’ but its really hard xD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3kC_lYLAZw





This books good:

[url]Amazon.com



and if you really want complete mastery of theory these college textbooks are the best (the used ones only cost like 5$)



[url]Amazon.com



And this book really helps you understand EQ and techy stuff

[url]http://www.amazon.com/The-Secrets-House-Music-Production/dp/0956446000/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333295574&sr=1-1[/url]



good luck!