The Ah-ha moment for me and modes was.
And I knew them all and was practicing them up and down my neck, but I still didn’t have the major connection to fully understand them.
Yes, thei mode is the major scale with a Flat this, and that scale is a major scale with a sharp that. yeah, find and dandy, I get it and I know them, but it still doesn’t exactly click how and why.
until I heard the magic explained plain and simple.
"The C major scale is THE scale from which everything is derived, and this is because of middle C on a piano."
But the modes are just the same notes of the C Major Scale, played in the same order, but starting on a different root note.
So, D dorian - is c major starting on the D -
C major Ionian
C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C
D dorian
D-E-F-G-A-B-C-D
E Phrygian
E-F-G-A-B-C-D-E
F Lydian
F-G-A-B-C-D-E-G
G Mixalydian
G-A-B-C-D-E-F-G
A Aolean (minor)
A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A
B Locrian
B-C-D-E-F-G-A-B
Of course that is only in the key of C, so when you move it around to other keys, you need to express them in reference to their intervals to the major scale.
thats why you say
Dorian is a mojor scale with a minor (flat) 3
Lydian is major scale with a flat (diminished) 5
or
Mixalydian is the major scale with a flat 7
etc…
But the realAh-ha moment like I said was to understand that the C-major when started on D, playing the whole notes in order is a D-dorian, and started on E- playing the whole notes in order is a E-phrygina.
From that I learn them in shapes, 1-2 and 4th finger shapes, and if I need to play a D# Lydian, I can play the lydian shape, starting on a D#
It is best to know the intervals, as that is how you will express cords and talk to other musicians when telling them how to play something, but to know the shapes is a good wao to start out.
Then if you are questioned about which note is sharp or flat in a scale, you can run the scale thru your mind or on the fretboard, and know which note, and have the answer. Then eventually it sinks in and you just start to remember.
I was doing really well with it, then I got sick and took a little over 3 months off, and have just started getting back into playing the same amount that I was before, but I am finding alot of the things I learned are sticking. and I am able to recall more then I thought I would. slowly, but you always want to start slow and work up to speed.
Try this
Play the C major scale, starting on the 3rd fret of the A string
then try D dorian scale starting on the 5th fret of the A string
So basically, you know the C major shape, that works on the C on the A string, but if you move to the D (5th fret) and play that shape, it is D Ionian, or D major scale. So in order to play it in the same whole notes in alphabetical order as listed below, you will find the intervals are different, creating a different shape. In D dorian, the F becomes a Minor 3rd interval
In C major, C is 1, D is major2, E is Major3, F is perfect 4, G is perfect 5 A is major 6 and B is Major 7, C is Octave
In D Dorian, D is 1, E is Major 2nd, F is Minor 3 G is perfect 4 A is perfect 5th
B is major 6 and C is Major 7, D is Octave
So the shape changed in one interval in order to play the whole notes in alphabetical order playing from the D - the Major 3 turned into a Minor 3
And if you go on with that,
E Phrygian - E 1 - F - Minor 2. I don’t even need to continue on that one, it was that note right there
F Lydian. F - 1, G - major 2, A - Major 3, B - Augmented 4th. – that is the difference, the 4 moves up a 1/2 step
And you can play thru the rest
you can play down the A string
3rd Fret - C
5th fret - D
7th Fret - E
8th fret - F
10th fret- G
12th Fret - A
14th Fret - B
and if you want to play the C major on the 15th for good measure, go for it.