The first thing we need to understand about modes is that they are all about sound. For the longest time I did not really get that.

So in relationship to using modes to improvise, I thought if D Dorian is just a C major scale played from D to D, why bother even thinking about Dorian. Why not just think about it as playing in the key of C.

But I eventually learned. It's about sound. If I improvise in the key of C with a drone C in the bass I get a very different sound then if I have with a drone D in the bass.

Of course just playing the modes themselves, they all sound different. They sound different from one another because of the order of the intervals (whole steps and half steps).

One String Mode Fun

Let's start by using our open E strings. Let's use our low E as a drone note and then our high E to explore the different modes.

Locrian (H W W H W W W)