Diatonic Modes Exercise
With
Ollie WestonOllie Weston walks through all seven modes of C major over a backing track, eight bars each, so you can practise the scales, chord tones and improvising in each one.
What's in the course
51 lessons (2h 9m) · 1 free
01. Introduction + leaving town demonstration
Free lesson3:02
02. The Blues Scale
2:48
03. Swing Quavers
1:42
04. Combing the Blues Scale and Swing Quavers
3:57
05. Playing through the Blues form using root notes
1:18
06. Writes Your Own Blues
0:59
07. Leaving Town Blues - Improvise
4:13
08. Improvisation recap
0:49
01. Introduction to Minor 7th Chords
3:32
02. Dorian Scale Workout
1:40
03. Minor 7th Chord Lick
2:22
04. Minor Pentatonic Patterns
3:51
05. Minor Pentatonic Workout
1:52
06. Pentatonic vs Blues Scale
1:59
07. So Far so Good - Introduction
1:09
08. So Far so Good - Head
1:37
09. Minor Chord Extensions
2:45
10. Rhythmic Ideas
2:13
11. So Far so Good - Performance with Solo
3:50
01. Introduction to Modes
6:09
02. Diatonic Modes Exercise
You are here4:04
03. Modes with a Static Root
1:58
04. Modes with Static Root Exercise
1:06
05. Modes with Static Root Recap
0:34
06. Phrase Exercise for Modes
1:07
07. Phrase Exercise for Modes (Demonstration)
1:29
08. Song Examples
1:56
09. First Impresssions - Chords and Harmony
4:06
10. First Impresssions - Performance
4:06
11. First Impresssions - Introduction and Analysis
3:30
Lesson transcript
Understanding the Modes of C Major
To help you hear the modes in context, I've created a backing track featuring all seven modes of C major. Each chord lasts for eight bars, giving you the opportunity to play the scale and experience it in a different context.
Starting Point
- You could begin by playing:
- The scales themselves
- The chord tones
Eventually, aim to build up to improvising and creating melodies within these different modes, all associated with what is commonly referred to as the parent scale of C major.
The Modes of C Major
- C Major
- D Dorian
- E Phrygian
- F Lydian
- G Mixolydian
- A Aeolian
- B Locrian
"1, 2, 1, 2, 3."
This is a really useful exercise to understand how the context of each mode changes.
Remembering the Modes
For ease of remembering, each mode's position indicates which mode it is:
-
Dorian: Always found on the second degree of a major scale.
- For example, D Dorian is the second of C major, A Dorian is the second of G major, etc.
-
Mixolydian: Always associated with the fifth degree.
- G Mixolydian is the fifth of C, while A Mixolydian is the fifth of D.
This method of tracing your modes back to the parent scale is incredibly useful.
The Character of Modes
Hopefully, as you engage with that exercise, you're recognizing that the modes each have their own unique character. This understanding is key to highlighting their differences and applying them effectively in your music.
51 lessons
2h 9m of structured video lessons
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Meet your guru
Meet your guru
Since graduating from the Leeds College of Music (BA Hons) and the Guildhall School of Music (Post Graduate Diploma in Performance), Ollie has built a busy and varied career in music. As a saxophonist he has performed in live and studio settings with artists as diverse as Amy Winehouse, Tim Minchin, Bonobo, Frank Turner, the London Jazz Orchestra, the Hackney Colliery Band, the Ambient Jazz Ensemble and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra. He is also the co-leader of the jazz quartet 'Time Is Of The Essence', and composes and arranges material for this and other ensembles.
Ollie is active in music education, currently as course leader for the jazz department at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (junior school), where he runs jazz ensembles, big band and theory classes. He has written a series of 'Exploring Jazz' books for Schott Music that are published worldwide and feature on exam syllabuses in the UK. Ollie has also run workshops for Oxford University, Pro Corda Strings and BABSWE, as well as the Guildhall School of Music summer schools.
In his Exploring Jazz Saxophone courses, Ollie takes you from getting started right through to soloing confidently over songs and chord sequences, building the improvising skills that put a real jazz player's vocabulary at your fingertips.
