Canta y toca

Review of the Three Modes

We're now going to review the three most commonly used modes:

• The Ordinary Major Scale
• The Mixolydian Scale
• The Dorian Scale

And we're not only going to play them; we're going to sing them.

Singing the B Flat Major Scale

Here's a B flat major scale. Try singing that:

Dooba dooba dooba doo bidoo doo wa.

Now, sing another phrase using the same notes but with a different contour, maybe starting on a different note.

Do be do badoo doo doo doo doo doo.

Just about. It doesn't really matter about your voice as long as you can hear some ideas.

Alternating Singing and Playing

Now we're going to do that several times, alternating between singing and playing. If you can do it in time with the backing track provided, which has a bass line you'll hear, and left-hand chords, you could be playing a left-hand chord:

Doobie doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo.

Then, flatten the seventh so B flat seven in the left hand.

Do badoo badoo badoo.

There's your flattened seventh:

Do be doo doo.

Now, think up a phrase from that scale. Okay, but keep playing in the left hand and keep time.

Creating a Piece of Music

Try to make the whole thing like a piece of music where you alternate singing and playing, and you're trying to copy the phrases that you've sung.

Once you get the sound of the scale in your head, this makes it a lot easier.

Flattening the Third

Finally, we're going to flatten the third. This now fits the A minor seventh chord, B flat minor seven:

Do ba do.

Make sure you get the minor third:

Do badoo badoo badobi.

And the flattened seventh this time.

Okay?

You really need to hit that minor third and the flat seven confidently.

Recognizing the Scales

Learn to recognize the sound of those scales. Sing them! You can practice this sort of thing at the bus stop or when you're driving.

It doesn't have to be at the piano. Try it on a different note every day, for instance, as well.

Cycle of Practice

So do the three chords and the three scales. Sing and play them.

Maybe tomorrow, you might do it on F or go up in fourths. Do it on E flat.

Going around the cycle is the best way to learn all these scales and practice them in different keys.