Re: Modes for different styles of music.

Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2003 13:16:10 -0400
Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.guitar.jazz
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The only cultural style I've ever been able to associate with any single
mode is that Phrygian has a Spanish color to it. I think that scale
degree b2 was a very odd choice in most music of the Western traditions
and for some reason the Spanish were maybe the 1st to explore this.
But if we're talking about modes of the diatonic scale then as far as
tonal music is concerned (music based on major and minor keys) then all
those sounds have been used in one guise or another and which mode is
prevalent has very little to do with the style of the music.
But a few others that come to mind now that I think about it.
Ionian is the main scale that classical music in major keys is based upon.
Mixolydian is prevalent in Scottish and Celtic music.
Dorian is a prevalent in the music of Carlos Santana and lots of rock
and blues. <g>
Phrygian -Spanish (see above)
Lydian is often used by film music writers to indicate modernity. The
Jettsons, The Simpsons, etc.
Aeolian is the main scale that classical music in minor keys is based
upon but classical music usually makes use of the harmonic minor and
melodic minor scale variations. Lots of folk music uses pure
minor/Aeolian though.
Locrian is not used very much in association with any type of a tonic chord.
Also:
5th mode of harmonic minor (aka mixolydian b2 b6) has strong
associations with Semitic music (Klezmer, etc.).
I'd have to say that use of the melodic minor ascending scale (aka the
jazz minor scale) and its modes is propotionally higher in modern jazz
than in any other music style that I am aware if.
lucid77 wrote:
>
> I have heard that some modes lend themselves better to different
> styles of music than others.( Ex. mixolydian = jazz ) or a comparison
> simliar to that. If this is true does anyone have a list?
>
> Thank you,
> Sam
--
Joey Goldstein
http://www.joeygoldstein.com
joegold AT sympatico DOT ca