Bill Troxler
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Hearing the Modes

The modes are all about creating mood in music.  Understanding the modes will make your music much more expressive.  The first step in mastering the modes is learning to hear the difference among the seven modes that exist on the diatonic scale.

This page contains links to various YouTube resources that provide clear explanations of the modes along with samples of how the modes sound.  I STRONGLY recommend watching these short videos on the basics of modes and hearing the modes before getting into the theory presented in the handouts.  With the sound of the modes in your ears, the theory will settle in to your fingers much quicker.

Basics of the Modes

Intro #1 : 9 minutes
Intro #2 : 11 minutes
Intro #3 : 16 minutes

Hearing the Modes

Dorian  3 minutes
Phrygian 4 minutes
Lydian  6 minutes
Mixolydian 3 minutes

Chord Progressions and the Modes

Part 1  16 minutes
Part 2: 12 minutes
Part 3: 16 minutes

Modal Interchange

This topic is sort of the "graduate school" of modes. This video covers how to borrow chords from one mode and use them in another mode.   Even if you don't plan to use the technique, give it a listen.  You'll find this explanation provides enormous insight into music of all sorts.

Modal Interchange 10 minutes
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