Learn Guitar Scales : The Exotic Phrygian Mode For Mystical Soloing
Posted by Kay Stanford Jr Kastum at 3:55 AMWhen learning to play the guitar it's crucial that you learn guitar scales so as to elevate your playing. You don't want to be sitting in that blues box forever. Playing by ear is a great skill, but you lack understanding of what you're doing that way. Comprehending music theory enhances your ability to compose original music as well as play guitar solos. When you learn guitar scales, you are learning music theory. Part of what you want to do when you learn guitar scales is to also learn modes, and one of these is the Phrygian Mode.
In simple terms, the Phrygian Mode is played by taking the notes of a key and making the first note and the last note played both the third note in that key's scale. So, let's say that you're playing a song in the key of C. To play a solo using the Phrygian Mode, you would start and end the solo on the E note. This does not have to be th exact same E-note; that is, you can start the solo with a low-E note and end the solo on an E-note two octaves higher, if you prefer.
When you become more highly developed with your guitar playing, you'll be able to play solos based upon the Phrygian Scale's intervals. Understanding these intervals gives you a more profound understanding of the notes that actually construct the Phrygian Mode. This enables you to become yet more creative.
The Phrygian Mode intervallically goes like this Root, flatted 2nd , flatted 3rd ,4th ,5th , flatted 6th , flatted 7th . So to play B Phrygian, you would use B-C-D-E-F-G-A-B'. Notice that B Phrygian Mode is actually in the key of G. Thus you are playing the G major scale, however you're emphasizing the individual notes in a way that kind of disguises this fact.
The Phrygian Mode is used to give an "Egyptian" or Middle Eastern feel to a solo, lead break, etc. It is a favorite mode of "Neo-classical rock" guitar players and advanced instrumental hard rock guitar players like Steve Vai and Joe Satriani.
Since the intervals comprising the Phrygian Mode necessitate including several flatted notes, this mode does indeed sound mystical. It can also sound very dark, as if a wizard is conjuring up some wicked demons. If you are into complex rock music, this is a mode that you definitely want to know about. It also sounds amazing when played on an acoustic or classical guitar.
Learn guitar scales to take your guitar playing to a whole new dimension. Add even more dimensions by learning modes like the Phrygian Mode.
In simple terms, the Phrygian Mode is played by taking the notes of a key and making the first note and the last note played both the third note in that key's scale. So, let's say that you're playing a song in the key of C. To play a solo using the Phrygian Mode, you would start and end the solo on the E note. This does not have to be th exact same E-note; that is, you can start the solo with a low-E note and end the solo on an E-note two octaves higher, if you prefer.
When you become more highly developed with your guitar playing, you'll be able to play solos based upon the Phrygian Scale's intervals. Understanding these intervals gives you a more profound understanding of the notes that actually construct the Phrygian Mode. This enables you to become yet more creative.
The Phrygian Mode intervallically goes like this Root, flatted 2nd , flatted 3rd ,4th ,5th , flatted 6th , flatted 7th . So to play B Phrygian, you would use B-C-D-E-F-G-A-B'. Notice that B Phrygian Mode is actually in the key of G. Thus you are playing the G major scale, however you're emphasizing the individual notes in a way that kind of disguises this fact.
The Phrygian Mode is used to give an "Egyptian" or Middle Eastern feel to a solo, lead break, etc. It is a favorite mode of "Neo-classical rock" guitar players and advanced instrumental hard rock guitar players like Steve Vai and Joe Satriani.
Since the intervals comprising the Phrygian Mode necessitate including several flatted notes, this mode does indeed sound mystical. It can also sound very dark, as if a wizard is conjuring up some wicked demons. If you are into complex rock music, this is a mode that you definitely want to know about. It also sounds amazing when played on an acoustic or classical guitar.
Learn guitar scales to take your guitar playing to a whole new dimension. Add even more dimensions by learning modes like the Phrygian Mode.
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