Catch Up Mode with Mich Polan

Unlock the mysteries of music from The Visible Vault. Mich Polan, Drum Division Head and Modern Music Instructor at Visible Music College, shares a lesson in “Catch Up Modes".

https://youtu.be/YwRRzHf6rEs

I. Introduction – Identifying Modes/Scales by ear is difficult for beginning-level theory. There are, however, some shortcuts you can develop to simplify what you are hearing, and these shortcuts will come by:

a.) Deepening conceptual understanding of modes/scales in relation to “home base” major scale
b.) Relationships between modes help to group into smaller categories
c.) Shortcuts are developed through categories and then “hot notes”

II. Concept – A walkthrough of how all 7 modes + minor scales relate to a major scale (using A major as our reference)

Ionian – just a major scale
Dorian – lowered 3rd and 7th from a major scale
Phrygian – lowered 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and 7th from a major scale
Lydian – raised 4th from a major scale
Mixolydian – lowered 7th from a major scale
Aeolian – a.k.a “natural minor”, lowered 3rd, 6th, and 7th from a major scale
Locrian – lowered 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th from a major scale
Harmonic Minor

III. Relationships – Grouping modes/scales into 3 categories for listening shortcuts
Major Sounding – Ionian, Lydian, Mixolydian
Minor Sounding – Dorian, Aeolian, Harmonic, Melodic
b2 – Phrygian and Locrian

IV. Shortcuts – With smaller categories, we can now isolate “hot notes” to get us to the answer faster!
Major Sounding - #4 for Lydian or a b7 for Mixolydian
Minor Sounding – all have b3, but….
b6 will be either Harmonic minor or add b7 and now you have a natural minor
just hear a b3 and everything else major? Melodic minor
b2 Sounding – big give away is the b5 (Locrian).