|
|
| Have you ever had a mental block when it comes
to ... cameras ... auto repair ... plumbing, whatever. One
of the biggest mental blocks I've had in my life involves getting my head
around modes. Just mentioning the word "mode" makes me start to hyper
ventilate!
When Richard Smyth mentioned that he had written
a book with companion CD specifically about this subject, I did a
mental eye-roll and thought "here we go again". But you know
what ... this time was different.
For starters, the entire book is 16 pages
long and for me, that was reassuring. This seems do-able!
Maybe I won't have to quit my day job and devote the rest of my life to
this after all! I flip the book open ... Richard lays out the
theory behind modes in one page, devotes a page to using the book
& CD, talks a bit about phrasing ... turn the page and we're
into the first mode! |
|
OK, so ... the Phrygian Mode.
Sounds like something a group of monks might chant on a cold dark night
... right? So far I'm not excited. Well let's flip the
CD on and hear what Richard does with it ...... whoa. OK, so that
sounds significantly cooler than I thought it would. As a matter
of fact, that is some of the most tasteful playing I've heard in
a while! At this point, I'm feeling inspired and I turn back
to the book.
Being the terrible reader that I am, I'm
instantly drawn to the pictoral showing the Phrygian mode with colour coded
dots indicating the Chord Tones, Scale Tones and Transitional
Tones. In other words, as well as showing the mode in notation,
Richard draws a pictoral that illustrates the shape of the mode.
Hey ... this isn't as scary as I thought! I flip on the hip sounding
play-along track for the Phrygian mode and start noodling, utilizing
the shape indicated and ... a half hour later I realize I not only now
know the Phrygian mode in one position, but I've actually had a blast
working it into my own playing style!
Richard has been a pro player and educator
for many years. His playing is very musical and tasteful in a Robben
Ford meets Larry Carleton sort of way ... exceptionally interesting solos
with really beautiful phrasing. The companion CD is very much in
Richard's own style but I know a lot of other idioms that use modes extensively
... everything from heavy rock/metal to modal jazz standards!
It is extremely rare that I feature a method
book on this site. So why do it now? Because I'm sure there are a
LOT of other players out there like myself, who are stuck in a rut
and want some more interesting note choices in their playing. If this book
does anything, it DEFINITELY gets you playing in different directions
... really opens up your improvising skills and does it in a very
ENJOYABLE way!
Local customers; please call to make sure we have stock
before coming down.
Long distance customers, please ... email orders only.
$29.95 Can/U.S. dollars
plus shipping (approx. $5 - $15. in North America)
To Order MODENomics, email us at
sales@12fret.com |
|
