If I'm honest, modes held me back
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Inspired by a recent post of Guthrie Trapp's. I haven't ever heard anyone mention modes since moving to Nashville, either. Here's why I think focusing on them held me back from where I personally wanted to go and what I think about instead.
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0:00 Welcome! Modes held me back.
1:00 Disclaimer :)
2:09 Here’s a working definition for “mode”
3:37 How modes held me back…
5:28 Where I actually wanted to go…
7:34 This video is for you if…
8:12 EX 1 a chord progression in the key of G
12:44 THE ENTIRE POINT OF THIS VIDEO
13:30 EX 2 a chord progression that doesn’t fit neatly into one key
15:39 Everything is chords.
17:50 Closing thoughts. Please SUBSCRIBE
Thanks for hanging out!
@JustinOstrander 7 ай бұрын
Let me address two things: 1) I don’t think I’ve ever had a natural musical ability. It comes down to one thing only: hours. Not just any hours. FOCUSED hours of practice. Sweat. Frustration. Almost walking away a thousand times but not actually doing so. Tiny, incremental breakthroughs that add up over the years. No one’s fingers go to the right notes automatically. All I’m saying in this video is that focusing on chord tones instead of thinking what scale or mode I’m in got me where I wanted to go. And where I wanted to go, as I said in the video, is playing melodies. Saying something with my playing that is compelling to others in the same way that I find my favorite players compelling. More on this to come… 2) I’m not saying that I don’t use ANY framework at all. I’m just saying that when I think of scales or modes, that tends to be what comes out. When I think of chord tones, something more melodic comes out. At this point, I’m really not trying to think of anything…just listening and trying to get out on the guitar the melodies I hear in my head. Pat Metheny has said that he thinks in triads and uses arpeggios to get around the fretboard. I think this is a lot closer to what I’m doing. More on this to come as well…
@stevec9972 7 ай бұрын
I think they call that sub conscious competence. Do all the theory study to a level your not thinking of it when playing. I'm not there yet
@DavidHenderson01 7 ай бұрын
Ok, the song is a country song with 3 chords C, F, G. What do you play on the solo and explain how that isn't math or a mode? Major scale = Ionian Mode = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 , 6, 7. Looks like math and modes to me? What is the Nashville Numbering system? Math? That progression is a I IV V. Based on what? I = C = 1,3,5 IV = F = 1,3,5 V = G = 1,3,5 C major Pentatonic = 1, 2, ,3 ,5, 6 1,3,5 of what? Chord tones of what? Degrees of what? I, IV, V of what? Wouldn't that be of a scale which is also a mode? My point being music is based on math and modes whether you are thinking about or not. ;-)
@JustinOstrander 7 ай бұрын
@@DavidHenderson01All I’m saying is, I’m focusing more on the chord tones you listed out and not so much on the scale formulas, etc. You might think that way, and that’s fine. But I find that I play more compelling, melodic stuff when I *don’t* think that way.
@DavidHenderson01 7 ай бұрын
@@JustinOstrander What I am saying is the triads you are focusing on are based on modes/scales you are not focused on. And that all that harmony that you are not focused on is based on math. But it is all still there whether you happen to think about it or not. Like nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc... when we speak. BTW, I am able to think about it in way more than one way which I am sure you are too. It all works! That's the beauty of music....thanks!!
@DominicHudson79 7 ай бұрын
I understand both points being made but it is a big stretch to say you don’t want to hear math in music when modern country music is so full of cliche based entirely on the number of any given chord. Of course everybody wants to free their mind and play from the heart but you guys are under pressure, banging out songs on the clock and employ a number system and the common phrases/cliche’s/devices associated with it to get the job done.
@johnnychacon9978 7 ай бұрын
I think the best soloing advice I got from a KZfaq teacher was : forget modes and learn phrases that are inspired from the music your trying to solo to. He was a old jazz guitarist and said he listen’s to music and finds a song within a song that inspires him. I do that and really does help.
@jasonwilliams6042 7 ай бұрын
I’m so glad that you said this! I think Lenny Kravitz once said: I’d rather hear someone play one A note over and over again with passion than to hear someone play scales all over the place. That really resonated with me as a guitar player growing up.
@lou.yorke.x 7 ай бұрын
Joe Strummer said something to the effect that he would rather listen to a novice struggle to play at the edge of their ability, and pull it off, then listen to a virtuoso.
@danpetersonmusic Ай бұрын
I wonder if Mr Kravitz would listen to someone play modes with passion. That person would be Carlos Santana, who regularly used modal ideas in his playing. I could keep going with a list hundreds of names long but Santana is KNOWN for his passion. The point is you can know your instrument AND play with passion since those things don’t cancel each other out.
@TNNLZ 5 ай бұрын
It’s all about the chords… This is the approach I want to take - Thanks for this 👍
@jogo2000 7 ай бұрын
My guitar teacher showed me the mixolydian and dorian modes and studying and listening to how those modes sound like has really opened up my harmonic palette when I improvise. I think modes can be a great teaching vehicle if you don't look at them too mechanically.
@michaeldematteis3409 7 ай бұрын
Yes there awesome.i just look at them as extensions of the major scale.always look at everything from the major scale.makes it much easier for me.its all about the chord progression.once I figured out if you start with a d chord,it doesn’t mean it’s in the key of d always.big lightbulb moment
@erikberg8352 7 ай бұрын
Jake at Signals Music Studio is a very technical thinker (and a great teacher!) but explained modes as feelings rather than specific entities. This really helped me understand how to use 7th chords, substitute chords, borrowed chords, etc. There isn't a specific formula for anything, the notes should advance the feeling. It's great to hear @justinostrander bring a similar conclusion from a very different journey. And the hat tip to Jimmy Page's emoting rather than shredding is huge.
@rolandfrye 7 ай бұрын
Modes are going for parallel and relative thinking. I bet you think completely differently about your approach to every song you play.
@user-ri3gh6yb5k 6 ай бұрын
Modes are a system of organization.
@Kevinschart Ай бұрын
Modes simply allow you to experiment with major scale, mangle it, and "name" it. All the little licks he played sure sounded like some kind of mode to me. You can either reinvent the wheel or skip the line and learn modes.
@TylerWilhelm-tj8tw 7 ай бұрын
I must be missing something…. I play all the same styles of music as Justin and use modes constantly. And think of it as such. - dropping a mixolydian lick in when a b7 chord comes is 🤌🏻 - Playing minor over major to get that blues growl at the peak of a solo is 🤌🏻 - swapping between Lydian and mixolydian in a ‘fire on the mountain’ 4-5 chord progression is 🤌🏻 - dropping that natural 6 of a Dorian scale when doing a bluesy solo 🤌🏻 I see how it doesn’t work for all, but it works for me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@kevinmusso2397 7 ай бұрын
I am so thankful that you are on YT. Things are happening here that are unlike other channels. The best thing you can share with us is YOU. We are getting priceless info from your life experiences, and they are a wellspring. THANK YOU.
@jodyinalaska1 7 ай бұрын
Looking forward to and patiently awaiting your guitar courses! Great video! Happy Thanksgiving!
@memyselfandi3202 7 ай бұрын
Everything Justin mentioned about shapes and modes rings true for me. We can lean them but if we don't know how to put them together it is useless. I'd love to learn more!
@TheTodEngel 7 ай бұрын
Thank you so much for this. I have been thinking about this for years and could never get my mind around it. The way you described modes and chord tones broke open that wall.
@user-fo2nt3mx9o 5 ай бұрын
I think it’s more than what you teach Justin, and that of course is inspiring itself. It’s your delivery. Your presentation-demeanor and attitude is so peaceful and calming. People need that. Thx
@Michael_Butler 7 ай бұрын
Well said. I can't wait to learn more. Please keep me videos about this topic coming. And Happy Thanksgiving!
@circadevices Ай бұрын
This is so invaluable. Thank you, Justin. So very appreciated.
@Grant_Ferstat 7 ай бұрын
I jumped on this when I saw the title because I was really interested to hear your take on it Justin. When I started playing lead guitar I went to a teacher who immediately got me into scales and modes. I found though, when I started playing in original bands, playing vocal/lyric based music I couldn't really apply it. It was almost like I had to unlearn what I'd learned...or that way of thinking. These days I just generally try to create a part in my head paying a lot of attention to respect the vocal melody because, as I said I'm playing vocally driven music. I guess most of us are really!
@donbishop6994 7 ай бұрын
I'm not a huge fan of sales and modes. My first instructor worded it in a way that sat with me. If you can hear it in your head, you can play it with your hands. That seems to be the way to go for me, I have a decent ear, so it works rather well.
@edbernardmusic3599 7 ай бұрын
Only if you have a certain amount of technique and knowledge.@@donbishop6994
@mofateam1 7 ай бұрын
Again a fantastic episode - the way and attidtude you play is exactly my understanding of a nice guitar part. you always find melodies and "micro-hooks" - the listener can feel the passion and feeling you add onto a piece of music
@jleber 7 ай бұрын
100% agree! What a great way to practice and find the notes that connect the most with your own ears on a particular chord. Thanks!
@portsideguitar1981 6 ай бұрын
This was great advice and rad playing. Thanks Justin!
@guitarwithjim2389 7 ай бұрын
Great Playing as usual and I think you've made some excellent points! I know that this 'chord approach" for solos makes my students break out of their ruts and play more melodically and musically. Love this!
@kmacmckee2931 7 ай бұрын
Always enjoy your point of view, playing and tips. The diplomacy you use is also masterful. Well done!
@lavalizard1 7 ай бұрын
Breath of fresh air - enlightening and inspiring.
@olearywu 7 ай бұрын
Compelling and illuminating. As DC Berman put it, "All my favorite singers couldn't sing." So true. Go K State, too. 😊
@imsuddenlyhome4806 7 ай бұрын
Thanks Justin, to hear this from a session player, it gives so many of us (me) hope and a real sanity-check from all we see/watch out here in KZfaq land. Yes, I'm still so pentatonic, but my "moments" are when I just go a deep as I can into the song itself. Thank You!!!
@paulbtaylorpt 7 ай бұрын
Thank you for this, Justin. I’ve been playing for a long time and only recently began focusing on playing the changes, knitting together rhythm and lead parts. Because I tend to overthink things, I also went down the rabbit hole of scales, keys, modes etc, and was frustrated to find that I always seemed to sound uninspired and frankly, unmusical. Focusing on chord tones while soloing has started a whole new journey, but here’s the thing - even the simplest of targeted, intentional notes played with feeling sounds better than the prior box I was in. The examples you played, Justin, solidified it for me. I could hear every chord change in your lead lines, which drew me in to a musical story. Thanks for this - a real gift.
@InsolentMusicalPeasant 7 ай бұрын
This video was heaven-sent for me. I've been guilty of just memorizing patterns and such, and I've had no idea how to break out of it all. Will definitely keep an eye open for your courses.
@marcusaurealius6129 6 ай бұрын
Great video! I've heard jazz players talk about this topic, but its nice to see it applied in such a clear way. Definitely worth a subscribe!
@CornholeNetwork 7 ай бұрын
So great you are doing instruction. You have very quickly become my favorite guitar player since you launched your channel and I have always wondered- how on earth do you come up with those note choices and have such unreal timing to be so musical. All I can say is THANK YOU!
@LorriSanga 6 ай бұрын
Please continue with this in a series of videos. Well done.
@lukelarrea7605 7 ай бұрын
Best and most practically helpful explanation on this topic I have seen to date
@r0bophonic 7 ай бұрын
Man it took me so long to understand this disconnect. I gave up on lessons and instructional material early on because it wasn’t getting me closer to what I wanted to do: play the melodies I heard in my head (which I now understand were built from chord tones). So I just learned by ear. The concepts you are teaching would have actually helped me way back then. Thanks and happy Thanksgiving Justin!
@goswo 7 ай бұрын
Wow my exact story 😀
@iamthereforeimustbe 7 ай бұрын
Once again bowled over. Plain speaking with a clear message, backed up with great examples. Looking forward to the guitar courses.
@jxrx4577 7 ай бұрын
Love it! Still killin it 🤙🏽🤙🏽 I like where you’re going
@iantaylor827 7 ай бұрын
Yeah, I took this from Guthrie's videos maybe 18 months ago and it helped a lot. This is excellent. Thanks Justin
@jasonkucharski7411 7 ай бұрын
Thanks for this. I ve been in a deep dive with the Greek word scales for a while now. This was a great reset of perspective and reminder on the priority of chord tones in what we all play. Cheers!
@MichaelSmith-gd1ig 7 ай бұрын
This channel is rad. So glad I found it.
@mikemorris2159 7 ай бұрын
You are a great speaker/communicator. Not as easy as it looks. Not to mention an inspiring player. Love the video. Happy holidays!
@JustinOstrander 7 ай бұрын
Thanks a ton!
@Vern859 7 ай бұрын
Such great information... You're right, too .. Happy Thanksgiving 🦃
@audioglenngineer 7 ай бұрын
I’m the same way, Justin - I want to feel like I’m hearing a human voice coming through the instrument: phrases, pushes and pulls against the chords, and those big, obvious turns between chords that aren’t root notes, and little inflections. Seeing you here sure reminds me of our old jams in my parent’s basement! One of my favorite memories from the 90’s. I can still hear that little blues riff pattern you used to start us off with 1-8-b7-5. Sure a fun way to cut your teeth with friends. So fun to see where you’ve gone!
@JustinOstrander 7 ай бұрын
Those were good times and very formative for me!
@jumpskirt 7 ай бұрын
Absolutely golden advice. I've been playing for decades, stuck in patterns. I am just NOW getting the flick on chord tones. Damn!
@SergioAureo 7 ай бұрын
Your channel, together with Uncle Larry's are my favorites right now. A huge lesson here.
@beaco70 7 ай бұрын
You wonderfully put into words my whole philosophy. Thanks!
@jeffrosen2010 6 ай бұрын
my man!! you just put into words what ive been struggling to communicate for my entire guitar playing career haha. THANK YOU! My first guitar teacher was a technical shredder and he was amazing, but he really stressed the modes and scale shapes and I've never been able to figure out why I can't seem to get the sounds I want out of my playing. I've heard about playing over chords but I always thought that meant doing the musical math as you put it... this video may have changed my life! haha you rock - ps - I love your playing man! big fan, i'd love to get you on some tunes soon!
@kaikandojo 7 ай бұрын
Great points and well explained. This connected with me as I’m trying to step up from rhythm playing to lead (with it sounding natural and my own voice). Thanks! Looking forward to that mini course too!
@peterlaws1653 7 ай бұрын
well you've turned into a great teacher that's for sure, really enjoyable
@parkersband Ай бұрын
Justin, this was the most insightful and helpful advice I have ever received. Thank so much you for taking the time to share your perspective. This is really going to help my playing and make me a better guitar player. Cheers from Sydney Australia.
@ababkin 7 ай бұрын
Justin, really hoping to buy your solo courses soon. Ready to put hours of practice, but really want to make sure I practice the right thing (vs. bad habits). Hoping you will send me down the right path to musical improvisation. Love your style btw.
@pontifexvonhummer9459 6 ай бұрын
I’ve watched it seems a million mode videos but never grasped the concept until your simple explanation. Now that I know what they are, I can continue to ignore them. Thanks, J!!
@william91786 6 ай бұрын
Really enjoying the channel! I would be interested in more content like this if you are willing. Basically, how you would learn guitar now if you had to start over in order to optimize your time. Lessons related to this would be very cool!
@chrisjelley6899 7 ай бұрын
Outstanding. Been soo flailing around with modes/scales; then when I say f it, find something cool. THANK YOU!!
@eddietrucco9969 7 ай бұрын
Couldn’t have said it better. Straight and to the point. Bravo! Thanks for the video dude.
@TomCPlus1 7 ай бұрын
If I'm being honest -- I had to cleanse my palate of this subject. I went back in time, January 27 2023 to the JO video "How to play 'Til You Can't' and jammed with the track. Just about 1,000 subscribers back then. Then I went to the video on October 25, 2023 where you played parts to "Right Time" and played along with that. Freaking awesome song and band. Loved playing with the track. Someone noted 37,000 subscribers then. Quite a year for the JO channel. 😎🎸
@musicmann1967 7 ай бұрын
I love your stream of consciousness playing. That was some awesome stuff! That's my natural inclination, but I don't have that ingrained knowledge that you do. To be able to let it flow like that is really great stuff.
@ebeep 7 ай бұрын
Obviously only speaking for myself, but an understanding of modes helps me navigate other people's compositions when thrown in to a situation. The chords of the song create the mood/vibe and an understanding of modes, not just as a scale but as an emphasis or perspective from one of the 7 chords of a given major scale, helps me know where I am and what chords are immediately available to me in a given moment/position. I am still responding to the melodic lines my brain is creating on the spot and doing my best to materialize them immediately. I'm not playing patterns, modal understanding allows me to find those notes in my head on the fretboard on the spot/in the moment. Modes are seen as fragments, but they are of course are all just the one scale they're based in. CAGED and modes are the same information, the same 7 intervals. We all connect with concepts in our own way. Again, the chords tell us the modality, it's like a compass or a "You are here" spot on a map in a place you've never been before.
@fatcatsound 7 ай бұрын
Myself and a buddy were taking a look at Carol Kaye talking about her earlier career. She said back in the day, they weren't thinking of scales and basing everything off of them. They were thinking of chord tones. I thought that was well and good for a pop musician but then we heard her playing with Joe Pass and well, never mind. She obviously knows what she's talking about. Wow!
@JustinOstrander 7 ай бұрын
Yeah, great point. Pat Metheny is a big chord tone stickler as well.
@ClarenceHW 6 ай бұрын
Have you ever seen Carol Kaye play guitar? She's a great bebop soloist. Also saw her and Joe Pass, she asked Joe to play bass and she played his ES-175.
@Aleksisguitar 7 ай бұрын
Great lesson and amazing guitar playing!
@danthegeetarman 7 ай бұрын
@justinostrander I’m so excited for this couse! Literally can’t wait. This is literally my main problem. 20+ years later just barely learned the true importance of triads/chords
@samwaters1146 7 ай бұрын
Excellent!!! Your manner of explaining the concepts you are discussing are great! Your approach is so incredibly accurate to real life and what I refer to as “real guitar” playing. I don’t mean to dismiss those that know the scales, the modes, and have spent years on technique. There is certainly something to be said for that and I certainly admire those such as Steve Via (who is a personal hero)and Tim Henson, their technique and proficiency across the fretboard is absolutely incredible. But being able to improvise and weave a melody or a lead in and around the chords of the song are in my opinion an entirely different animal and you have done an excellent job of explaining that and how that works
@ronmorey3475 7 ай бұрын
Love your take on this. That stream of consciousness solo was so tasty! Especially the bit of dissonance at 16:25. Thanks!
@tom474e 7 ай бұрын
Another outstanding video. You are an amazing guitar player.
@scottruffner7744 7 ай бұрын
That's so true! Some of my favorite players aren't technical at all, in a way!!! They play beautiful melodic melodies! Mike Campbell, Keith Richards, David Gilmour, Eric Clapton, and so many more. It comes from your heart and soul. When I'm playing live or in the studio, I try to just get out of the way and let the magic happen. That works the best for me. Thank you so much for everything you do on your channel. I really love it here!!!
@MsFire4hire 7 ай бұрын
Incredibly well explained. I have also gone that route in terms of scales and patterns. Nowadays I mostly focus on chord tones and pentatonics.
@japanjay 7 ай бұрын
Nailed it Justin. It was Derek Trucks who really opened my ears to what honest playing sounds like, and it sounds nothing like straight up scales and modes. Targeting chord tones and knowing the song inside and out is what’s important to finding your voice.
@edbernardmusic3599 7 ай бұрын
How do you know what a chord tone is? Why learn that but not modes?
@japanjay 7 ай бұрын
@@edbernardmusic3599 As Justin said, it depends on what you’re trying to accomplish with the instrument. If you’re wanting to be more expressive and melodic, knowing how to target chord tones is essential. If you’re motivated by technical skill and fast playing, then sure, learning all the modes in all positions will help you to achieve that. You choose where to focus your time to get the results you’re after.
@edbernardmusic3599 7 ай бұрын
Modes aren't positions, they're notes. You use them all the time in slow playing and melodies.@@japanjay
@edbernardmusic3599 7 ай бұрын
Arpeggios are all chord tones. You're not required to play them fast.@@japanjay
@japanjay 7 ай бұрын
@@edbernardmusic3599 Yep, there aren’t any rules on how you should approach making music, it’s all just notes in the end. How technical you want to get is up to the individual. The point was it’s sometimes better to lead with the heart instead of the head.
@nrmcclung 7 ай бұрын
My high school son is getting good and eyeballing school jazz band for next year. I was trying to share THIS EXACT IDEA with him, but I couldn’t articulate it this well. Your “chords through the solo” section is EVERYTHING! It mirrors the best advice on musicianship I ever received. I just sent him this video. I’m going to make him watch it. Twice. 🤘🏽💪👍
@JustinOstrander 7 ай бұрын
Thanks a ton!
@steveisolis 7 ай бұрын
Great video and great advice! And cool tele!
@grantbarker8874 7 ай бұрын
Ready for the courses!
@MrBowlinbrian63 5 ай бұрын
Thank you Justin. I agree 100% and wish I would’ve had a teacher like you when I was younger. I wasted a lot of time.
@AndiPicker 7 ай бұрын
Hey Justin, more great content - I went down this exact route, I can hear myself in old recordings where I'm like a guy about to attempt to jump over a big gap - I'm getting ready, nervous, I'm gonna go, next time round I'll do it, and - MODE!
@toneydavis9802 7 ай бұрын
Hope you and your family had a great Thanksgiving. I play for myself now. My only live experience was in a praise and worship band. I knew going in my job was to stay out of the way, add just the right amount of fill and watch for key changes if the vocalist having a problem with pitch on a song that day. You don't have time to do "math" just be flexible and know where the right notes are...quickly.
@fiddlefolk 7 ай бұрын
I learned the biggest portion of my playing from being in cover bands.... Copying other guitar players ....Tones, techniques , fx usage, etc.....The interesting thing I found is that I would copy them note for note and some where along the way, I had interjected my own subtle thing to it. "Stealing" from other players is a great way to develop your own style.
@frankstephenson1746 5 ай бұрын
First off, this is a great video. Great playing, great human advice. Every time I’ve tried to go beyond the major scale it doesn’t feel or sound right. The guy who showed me music theory (before internet) quickly showed me the major scale, then the 1,3,5, to make the triads and said, “that’s all you really need to know”
@nigel2967 6 ай бұрын
Thank you Justin, once again you have freed my mind. I learned about modes about 40 years ago and have always felt like i was missing something because i could never use them effectively in my playing. When I write music and improvise solos I try to find something musical that fits and sounds good. I now I know that's all I need to do. I will leave modes to the likes of Steve Vai.
@CoffeeDrinker71 7 ай бұрын
This lesson gave me inspiration to break out and try something new. Thank you!
@teamrecon2685 7 ай бұрын
Thank you! This was part of my recovery!
@acbenitez3614 7 ай бұрын
Straight up sound counsel, wish I saw this vid 30 years ago.
@justin_smith556 7 ай бұрын
This makes 💯 sense to me and is where I'm try to get to as a "bedroom player". Focusing on modes and scales has left me stagnant and frustrated. For what I am wanting to accomplish it seems its all about chord tones. Thank you for pointing me in the right direction!
@StratTones 7 ай бұрын
Beautiful shared! Love it, thank you!
@plainsroamer405 7 ай бұрын
Thank you for the straightforward honesty
@AdamWellsMusic 7 ай бұрын
That second improv is what I try to do when I write. Another great video.
@TimsGuitarWorldwithTimFeskorn 5 ай бұрын
Triads and Triad pairs have been helpful to me so far. Although It's been frustrating too. Great content Justin.
@calwells5612 7 ай бұрын
Justin, that's a great idea for a mini class. I internalized modes many years ago, and they still serve a purpose. However, I would have been much better off learning early on to play around chord tones. I'm a naturally melodic player by nature, but I tend to stick to key centers rather than really hearing individual chords go by and playing accordingly. I'm experienced enough that my ears take me to good choices note-wise anyway, but I'd unlock another level of creativity and possibilities if I really learned to internalize chord tones rather than scale tones (even though they're really the same thing, just a different way of hearing things and that makes a big difference). The muscle memory thing is real, and it's hard to break out of established patterns once you've put in thousands of hours doing things a particular way.
@jeffgerndt2813 7 ай бұрын
Good advice. Love your melodies.
@FrankWilliam-fc9sw 7 ай бұрын
In the late seventies I somehow convinced a young Mark O'Connor into giving me guitar lessons. He was 16 and already had several albums under his belt. Man was that humbling lol. He had taken lessons when he was younger from my previous guitar teacher Al Turray, a jazz guy. Anyway at the end of the first lesson I asked him if there were any scales I should be practicing. Mark said and I quote "scales are for beginners, practice playing music". Probably my best lesson from him involved the rhythm part for sweet Georgia brown. Mark grabbed my right hand when I was struggling to play it and said I can see you're trying to count it. You'll never get it that way, just listen to me play it again and feel it. So I did and damned if I didn't start just grooving and playing the hell outta it. Just had to stop thinking.
@toploadtele 7 ай бұрын
The Rain Song Tuneing comes to mind... very creative!
@JLutz-ic7fq 5 ай бұрын
Hi Justin, you pointed out a few things that bring me closer to music again... thank you!
@JustinOstrander 5 ай бұрын
Great to hear!
@lockhartdesign 7 ай бұрын
My guitar teachers would write out the modes and hand them to me but never would explain how to actually make music with them. Great video I agree completely.
@victorbennett5414 2 ай бұрын
Fantastic video. Really glad I was introduced to your channel yesterday. Music and language are similar. We learn language at a young age by hearing it and repeating what we have heard. We don't think through grammar rules as a five year old or as a 55 year old to verbally express ourselves.
@danrourke 7 ай бұрын
Scales and modes are like roadmaps, they only take you where someone has already been
@danpetersonmusic Ай бұрын
That comment ALMOST got it right. They ARE like roadmaps…they tell you where you CAN go but not where you HAVE to go. BTW literally every guitarist (and other musicians) including JO are playing modes whether they think that way or not. Playing a major sound and flatting the seventh IS mixolydian. A minor sound with the major sixth IS Dorian. Thinking modally is one way to arrive at that sound but there are others.
@herdoiza1 7 ай бұрын
This is awesome. Thank you!
@feldsparsongs2331 7 ай бұрын
Looking forward to a course!
@bluebirdamplification3026 8 күн бұрын
Absolutely agree with your way here Justin. Love your tone and playing mate👍🙂
@lukedavismusic 7 ай бұрын
Would you believe i emailed you yesterday about your thoughts on this topic! HAHAH!!! Happy Thanksgiving, Justin. I'm thankful for your channel :)
@hippiehopper 3 ай бұрын
Very interesting approach, indeed!
@b_snyder 7 ай бұрын
I absolutely agree! I struggled with modes as well, and when I tried to play as you described, it just didn't work. I think it's more about a sound than anything. Getting sounds like Carlos Santana personifies the Dorian sound rather than the mode itself. I relate Mixolydian to The Allman Brothers also. I'm glad I'm not alone in this and I have listened to Guthrie intently and gotten a lot from his understanding of how professional players see and understand the fretboard. Thanks for the confirmation Justin! It's more helpful than you might know. Especially in my late years!
@paraviolence8072 7 ай бұрын
I needed to hear this
@MarcoRaaphorst 7 ай бұрын
thats was nice! great playing also!
@kisschicken 6 ай бұрын
This video has helped me immensely. I stopped trying to think about which mode to play and instead just focused on using my ear. You said the G, Bb, Eb chord progression doesn't fit neatly into a key, but fits into the Bb key so you can play Bb major all over it and just target the "modes" when the chords change, which I think is the point of modes and even what you're doing in this video. So even if you don't think about modes, you're still using them. I don't know, I think there's value in knowing the theory behind the modes but then just playing where your ear takes you, which will still be modes.
@TomCPlus1 6 ай бұрын
When you say "fits into the Bb key", how do you define "fits" . . . because the diatonic chord would be G minor rather than the G major that JO played. As you said, we are better off using our ears to navigate the solo over whatever chord progression is thrown at us.
@paulbillingham6769 6 ай бұрын
Finally, an explanation of Modes that doesn't cause my brain to spin out, and not only that I can immediately see how I can use it in my improvisations. This along with mixing minor and major scales is enough to jam to my heart's content. Modulations though are still a mystery
@TheFeelButton 7 ай бұрын
I like my pie a la mode! Happy Thanksgiving Justin!!
@user-rh7hx5vn9s 7 ай бұрын
This was fabulous! I have always wanted the ability to play a bit faster than I can, but everyone that I have worked with tells me that what they like in my playing is the melodic aspect of it. I tell young players the most important thing they can learn is melodies. You should be able to play the melody to any song you know or are working on. Just another take on getting chord tones under your fingers. Love the channel!!
@JustinOstrander 7 ай бұрын
Learn melodies. YES.
@TheGuitarGuy69 7 ай бұрын
I needed this.
@mlj654 7 ай бұрын
Justin, it is so refreshing to hear your take on soloing! I have almost 50 years experience under my belt. I have tried almost every course of study I could find to enhance my playing. I will say that the various ways I tried to learn modes and scales etc. took me further. However, I don't believe the answer to the quest for improvisational freedom when soloing is a strict mastery of theory. Don't get me wrong, you should have some theory or else you won't understand that there are some basic rules that apply. The trick is to not be confined by theory, or modes or even trying to sound a certain way. If you can get to the place where you hear a route through the music you are playing to, a path that you hear just before you play it, then you have freedom to go beyond theory. That was something I learned only after many years of working through books and videos. If I can save some body some time getting where they want to be, I would just say you should keep an open mind. Don't get locked into the process because the goal is to transcend theory or modes or even scales. If you can hear the route in your head just before you play it you have freedom to play it from the heart.
@JoshGordonGuitar 7 ай бұрын
Excellent video! I believe learning the modes is important for hearing how the scale tones relate to the chords in a progression. But yeah, not for creating box licks to play over each chord in a progression. For example, if I'm playing over a C major chord I know that I can play a series of notes that would fall in the G Mixolydian mode shape. Yet I am always mindful to land or resolve the lick that compliments that C major chord. I think the modes can help give a player that fretboard freedom as long as they listen to the chord progression and are mindful of it, and mindful of the song. Over time I have just looked at the modes as scale extension as to what I'm playing at the moment...just allows me to get out of a box and just play. I kinda see it as what Charlie Parker once said...learn the scales and changes then forget them and just play...something to that effect anyway lol. Once again, great video and great playing Justin!
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