LESSON NINE: Putting NUMBERS in "Easy To Remember" terms.

Ever find yourself saying, "I Don't Play Like My Aunt Lois"?

Probably NOT, but it could just HELP you to remember the Greek terms for the SEVEN different MODES. (Now, if you DON'T know what a mode is... it is simply a NAME for a SCALE "position" in music.)

• The MODES/NUMBERS in music, beginning with "1".

I'm sure SOME of you have heard these terms by now, even if just in passing. (If not, welcome to the club, we've been waiting for you !).

There is and EASY association method (as mentioned already) to LEARN these. I use the saying, "I Don't Play Like My Aunt Lois" because it's easy to remember, it makes MUSICIAL sense (sort of, heheh..) , and gives us a GOAL to play at least as well as yer Auntie (insert HER name here "______________________") !!

• I = Ionian... emphasis on the LONG vowel "I", (as in I-onian)

• Don't = Dorian... epmhasis on "DO", just REMEMBER the first two letters of the word,

• Play = Phrygian... emphasis on LETTER "P",

• Like = Lydian... emphasis on "LI", (not TOO MUCH of a stretch to link with "LY" ?) ,

• My = Mixolodian... emphasis on "MY = MI" (as above) "Mix-ed" with the PREVIOUS scale,

• Aunt = Aeolian.. emphasis on LETTER "A", (and as a NOTE here, the word AUNT contains the ONLY Vowel NOT contained in the word AEOLIAN, while being Politically Correct ... and NOT counting "Y". Just food for thought :)

• Lois = Locrian... emphasis on the "LO" THIS time, hense the previous "L" Link with "LI", also.. "I" comes BEFORE "O" in the english alphabet as well.

I hope you will Learn this information BEFORE continuing to lesson 9 (when posted). You probably won't be able to MASTER all 7 Modes in one sitting anyway, you may as well KNOW what you are playing. It's ONLY seven words... you learned the Days of the Week didn't you?

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Some Additonal Helpful Theory, in case you DON'T already know some of this stuff.

For years, Students of THEORY have used little "sayings" (as in above Lesson ) to remember the NAMES of the LINES or SPACES when reading music. Since this is not a SIGHT READING course, I will only mention a few "Tricks" for learning them in passing.

There are many great books, free & shareware programs, and sites on the web that go into great detail when you're ready to tackle that eventuality.

HERE IS THE BASIC IDEA

BASS CLEF

(The one on the BOTTOM of a Grand Staff, if you know what THAT is !!)

A "GRAND STAFF"{

Bass Clef

Notice the 2 "Dots" on the Bass Staff SURROUND the Note F. This clef is also known as an "F" clef because of this. Knowing this trick (and the one for the Treble clef) will save you a LOT of time if you'll commit them to memory :)

Reading from the BOTTOM UP ^

LINES= Good Boy Does Fine Always , or G B D F A

SPACES= A C E ('s) Good (in Poker), or A C E G

A "GRAND STAFF"{

Treble Clef

The "Tail" of the BACKWARDS looking "G" on the Staff SURROUND the Note G. This clef is also known as a "G" clef because of this.

TREBLE CLEF (The one at the TOP, but STILL reading UP..) ^

LINES= Every Good Boy Does Fine, or E G B D F

SPACES= F A C E, or.. well... FACE !

(A word about the "Spaces = " Theory.. BOTH the Bass and Treble "spaces" contain the word ACE.. which is in the word SPACE... also an easy way to remember this.)

And... it doesn't take much of an imagination to see HOW these clef's are similar.

Download a Basic Theory chart here. � Michael Furstner

NEXT LESSON.. Learning actual MODES on Guitar, plus additonal info about Numbers/Modes relationships.