Learning Scales and Modes - seperately or all based off major

viz

GuyBoden said:

In the last 10+ years or so, I've stopped thinking of modes being related to the Major, I think of them as independent scales, but it took a while, so you can't rush these things.

For example, Dorian, I don't think of it as a Major scale with 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7. I think 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 of the Dorian scale, that's how I see them and how I write them.

I see the Major scale as an Ionian scale, it's just another scale/mode.

Agreed 100%, though as well as seeing Dorian as a scale isolated from any other construct, I also see it as a natural minor with raised 6th, because I've been brought up on natural minor (and harmonic and melodic). 

I certainly don't see it as a major with a lowered 3rd and 7th!

Grunfeld

This 5 minute video is a really good explanation of modes.

It kind of makes @GuyBoden 's point I think.

Clarky

viz said:

Lestratcaster said:

I usually do it by intervals, all major modes have the major 3rd and 7th. Minors have the flattened 3rd's and 7th's. 

Apart from Mixolydian which has a major 3rd but a minor 7th


i’d do it in this order:

C major penta and C minor penta
C major (ionian) scale
C minor (aeolian) scale

then the other 2 major modes - C lydian and C mixolydian

then the other 2 minor modes - C dorian and C Phrygian

Then C melodic minor (if you’re a jazzer or classical) and C harmonic minor and C phrygian dominant. 

gets a wiz from me matey...