Messiaen’s modes of limited transposition

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GuyBodenGuyBoden Frets: 733
Here's a good read on the practical application of Messiaen’s modes of limited transposition, interesting, if you want to take a break from tonal harmony: https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/354613/376802

"Music makes the rules, music is not made from the rules."
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  • althyalthy Frets: 92
    cheers great article. for exemples on the guitar this clinic is good too: 
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGF7LF7wras 
    there are other parts on the mods, the all thing is good.
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  • GuyBodenGuyBoden Frets: 733
    edited July 2020
    althy said:
    cheers great article. for exemples on the guitar this clinic is good too: 
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGF7LF7wras 
    there are other parts on the mods, the all thing is good.
    Thanks, he's so difficult to hear, such a softly spoken person.


    The Messiaen modes are interesting, but difficult to use successfully harmonically, at least for me. You can easily fall into the trap of using them to noodle.
    "Music makes the rules, music is not made from the rules."
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  • vizviz Frets: 10645
    Are these the forerunners to the octatonic symetrical scales? The CM2 for example?
    Roland said: Scales are primarily a tool for categorising knowledge, not a rule for what can or cannot be played.
    Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
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  • sweavesweave Frets: 65
    According to my daughter (music student), octatonic symmetrical scales existed in Persian music in 7th century, so way before Messiaen, who incidentally discovered them via books of Indian and Persian music.
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  • althyalthy Frets: 92
    Only one of his modes is the octatonic scale. For easy use in tonal improv/ composition you can think of them as flavours of augmented and dimished scales. A nice quick way to familiarise your ears
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  • GuyBodenGuyBoden Frets: 733
    I'm working with Messiaen Mode 3, his first two modes I already know as Whole tone and Half whole scales.

    I'm finding Messiaen Mod 3 very interesting.

    It's all in his book.
    "Music makes the rules, music is not made from the rules."
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  • GuyBodenGuyBoden Frets: 733
    viz said:
    Are these the forerunners to the octatonic symetrical scales? The CM2 for example?

    Messiaen Mode 3, the symmetrical scale I'm working with has 9 notes:


    "Music makes the rules, music is not made from the rules."
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  • PhiltrePhiltre Frets: 4164
    Love me some Turangalila Symphony. I bought the score for it when I was a nipper. Still have it.

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  • carloscarlos Frets: 3426
    GuyBoden said:
    viz said:
    Are these the forerunners to the octatonic symetrical scales? The CM2 for example?

    Messiaen Mode 3, the symmetrical scale I'm working with has 9 notes:


    That's one of Holdsworth's ten scales, too. Traditionally the roots are the between notes in each cluster but placing it as the first note is cool for 7 chords to my ears. 
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