Modes and Flamenco

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Modes and Flamenco

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Alonte

Posts: 214
Joined: Dec. 2 2008

Modes and Flamenco

Coming from a classical background, Im noticing more and more that frequently flamenco guitarrists talk in modes. I have no idea of it. Is there any info out there for flamenco and modes? and how to incorporate them?

Or am I fine with my understanding of the western scale system?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 17 2009 16:20:19

Ricardo

Posts: 14861
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Modes and Flamenco (in reply to Alonte)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Alonte

Coming from a classical background, Im noticing more and more that frequently flamenco guitarrists talk in modes. I have no idea of it. Is there any info out there for flamenco and modes? and how to incorporate them?

Or am I fine with my understanding of the western scale system?

not really. There is normal western major and minor key's or scales, and there is only ONE mode we deal with really, the phrygian mode. I call it spanish phrygian cuz it makes use of two scales (just like it's relative minor key that can use natural minor, harmonic minor, melodic, etc), the natural phrygian (in E it would be EFGABCD) and phrygian dominant (EFG#ABCD).

So rather than think in modes, we have 3 keys rather than just 2 like classical music.

In any case, I would drop any concepts of the harmonic and melodic theories that flamenco uses, and focus ALL YOUR TIME, on the rhythm of flamenco. The compas. Once you have that, the harmonic moves and phrasing of melodies makes more sense.

Ricardo

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 17 2009 18:54:57

Djreisat

Posts: 28
Joined: Sep. 21 2009
From: Wilmington, NC

RE: Modes and Flamenco (in reply to Alonte)

I like to use the previously mentioned Spanish phrygian as well as a lot of middle eastern maqamat transposed to guitar from oud.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 18 2009 9:56:59

Stoney

Posts: 132
Joined: Nov. 6 2009

RE: Modes and Flamenco (in reply to Alonte)

Hey Ricardo, I really liked your explanation.

Here's mine, which is more or less the same but from a different perspective.

It's all the major scale. Modes are just the major scale starting from the various degrees of the scale.

The Phrygian scale works wonderfully with a lot of things. On others I tend to think in the major scale form.

However, in order to avoid practicing the same scale with 7 different names, just call it all the major scale in different positions.

So likewise you would have the typical major scale in C CDEFGABC and for styles that are more Flamenco sounding (Spanish mode sounding) raise the fifth note and you get CDEFG#ABC. Voala, the same thing.

Anyway, that's how I think about it. Help me a lot.

Stoney

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 24 2009 12:29:36