A music theory question

[stayfreejc]

Here's one for all you theory guru's. It's driving me nuts!

Example:

If I am playing in D minor and switch from a D minor chord to an A major (major V) then people tend to use the harmonic minor scale for the lead lines. Am I correct in saying that if you revolve the harmonic minor lead around the A note then technically you are playing the Phrygian Dominant mode as you are playing an A major chord and starting from the A note of the Harmonic minor scale (fifth note). Obviously modes are down to context, but surely playing A major then playing a lead run through the Harmonic Minor scale starting from A is Phrygian Dominant? I have never heard anybody mention this before so I am starting to think I am wrong.

 

[Mixstar]

Have you got an English translation?

 

[WEDGE]

Lost me at theory.......

 

[Mixstar]

Right, I think I see what your on about. You play an A major chord and then you play a lead noodle around the fifth fret, is that it?

Like this?

I have to be honest I have never heard of a Phrygian Dominant and, to be honest, I wish I never had. I just always call it noodling.

The above lesson taught me loads and I use it quite a lot. Impresses the bejeezuz out of the women

 

[stayfreejc]

Right, I think I see what your on about. You play an A major chord and then you play a lead noodle around the fifth fret, is that it?

Like this?

I have to be honest I have never heard of a Phrygian Dominant and, to be honest, I wish I never had. I just always call it noodling.

Sorry I'm terrible at explaining myself. The Phrygian Dominant is the fifth mode of the harmonic minor scale. So if you play an A chord then that is the fifth chord of the harmonic minor scale. So if you start on the A note then you should technically be playing in the Phrygian dominant mode. In the same way that the fifth note of the major scale is the mixalydian mode.

 

[Mixstar]

You've lost me but I think that's what I said?

 

[stayfreejc]

You've lost me but I think that's what I said?

Sorry. More than likely. Pre coffee posting is hard work. I'm probably just looking to deep into the theory side of things.

 

[László]

The above lesson taught me loads and I use it quite a lot. Impresses the bejeezuz out of the women

It's because he's wearing Mixolydian Subdominant SUS4 shorts, right?

 

[Mixstar]

What happened to a bloke with a banjo and harmonica sat in a wood playing blues, it's a simple thing? I reckon it's the boffins don't want us mere mortals making music so they make stuff up.

 

[Huggy Love]

Music theory?................... Don't know that song.

 

[geese_com]

You are correct. It is Phrygian Dominant. That is pretty much Yngwie's favorite scale/mode.

 

[LJD]

Ahh, the over-complicated misconception of modes. Simplify. You're only shifting to D harmonic minor over the V7. Because you outline the V7 chord tones doesn't change the key/mode from D Harmonic Minor to A Phrygian Dominant. That would be saying the A7 is now the "root" chord.

 

[dmatthews]

"Phrygian Dominant"
Yeah, my ex wife tried to be friggin' dominant.

 

[stayfreejc]

Ahh, the over-complicated misconception of modes. Simplify. You're only shifting to D harmonic minor over the V7. Because you outline the V7 chord tones doesn't change the key/mode from D Harmonic Minor to A Phrygian Dominant. That would be saying the A7 is now the "root" chord.

Sorry I am confused. Most of the modal theory I have read says if you change chord and then make a point of using that chords root as the home note then you are pretty much playing the corresponding mode. So if you play C, D, E and you play C Ionian, D Dorian and E Phrygian then even though they are all in the C major diatonically, because you are emphasising each root note as if it was a new scale then you are playing modally. I no modes are more about context, but the whole point of modes or that people use different modes through out a song. Otherwise everything would just be named whatever the parent key is.

 

[Mixstar]

Hmm, that's definitely not what I said. I admit, I don't have a jar of glue ("not a clue" - cockney rhyming slang) so I'm out

 

[swede71]

Yep correct