What does 'modal' mean?


Digit
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Digit
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04/30/2003 3:36 am
I know the usual list:

Ionian
Dorian minor
Phrygian minor
Lydian Major
Mixolydian Major
Aeolian
Locrian

...but I came across a piece of music that is written in D Modal. I've never heard of that before...what is it?
# 1
SLY
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SLY
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04/30/2003 2:01 pm
And what were the notes and the root of that piece ?
Probably it's in the Key of D , and changes to some modes in the middle ... Just guessing , don't take it so serious.
# 2
Digit
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Digit
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04/30/2003 4:23 pm
Anybody else?
# 3
noticingthemistake
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noticingthemistake
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04/30/2003 6:50 pm
How old is the piece?? I've heard that in one point in music history, "modal" was often recognized today as minor. So I think it might be D minor. This is a hazy subject and I probably shouldn't be posting it but if anyone has heard anything similar that might be the case. Or it could be what SLY said cause that makes sense too. Try looking at the last chord in the song, is it D minor???
"My whole life is a dark room...ONE BIG DARK ROOM" - a.f.i.
# 4
Digit
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Digit
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04/30/2003 7:10 pm
The whole thing is basically a heavy rock beat with a synth bass playing an D note. So it could be Major or Minor I guess. .. although it sounds better with a major scale. It's written so that you can play a D Modal scale to it, but I'm damned it I know what D Modal is.
Does it maybe mean you can do a major OR a minor chord to it?
# 5
SLY
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SLY
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04/30/2003 11:23 pm
I think it's means D "anything" not the key of D ... i.e. D major , D minor , D phrygian ,etc.
If the bass only plays a D note , then you can use any D scale or mode for your solo ... i.e. Chromatic.
# 6
Digit
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Digit
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05/01/2003 12:05 am
yep...that makes sense. I can play just about anything to it, like pentatonic leads etc...
Thanks for helping me figure it out guys. :)
# 7
Air
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Air
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05/05/2003 7:43 pm
"Music that is chracteristically arranged, scored and set according to a Medieval or Renaissance mode or relationship of interval and notes."

Taken from http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=3:36:51|PM&sql=S2917
# 8
griphon2
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griphon2
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05/13/2003 12:17 am
I'm an ancient fart. D-modal was anything based on an open D. Mostly a retuned E string (both), and mostly minor. The idea sort of took off in the late seventies, when specific tunings became the rage, and acquired an asundry of new names that I don't get. 98 percent is Dorian oriented with the guitar retuned.
A lie goes around the world before the truth gets it's shoes on. (Mark Twain)
# 9

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