Jamesferrell
Verified buyer
11/22/24
Good stuff
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The Modal Alchemist
Advanced modal applications for crafting progressions & improvisations
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About this course
Our good friends Merriam and Webster define alchemy as the 'power or process of transforming something common into something special.' And while that gold thing never really worked out for those medieval cats, Glenn Seaborg, 1951 Laureate in Chemistry, succeeded in turning lead (atomic number 82) into gold using physics to force a minute quantity of lead to release three protons and thus produce gold (atomic number 79).
Don't get too excited -- the cost of producing ample energy to accomplish this task far exceeds the value of the gold. Instead we recommend you tune into TrueFire Laureate of Guitar, Robbie Calvo and learn how to become a Modal Alchemist. He'll teach you how to transform any simple major scale into riches beyond your wildest dreams.
The Modal Alchemist completes Robbie's trilogy of courses focused on the modal approach for identifying tonal centers, building chord progressions, and crafting compelling solos over virtually any progression.
In Modal Expose, Robbie showed you the seven modes that live within the seven notes of a major scale. He then revealed how major, minor, dominant and diminished arpeggios and chords are built from those seven notes and modes within that key. Using Robbie's simple "modal" formula you learned how to quickly grasp the underlying harmony of any chord progression.
To ice the cake, Robbie showed you how to apply your newfound understanding of modal harmony to improvise melodic lines seamlessly across any set of chord changes, in any progression, in any key. All without tedious theory, boring exercises or greek rhetoric. Your head exploded with epiphanies and your playing has never been the same since. But you wanted more...
In 50 Modal Licks You MUST Know, Robbie filled your modal bag with 50 tasty, extremely versatile Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian lines and moves that you could also call on over countless progressions in any key. This new modal vocabulary further expanded the palette of colors you paint with when improvising in any style. But you wanted more...
If you've worked through both of those courses, or are already familiar with modal harmony, then you are good to go with the Modal Alchemist. Fair warning ... the teachings conveyed in the Modal Alchemist will likely lead to a total conversion thus alienating your friends and bandmates who still swear by the pentatonic and blues scale.
In the first section of the Modal Alchemist, you'll learn how to craft fresh-sounding progressions and rhythm parts for each of the seven modes, and then how to improvise over those progressions, soloing over the changes and melodically emphasizing the tonal characteristics of the source mode. You can use these teachings to compose with, arrange with, accompany with, or improvise with over any changes, in any key, in any style. This bears repeating... any changes, in any key, in any style.
The second and third sections of the Modal Alchemist will blow the roof off your head. Robbie shows you how to employ diatonic chord substitutions and how to superimpose the modes to exponentially expand the colors, textures and moods that you'll be able to craft with your compositions and improvisations.
As with all of Robbie's courses, you will play your way through the curriculum -- no tedious theory, no exercises, no greek -- everything is tabbed and notated (PowerTab and Guitar Pro included), and you get killer rhythm tracks to practice with on your own.
Riches beyond their wildest dreams await The Modal Alchemist.
Don't get too excited -- the cost of producing ample energy to accomplish this task far exceeds the value of the gold. Instead we recommend you tune into TrueFire Laureate of Guitar, Robbie Calvo and learn how to become a Modal Alchemist. He'll teach you how to transform any simple major scale into riches beyond your wildest dreams.
The Modal Alchemist completes Robbie's trilogy of courses focused on the modal approach for identifying tonal centers, building chord progressions, and crafting compelling solos over virtually any progression.
In Modal Expose, Robbie showed you the seven modes that live within the seven notes of a major scale. He then revealed how major, minor, dominant and diminished arpeggios and chords are built from those seven notes and modes within that key. Using Robbie's simple "modal" formula you learned how to quickly grasp the underlying harmony of any chord progression.
To ice the cake, Robbie showed you how to apply your newfound understanding of modal harmony to improvise melodic lines seamlessly across any set of chord changes, in any progression, in any key. All without tedious theory, boring exercises or greek rhetoric. Your head exploded with epiphanies and your playing has never been the same since. But you wanted more...
In 50 Modal Licks You MUST Know, Robbie filled your modal bag with 50 tasty, extremely versatile Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian lines and moves that you could also call on over countless progressions in any key. This new modal vocabulary further expanded the palette of colors you paint with when improvising in any style. But you wanted more...
If you've worked through both of those courses, or are already familiar with modal harmony, then you are good to go with the Modal Alchemist. Fair warning ... the teachings conveyed in the Modal Alchemist will likely lead to a total conversion thus alienating your friends and bandmates who still swear by the pentatonic and blues scale.
In the first section of the Modal Alchemist, you'll learn how to craft fresh-sounding progressions and rhythm parts for each of the seven modes, and then how to improvise over those progressions, soloing over the changes and melodically emphasizing the tonal characteristics of the source mode. You can use these teachings to compose with, arrange with, accompany with, or improvise with over any changes, in any key, in any style. This bears repeating... any changes, in any key, in any style.
The second and third sections of the Modal Alchemist will blow the roof off your head. Robbie shows you how to employ diatonic chord substitutions and how to superimpose the modes to exponentially expand the colors, textures and moods that you'll be able to craft with your compositions and improvisations.
As with all of Robbie's courses, you will play your way through the curriculum -- no tedious theory, no exercises, no greek -- everything is tabbed and notated (PowerTab and Guitar Pro included), and you get killer rhythm tracks to practice with on your own.
Riches beyond their wildest dreams await The Modal Alchemist.
What you'll learn
- Use bending to target specific chord tones
- Create melodic lines using diatonic substitution concepts
- Identify chord tones within arpeggio shapes across the fretboard
- Understand how slash chords are constructed and notated
- Understand how Bm7 and Dmaj7 share three common tones
Release date: 03/07/2013 • 3h 41m runtime
Sample lessons
G Major Harmony
Chord Review
D Mixolydian Progression
Overview
D Mixolydian Progression
Play-along
D Mixolydian Soloing
Overview
What's included
55 lessons • 35 charts • 48 Jam Tracks
The Modal Alchemist
Welcome to the Modal Alchemist. This course is the perfect follow up to Modal Expose and 50 Modal Licks You Must Know.
I have focused the study in this course on creating modal chord progressions and sample solos over those progressions. I have opened up the use of chord substitution ideas as a melodic improviser's tool and the superimposition of modes for melodic variety.
Please work through the course from start to finish and treat any areas that you know as a review. I always create my courses to work chronologically and there may be nuggets of information you'll miss if you skip any of the video segments.
Take your time to assimilate the information. There is no need to rush through this course, so, relax and focus on the areas that need your attention most.
Thank you for investing in yourself and the Modal Alchemist.
I have focused the study in this course on creating modal chord progressions and sample solos over those progressions. I have opened up the use of chord substitution ideas as a melodic improviser's tool and the superimposition of modes for melodic variety.
Please work through the course from start to finish and treat any areas that you know as a review. I always create my courses to work chronologically and there may be nuggets of information you'll miss if you skip any of the video segments.
Take your time to assimilate the information. There is no need to rush through this course, so, relax and focus on the areas that need your attention most.
Thank you for investing in yourself and the Modal Alchemist.
G Major Harmony
In this section we review the harmonized G major scale as open position triads and 7th chords in position at the 3rd fret. You can reference your chart from the Modal Expose if you need to.
You should have a very strong handle on the chords built from the major scale by now, if not, I really advocate that you take the time to do this. It will be one of the most empowering advances in your musical progression when you do so.
Why review the harmonized scale of G major? Well, the following lessons are all modal chord progressions and solos built from the G major scale. Methodical madness as always!
Let's get started with our first progression.
You should have a very strong handle on the chords built from the major scale by now, if not, I really advocate that you take the time to do this. It will be one of the most empowering advances in your musical progression when you do so.
Why review the harmonized scale of G major? Well, the following lessons are all modal chord progressions and solos built from the G major scale. Methodical madness as always!
Let's get started with our first progression.
Section 1
I've created 7 modal progressions, one for each mode. I'll show you the progression and then break it down for you. Once we have the chords and groove under our fingers and a clear understanding of where those chords came from I'll be playing a sample solo that focuses on the tonal center of that progression too.
This approach is really going to solidify major scale modality for you.
I strongly advocate that you create your own progressions and solos after working on each modal section. This is where the true growth begins and the alchemy starts to work its magic for you!
This approach is really going to solidify major scale modality for you.
I strongly advocate that you create your own progressions and solos after working on each modal section. This is where the true growth begins and the alchemy starts to work its magic for you!
G Ionian Progression
The G Ionian chord progression is a chord progression that is built from chords derived from the G major scale and also resolves to the first chord of that scale G major or G major 7. (Any variation thereof too)
The chord progression is a I - III - IV - V and the voicings I played were, G - Bm7 - C5/2 - D/F#. Not a complex progression by any means but it is musical and will provide a cool backing for our Ionian solo.
You can hear that this progression starts and resolves nicely to the G chord. I want you to start recognizing these tonal centers by ear because it will help you with your improvising.
If you'd like to change the voicing of the chords, go for it, just make sure any notes you choose are found in the G major scale, okay?
The chord progression is a I - III - IV - V and the voicings I played were, G - Bm7 - C5/2 - D/F#. Not a complex progression by any means but it is musical and will provide a cool backing for our Ionian solo.
You can hear that this progression starts and resolves nicely to the G chord. I want you to start recognizing these tonal centers by ear because it will help you with your improvising.
If you'd like to change the voicing of the chords, go for it, just make sure any notes you choose are found in the G major scale, okay?
G Ionian Progression
The G Ionian chord progression is a chord progression that is built from chords derived from the G major scale and also resolves to the first chord of that scale G major or G major 7. (Any variation thereof too)
The chord progression is a I - III - IV - V and the voicings I played were, G - Bm7 - C5/2 - D/F#. Not a complex progression by any means but it is musical and will provide a cool backing for our Ionian solo.
You can hear that this progression starts and resolves nicely to the G chord. I want you to start recognizing these tonal centers by ear because it will help you with your improvising.
If you'd like to change the voicing of the chords, go for it, just make sure any notes you choose are found in the G major scale, okay?
The chord progression is a I - III - IV - V and the voicings I played were, G - Bm7 - C5/2 - D/F#. Not a complex progression by any means but it is musical and will provide a cool backing for our Ionian solo.
You can hear that this progression starts and resolves nicely to the G chord. I want you to start recognizing these tonal centers by ear because it will help you with your improvising.
If you'd like to change the voicing of the chords, go for it, just make sure any notes you choose are found in the G major scale, okay?
G Ionian Soloing
Check out the solo and watch for the places I resolve my licks and phrases too. Study the tab and notation if you'd like and see where those resolutions occur on the page too.
Of course, I break down the key elements of my solo for you as a reference but the true learning will begin when you take the lead and improvise your own solo over this progression. I want you to be totally honest with yourself and record each take. Evaluate your performance and learn from it.
I'm going to hazard a guess and say that you'll find this progression harder to play a cool solo over than you thought, especially if you are playing to the same length of track that I took my solo over.
Make sure you phrase towards the resolution of the Ionian/G major chord and you'll find it much easier to handle. Bon Voyage!
Of course, I break down the key elements of my solo for you as a reference but the true learning will begin when you take the lead and improvise your own solo over this progression. I want you to be totally honest with yourself and record each take. Evaluate your performance and learn from it.
I'm going to hazard a guess and say that you'll find this progression harder to play a cool solo over than you thought, especially if you are playing to the same length of track that I took my solo over.
Make sure you phrase towards the resolution of the Ionian/G major chord and you'll find it much easier to handle. Bon Voyage!
G Ionian Soloing
Check out the solo and watch for the places I resolve my licks and phrases too. Study the tab and notation if you'd like and see where those resolutions occur on the page too.
Of course, I break down the key elements of my solo for you as a reference but the true learning will begin when you take the lead and improvise your own solo over this progression. I want you to be totally honest with yourself and record each take. Evaluate your performance and learn from it.
I'm going to hazard a guess and say that you'll find this progression harder to play a cool solo over than you thought, especially if you are playing to the same length of track that I took my solo over.
Make sure you phrase towards the resolution of the Ionian/G major chord and you'll find it much easier to handle. Bon Voyage!
Of course, I break down the key elements of my solo for you as a reference but the true learning will begin when you take the lead and improvise your own solo over this progression. I want you to be totally honest with yourself and record each take. Evaluate your performance and learn from it.
I'm going to hazard a guess and say that you'll find this progression harder to play a cool solo over than you thought, especially if you are playing to the same length of track that I took my solo over.
Make sure you phrase towards the resolution of the Ionian/G major chord and you'll find it much easier to handle. Bon Voyage!
+ 48 more lessons
Reviews
26 results
Addahia
Verified buyer
11/13/24
The most transformative course
For me, this and “The power of five” also by Robbie are the courses that had the greatest impact on me and the way i navigate the search for my own sound and the way i relate to the freatboard. I highly recomend both.
pab14
Verified buyer
01/14/24
Nice Modal Course!
Learn to use the modes in a practical way.
AlbertoVasco
Verified buyer
11/28/21
Nice course
Nice!
bouncerec
Verified buyer
04/16/21
I like a lot Calvo for his natural talent in teaching. Great player, very passionate and professional
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