To set up my review, I’ve been playing guitar for nearly 40 years. I play everything from classical to light rock to hard rock to heavy metal. (You can find my stuff on youtube under JohnLogsdonMusic, if you’re interested). Anyway, I learned most everything I know by ear and studying up on tablature. Over that time I obviously picked up what all the notes are, many of the chords (though not all), and numerous scales.
However, I couldn’t tell you what mode I’m playing in at any given time. I’ve learned how to find my way on the neck, but I don’t know WHY I’m playing where I’m playing on the neck … other than it sounds right.
Well, I received the Mode De-coder today and I spent the last hour watching the youtube videos and messing about with the little wheel and all the diagrams. I put down a quick backing track that played 8 bars of C, then 8 of D#, then 8 of B, and finally 8 of E. I found that I was jumping in and trying different modes, hearing nuances I’ve *played* before but now was understanding what I was doing! It was pretty awesome.
Next I started looking at the chord structures and found myself playing all sorts of things I’d never played before. Honestly, I’m just blown away. There are time when any artist gets stuck trying to come up with new song ideas and being caged into only knowing a handful of ways to piece things together doesn’t help. I just came up with three new rhythms using this tool that are way different than I’m used to, and that’s sparked some fresh creativity!
All I can say is bravo! I tried many a different product over the years and found them to be confusing at best and frustrating at worst. This is the first time in all my years of playing that I’m starting to understand the modes. I know I still have some studying to do, but this is great stuff. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
John P. Logsdon