Reviews and Feedback

I’ve struggled with the modes, like a lot of guitarists have off and on for some time and this wheel pretty much solves my headache!! All you do is set it to the key you want to play in and read the notes and chords off. Can’t believe anyone hasn’t thought of doing it this way before now. It might be useful for guitar teachers?. There’s some chord reference charts on the back which I didn’t need, but I can see how they might be useful to some people. The solo guide is pretty useful too. Great product!

CJP

Once you work it out its really cool.

By F. J. Rodrigues “Gadgetmeister”

Thank you VERY MUCH. . .I am learning the lead to this song. . . i followed a lesson with tab and played at a very slow pace and i have managed to play the first solo off by heart EVEN with my eyes closed. . .HOWEVER the second solo is so long and when broke down into small sections i was loosing the feel for the lead. . . So i decided i should really learn the scales. . Yes it was back to basics. . .i leaned the minor one very easily and your video was exactly what i was looking for to play it up and down the guitar as i was loosing the will to live following the tab. .. It was like writers block or something similar  . .  you have freed my soul and helped me to improvise . . i am off to practice. . .Thanks again. . .

Gus from Glasgow

Fantastic Sir ! I got the Kirk Lorange slide rule from Australia in the 1980s and have used it ever since. This is a completely superior level (I have ordered one). Us ‘teach ourself’ types have spent years barking up the wrong or the same trees. I taught myself bass over years and focussed on scales and had no idea about modes or pentatonics! I even written and recorded many songs and played in many bands but it would have been nice to know this and something about chord progressions for jazz and funk and whatever. I did kart racing in the 1980s and it was like a secret society – no one would share any set up info and all before the Internet so I reckon it was same with music. Thx vm from Poole, England 🙂 🙂

Hugh Davison

if you play guitar you need this. End of.

By C P Currier

I love the decoder what a great tool it has helped me so much Thanks

James Paroline

Saw this at the Northwest Guitar Show today, if you are a guitar player this will really help to unravel the world of Modes. Top product and really cheap A+

Comment by 9thaspect9

I’m primarily a pianist and a composer, but I do play the guitar with a sufficient enough level of skill and knowledge to appreciate and approach TMDC from the view point of a guitarist. Although you’ve created TMDC for guitarists; what you’ve actually invented is a musical tool that can be used by musicians in all walks of life.

My first use of the TMDC was with the piano, using it as an improvisational aid.  Without blowing my own trumpet, I would say that my knowledge of harmony and my improvisational and compositional skills are advanced.  I’m able to sit at the piano and make things up on the spot, in every key under the sun and in a multitude of styles. Even with my experience and knowledge I still found the TMDC an excellent aid.

No matter how much you practice and how much knowledge you think you have its always good to have a reminder there in front of you. It can also shake up playing habits.eg.  Say I’m playing in G# Dorian and because I’ve got TMDC in front of me, I end up using a min 9th chord were Id usually use a completely different extension in the same situation.  Although I wouldn’t use TMDC all the time with the piano, it’s without doubt an excellent and interesting tool for improvisation. It gives me an approach and option I didn’t have before. Thank you.

TMDC teaches guitarists how and where to play the modes, but the wheel on the first page of TMDC could be used by any musician, on any instrument, if they already have a basic knowledge of modes.

But now to the meat and bones; the TMDC was designed to be used as an aide for guitarists and here it really shines.
I think your design and its implementation is nothing short of ingenious. Having the ability to find each individual mode so easily at the three different locations is what makes TMDC such an extraordinarily powerful musical tool.

Most people, especially beginner musicians find modes daunting and intimidating but your device should give confidence to guitarists everywhere. There is of course a small learning curve to figure out the system, but after ten minutes I was happily noodling away all over the fret board.

Alan

I’m still a working progress when it comes to modes, as it can be a difficult subject, The names of them etc, but the product helps to break things up into digestible chunks without being bombarded by too much information at the same time.

Andy Orton

Hello, i bought one of your mode decoders at the British Guitar Show, as a novice guitarist I have found it really helpful, the scales have just suddenly clicked now i have a visual aid, even my guitar teacher was impressed with the decoder. Thank you

Paul Brown

The Mode De-coder is a fantastically useful tool.  The instructions are easy to follow and the design is very neat and compact – perfect to slip inside a music folder or instrument case.  All that is needed is a basic understanding of chords and scales and the Mode De-coder does the rest.
It is equally useful for pianists; within minutes of using it I was improvising in all sorts of different styles and, as a music teacher, I can’t wait to use it to help inspire my pupils with their own compositions.
Finally, no more scratching my head when it comes to thinking about modes – if only I had this when I was still at university!!

T Roberts

I teach guitar and know how to play all the modes…. but I’ve just got to have one! *Broad smile*

Customer at a guitar show

Wonderful wee learning tool ! Great visual for explaining stuff to students that normally seems to cause fear and confusion !

Miss (Edinburgh, UK)