Guitar Modes: The Model Scale of Popluar Music

This is a 2 1/2 hr lesson on modes and requires your prior knowledge of scales, major, minor and pentatonic as well as chords, and chord progressions by numbers. Desi does a great job describing the use of the modes and interactions with the scales but be aware if you think this is a step by step Tab laced lesson it isn't. I got a little bored in the middle of the video where he spends at least 1/2 an hour playing bits of songs as examples to the corresponding modes and turned it off (- 1 star). I'm glad I came back to finish the video because it resumes with an excellent lesson on the relationship of how the scales change in different chord progressions. I consider myself a low intermediate level hack, so I did have to rewatch certain sections a few times to get the point but at the end wound up with a few pages of notes. I now understand not only which scales to play but also understand why they work.Comparatively, I've owned Guitar 411, a video that supposedly demystified modal scales but left me more confused then before I watched it. Desi's knows how to teach, and relays his knowledge in a clear and direct manner. I've seen alot of instructional videos for guitar, Desi is at the top of the list for instructors with the likes of Keith Wyatt and Steve Krenz. I'd recommend renting it, as its not really a video to play along with, It's modal theory, so grab a pen and notebook, you'll need it. I'd also recommend his video on Chord progression by the numbers.

This DVD is based on the other lessons he teaches leading up to the modes. I did not get those lessons because the other reviews said this teaches the modes to the point you can understand them but if you do not have the patterns for those modes you can be lost and if you have limited knowledge the DVD this is not the DVD for you. He does some examples and starts a mode on the 5th string and again if you don't know those patterns you will be lost. I will have to get another DVD dealing with modes and not have to depend on the other lessons leading up this or the cost will be too much for me in the long run. If you have his other lessons then this will be worth the cost. So if a person wants to suggest this one they should explain you really need the other lessons before you get this one.

Desi - thanks again for everything. I have been playing (casual) for many years. In the last couple years I have gotten more serious about playing and searched the internet for answers. I have looked on Youtube and others and came across your video and DVDs. Since, I have been sharing with my buddies the information and believe me it all is making sense. I am by no means a great player, but because of your DVDs and excellent instruction I a am a better player, I have more fun, and I can make the guitar do things I have never done before. I am enjoying my guitar lessons and I would urge others to break down and buy the materials. If you study just a little and watch these DVDs you too will be better - fast.The DVDs work in conjunction with each other and the picture become quite clear. My buddy and I used to talk about - how does that guy know where to go on the guitar... looking for a road map we searched material,, well here it is.. the road map is explained by Desi. Just sit back relax and watch the DVDs - believe me a lesson would cost you a great deal more and they might just teach you songs. This will teach you how to understand the songs and be able to mix in your own ideas. Desi will make you a guitarist. Enjoy and buy the materials. Thanks Desi...oh check out the pedal used by Desi - the Boss RC-20 or RC-2 - will help you to learn the sounds. Else get a friend. Enjoy!

Desi Serna is a great teacher! He improved my guitar skills and knowledge like no one else! First I have purchased his works: Chord Progression and Guitar Modes in mp4 format. Now I purchased this products also in DVD format in order to have it in my DVD Collection!Guitar Modes - The Modal Scales of Popular Music opened my eyes. I can watch it over, and over, and over again. Before Guitar Modes, I was thinking that I never will understand it, because it was so strange to me: Ionian, Dorian... Aeolian etc. There were no answers on many online sources, I almost gave up! And than, suddenly, I discovered Desi Serna!He is not only a good teacher, he is also very professional and very polite person. I sent to him a couple of e-mails related to Guitar playing, and he responded to each of them.Of course, if you want to understand Guitar Modes, you must have solid knowledge about Major Scale and Chord Progression. In that case, his DVD Chord Progression and playing by Numbers (wonderful course) will help you!

I was immediately put off by a statement Serna made that you should forget everything anyone else has said about modes because it was all wrong. Other explanations about modes aren't necessarily wrong, just delivered from a different perspective. While watching this DVD I could see that Serna has a differnt perspective and a different way of explaining modes but he was describing the same concepts.I've since purchased the modes DVD by Gambale which cleared up some confusion Serna introduced. YMMV.And if you hate spammers then don't buy this product. Serna's material are being spammed on the rec.guitar.* newsgroups.

This DVD nails the modal concept and is down to earth enough to put it in terms that could be easily understood. Desi 'gets it', teaches in a way that is non-threatening, communicates really well, and re-inforces the concepts over and over again.A couple bugs where he said something different than he played (although he corrects it with text on screen) but over all the ONLY modal instruction you will ever need!! After watching this video twice I was ripping Phygian and Mixolydian leads (among others with ease!!).Only thing I would add to this video would be a KEY/CHORD chart to show the degrees of the chords and applications of modes on top of the related chords. I use one when practicing to refer to chords in key and to figure out what mode to put over what progressions. But you can download one from the internet to satisfy this.Great DVD!! Go Desi!!Gil