Dear Mr. Satriani! Recently I have seen that You are going to visit Moscow with concert. And I've noticed, if it's possible to visit Kazakhstan during your schedule? You have a lot of fans in our country, actually I'm YOUR biggest fan. It will be very great for fans of Kazakhstan. The flight from Moscow to Almaty takse only 5 hours. We already have experience of invitation of rock bands, such as Deep Purple and so on.

If it's possible, it will be honor for me, to organize contacts between Your commercial managers and our organizations. I would like to know what conditions will be suitable for visiting Kazakhstan.

The only one I want, is to see Your performance alive. Is to promote Your music in Kazakhstan, which i really love and respect.

I garantee a hearty welcom!!! You really have a lot of fans in Kazakhstan.

thanks SteveT but all links say its the 2nd http://gc.guitarcenter.com/satriani-sessions/ http://www.ibanez.com/features/images/JOE-SATRIANI-3-08_06.gif

Its true Kazakhstan people are friendly, i loved their company

Hey joe,

"Hey joe,

I am a big fan and i am 14 years old can you give some advice on modes and scales and what approach i should have towards them i know the major scale but others not yet.. i would also like to know how modes are different to scales? I know that they are but research on the internet suggests that they are they same.. Thanks for that Pat "

Hi Patdoran129,

There are two excellent videos where Joe explains his approach to modes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTQolymKmDA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCdZwASSKuk&feature=related

And as for the relation of scales and modes... the major scale is the basis for a lot of things, and in particular the basis for western music for the last 3-4 centuries or so. It has very powerful harmonic functions (dissonance/consonance, tension-resolution).

The major scale "contains" 7 different modes, one for each of its "degrees" (notes). However, while you may be playing a dorian mode when playing the notes of C major from D to D, this is different from "being in the dorian mode". Because you can play the notes of C major from D to D, and yet you are still in C major, the C chord is still where you "rest" (where you end phrases with consonance), and G7 is still your tension chord (dominant, with the tritone dissonance of B to F).

When you are really "in dorian", the note where you rest is the first note of that mode. (D in D dorian). You are not "referring" to the major scale anymore. The harmonic functions still exist, but you have a different viewpoint. Subjectively, the emphasis has shifted.

From a guitar point of view, it is true that if you know the major scale all over the fretboard, then you are already playing all the related modes. As a consequence, learning them mechanically will be easy enough, all over the fretboard.

However, learning the mechanics is only half of the way. It still takes effort to shift your mental focus to think "modally", and escape from the Major scale "mindframe". (Took me a while to get it, because I am originally a classical guy).

Also, the related modes of the major scale are a good starting point, but there are other modes. Modes can be derived from the minor scales, and looking at different cultures, there are modes that do not "fit" with our major or minor scales. Some of them can be a great inspiration for unusual melodies. For instance, learn the Hungarian minor scale and the modes derived from it, and you will find some superb stunning beautiful colours, a kind of oriental flavour mixed in with a Spanish and European/western ambience.

Of course, there's nothing to stop you from playing one of these more unusual modes over a pedal note or any suitable chord, in a section of a song that otherwise uses the major or minor scale.

I'm sorry I'm not Joe (lol), and I would not reply "in his place" but in the meantime this is something to think about. I hope that he's reading and that he'll reply because he's so good at demonstrating these things. And he does it best with the guitar in his hands so:

Enjoy the videos!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTQolymKmDA&feature=related

zen"At the end, which is also the begining, I think there's an absolute rule:

Your tone is inside your own fingers, not inside the methods"

"Nothing is absolute" is already absolute.. but if you find your tone into water, this symbolism is ok for me.

Yeah right.

Fingers are an illusion created by the mind, and sound takes its source in the mind, not the illusory mind of separateness but the source of meaning itself.

So there.

Got my JS1200 today. There's something to it. It's beautiful to look at, and although I wish the price was an illusion, the guitar is physically present.

I am missing some notes at the top (22 frets only) but the sound I wanted is here. The neck is not what my illusory fingers are used to but this thing sings anyway. And it screams more easily than the other one too.

I think I can develop a relationship with this very red guitar.

Candy apple they call it.

The redness and chrome made me think of a ZZ Top kind of hot rod car, but come to think of it, they could have called it blood red just as well. It's a very simple look, but very beautiful. Quite a contrast from the J.Custom (another red guitar, but a ot more ornate, with see-through paint).

As i'm lumberjack, i have to say that i think that the illusion is mind.

Fingers near a chainsaw are absolutly real. But each one his vision.

__________

Pathology report on Chris is back, no cancer after all, no further treatments necessary, he's doing good. He said to tell everyone again thank you very much for the prayers and good thoughts and wishes, they meant a lot to him, and to me.

Tracie,

I'm very happy for Chris and you.

I'm a parent of a seven year old. My boy is just fine but I have a dangerous long term illness. I know the anguish of possible separation. I understand the sleepless nights you must have had. You know how a parent knows what another parent feels.

Sorry to hear that your mum also has a trial to go through. I'm sure that she is so happy though, for your boy. This will help her.

When I was a guitar teacher (long story) I had a student boy who had leukaemia. He was so adorable. So hard working, committed, intelligent, and always a pleasure to be with.

He did not make it. Although music is a great healer, it surely helped him along the way, but he didn't make it. It was very sad.

Chris has done very well to beat this. You must be so happy. And him so lucky to have you.