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Neural DSP · Tone & Modes

Neural DSP Amp Tones & Scales — Modes for Every Archetype

Neural DSP Archetype plugins are built around the signature sounds of some of the world's most sophisticated guitarists — and those players use very specific modal choices to get their tones. Matching your scale to your Neural DSP preset unlocks the full character of each sound.

Neural DSP Archetype — Mode Matching Guide

Archetype: Plini — Lydian and Melodic Minor

Lydian: 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7

Plini's clean tones were designed for the floating, ethereal quality of Lydian. The ♯4 resonates through his signature clean chorus/reverb chain in a way that sounds intentionally designed. For his heavier tones, Melodic Minor's raised 6th and 7th give leads sophistication over the crunch.

Archetype: Gojira — Phrygian and Aeolian

Phrygian: 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7

Gojira's crushing low-end comes from Phrygian and Aeolian riffing. The ♭2 palm-muted on the low B string creates the massive, primordial tension that defines their sound. The tight low-end response of the Gojira plugin rewards Phrygian power chord patterns.

Archetype: Abasi — Dorian and Lydian Dominant

Lydian Dominant: 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 ♭7

Tosin Abasi's 8-string work combines Dorian for the minor passages with Lydian Dominant for his jazz-influenced lead lines. The Abasi plugin's extended low response rewards the modal density that Lydian Dominant provides.

Archetype: Nolly — Mixolydian and Harmonic Minor

Mixolydian: 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7

Periphery's Nolly Getgood uses Mixolydian for the groove-heavy polyrhythmic passages and dips into Harmonic Minor for more classical tension. The high-gain crunch of the Nolly plugin emphasizes the articulation that both modes require.

Archetype: Tim Henson — Lydian and Pentatonic Hybrid

Lydian: 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7

Polyphia's Tim Henson blends Lydian with pentatonic patterns in a way that sounds simultaneously pop and complex. The clean sparkle of the Tim Henson plugin was designed for this Lydian/pentatonic hybrid approach.

Pro Tip: Every Neural DSP plugin sounds its best when the scale matches the emotional character the artist designed for. Plini's clean = Lydian. Gojira's heavy = Phrygian. Abasi's math = Lydian Dominant. The plugin is the instrument — the mode is your voice through it.
Ionian ModeDorian Mode Phrygian ModeLydian Mode Mixolydian ModeAeolian / Minor Blues ScalesJazz Scales Metal ScalesMusic Theory

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