All You Need to Know To Start Playing Modes

Modes are a simple subject that can be a complicated mystery for many students. Today we are going to break it down into a few basic ideas in order to build on the topic with more examples and exercises later on.

We are going to have seven modes:
Ionian   Dorian   Phrygian   Lydian   Mixolydian   Aeolian   Locrian

Do not let those weird names scare you away, it is simpler than it sounds:
We will have three major modes: Ionian, Lydian and Mixolydian

Ionian Mode = C Major Scale: C D E F G A B

E--------------------------------
B--------------------------------
G------------------2-4-5---------
D------------2-3-5---------------
A-------3-5----------------------
E--------------------------------

Lydian Mode = Major Scale with the fourth note raised: C D E F# G A B

​E--------------------------------
B--------------------------------
G------------------2-4-5---------
D------------2-4-5---------------
A-------3-5----------------------
E--------------------------------

​Mixolydian Mode = Major Scale with the seventh note lowered: C D E F G A Bb

E--------------------------------
B--------------------------------
G------------------2-3-5---------
D------------2-3-5---------------
A-------3-5----------------------
E--------------------------------

Then four minor modes: Aeolian, Dorian, Phrygian and Locrian

Aeolian Mode = Minor Scale: C D Eb F G Ab Bb

E--------------------------------
B--------------------------------
G--------------------------------
D-----------------------8-10-----
A---------------8-10-11----------
E-------8-10-11------------------

Dorian Mode = Minor Scale with the sixth note raised: C D Eb F G A Bb

​E--------------------------------
B--------------------------------
G--------------------------------
D---------------------7-8-10-----
A---------------8-10-------------
E-------8-10-11------------------

​Phrygian Mode = Minor Scale with the second note lowered: C Db Eb F G Ab Bb

E--------------------------------
B--------------------------------
G--------------------------------
D-----------------------8-10-----
A---------------8-10-11----------
E-------8-9-11-------------------

​Locrian Mode = Minor Scale with the second/fifth note lowered: C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb

E--------------------------------
B--------------------------------
G--------------------------------
D-----------------------8-10-----
A---------------8-9-11-----------
E-------8-9-11-------------------

​Observation: Check out some of my previous lessons - How to Find all Major and minor modes! Lots of useful short cuts.

Observation: Please watch the video to hear a short sample of how those scales will sound when played with the C major chord! Also keep in mind that at the end of the video we have the backing track for you to play the scales.

In music we associate majors being happy sounds and minors being sad sounds so we can put the modes into that order as well! The variations on the scale will make it extra happy/sad or less happy/sad!

For example:
The lydian mode is an extra happy mode; the ionian just happy and the mixolydian is happy with a little hint of sadness!
Same for the minors: Dorian is a sad mode with a hint of happiness, aeolian is a sad mode and the Phrygian is extra sad almost weird sometimes. The locrian mode stands on it is own being a weird sound scale!

Lydian - Ionian - Mixolydian - Dorian - Aeolian - Phrygian - Locrian
HAPPY————————————SAD————————————WEIRD

Now that we got the basics out of the way we will work on all the modes separately using examples in songs and working them on solos - so stay tune for more Modal FUN!!!

Rod Ferreira has been a guitar teacher for over ten years. Rod specializes in acousitc, electric, blues, and rock guitar. Sign up for a one-on-one lesson today!

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