It's believed the seven modes in this lesson got their names from ancient greek tribes. Regardless where they came from they are very cool for improving your ability to improvise. By learning these seven modes you can really start to learn your way around the neck of the guitar. I believe these are a must learn to take your improvising skills to another level. Even though there have been many books written on the modes they still remain a mystery to many guitarists. I will do my best to show you how you can use them and implement them into your soloing. Another characteristic of the modes is their ability to change the mood of a person dependent on the mode used. Another way to think of modes is patterns versus scales. Something that I have used the modes for is their ability to allow you to play in any Major or Minor key. This is because regardless if you are playing in a major or the relative minor scale the notes of the mode remain the same.
| Here is an example of all the major scales and mode relationships below. | |||||||
| Key | Ionian | Dorian | Phrygian | Lydian | Mixolydian | Aeolian | Locrian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emotional Impact | Happy | Sadness | Happy | Happy | Slight Happiness | Sadness | Tension |
| C | C | D | E | F | G | A | B |
| C# | C# | D# | F | F# | G# | A# | C |
| D | D | E | F# | G | A | B | C# |
| D# | D# | F | G | G# | A# | C | D |
| E | E | F# | G# | A | B | C# | D# |
| F | F | G | A | A# | C | D | E |
| F# | F# | G# | A# | B | C# | D# | F |
| G | G | A | B | C | D | E | F# |
| G# | G# | A# | C | C# | D# | F | G |
| A | A | B | C# | D | E | F# | G# |
| A# | A# | C | D | D# | F | G | A |
| B | B | C# | D# | A | B | G# | A# |
| maj7 | min7 | min7 | maj7 | 7 | min7 | min7b5 | |
Ionian= The Ionian mode is the same as the major scale so this one should be very familiar to you. However there are some three note patterns per string that I will be going over in this lesson.
Dorian= The Dorian mode is very si mi liar to a minor scale except the 6th note is raised. So if we look at the A minor scale the notes would be as follows.
A-B-C-D-E-F#-G.
Phrygian= The Phrygian mode also resembles a minor scale, however the second note of the minor scale is lowered a half step to produce the Phrygian mode. Example: Aminor= A-A#-C-D-E-F-G
Lydian= The Lydian mode resembles the major scale except you raise the 4th note 1/2 step. So the C Major example would be as follows, C-D-E-F#-G-A-B
Mixolydian= The Mixolydian mode also resembles the major scale except you lower the 7th degree by 1/2 step.
Aeolian= The Aeolian scale is exactly the same as the minor scale so this one should be pretty easy to remember if you have learned your scales.
Locrian= This mode has been tagged as a mode of tension. It is created by The a lowering the second and fifth of a minor scale.
Now on to the good stuff!