electric-guitar.co.uk Lesson: Modes

This lesson was written by jonnycricket

There are 7 different modes: Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian, and they are all derived from the major scale. In fact they all contain the notes of the major scale, just starting in different places.

C-Ionian is a simple C-major scale beginning with C.
D-Dorian is a simple C-major scale beginning on the 2nd tone (D).
E-Phrygian is a simple C-major scale beginning on the 3. tone (E) etc.

Theory:

Each of the scales have typical tones in them.

Ionian: It's a simple major-scale. Its typical tone is a major 3.
Chords that work: Major7, Major6
C Ionian : C - D - E - F - G - A - B - (C)
Its formula: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - (8)

Dorian: It's a minor scale, the typical tone is a 6.
Chords that work: Minor7, Minor6, minor7/9
C Dorian : C - D - Eb - F - G - A - Bb - C
Its formula: 1 - 2 - b3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - b7 - 1

Phrygian: It's a minor scale, the typical tone is a b2. Sounds Spain!
Chords that work: Minor7
C Phrygian: C - Db - Eb - F - G - Ab - Bb - C
Its formula: 1 - b2 - b3 - 4 - 5 - b6 - b7 - 1

Lydian: It's a major scale, the typical tone is a a blue dream!!
Chords that work: Major7, Major7 C Lydian: C - D - E - F Its formula: 1 - 2 - 3 -
Mixolydian: Major dominant scale with b7. Same as Ionian just with a b7, sounds bluesy.
Chords that work: 7, 7/13, 7/9
C Mixolydian: C - D - E - F - G - A - Bb - C
Its formula: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - b7 - 1

Aeolian: It's a simple minor scale, the typical tone is a b6
Chords that work: Minor7, Minor7/9
C Aeolian: C - D - Eb - F - G - Ab - Bb - C
Its formula: 1 - 2 - b3 - 4 - 5 - b6 - b7 - 1

Locrian: Minor Scale. Is not used in Pop and Rock music often. Minor7(b5)
C Locrian : C - Db - Eb - F - Gb - Ab - Bb - C
Its formula: 1 - b2 - b3 - 4 - b5 - b6 - b7 - 1

Okay? Do the next examples on your own:
Build a G-Mixolydian scale. Work out what the notes would be, what the formula would be, and what key it would be in.

Do the same for:
D-Lydian
E-Dorian
G You can find the solution at the end of this text.

Playing the modes:

Start every scale with the same tone. I think that's the best way to learn them by heart.

A Ionian (Key of A)
-------------------------------7-9-10-9-7----------------------------------
------------------------7-9-10------------10-9-7---------------------------
------------------6-7-9--------------------------9-7-6---------------------
------------6-7-9--------------------------------------9-7-6---------------
------5-7-9---------------------------------------------------9-7-5--------
5-7-9---------------------------------------------------------------9-7-5--

A Dorian (Key of G)
-------------------------------7-8-10-8-7----------------------------------
------------------------7-8-10------------10-8-7---------------------------
------------------5-7-9--------------------------9-7-5---------------------
------------5-7-9--------------------------------------9-7-5---------------
------5-7-9--------------------------------------------------9-7-5---------
5-7-8--------------------------------------------------------------8-7-5---

A Phrygian (Key of F)
-------------------------------6-8-10-8-6----------------------------------
------------------------6-8-10------------10-8-6---------------------------
------------------5-7-9--------------------------9-7-5---------------------
------------5-7-8--------------------------------------8-7-5---------------
------5-7-8--------------------------------------------------8-7-5---------
5-6-8--------------------------------------------------------------8-6-5---

A Lydian (Key of E)
-------------------------------7-9-11-9-7----------------------------------
------------------------7-9-10------------10-9-7---------------------------
------------------6-8-9--------------------------9-8-6---------------------
------------6-7-9--------------------------------------9-7-6---------------
------6-7-9---------------------------------------------------9-7-6--------
5-7-9---------------------------------------------------------------9-7-5--

A Mixolydian (Key of D)
-------------------------------7-9-10-9-7----------------------------------
------------------------7-8-10------------10-8-7---------------------------
------------------6-7-9--------------------------9-7-6---------------------
------------5-7-9--------------------------------------9-7-5---------------
------5-7-9---------------------------------------------------9-7-5--------
5-7-9---------------------------------------------------------------9-7-5--

A Aeolian (Key of C)
-------------------------------7-8-10-8-7----------------------------------
------------------------6-8-10------------10-8-6---------------------------
------------------5-7-9--------------------------9-7-5---------------------
------------5-7-9--------------------------------------9-7-5---------------
------5-7-8--------------------------------------------------8-7-5---------
5-7-8--------------------------------------------------------------8-7-5---

A Locrian (Key of Bb)
-------------------------------6-8-10-8-6----------------------------------
------------------------6-8-10------------10-8-6---------------------------
------------------5-7-8--------------------------8-7-5---------------------
------------5-7-8--------------------------------------8-7-5---------------
------5-6-8--------------------------------------------------8-6-5---------
5-6-8--------------------------------------------------------------8-6-5---

Practice all of the Patterns:
1) with strict Alternate Picking
2) with legato (hammer ons and pull offs (it's hard!))
So you can make it a real good technical study too!

Solutions:
G-Mixolydian scale: G - A - B - C - D - E - F - G
KEY: C-major
Formula: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - b7- 1

D-Lydian scale: D - E - F KEY: A-major
Formula: 1 - 2 - 3 -
E-Dorian scale: E - F KEY: D-major
Formula: 1 - 2 - b3- 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 1

G KEY: E-major
Formula: 1 - b2 - b3- 4 - 5 - b6 -b7 - 1

Previous lesson: String Skipping
Next lesson: Jazz Comping
Top^^

Modes

Did you find this lesson helpful?