Guitar Scales Trick Part 3

Here is the chart summarizing the positions of the major scale

(CLICK HERE FOR THE 7 MODES PRINTABLE)

But if this is a major scale, why all these 7 different names?

Consider the red pattern. It’s a scale which starts from the low G, the 3th fret. G Dorian scale. It’s not a major scale, than it needs a different name.

Each pattern has a different sequence of intervals, sounds different, then must have a different name.

The 7 modes sound as:

Ionian

1 – 1 – 1/2 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1/2
Mood: Happy / upbeat.
Chord type = Maj or Maj7.

Dorian

1 – 1/2 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1/2 – 1
Mood: Minor Jazzy feel.
Chord type = min or min7

Phrygian

1/2 – 1 – 1- 1- 1/2 – 1 – 1
Mood: Spanish, Flamenco.
Chord type = min or min7

Lydian

1 – 1 – 1 – 1/2 – 1 – 1 – 1/2
Mood: Dreamy, floating.
Chord type = Maj or Maj7

Mixolydian

1 – 1 – 1/2 – 1 – 1 – 1/2 – 1
Mood: Bluesy
Chord type = Maj or Maj7

Aeolian

1 – 1/2 – 1 – 1 – 1/2 – 1 – 1
Mood: Sad, somber, unhappy.
Chord type = min or min7

Locrian

1/2 – 1 – 1 – 1/2 – 1 – 1 – 1
Mood: Dark, sinister, metal
Chord type = dim or m7b5

 

This chart summarizes the modal scales

N = Note (Root Note), example:

N = F, we get F Ionian, G Dorian (F+2), A Phrygian (F+4)…etc

N = A, we get A Ionian, B Dorian (A+2), C# Phrygian (A+4)…etc

 

The table shows the correspondence between the root (N) of the scale and the fret on the guitar where a certain scale should be played. For instance, if you want to play in the root of A, you should start at the 5^th fret.  For the root of C, you should start at the 8^th fret, etc.

Let’s suppose you want to play notes in a song at a Major key.
You can choose the Ionian mode (Major).
If the song key is in F, you can use N = F (Ionian mode starting from the F fret)
If the song key is  A, you can use   N = A (Ionian mode starting from the A fret)

Let’s suppose you want to play notes in a song at a Minor key.
You can choose the Aeolian mode.
If the tone of the song is in Am , you can use N = A  (Eolian mode starting from the A fret).
If the tone of the song is in Dm, you can use N = D  (Eolian mode starting from the D fret).

Now this is important: Let’s suppose you want to play notes in A Minor key but you’d know it’s possible to chose A Aeolian from the 5th fret. If you want to switch to a different mode, for example the Dorian, you will read ” N+2 ” on the chart under the Dorian Mode. In this case, A + 2 = B, allowing you to play the Dorian mode B (B Dorian) on your A Minor song.

During improvisation you will be able to use all the scales simultaneously, with practice you’ll recognize them by ear.

Example:

Let’s suppose you want to play notes in a song on F.
You can choose the Ionian mode staring form F (F Ionian), but also G Dorian match perfectly and so on for all the modal scales.
If the key of the song is G, you can use G Ionian, A Dorian (G+2) and so on.

Let’s suppose you want to play notes on Am.

If the key of the song is Am, you can use  A Eolian. N = A (Eolian mode starting from the A fret), but also B Locrian (A+2, Locrian mode starting from B fret) match perfectly and so on for all the modal scales.
If the tone of the song is in Dm, you can use N = D  (Eolian mode starting from the D fret). Etc.

Don’t remember a modal scale?

Solution:

Repeat the F major exercise (The 7 Modes of the Major scale of the fretboard chart) until you get to the forgotten mode.

In the next Chapter some guitar backing track made with Band in a Box to practice.

Content:

Part 1 The 7 Modes of the Major scale
Part 2  How to Improvise
Part 3  Fretboard and mood of the Modes
Part 4  Backing Tracks to practice

 

(continue to the Part 4)

 

 

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