9-درس انجليزي Guitar Modes - The Big Picture

Guitar Modes - The Big Picture

Over the course of this guitar modes series, we've been introduced to the 7 modes of the major scale, which are...
1. Ionian
2. Dorian
3. Phrygian
4. Lydian
5. Mixolydian
6. Aeolian
7. Locrian

So we know the modes individually, as unique scales that can be played over certain chords (e.g. playing Dorian over a minor chord). But we also learned, with help from the jam tracks, that modes also work over sequences of chords. That's the other function of modes - they work together as part of a larger "chord scale".

In this lesson, we're going to find out how to use the intervals of the major scale, and therefore the order of its modes, to create an extended scale form for any mode we want to play...

Expanding out of the "boxed" mode patterns

Going back to the individual mode lessons, you'll remember how each mode had a root note represented by 1, and it's these root notes we can refer to when laying out the sequence of modes as one large scale across the fretboard.

Let's map out the modes in these positions to get a clearer picture:

First, look at the interval sequence created by just the E string root notes of each mode. Notice anything familiar? Ok I'll tell you straight!

If you played just that root note sequence from Phrygian, along the low E string, you would be playing Phrygian.

If you played from Aeolian, you'd be playing Aeolian.

If you played from Ionian, you'd be playing... yep, Ionian.

In this example, Ionian lies on C, so the sequence continues from that.

You can see from above that the 7 modes can be lined up, in sequence, using those same intervals/degrees of the major scale (which uses the same intervals as the 1st mode, Ionian), allowing us to produce a large major scale in the key of C (or C Ionian if you're playing over a chord sequence from that same scale).

This is what I meant when I said modes work together as part of a larger scale/sequence. If you know which individual mode you're playing, it's simply a case of knowing the intervals between each mode to build a larger version of that mode you've chosen.

Let's take a practical example:

Let's say you've chosen to play Dorian, so first you need to know the key of that backing chord. Let's stick with the above positions and say it's D minor. Therefore, D Dorian could be compatible. So, you can simply play D Dorian in its "boxed" pattern (which we looked at in the individual lesson)...

However, we could also play E Phrygian, because it's part of that same larger scale we looked at above. We know from the intervals of the major scale/Ionian that the 3rd tone lies one whole step from the 2nd tone, therefore you can think in exactly the same terms for positioning the related modes! The root of the 3rd mode, Phrygian will lie one whole step from the root of the 2nd mode, Dorian. See the correlation?

It's just like laying out the intervals of whichever mode you've picked across one string. The notes of each mode will overlap with the previous/next, as you have probably noticed, but those root note marker points can help you map the intervals out at first. Eventually, you will remove this scaffolding.

Using this knowledge, we could also play A Aeolian over the D minor chord, and we'd essentially still get the D Dorian sound because, again, it's all part of the same larger sequence. Same notes, just in different positions on the fretboard.

Try the above diagram over the D minor track below. It'll all sound like Dorian, because Dorian's root in the sequence above lies on the note D, corresponding to the D minor root note of D!

Click to hear/jam >

So that's your first task - know the intervals of the major scale, and automatically you will know the intervals of each mode's root note in the same key!Now, if you did play A Aeolian over that D minor chord, you would get the D Dorian sound but you probably won't be familiar with the pattern being used in that context. Therefore, all you've learned about where the key tones of Dorian lie in its boxed pattern won't be the same with Aeolian's pattern. This is an entire course in itself (I highly recommend the Guitar Scale Mastery Course for that).

For now, just see that big picture - that the 7 modes use the same 7 notes of Ionian, just in different positions on the fretboard. The more you play around and experiment, the more your ear will be trained to recognise the key tones of whatever mode you're playing, outside its normal boxed position

Identifying the key and choosing your mode

One of the simplest ways to identify where to start playing your chosen mode, before expanding "out of the box", is to look at where the backing chord could be positioned on the fretboard.

For example, if you know the chord being played is D major (which you should if you know the song you're soloing over!), then you might know (from the barre chord lessons) that D major can be positioned at fret 5 with an A string root. We can use our knowledge of where chords appear on the fretboard to apply the chosen mode in that same position, playing around the chord shape.

We can then branch out from that starting position, using the knowledge from earlier in this lesson!

Let's take a look:

So above we've picked out a D major chord position. From earlier in this lesson, we know that to expand out of that box we simply need to know the interval sequence from that point.

D Ionian > E Dorian > F# Phrygian > G Lydian > A Mixolydian > etc.

With our knowledge of applying the major scale's intervals to the sequence of modes, we could play A Mixolydian over D major and still get that Ionian sound.

What's great about mastering this knowledge is that A Mixolydian, in this example, lies on the E string, 5th fret, directly below the A string root of D Ionian...

Because A Mixolydian is part of the D major mode sequence, it will still have that D Ionian flavour, just in another position (see how what would be the 1 root note of Mixolydian is actually the 5 of D Ionian when used in the context of D Ionian/over D major). This will give you more options when moving around the fretboard.

So you can see how, as well as the interval sequence of modes working horizontally across the low E string (as we looked at previously), it also has vertical relationships across the 2 main root note strings of E and A!
Tip: For a good start, you really just have to know the notes across those bottom 2 strings. This lesson will help.

Anyway, that's the basic idea - know the interval sequence of the modes (based on the intervals of the major scale's degrees) and know how the position of the root notes of the chords you're playing over can correspond with the root notes of the modes to make a clear starting point for whichever mode you choose.

You can then use your "out-of-the-box" knowledge to expand across the entire fretboard for a single mode, or, once your ears get sufficiently trained, merge seamlessly into different modes when the chord changes. This is about getting into position ready for when the chord changes. The course below will help you with that next important step.

Unfortunately there's only so much I can show you on this site, but I hope I've at least given you a solid introduction to the world of modes! Thanks for your time and patience!

Download some jam tracks and experiment!...

Mode Key Other compatible modes Jam Track
Ionian C D Dor, E Phryg, F Lyd, G Mixo, A Aeo, B Loc Download >
Dorian Dm E Phryg, F Lyd, G Mixo, A Aeo, B Loc, C Ion Download >
Phrygian Em F Lyd, G Mixo, A Aeo, B Loc, C Ion, D Dor Download >
Lydian F G Mixo, A Aeo, B Loc, C Ion, D Dor, E Phryg Download >
Mixolydian G A Aeo, B Loc, C Ion, D Dor, E Phryg, F Lyd Download >
Aeolian Am B Loc, C Ion, D Dor, E Phryg, F Lyd, G Mixo Download >
Locrian Bdim C Ion, D Dor, E Phryg, F Lyd, G Mixo, A Aeo Download >

» 8-درس انجليزي Guitar Modes
» 12-درس انجليزي Guitar Chord Progressions
» 1-درس انجليزي..Guitar Fretboard Lessons
» 3-درس انجليزي Guitar Tuning for Beginners
» 4-درس انجليزي The Major Scale on Guitar