Sunday, 25 November 2012

What Are Guitar Modes?


MODES

Modes are basically scales that are derived from the major scale. The only difference is that they have some flatted or sharped notes. For example: the interval pattern for the major scale was R (root)-2-3-4-5-6-7-O (octave) and the steps went W-W-H-W-W-W-H... The Dorian Mode has an interval pattern of R-2-♭3 (♭=flat) -4-5-6-♭7-O so its steps went W-H-W-W-W-H-W...
So guess what... All of the modes listed below use the same patterns!! The only other difference is where the root note is... You just follow the same pattern but use a different root note... pretty neat huh.
Notes (Degrees --> Roman Numerals) of the Major Scales.
ScaleIII / IXIIIIV / XIVVI / XIIIVIII (octave)
AABC♯DEF♯G♯A
A♯A♯B♯C♯♯D♯E♯F♯♯G♯♯A♯
B♭B♭CDE♭FGAB♭
BBC♯D♯EF♯G♯A♯B
CCDEFGABC
C♯C♯D♯E♯F♯G♯A♯B♯C♯
D♭D♭E♭FG♭A♭B♭CD♭
DDEF♯GABC♯D
D♯D♯E♯F♯♯G♯A♯B♯C♯♯D♯
E♭E♭FGA♭B♭CDE♭
EEF♯G♯ABC♯D♯E
FFGAA♯CDEF
F♯F♯G♯A♯BC♯D♯E♯F♯
G♭G♭A♭B♭C♭D♭E♭FG♭
GGABCDEF♯G
G♯G♯A♯B♯C♯D♯E♯F♯♯G♯
A♭A♭B♭CD♭E♭FGA♭
So you can be using one pattern and it is really several different modes in the same key the key is determined by the major scale. For example: The E major scale follows the same pattern as the F# Dorian mode. The only difference --> Where the Root note lies.
Below are examples of all seven of the modes. Notice the chords for the dorian mode are Minor, Minor Sevenths, and Minor Ninths. Also notice that the chords for the major scale are Major, Major Sevenths, Major Ninths, and Elevenths. In other words you can use E major, major 7th, etc. chord with the E major scale, and you can use F# minor, minor 7th, and minor 9th chords with the F# Dorian Mode. But remember the E major scale is also the F# Dorian Mode (Just a different root note)... So you can use all of those chords with the F# Dorian Mode and the E major scale that's 7 different chords that you can use. But don't forget that there are several other modes to get chords from for a grand total of... 20 different chords that can be played with one pattern!!

IONIAN (MAJOR SCALE)

Description:This scale is used as base scale from which other modes and scales come from.
Quality:Happy or Upbeat quality
Musical Styles:Rock, Country, Jazz, Fusion
Chords:Major Chords
Intervals:(W - Whole Step, H - Half Step)
Root -2-3-4-5-6-7-Octave
W-W-H-W-W-W-H

FULL PATTERN: E MAJOR SCALE (IONIAN MODE)

Full Pattern: E Major Scale
You may place a given pattern anywhere on the fretboard. You will know what scale it is by what note the root is at that position. For example... on the 4th string 2nd fret the note is an E that is why this is an E major scale if you moved the whole pattern over one fret so that the Blue dot (Root Note) is on the 4th string 3rd fret the scale would then be the F major scale.

DORIAN

Description:This is the major scale with a flat 3rd and 7th note
Quality:Jazzy, Sophisticated, Soulful
Musical Styles:Jazz, Fusion, Blues, and Rock
Chords:Minor, Minor 7th, Minor 9th
Intervals:(W - Whole Step, H - Half Step, R - Root, O - Octave, ♭ - flat, # - sharp)
R-2-♭3-4-5-6-♭7-O
W-H-W-W-W-H-W

FULL PATTERN: F# DORIAN MODE

Full Pattern: F# Dorian Mode

PHRYGIAN

Description:This is the major scale with a flat 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and 7th note
Quality:Spanish Flavor
Musical Styles:Flamenco, Fusion, Speed Metal
Chords:Minor, Minor 7th
Intervals:(W - Whole Step, H - Half Step, R - Root, O - Octave, ♭ - flat, # - sharp)
R-♭2-♭3-4-5-♭6-♭7-O
H-W-W-W-H-W-W

FULL PATTERN: G# PHRYGIAN MODE

Full Pattern: G# Phrygian Mode

LYDIAN

Description:This is the major scale with a sharp 4th note
Quality:Airy
Musical Styles:Jazz, Fusion, Rock, Country
Chords:Major, Major 7th, Major 9th, Sharp 11th
Intervals:(W - Whole Step, H - Half Step, R - Root, O - Octave, ♭ - flat, # - sharp)
R-2-3-#4-5-6-7-O
W-W-W-H-W-W-H

FULL PATTERN: A LYDIAN MODE

Full Pattern: A Lydian Mode

MIXOLYDIAN

Description:This is the major scale with a flat 7th note
Quality:Bluesy
Musical Styles:Blues, Country, Rockabilly, and Rock
Chords:Dominant Chords
Intervals:(W - Whole Step, H - Half Step, R - Root, O - Octave, ♭ - flat, # - sharp)
R-2-3-4-5-6-♭7-O
W-W-H-W-W-H-W

FULL PATTERN: B MIXOLYDIAN MODE

Full Pattern: B Mixolydian Mode

AEOLIAN (MINOR SCALE)

Description:This is the major scale with a flat 3rd, 6th, and 7th note
Quality:Sad, Sorrowful
Musical Styles:Pop, Blues, Rock, Heavy Metal, Country, Fusion
Chords:Minor Chords
Intervals:(W - Whole Step, H - Half Step, R - Root, O - Octave, ♭ - flat, # - sharp)
R-2-♭3-4-5-♭6-♭7-O
W-H-W-W-H-W-W

FULL PATTERN: C# AEOLIAN MODE

Full Pattern: C# Aeolian Mode

LOCRIAN

Description:This is the major scale with a flat 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th note
Quality:Sinister
Musical Styles:Jazz, Fusion
Chords:Diminished, Minor 7th Flat Fives
Intervals:(W - Whole Step, H - Half Step, R - Root, O - Octave, ♭ - flat, # - sharp)
R-♭2-♭3-4-♭5-♭6-♭7-O
H-W-W-H-W-W-W

FULL PATTERN: D# LOCRIAN MODE

Full Pattern: D# Locrian Mode

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