Guitar Scales Modes
Written by Edward Cupler
The guitar scales modes in example #1 are comprised of the same seven notes in order to keep things as simple as possible. With all of these guitar scale modes, I am avoiding the use of sharps and flats and instead I am showing the modes at different positions on the guitar neck as they would be relevant to the seven notes of the C Major scale (C D E F G A B), These notes would be all of the white keys on a piano. Click on "Interactive guitar lesson example #1" below to better understand this.
Interactive guitar lesson example #1
The order in which the modes appear is as follows:
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C - Ionian
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D - Dorian
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E - Phrygian
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F - Lydian
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G - Mixolydian
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A - Aeolian
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B - Locrian
This order is strictly followed regardless of which guitar scale is used. Only the root note of each scale mode and their position on the neck of the guitar would change. The pattern of each of the guitar scales modes would remain the same. This is illustrated in "Interactive guitar lesson example #2" below.
Interactive guitar lesson example #2
For example, if I were to use the D Major scale instead of the C Major scale, the order of the scale modes would be as follows:
- D - Ionian
- E - Dorian
- F# - Phrygian
- G - Lydian
- A - Mixolydian
- B - Aeolian
- C# - Locrian