The Seven Modes In Major on Guitar
Modes
A mode, is a scale within a major or minor key.
In every key, we have 7 chords, and their steps (modes) remain the same. Here’s a small example to make it a bit clearer:
Listing of all steps/modes in the key of C:
The intervals of the individual modes:
Let’s play through all the steps exactly like this, so C Major, D Minor, E Minor, F Major, G Major, A Minor, B diminished, then it will sound “normal” to us.
Normal, because we are accustomed to this sequence. Suppose, theoretically speaking, in a parallel universe where beings have been using different “steps” for centuries, our logical sequence might sound strange to them. 😛
What I’ve done is taken the first step, which in the C Major key is C, and checked in the second column whether this step should be major or minor. Then I did the same with the 2nd step. Here it’s D, and as a chord, I should play minor, and so on.
If I were to mix up the major and minor of the different steps, something would sound very odd to our ears.
Here’s an example where I play major on the 2nd step instead of minor, minor on the 5th step instead of major, and major on the 7th step instead of diminished.
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what sounds strange, but something does sound off. However, if we stick to the steps and adjust the “notes” according to the key, then it always sounds correct.
There are ways to, for example, play a major chord even if it doesn’t belong there, but let’s stick to the 7 modes in major here and keep it simple.
Scales on Guitar
Here are all the scales and chord shapes for the guitar. There’s the ‘Spread,’ which means you have to spread your fingers to play it, and the ‘Close’ shaped scales, where the notes are a bit closer together, so you don’t have to stretch your fingers too much. 🙂
There are also two different starting positions for each scale. One with the root note on the low E string and another on the A string.
It’s best to learn both patterns for each — either Spread or Close — so that you always have an option, no matter where you are on the fretboard.
Step / Mode in C: I — C Ionian
Step / Mode in C: II — D Dorian
Step / Mode in C: III — E Phrygian
Step / Mode in C: IV — F Lydian
Step / Mode in C: V — G Mixolydian
Step / Mode in C: VI — A Aeolian
Step / Mode in C: VII — B Locrian
Box Positions
Here are all the root notes listed, a standard C Ionian scale over 2 octaves.
Red = Ionian
Green = Dorian
Blue = Phrygian
Yellow = Lydian
Orange = Mixolydian, and so on.
As you can see, it’s always the same notes, whether it’s C Ionian, D Dorian, or G Mixolydian. This means it’s not necessary to play a C Ionian scale over a C Major (1st step). Theoretically, you could play F Lydian or G Mixolydian over it since they share the same notes, just starting from a different root.
The only reason one plays Ionian on the 1st step, Dorian on the 2nd, Phrygian on the 3rd, and so on, is to always know exactly where the root note is. If you play a C Major chord as the 1st step and play F Lydian over it, theoretically, everything is correct since they share the exact same notes. However, if you stay on the root note of the F Lydian scale (which is the note F), it becomes an avoid note and doesn’t sound good.
On the other hand, if you play C Ionian over it and stay on the root note, you have resolved perfectly.
