...and their relationship to major and minor scales
Today's lesson will teach you all about modes! Modes can open up your sonic creativity and make you a true guitar warlock. Let's dive in!
Prerequisite reading: Learn to play guitar scales for beginners. How to play Major and minor Scales all over the neck.
What is a mode?
A mode of a scale uses the exact same notes of the parent scale. However the tonality focus is switched from the root of the parent to the mode! So for instance, if you are playing in A Major but make your tonality focus to that of F# you would be playing in a mode.
As you may have already seen in my lesson How to play Major and minor Scales all over the neck that F# minor shares the exact same notes as A Major. F# minor (natural minor) is actually a mode. It's mode name is Aeolian.
A mode for every degree of the scale
Every degree of the scale can be thought of as the root note of a mode. Each mode has a unique name.
Major and Minor scales are also modes!
- The names are: (and using notes of A Major scale)
- A Ionian = 1st scale degree (same as Major).
- B Dorian = 2nd scale degree.
- C# Phrygian = 3rd scale degree.
- D Lydian = 4th scale degree.
- E Mixolydian = 5th scale degree.
- F# Aeolian = 6th scale degree (same as minor).
- G# Locrian = 7th scale degree.
Below is a handy animation that highlights the root of each mode while showing you how the notes stay the same.
When to use modes
You never have to use a mode. However, using modes is just like switching to entirely different key but without using any different notes than you are already using. For example, If you are playing in the key of A Major for a song but you make the chords and other notes switch tonality focus to the B note...then you are playing in B Dorian. Purposefully doing this sort of thing can lead to some interesting as well as exotic sounding music. Try it!
Modes by key
Here is a handy list of all keys and their mode names. Remember Aeolian is the same as the minor key. You can view the modes in relation to their parent key by clicking the View in scales app link next to each parent key.
C Major modes
View in scales app
C Ionian D Dorian E Phrygian F Lydian G Mixolydian A Aeolian B Locrian
G Major modes
View in scales app
G Ionian A Dorian B PhrygianC Lydian D Mixolydian E Aeolian F# Locrian of G Major
D Major modes
View in scales app
D Ionian E Dorian F# PhrygianG Lydian A Mixolydian B Aeolian C# Locrian
A Major modes
View in scales app
A Ionian B Dorian C# PhrygianD Lydian E Mixolydian F# Aeolian G# Locrian
E Major modes
View in scales app
E Ionian F# Dorian G# PhrygianA Lydian B Mixolydian C# Aeolian D# Locrian
B Major modes
View in scales app
B Ionian C# Dorian D# PhrygianE Lydian F# Mixolydian G# Aeolian A# Locrian
F Major modes
View in scales app
F Ionian G Dorian A PhrygianBb Lydian C Mixolydian D Aeolian E Locrian
Bb Major modes
View in scales app
Bb Ionian C Dorian D PhrygianEb Lydian F Mixolydian G Aeolian A Locrian
Eb Major modes
View in scales app
Eb Ionian F Dorian G PhrygianAb Lydian Bb Mixolydian C Aeolian D Locrian
Ab Major modes
View in scales app
Ab Ionian Bb Dorian C PhrygianDb Lydian Eb Mixolydian F Aeolian G Locrian
Db Major modes
View in scales app
Db Ionian Eb Dorian F PhrygianGb Lydian Ab Mixolydian Bb Aeolian C Locrian
Gb Major modes
View in scales app
Gb Ionian Ab Dorian Bb PhrygianCb Lydian Db Mixolydian Eb Aeolian F Locrian
Learn to play scales the easy way
There is an easy way to learn how to play scales and memorize them all over the guitar fretboard and I wrote and article about it here : Learn To play and memorize Scales
In summary
Modes provide a way to enter an alternate tonality from within a parent key/scale. Modes allow you to be even more creative while painting a sonic picture. You can write songs that are modal or improvise awesome guitar solos using them. If you ever thought practicing your scales was boring, start experimenting with your pallet of modes to create something entirely new and exciting.
