...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 how modes relate to parent scale link next to each parent key.
C Major modes
View in scales app how modes relate to parent scale
G Major modes
View in scales app how modes relate to parent scale
D Major modes
View in scales app how modes relate to parent scale
A Major modes
View in scales app how modes relate to parent scale
E Major modes
View in scales app how modes relate to parent scale
B Major modes
View in scales app how modes relate to parent scale
F Major modes
View in scales app how modes relate to parent scale
Bb Major modes
View in scales app how modes relate to parent scale
Eb Major modes
View in scales app how modes relate to parent scale
Ab Major modes
View in scales app how modes relate to parent scale
Db Major modes
View in scales app how modes relate to parent scale
Gb Major modes
View in scales app how modes relate to parent scale
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.
