Modes With Mode Dictionary

If you find memorizing steps was too difficult, this is the lesson for you! Modes are not put together with steps, but by altering the major scale. The entire point of modes are to change scales to suit your needs.

A mode is just an alteration of a major scale. Once you know your major scales, you can begin to learn modes. Good knowledge of you fretboard and basic intervals is a must for modes. I will go through how to make modes, as well as every mode for every note (Ab, A, Bb, B, C, Db, D, Eb, E, F, Gb, G) for easy refference.

Ionian     - 1  2  3  4  5  6  7 1

Dorian     - 1  2 b3  4  5  6 b7 1

Phrygian   - 1 b2 b3  4  5 b6 b7 1

Lydian     - 1  2  3 #4  5  6  7 1

Mixolydian - 1  2  3  4  5  6 b7 1

Aeolian    - 1  2 b3  4  5 b6 b7 1

Locrian    - 1 b2 b3  4 b5 b6 b7 1

Ionian- Ionian mode is just the name for the major scale. It has no alterations made to it. Play this mode over Major chords, Maj7, Maj6.

Dorian- Dorian mode has a flattened third and seventh (b3 and b7) making it ideal for m7 chords. You can also use Dorian mode for m6 chords. Dorian mode is often used in jazz styles.

Phrygian- Phrygian mode has a lowered second, third, sixth, and seventh. Phrygian has a Spanish feel to it so you can Play it over spanish progressions or heavy metal/rock riffs with a b2.

Lydian- Lydian mode's only alteration is a raised fourth (#4) making it very close to the major scale. The #4 makes it a good chord to use for Maj7#11 chords, but can also be used over maj7 chords.

Mixolydian- The only alteration in Mixolydian mode is the lowered seventh (b7). This makes it perfect for dominant 7th chords. This mode can be used in blues, jazz or even country.

Aeolian- Aeolian mode, a.k.a. the minor scale has a b3, b6 and b7. (All minor scales have a b3). Aeolian mode works over minor chords, and can be used as a substitute for Dorian mode, by using it over m7 chords.

Locrian- Locrian mode has a b2, b3, b5, b6 and b7. Locrain mode is very dark sounding. It fits a m7b5 chord perfectly.

Mode Dictionary.
To find the mode you want press Ctrl+F, then type the note, and mode. (ex. C Ionian). Each entry has the name of the mode, the notes that are found in it, and the TAB for it.

Legend.
#= sharp
b= flat
bb= double flat

Ab Ionian (Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab):
|-----------------------------4----|
|-------------------------6-8------|
|-------------------5-6-8----------|
|-------------5-6-8----------------|
|-------4-6-8----------------------|
|-4-6-8----------------------------|

Ab Dorian (Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F Gb Ab):
|-----------------------------4----|
|-------------------------6-7------|
|-------------------4-6-8----------|
|-------------4-6-8----------------|
|-------4-6-8----------------------|
|-4-6-7----------------------------|

Ab Phrygian (Ab Bbb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab):
|-----------------------------4----|
|-------------------------5-7------|
|-------------------4-6-8----------|
|-------------4-6-7----------------|
|-------4-6-7----------------------|
|-4-5-7----------------------------|

Ab Lydian (Ab Bb C D Eb F G Ab):
|-------------------------------4--|
|-------------------------5-7-8----|
|-------------------5-7-8----------|
|-------------5-6-8----------------|
|-------5-6-8----------------------|
|-4-6-8----------------------------|

Ab Mixolydian (Ab Bb C Db Eb F Gb Ab):
|-----------------------------4----|
|-------------------------6-7------|
|-------------------5-6-8----------|
|-------------4-6-8----------------|
|-------4-6-8----------------------|
|-4-6-8----------------------------|

Ab Aeloian (Ab Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab):
|-----------------------------4----|
|-----------------------4-5-7------|
|-------------------4-6------------|
|-------------4-6-8----------------|
|-------4-6-7----------------------|
|-4-6-7----------------------------|

Ab Locrian (Ab Bbb Cb Db Ebb Fb Gb Ab):
|-----------------------------4----|
|-------------------------5-7------|
|-------------------4-6-7----------|
|-------------4-6-7----------------|
|-------4-5-7----------------------|
|-4-5-7----------------------------|

___________________________________

A Ionian (A B C# D E F# G# A):
|-----------------------------5----|
|-------------------------7-9------|
|-------------------6-7-9----------|
|-------------6-7-9----------------|
|-------5-7-9----------------------|
|-5-7-9----------------------------|

A Dorian (A B C D E F# G A):
|------------------------------5---|
|--------------------------7-8-----|
|--------------------5-7-9---------|
|-------------5-7--9---------------|
|-------5-7-9----------------------|
|-5-7-8----------------------------|

A Phrygian (A Bb C D E F G A):
|-----------------------------5----|
|-------------------------6-8------|
|-------------------5-7-9----------|
|-------------5-7-8----------------|
|-------5-7-8----------------------|
|-5-6-8----------------------------|

A Lydian (A B C# D# E F# G# A):
|-----------------------------5----|
|-------------------------7-9------|
|-------------------6-8-9----------|
|-------------6-7-9----------------|
|-------6-7-9----------------------|
|-5-7-9----------------------------|

A Mixolydian (A B C# D E F# G A):
|-----------------------------5----|
|-------------------------7-8------|
|-------------------6-7-9----------|
|-------------5-7-9----------------|
|-------5-7-9----------------------|
|-5-7-9----------------------------|

A Aeolian (A B C D E F G A):
|-----------------------------5----|
|-------------------------6-8------|
|-------------------5-7-9----------|
|-------------5-7-9----------------|
|-------5-7-8----------------------|
|-5-7-8----------------------------|

A Locrian (A Bb C D Eb F G A):
|-----------------------------5----|
|-------------------------6-8------|
|-------------------5-7-8----------|
|-------------5-7-8----------------|
|-------5-6-8----------------------|
|-5-6-8----------------------------|

Bb Ionian (Bb C D Eb F G A Bb):
|----------------------------------6-|
|-----------------------------8-10---|
|----------------------7-8-10--------|
|---------------7-8-10---------------|
|--------6-8-10----------------------|
|-6-8-10-----------------------------|

Bb Dorian (Bb C Db Eb F G Ab Bb):
|---------------------------------6--|
|-----------------------------8-9----|
|----------------------6-8-10--------|
|--------------6-8--10---------------|
|-------6-8-10-----------------------|
|-6-8-9------------------------------|

Bb Phrygian (Bb Cb Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb):
|-------------------------------6----|
|---------------------------7-9------|
|--------------------6-8-10----------|
|-------------6--8-9-----------------|
|-------6-8-9------------------------|
|-6-7-9------------------------------|

Bb Lydian (Bb C D E F G A Bb):
|----------------------------------6-|
|-----------------------------8-10---|
|----------------------7-9-10--------|
|---------------7-8-10---------------|
|--------7-8-10----------------------|
|-6-8-10-----------------------------|

Bb Mixolydian (Bb C D Eb F G Ab Bb):
|---------------------------------6--|
|-----------------------------8-9----|
|----------------------7-8-10--------|
|---------------6-8-10---------------|
|--------6-8-10----------------------|
|-6-8-10-----------------------------|

Bb Aeolian (Bb C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb):
|-------------------------------6----|
|---------------------------7-9------|
|--------------------6-8-10----------|
|-------------6-8-10-----------------|
|-------6-8-9------------------------|
|-6-8-9------------------------------|

Bb Locrian (Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb):
|-----------------------------6------|
|-------------------------7-9--------|
|-------------------6-8-9------------|
|-------------6-8-9------------------|
|-------6-7-9------------------------|
|-6-7-9------------------------------|

B Ionian (B C# D# E F# G# A# B):
|----------------------------------7----|
|-----------------------------9-11------|
|----------------------8-9-11-----------|
|---------------8-9-11------------------|
|--------7-9-11-------------------------|
|-7-9-11--------------------------------|

B Dorian (B C# D E F# G# A B):
|-----------------------------------7---|
|------------------------------9-10-----|
|-----------------------7-9-11----------|
|---------------7-9--11-----------------|
|--------7-9-11-------------------------|
|-7-9-10--------------------------------|

B Phrygian (B C D E F# G A B):
|-----------------------------------7---|
|------------------------------8-10-----|
|-----------------------7-9-11----------|
|---------------7--9-10-----------------|
|--------7-9-10-------------------------|
|-7-8-10--------------------------------|

B Lydian (B C# D# E# F# G# A# B):
|-----------------------------------7---|
|------------------------------9-11-----|
|----------------------8-10-11----------|
|---------------8-9-11------------------|
|--------8-9-11-------------------------|
|-7-9-11--------------------------------|

B Mixolydian (B C# D# E F# G# A B):
|----------------------------------7----|
|-----------------------------9-10------|
|----------------------8-9-11-----------|
|---------------7-9-11------------------|
|--------7-9-11-------------------------|
|-7-9-11--------------------------------|

B Aeolian (B C# D E F# G A B):
|----------------------------------7----|
|-----------------------------8-10------|
|----------------------7-9-11-----------|
|---------------7-9-11------------------|
|--------7-9-10-------------------------|
|-7-9-10--------------------------------|

B Locrian (B C D E F G A B):
|----------------------------------7----|
|-----------------------------8-10------|
|----------------------7-9-10-----------|
|---------------7-9-10------------------|
|--------7-8-10-------------------------|
|-7-8-10--------------------------------|

C Ionian (C D E F G A B C):
|---------------------------------------8--|
|---------------------------------10-12----|
|-------------------------9-10-12----------|
|-----------------9-10-12------------------|
|---------8-10-12--------------------------|
|-8-10-12----------------------------------|

C Dorian (C D Eb F G A Bb C):
|----------------------------------------8-|
|----------------------------------10-11---|
|--------------------------8-10-12---------|
|-----------------8-10--12-----------------|
|---------8-10-12--------------------------|
|-8-10-11----------------------------------|

C Phrygian (C Db Eb F G Ab Bb C):
|--------------------------------------8---|
|---------------------------------9-11-----|
|-------------------------8-10-12----------|
|----------------8--10-11------------------|
|--------8-10-11---------------------------|
|-8-9-11-----------------------------------|

C Lydian (C D E F# G A B C):
|---------------------------------------8--|
|---------------------------------10-12----|
|-------------------------9-11-12----------|
|-----------------9-10-12------------------|
|---------9-10-12--------------------------|
|-8-10-12----------------------------------|

C Mixolydian (C D E F G A Bb C):
|---------------------------------------8--|
|---------------------------------10-11----|
|-------------------------9-10-12----------|
|-----------------8-10-12------------------|
|---------8-10-12--------------------------|
|-8-10-12----------------------------------|

C Aeolian (C D Eb F G Ab Bb C):
|--------------------------------------8---|
|---------------------------------9-11-----|
|-------------------------8-10-12----------|
|-----------------8-10-12------------------|
|---------8-10-11--------------------------|
|-8-10-11----------------------------------|

C Locrian (C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C):
|------------------------------------8-----|
|-------------------------------9-11-------|
|-----------------------8-10-11------------|
|---------------8-10-11--------------------|
|--------8-9-11----------------------------|
|-8-9-11-----------------------------------|

Db Ionian (Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db):
|-----------------------------------------9--|
|-----------------------------------11-13----|
|--------------------------10-11-13----------|
|-----------------10-11-13-------------------|
|---------9-11-13----------------------------|
|-9-11-13------------------------------------|

Db Dorian (Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb Cb Db):
|----------------------------------------9---|
|----------------------------------11-12-----|
|--------------------------9-11-13-----------|
|-----------------9-11--13-------------------|
|---------9-11-13----------------------------|
|-9-11-12------------------------------------|

Db Phrygian (Db Ebb Fb Gb Ab Bbb Cb Db):
|----------------------------------------9---|
|----------------------------------10-12-----|
|--------------------------9-11-13-----------|
|-----------------9--11-12-------------------|
|---------9-11-12----------------------------|
|-9-10-12------------------------------------|

Db Lydian (Db Eb F G Ab Bb C Db):
|------------------------------------------9-|
|------------------------------------11-13---|
|---------------------------10-12-13---------|
|------------------10-11-13------------------|
|---------10-11-13---------------------------|
|-9-11-13------------------------------------|

Db Mixolydian (Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb Cb Db):
|----------------------------------------9---|
|----------------------------------11-12-----|
|-------------------------10-11-13-----------|
|-----------------9-11-13--------------------|
|---------9-11-13----------------------------|
|-9-11-13------------------------------------|

Db Aeolian (Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bbb Cb Db):
|---------------------------------------9----|
|---------------------------------10-12------|
|-------------------------9-11-13------------|
|-----------------9-11-13--------------------|
|---------9-11-12----------------------------|
|-9-11-12------------------------------------|

Db Locrian (Db Ebb Fb Gb Abb Bbb Cb Db):
|---------------------------------------9----|
|---------------------------------10-12------|
|-------------------------9-11-12------------|
|-----------------9-11-12--------------------|
|---------9-10-12----------------------------|
|-9-10-12------------------------------------|

D Ionian (D E F# G A B C# D):
|-------------------------------------------10----|
|-------------------------------------12-14-------|
|----------------------------11-12-14-------------|
|-------------------11-12-14----------------------|
|----------10-12-14-------------------------------|
|-10-12-14----------------------------------------|

D Dorian (D E F G A B C D):
|--------------------------------------------10---|
|--------------------------------------12-13------|
|-----------------------------10-12-14------------|
|-------------------10-12--14---------------------|
|----------10-12-14-------------------------------|
|-10-12-13----------------------------------------|

D Phrygian (D Eb F G A Bb C D):
|--------------------------------------------10---|
|--------------------------------------11-13------|
|-----------------------------10-12-14------------|
|-------------------10--12-13---------------------|
|----------10-12-13-------------------------------|
|-10-11-13----------------------------------------|

D Lydian (D E F# G# A B C# D):
|-------------------------------------------10----|
|-------------------------------------12-14-------|
|----------------------------11-13-14-------------|
|-------------------11-12-14----------------------|
|----------11-12-14-------------------------------|
|-10-12-14----------------------------------------|

D Mixolydian (D E F# G A B C D):
|-------------------------------------------10----|
|-------------------------------------12-13-------|
|----------------------------11-12-14-------------|
|-------------------10-12-14----------------------|
|----------10-12-14-------------------------------|
|-10-12-14----------------------------------------|

D Aeolian (D E F G A Bb C D):
|-------------------------------------------10----|
|-------------------------------------11-13-------|
|----------------------------10-12-14-------------|
|-------------------10-12-14----------------------|
|----------10-12-13-------------------------------|
|-10-12-13----------------------------------------|

D Locrian (D Eb F G Ab Bb C D):
|-------------------------------------------10----|
|-------------------------------------11-13-------|
|----------------------------10-12-13-------------|
|-------------------10-12-13----------------------|
|----------10-11-13-------------------------------|
|-10-11-13----------------------------------------|

Eb Ionian (Eb F G Ab Bb C D Eb):
|-------------------------------------------11----|
|-------------------------------------13-15-------|
|----------------------------12-13-15-------------|
|-------------------12-13-15----------------------|
|----------11-13-15-------------------------------|
|-11-13-15----------------------------------------|

Eb Dorian (Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db Eb):
|--------------------------------------------11---|
|--------------------------------------13-14------|
|-----------------------------11-13-15------------|
|-------------------11-13--15---------------------|
|----------11-13-15-------------------------------|
|-11-13-14----------------------------------------|

Eb Phrygian (Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb):
|--------------------------------------------11---|
|--------------------------------------12-14------|
|-----------------------------11-13-15------------|
|-------------------11--13-14---------------------|
|----------11-13-14-------------------------------|
|-11-12-14----------------------------------------|

Eb Lydian (Eb F G A Bb C D Eb):
|-------------------------------------------11----|
|-------------------------------------13-15-------|
|----------------------------12-14-15-------------|
|-------------------12-13-15----------------------|
|----------12-13-15-------------------------------|
|-11-13-15----------------------------------------|

Eb Mixolydian (Eb F G Ab Bb C Db Eb):
|-------------------------------------------11----|
|-------------------------------------13-14-------|
|----------------------------12-13-15-------------|
|-------------------11-13-15----------------------|
|----------11-13-15-------------------------------|
|-11-13-15----------------------------------------|

Eb Aeolian (Eb F Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb):
|-------------------------------------------11----|
|-------------------------------------12-14-------|
|----------------------------11-13-15-------------|
|-------------------11-13-15----------------------|
|----------11-13-14-------------------------------|
|-11-13-14----------------------------------------|

Eb Locrian (Eb Fb Gb Ab Bbb Cb Db Eb):
|-------------------------------------------11----|
|-------------------------------------12-14-------|
|----------------------------11-13-14-------------|
|-------------------11-13-14----------------------|
|----------11-12-14-------------------------------|
|-11-12-14----------------------------------------|

(These modes can alteritively play 12 frets (1 Octave up the fretboard)

E Ionaian (E F# G# A B C# D# E):
|-----------------------------0----|
|-------------------------2-4------|
|-------------------1-2-4----------|
|-------------1-2-4----------------|
|-------0-2-4----------------------|
|-0-2-4----------------------------|

E Dorian (E F# G A B C# D E):
|------------------------------0---|
|--------------------------2-3-----|
|--------------------0-2-4---------|
|-------------0-2--4---------------|
|-------0-2-4----------------------|
|-0-2-3----------------------------|

E Phrygian (E F G A B C D E):
|------------------------------0---|
|--------------------------1-3-----|
|--------------------0-2-4---------|
|-------------0--2-3---------------|
|-------0-2-3----------------------|
|-0-1-3----------------------------|

E Lydian (E F# G# A# B C# D# E):
|-----------------------------0----|
|-------------------------2-4------|
|-------------------1-3-4----------|
|-------------1-2-4----------------|
|-------1-2-4----------------------|
|-0-2-4----------------------------|

E Mixolydian (E F# G# A B C# D E):
|-----------------------------0----|
|-------------------------2-3------|
|-------------------1-2-4----------|
|-------------0-2-4----------------|
|-------0-2-4----------------------|
|-0-2-4----------------------------|

E Aeolian (E F# G A B C D E):
|-----------------------------0----|
|-------------------------1-3------|
|-------------------0-2-4----------|
|-------------0-2-4----------------|
|-------0-2-3----------------------|
|-0-2-3----------------------------|

E Locrian (E F G A Bb C D E):
|-----------------------------0----|
|-------------------------1-3------|
|-------------------0-2-3----------|
|-------------0-2-3----------------|
|-------0-1-3----------------------|
|-0-1-3----------------------------|

(These modes can alteritively play 12 frets (1 Octave up the fretboard)

F Ionian (F G A Bb C D E F):
|-----------------------------1----|
|-------------------------3-5------|
|-------------------2-3-5----------|
|-------------2-3-5----------------|
|-------1-3-5----------------------|
|-1-3-5----------------------------|

F Dorian (F G Ab Bb C D Eb F):
|------------------------------1---|
|--------------------------3-4-----|
|--------------------1-3-5---------|
|-------------1-3--5---------------|
|-------1-3-5----------------------|
|-1-3-4----------------------------|

F Phrygian (F Gb Ab Bb C Db Eb F):
|------------------------------1---|
|--------------------------2-4-----|
|--------------------1-3-5---------|
|-------------1--3-4---------------|
|-------1-3-4----------------------|
|-1-2-4----------------------------|

F Lydian (F G A B C D E F):
|-----------------------------1----|
|-------------------------3-5------|
|-------------------2-4-5----------|
|-------------2-3-5----------------|
|-------2-3-5----------------------|
|-1-3-5----------------------------|

F Mixolydian (F G A Bb C D Eb F):
|-----------------------------1----|
|-------------------------3-4------|
|-------------------2-3-5----------|
|-------------1-3-5----------------|
|-------1-3-5----------------------|
|-1-3-5----------------------------|

F Aeolian (F G Ab Bb C Db Eb F):
|-----------------------------1----|
|-------------------------2-4------|
|-------------------1-3-5----------|
|-------------1-3-5----------------|
|-------1-3-4----------------------|
|-1-3-4----------------------------|

F Locrian (F Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F):
|-----------------------------1----|
|-------------------------2-4------|
|-------------------1-3-4----------|
|-------------1-3-4----------------|
|-------1-2-4----------------------|
|-1-2-4----------------------------|

(These modes can alteritively play 12 frets (1 Octave up the fretboard)

Gb Ionian (Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F Gb):
|-----------------------------2----|
|-------------------------4-6------|
|-------------------3-4-6----------|
|-------------3-4-6----------------|
|-------2-4-6----------------------|
|-2-4-6----------------------------|

Gb Dorian (Gb Ab Bbb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb):
|-----------------------------2----|
|-------------------------4-5------|
|-------------------2-4-6----------|
|-------------2-4-6----------------|
|-------2-4-6----------------------|
|-2-4-5----------------------------|

Gb Phrygian (Gb Abb Bbb Cb Db Ebb Fb Gb):
|-----------------------------2----|
|-------------------------3-5------|
|-------------------2-4-6----------|
|-------------2-4-5----------------|
|-------2-4-5----------------------|
|-2-3-5----------------------------|

Gb Lydian (Gb Ab Bb C Db Eb F Gb):
|-----------------------------2----|
|-------------------------4-6------|
|-------------------3-5-6----------|
|-------------3-4-6----------------|
|-------3-4-6----------------------|
|-2-4-6----------------------------|

Gb Mixolydian (Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb):
|-----------------------------2----|
|-------------------------4-5------|
|-------------------3-4-6----------|
|-------------2-4-6----------------|
|-------2-4-6----------------------|
|-2-4-6----------------------------|

Gb Aeolian (Gb Ab Bbb Cb Db Ebb Fb Gb):
|-----------------------------2----|
|-------------------------3-5------|
|-------------------2-4-6----------|
|-------------2-4-6----------------|
|-------2-4-5----------------------|
|-2-4-5----------------------------|

Gb Locrian (Gb Abb Bbb Cb Dbb Ebb Fb Gb):
|-----------------------------2----|
|-------------------------3-5------|
|-------------------2-4-5----------|
|-------------2-4-5----------------|
|-------2-3-5----------------------|
|-2-3-5----------------------------|

(These modes can alteritively play 12 frets (1 Octave up the fretboard)

G Ionian (G A B C D E F# G):
|-----------------------------3----|
|-------------------------5-7------|
|-------------------4-5-7----------|
|-------------4-5-7----------------|
|-------3-5-7----------------------|
|-3-5-7----------------------------|

G Dorian (G A Bb C D E F G):
|------------------------------3---|
|--------------------------5-6-----|
|--------------------3-5-7---------|
|-------------3-5--7---------------|
|-------3-5-7----------------------|
|-3-5-6----------------------------|

G Phrygian (G Ab Bb C D Eb F G):
|------------------------------3---|
|--------------------------4-6-----|
|--------------------3-5-7---------|
|-------------3--5-6---------------|
|-------3-5-6----------------------|
|-3-4-6----------------------------|

G Lydian (G A B C# D E F# G):
|-----------------------------3----|
|-------------------------5-7------|
|-------------------4-6-7----------|
|-------------4-5-7----------------|
|-------4-5-7----------------------|
|-3-5-7----------------------------|

G Mixolydian (G A B C D E F G):
|-----------------------------3----|
|-------------------------5-6------|
|-------------------4-5-7----------|
|-------------3-5-7----------------|
|-------3-5-7----------------------|
|-3-5-7----------------------------|

G Aeolian (G A Bb C D Eb F G):
|-----------------------------3----|
|-------------------------4-6------|
|-------------------3-5-7----------|
|-------------3-5-7----------------|
|-------3-5-6----------------------|
|-3-5-6----------------------------|

G Locrian (G Ab Bb C Db Eb F G):
|-----------------------------3----|
|-------------------------4-6------|
|-------------------3-5-6----------|
|-------------3-5-6----------------|
|-------3-4-6----------------------|
|-3-4-6----------------------------|

Comments

[Xinlitik]

Nice. Thanks

[nacho420]

sweet!!!

Aeolian mode works over minor chords, and can be used as a substitute for Dorian mode, by using it over m7 and m6 chords.

You wouldn't use Aeolian over m6 chords unless you omitted playing the b6 tone.

Also, Lydian is my mode of choice overtop maj7 chords, not just maj7#11.

-SD

[slash_pwns]

Damnit! Theres always something wrong!

Anyways, I prefer lydian over Maj7#11 just because it matches so perfectly.

Yes, I'm not saying to not use Lydian over Maj7#11, I'm saying I like to use Lydian over Maj7 AND Maj7#11!

You can probably get Dyuha to edit your lesson for you, he edited my Counterpoint one.

-SD

[Towlie]

Nice one. Very informative, straight to the point.

[feltgrape]

wicked good lesson

[kdo]

your quite good at this stuff ehh..

[Rock 101]

Nice lesson. Very informative. I thought Modes would be harder otherwise I'd've learned them sooner (now using them to play something decent is a different story)

[sixstringz]

cool, you covered them thoroughly

[waz416]

Wow.....theres just so much to learn about guitars and musci in general....sometiems I wish I had tiem to learn all this.....I think Ills tart makin more time for leaarnin music.....PEAC EOUT

[fender1969]

nice very goood thanks

[mado]

Really useful, thanks

[greendayfan13]

awesome lesson ur probly the most dedicated to writing up all the modes

[DrG-Luke]

ei guyz can you suggest a site that has flamenco tutorials ? Slash you said phyrigian can be use in spanish progression and i wanna know more about it. Im composing a song and i want my intro to be like in desperado or sumthin like that and ill go hard afterwards. Any comments and suggestion would be great.. thanks

[Ricko]

Verrrry Sweet, nice job almost full, but nice real nice and clear

[JK82]

..... thiss is EXACTLY what ive been looking for thanks!

[difitzio]

I appreciate the huge amount of work you must have put into this. My question is does it matter if I play the same notes but slightly different patterns for example I might play

A---..4--
E--5---7---.. instead of E----5---7---9---..

[slash_pwns]

Nope, It's all up to you how you play them.

[kurt.aint.dead]

AWESOME! more than enough!

[Hong Siah]

damn cool...thnx

[RJD]

I Tip my hat in your honor,Thanks

[blynd_snyper]

perfect, i finally understand modes thanks to u

[Chairoi]

Sorry for noobing up the comment section... I've read many lessons on this site that say "modes are just the same scale starting on a different not ie; phyrgian is EFGABCDE ... instead of adding 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1 (flats)... also, when you add the flats in the appropriate places, do you always start on the root note of the unaltered major scale? or do you start on the mode degree note (phrygian = E) and use that as the root note with the flats and such? So to conclude my comment, is dorian mode just a Bb Scale starting on C? :S

[wasp2020]

No, you make the changes from the unaltered major scale. For example, when you want to make a C Phrygian, you would take C Ionian and do b2, b3, b6, and b7. And from this you would see that C Phyrgian = Ab Ionian.

[Chairoi]

I see now, thanks :3

[Guitargasm]

some people would say you have no life to write this up. they're probly right, but its all set, cause you've helped so many people with it. thanks. very nice.

jw...how long did it take you?

[fingersofflame]

great lesson, nice, strait to the point, very useful...

[fingersofflame]

i mean straight...9 stars from me...

[ooblah]

man dude awesome lesson im printing this bad boy out

[9_11_4]

wow, this is exactly what i've been looking for it.. i have a much better understanding now.. you rock ***** stars

[DeathMetal18]

very helpfull

[Tenacious D'er]

Wow, sweet lessons....

I always read your lessons and I am still reading your Music Theory one...

Keep them coming!

[catempire]

Great lesson

[Brizanishbro]

another good lesson

[mcrgrl123]

great job!

[IbanezMan2407]

Very helpful and practical, thanks.

[longonbon]

thanx for the modes, i needed to find a website with all of em but theyn all seem to be incomplete

[IriShDroPkick]

wow. this has helped me a lot, im printing it out

[theusedsk8er]

real nice. i skimed it now its printing as well. its alot to print but its better than getting a book or printing sheets of different sites. good job!

[Metalology]

So..many.. modes..brain..exploding!!

[Vman666]

awesome lesson man...my music teacher teaches us this shit and its so hard to remember and write it all down....Im guna print this shit and make a book...thanks alot man....

[cmonfeelthenoiz]

about the "error":
technically that is true, but it would still work, there would just be some added tension. that would be more jazzy. actually, u can use all 3 of the dorian, phrygian, and aeolian modes to solo over a minor chord because each has distinctly minor feel to it. just remember that this will introduce some dissonant passing tones or accidentals.

[cmonfeelthenoiz]

also, the minor 6 chord is actually and inversion of the 7b5 chord. for instance, d min6 contains the same notes as b 7b5.

[Mortigi Tempo]

very good

[thefunkychicken]

so does each mode for a key only have 2 postions on the neck, 1 postions and then the octave?

[slash_muthafukr]

sweet thanx slash u gotta b mad dedicated to write all that out

[BlackWingFreak]

wonderful lesson but could have been shorter by posting the Mode Charts rather than each one over and over.

[metallica100]

No, you make the changes from the unaltered major scale. For example, when you want to make a C Phrygian, you would take C Ionian and do b2, b3, b6, and b7. And from this you would see that C Phyrgian = Ab Ionian.

if this is true then the other lessons would be rong?

[metallica100]

oh i get it!!!!!

[11thHour]

i love you.

[baker-skater666]

ohh man this is awesome just what ive been looking for. One lesson that has it all in one, perfect.

[aclbean]

excellent lesson

[damm_punks]

really good lesson
just all the wierd words like mixolydian and that are confusin but ah well
cool lesson though im deff gonna learn some of this

[InsomniaRocks]

This is a good lesson, but I think its critically important that you dont onnly understand how you form the modes in terms of intervals (like flatting the seventh to make a mixlodian). What you explain is definately neccessary to know, but I think that its also extremely beneficial, especially for beginners, to understand how modes come out of parent major scales:

-the notes of any major scale can be played in 7 different orders to get you the 7 modes explained in this lesson. Take C major (CDEFGABC) for example. If you play these notes of the C major scale starting on the root of the scale, C, and ending on C, that gives you, obviously, the C ionian or C major scale. Now, if you play these notes starting on the second of the scale, D, so DEFGABCD, this gives you the D dorian mode. If you play the notes starting on the third of the scale, E, so EFGABCDE, you get E phrygian.
And this goes on in the same manner so that if you play the notes of the C major scale starting from each of the 7 degrees of the scale, you get a different mode. So for the C major scale, you can form the modes as follows:

if you start from: You Get:
root- C ionian (major scale)
major second- D dorian
major third- E phrygian
perfect fourth- F lydian (FGABCDEF)
perfect fifth G mixolodian (GABCDEFG)
major sixth A aeolian (ABCDEFGA)
major seventh B locrian (BCDEFGAB)

This is true for any major scale: if you want to form a locrian mode, play the notes of that major scale starting and ending on the major seventh. If you want to form a lydian mode, play the notes of the major scale starting and ending on the fourth. Memorize that the dorian corresponds to the second degree of the scale, phrygian to the third, lydian to the fourth, mixolodian to the fifth, aeolian to the sixth, and locrian to the seventh. After doing this it will become really easy to form each mode, because you don't have to think about what intervals are being flatted or raised. All you need to know to figure out what F dorian is, for example, is figure out which scale has F as its major second, so Eb major (Eb F G Ab Bb C D Eb) and then play those notes starting and ending on F.

[matx33]

thank you, just having these formulas (and now that it finally clicked and i got them,) is making things easier.

[Axilla]

dude thanx for this lesson,....the other day i was talking with some friends and didnt know what the hell a mode was .....but now it all makes sense....thnx

[justine0393]

sweeeeettttt lesson! this helped me a lot!...nice job!

[sully111]

is it possible to have the hole mode scale together, Ab mixolydian next too A, then Bb and so on?

[steveo57]

im not sure i agree with A [aeolian] in your example; it was explained to me that A aeolian would be the 6th degree of the major scale A,this would mean it would have to have an F# in it,you arent showing this in the above formula for A aeolian,if im wrong i apologize,someone please help me im confused over some of this

[Sk8trpunk977]

This is a quality piece of work. Might wanna show how the scales relate to others on the fretboard, but this is one great lesson for learning the modes of scales. Very nicely done.

[fretburner214]

Nice, this real helpful

[Drumminz]

Ok so now we all wat the various modes are and how they sound like But can someone then advise on its actual application in a actual song with varying chord changes? Meaning, say if u are playing a given song in the key of 'C', does it mean that we can play a dorian solo throughout the song, or, only a dorian when the chord of the song is in 'D'?

[Discouraged]

steveo57 wrote:

im not sure i agree with A [aeolian] in your example; it was explained to me that A aeolian would be the 6th degree of the major scale A,this would mean it would have to have an F# in it,you arent showing this in the above formula for A aeolian,if im wrong i apologize,someone please help me im confused over some of this

F# is in E Aeolian. If Im not mistaken. Or G# Ionian. Whichever you prefer. A is the relative minor to C major, and so it has no sharps or flats. Just a minor error on your part, thats all. Hope it helped.

[Discouraged]

Not G#. Just G. Sorry about that. o_o

[nastynick15]

ive just learned all the major scales. but in a sentence.. what are modes and why should i learn them?? are they some sort of link between major scales?

[Mr.Goobles]

this is crazy good. can't believe you took the time to write out all those scales. great lesson.

[rik23]

surlely a good way of doibg it is learnin the major scale all over the neck and then just remember the alterations, then practice, practice, practice.....a reckon a good ear helps!

[minichibi]

DrG-Luke wrote:

ei guyz can you suggest a site that has flamenco tutorials ? Slash you said phyrigian can be use in spanish progression and i wanna know more about it. Im composing a song and i want my intro to be like in desperado or sumthin like that and ill go hard afterwards. Any comments and suggestion would be great.. thanks

Theres this old spanish looking guy on youtube and he has like 10 flamenco lessons. To be honest ive never looked at em, but I remember being a noob n looking at guitar lessons and running into em. not that I'm not a noob.

[t3l3caster]

cor thats a really thorough explanation of the modes, really handy. Thanks for that. Wicked Cool

[loserboyjay]

This lesson is written showing the modes as separate scales, which they are of course, all in Ab. Wouldn't it be easier to show, for example Ab major, and just change the root note and keep the same shape? It just seems like that would be easier than memorizing six new shapes, or does this method have some type of fault? Wouldn't you get the same result in the end?

[Music ismy Drug]

Very, very nice job my friend. Thanks you much for doing it!

[bluestudio]

Great! best i ever read from internet!!
Keep Walking, frineds!

[c'lox]

i've been waiting for this' thanks!

[Adrian Smith 80]

GOOD!!!!! VERY GOOD

[Slaytanic1993]

Great lesson, love the Mixolydian and Locrian scales...they sound wicked cool.

[brokenanthem]

Nice lesson.....and it'd be a good idea to study this page with the circle of fifths.

[njj246]

this must have been a bitch to make and its much apprecitated

[albooga]

Thanks for this explanation. Helped me a lot to understand modes better.

[the_lil_rocker]

thanx man! u got me soloing like a pro

[Lil' Hetfield]

Thanks a lot! Clear and not all "THEORY"y.

[Fusanti_RHCP]

thank you...so so much. I learned this stuff in my theory class today and i was thinking i should just write it all out
you saved me the time. PM me if you want an e-cookie

[silverstar01]

You must have spent a lot of time on this. Excellent lesson, hats off to you!

[kaliforniaxc26]

I completely understand modes now! I tried learning from guitar world, but that was confusing. thanks much!

[negativcreep187]

yu know that there's no Cb or Fb right?

[Jawshuwa]

negativcreep187 wrote:

yu know that there's no Cb or Fb right?

Using enharmonics, yes, there is.
- - - - -
Regardless, I was looking for this a long time ago, 'til I learned the intervals on a different lesson. I'm sure it will help an awful lot of people, though.

[fagelamusgtr]

Dude, i was trying to figure out modes for a while. For some reason ur leason just made everything click. Good leason. Thanks sooo much!!!

[loser#2]

thx. very helpful!

[Corijn]

Thx! Gonna take this lesson with my on vacation! Can't play my guitar so I'm gonna study my scales!