Diatonic Modes on the Guitar

It took me a long time to understand how modes worked on the guitar, but once I figured it out, it was actually very simple.  Hopefully I can help you find a short cut to understanding these improvisational tools.

What Are Modes?

Modes are two things: they are scales you can use for improvisation, and they are also a more in-depth analysis of the notes of the major scale.  For example, let’s take the notes of the C major scale – C, D, E, F, G, A, B, and then C an octave higher.  Those notes that I just wrote out are the notes in the Ionian mode in the key of C, also known as the C major scale.  That’s where this can get confusing – those seven notes can either be called the C Ionian mode or the C major scale, and they are also the notes of the key of C major.

The notes in the Dorian mode, the second mode, are the same as Ionian.  The difference is . . .  The Dorian mode scale starts with the D note and ends with the D note one octave higher.  The notes in Dorian in the key of C are D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D.

Guess what happens with the scale starting on the E note (Phrygian?). That scale includes the notes E, F, G, A, B, C, D and is the E Phrygian scale.  If you start on F and play the notes F, G, A, B, C, D, E, F, that is the Lydian mode in the key of C.  If you start on G and then play G, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, that is the G Mixolydian mode, A, B, C, D, E, F, G is the A Aeolian mode, and B, C, D, E, F, G, A is the B Locrian mode. The Aeolian mode, like Ionian, is known by another name – the Natural Minor scale; so A Aeolian could also be called A minor.  People generally use the term A Natural Minor when referring to that scale, but that is the full name and is important to know.  The reason you need to know that is because there are minor scales, the Harmonic Minor and the Melodic Minor, so we call the Natural Minor scale by it’s name to distinguish it from those other two.

How are modes used?

You might be thinking, if they are all the same notes, why bother learning these when I can just use the major or minor scale?  You’re partially right, but knowing these will unlock the fretboard and give you the freedom to play anywhere on the neck that you want, much more so than the CAGED system that everyone raves about.  Once you learn the seven scale forms and how they link together, it’s pretty easy to memorize where they go in all twelve keys.  This is a big part of my method for teaching students, and I have my students start playing scales from day one.

The other reason to use these is that there is a difference in sound when using a scale like B Locrian, versus C Ionian.  They may be the same notes, but if you know how to use them properly in your solo, they sound quite different.

Check out the PDF below, and feel free to leave a comment or a question.