Major Modes (part 1)

Some lessons ago I taught you how to study scales in a very efficient manner. I trust you didn’t stick with the C Major only but went to all keys! If you didn’t do that you better check out the Cycle of Fifths and start going through the scales one by one adding up in sharps and flats! Any how let’s say you did learn C Major very well on all strings and even managed to memorize it’s seven notes all around the neck. The next step would be to learn it’s modes. Many would think this is crazy or something but I can assure you that this is going to surprise you and take your playing to incredible heights. By the way this is the 1st of at least four lessons on modes and their usage.

If you have any knowledge of Major modes you’ll know that there are seven of them, one for every scale degree. These are their names and placement...

1. Ionian/Major
2. Dorian
3. Phrygian
4. Lydian
5. Mixolydian
6. Aeolian/Natural Minor
7. Locrian

So with a little bit of thinking you’ll come to realize that from C Major these scales/modes will result...

1. C Ionian/Major-CDEFGABC
2. D Dorian-DEFGABCD
3. E Phrygian-EFGABCDE
4. F Lydian-FGABCDEF
5. G Mixolydian-GABCDEFG
6. A Aeolian-ABCDEFGA
7. B Locrian-BCDEFGAB

Now keep in mind that you already know very well these seven notes around the neck i.e. CDEFGAB and if you know them in that order then you know them in any order...no? Starting from D or E or whatever note you’ll still know them! Maybe you never thought this before. What I want you to do is to go back to the C Major scale and be very sure you know it very well all around the neck using my single string philosophy. Do not use the usual patterns as that slows your growth plus kills your creativity. In many years of teaching I came to learn that systems can seriously close you in a musical box. Will teach you why in the near future. For now learn C Major scale and modes table of placement and names by heart and I’ll see you next time with Part 2 in an incredible lesson on how to sound awesome with very little effort.