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Guitar Modes Explained
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What is a guitar mode?
A mode is a group of intervals and the degrees that correspond harmonically with the chord being played underneath. Modes might have a parent scale attached to them, but they are not scales. Modes can change throughout the song, but still use the same scale and be in the same key.
Note Intervals:
Before understand modes, you must first understand note intervals used to contruct a specific key. Here are the intervals used to contruct a key:
- Root
- Minor 2nd
- Major 2nd
- Minor 3rd
- Major 3rd
- Perfect 4th
- Diminished 5th
- Perfect 5th
- Minor 6th
- Major 6th
- Minor 7th
- Major 7th
- Root (octave)
Ionian Mode(Major scale):
Here is how you would contruct the first type of mode - the Ionian mode.
Key Construction____________Major Intervals_________Ionian Mode
1. Root ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> Root ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> DO
2. Minor 2nd
3. Major 2nd ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> Major 2nd ~~~~~~~~~~~> RE
4. Minor 3rd
5. Major 3rd ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> Major 3rd ~~~~~~~~~~~~> MI
6. Perfect 4th ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> Perfect 4th ~~~~~~~~~~~> FA
7. Diminished 5th
8. Perfect 5th ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> Perfect 5th ~~~~~~~~~~~> SO
9. Minor 6th
10. Major 6th ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> Major 6th ~~~~~~~~~~~> LA
11. Minor 7th
12. Major 7th ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> Major 7th ~~~~~~~~~~~> TI
1. Root (octave) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> Root ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> DO
The order of intervals goes: Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half
Incidentally, this is how you would also construct a major scale. If you start on ANY note and continue following this exact pattern of intervals, you will create the "ionian mode" (or the major scale) in the chosen key (the note you started on).
Types of guitar modes:
The seven different guitar modes are Ionian Mode, Dorian Mode, Phrygian Mode, Lydian Mode, Mixolydian Mode, Aeolian Mode and Locrian Mode. Each mode creates a different set of intervals. See the following image:
Purpose of guitar modes?
Modes add musical 'color' or 'flavor' to a song. Following are the 'colors' or fellings you get when using each mode:
LYDIAN MODE - very bright, upbeat. Good for anything very bright and upbeat such as pop, kids music, etc
IONIAN MODE - very sweet, happy, bright. Perfect for happy songs, love songs, etc. Used for almost all childrens music
MIXOLYDIAN MODE - middle of the road bright scale. Good for light rock, pop, country, etc
DORIAN MODE - perfect middle ground. Not too bright, not to dark. Good for country, rock, blues.
AEOLIAN MODE - gritty, bluesy, warm sounding rock scale. This is the standard rock and blues scale.
PHRYGIAN MODE - dark, classical metal sound. A Randy Rhoads favorite.
LOCRIAN MODE - very dark, dissident, brooding. Good for heavy metal, dark classical, etc
Summary:
Modes are an excellent way to add flavor to your guitar playing and a great way to impress your jamming buddies or band members. Once you learn the various mode patterns along the entire neck of the guitar, you will be able to play any mode with any scale.
If you are interested in learning more about guitar lesson courses such as features and prices, be sure to check out our guitar lesson course comparison chart and guitar lesson course reviews.
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