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Modes For Guitar

Modes in essence are scales. The seven modes that are derived from the major scale are:

Ionian
Dorian
Phrygian
Lydian
Mixolydian
Aeolian
Locrian

If we use the key of C we get these modes:

Mode Name	Notes	Description
Ionian	CDEFGABC	Same pattern as the major scale
Dorian	DEFGABC	Same pattern as the natural minor scale but with raised 6^th note
Phrygian	EFGABC	Traditional flamenco scale
Lydian	FGABCDEF	Same pattern as the major scale but with a raised 4^th note
Mixolydian	GABCDEFG	Same pattern as the major scale but with lowered 7^th note
Aeolian	ABCDEFGA	Same pattern as the natural minor scale
Locrian	BCDEFGAB

Keep in mind, that just because we used the key of C to derive these modes, does not mean that we are still in the key of C. In other words, if we play notes from the C major scale but make D our tonal centre, we get a very different experience. It’s very close to a natural minor scale. We could use this mode against a G minor 7 chord.

Using a major scale to determine the notes of a mode is a handy way to figure out the notes. We could also just use the description above. It’s probably easier to just understand that a Lydian mode is like a major scale with a raised 4th. Most of us can already play major scales, so with a little tweak we can easily be playing a lydian or mixolydian mode.

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