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Modes of the Major Scale

This lesson explores modes of the major scale in the key of C. Before you begin, you need to be able to play the major scale in two octaves. Make sure you can play this scale from memory, both ascending and descending. It is also useful to have a basic understanding of how to improvise with this scale.

1 C Major Two Octaves with Fingering.png

What are the modes of the major scale?

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Modes are alternative tonalities (scales) that are derived from the natural major scale by starting on a different note of the scale. Most of the time when you hear people talk about modes, they are referring to scales that are derived from the notes of the natural major scale. There are seven modes: Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, and Locrian. You can remember the order of the modes using the sentence, “I Don’t Play Loud Music At Lunch.” Each mode has a distinct sound, which you can use to color your lead guitar lines.

 

How are modes constructed?

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To construct a mode, change the tonic (starting note) of the Major Scale. The C major (Ionian) scale has the notes C--D--E--F--G--A--B--C. To create the Dorian mode, use the same notes, but start on D and end on D one octave higher. In the key of C major, the notes of the Dorian Mode are: D--E--F--G--A--B--C--D. Using this same logic, you can derive all the Modes. For example, starting with the 3rd note of the scale = Phrygian,  4th note = Lydian, 5th note = Mixolydian, 6th = Aeolian, and 7th = Locrian.

The Ionian Mode

In the key of C Major, you have C Ionian (natural major)

  • In the key of C major, the notes of the Ionian Mode are: C--D--E--F--G--A--B--C

  • One octave C Ionian scale:

2 C Ionian with Fingering.png

  • Have your instructor play a C pedal tone while you improvise using the C Ionian Mode

  • The Ionian Mode is the same as the natural major scale

The Dorian Mode

In the key of C Major, you have D Dorian

  • To create the Dorian Mode, use the notes of the C Ionian (natural major), but start on D and end on D one octave higher. In the key of C major, the notes of the Dorian Mode are: D--E--F--G--A--B--C--D

  • Starting from the 2nd note of the C Ionian Mode, the D Dorian Mode looks like this:

3 D Dorian with Fingering.png

  • Have your instructor play a D pedal tone while you improvise using the D Dorian Mode

  • Notice how the Dorian Mode sounds much different than the Ionian Mode, even though they both use the same notes

  • The Dorian Mode is characterized by its melancholy-yet-hopeful sound

The Phrygian Mode

In the Key of C Major, you have E Phrygian

  • To create the Phrygian Mode, use the notes of the C Major Scale, but start on E and end on E one octave higher. In the key of C major, the notes of the Phrygian Mode are: E--F--G--A--B--C--D--E

  • Starting from the 3rd note of the Ionian Mode, the E Phrygian Mode looks like this:

4 E Phrygian with Fingering.png

  • Have your instructor play an E pedal tone while you improvise using the E Phrygian Mode

  • The Phrygian Mode is characterized by its dark, tension-filled sound

The Lydian Mode

In the key of C Major, you have F Lydian

  • To create the Lydian Mode, use the notes of the C Major Scale, but start on F and end on F one octave higher. In the key of C major, the notes of the Lydian Mode are: F--G--A--B--C--D--E--F

  • Starting from the 4th note of the Ionian Mode, the F Lydian Mode looks like this:

5 F Lydian with Fingering.png

  • Have your instructor play an F pedal tone while you improvise using the F Lydian Mode

  • The Lydian Mode is characterized by its bright, dreamlike and mystical sound

The Mixolydian Mode

In the key of C Major, you have G Mixolydian

  • To create the Mixolydian Mode, use the notes of the C Major Scale, but start on G and end on G one octave higher. In the key of C major, the notes of the Mixolydian Mode are: G--A--B--C--D--E--F--G

  • Starting from the 5th note of the Ionian Mode, the G Mixolydian Mode looks like this:

6 G Mixolydian with Fingering.png

  • Have your instructor play a G pedal tone while you improvise using the G Mixolydian Mode

  • The Mixolydian Mode is widely used in jazz and blues music

The Aeolian Mode

In the key of C Major, we have A Aeolian (natural minor)

  • To create the Aeolian Mode, use the notes of the C Major Scale, but start on A and end on A one octave higher. In the key of C major, the notes of the Aeolian Mode are: A--B--C--D--E--F--G--A

  • Starting from the 6th note of the Ionian Mode, the A Aeolian Mode looks like this:

7 A Aeolian with Fingering.png

  • Have your instructor play an A pedal tone while you improvise using the A Aeolian Mode

  • The Aeolian Mode is the same as the natural minor scale

The Locrian Mode

In the key of C Major, you have B Locrian

  • To create the Locrian Mode, use the notes of the C Major Scale, but start on B and end on B one octave higher. In the key of C major, the notes of the Locrian Mode are: B--C--D--E--F--G--A--B

  • Starting from the 7th note of the C Ionian Mode, the B Locrian Mode looks like this:

8 B Locrian with Fingering.png

  • Have your instructor play a B pedal tone while you improvise using the B Locrian Mode

  • The Locrian Mode is characterized by its unstable, dissonant sound

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