On this page you will find a systematic and simple approach to learning to play modes / modal scales / modal styles on guitar, complete with free mp3 downloads of free backing tracks to jam guitar over.
Fig one and Fig two, below, show an 18 fret length of guitar neck along the middle, with box positions for the seven modes above and below.
This is so that you can see how the modes relate to each other. They're a bit small, so I've repeated the seven box positions at the base of this page. You can also click here to download a pdf file showing modal boxes, for printing out.
Check out the Backing Tracks page for free MP3's of modal chord progressions to practice these scales over.
Modal Positions - fig 2
You'll find more box positions on my box positions page....
Below are seven box positions for the seven modes, as shown in Fig one and two above, but larger.
Fig one and Fig two, below, show an 18 fret length of guitar neck along the middle, with box positions for the seven modes above and below.
This is so that you can see how the modes relate to each other. They're a bit small, so I've repeated the seven box positions at the base of this page. You can also click here to download a pdf file showing modal boxes, for printing out.
Check out the Backing Tracks page for free MP3's of modal chord progressions to practice these scales over.
Modal Positions - fig 1
Modal Positions - fig 2
Master modes with this systematic approach
- Learn the Aolian mode - most of us know this scale as the natural minor scale.
- Play it loads until you're completely familiar with it. Practice over this MP3 backing track in the key of C.
- Notice that there is only one note difference between the Aolian and Dorian modes.
- Learn the Dorian mode and practice over this MP3 backing track in the key of C.
- Notice that there is only one note difference between the Aolian and Phrygian modes.
- Learn the Phrygian mode and practice over this MP3 backing track in the key of C.
- Play the Ionian mode and you'll realise you know it already - the major scale. Learn the above fingering.
- Practice the Ionian position, as shown above, over this MP3 backing track in the key of C.
- Notice that there is only one note difference between the Ionian and Mixolydian modes.
- Learn the Mixolydian mode and practice over this MP3 backing track in the key of C.
- Don't bother with the Lydian or Locrian modes unless you want to be a guitar teacher (or you are an appreciator of the talents of Frank Zappa!)
- Practice each mode in the key of C (parallel approach), then play all the modes derived from the C major scale (derivative approach) - C Ionian, D Dorian, E Phrygian, F Lydian, G Mixolydian, A Aolian and B Locrian.
- Teach someone else the modal system
You'll find more box positions on my box positions page....
Below are seven box positions for the seven modes, as shown in Fig one and two above, but larger.
6th mode - Aolian | 3rd mode - Phrygian | 1st mode - Ionian | 5th mode - Mixolydian |
2nd mode - Dorian | 4th mode - Lydian | 7th mode - Locrian |