Mode Of The Major Scale Part 1

Lesson Material
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Modes in one position

Mode Listing
Modes of C Major from A string Tonic
Modes of G Major from E string Tonic
Modes in Isolation
Minor Type Mode Similarity
Chords Built From Modes
Relationship between Modes and Chords in a
Key
9. Riff Examples
10. Characteristic Scale Steps
11. Exercises
12. Key Signatures

Modes Of The Major Scale in One Position

(These patterns are all played in a single C major shape at the 8th fret)

C Major (C Ionian)

8 10

8 10

9 10

10 8

10 8

E Phrygian

8 10

9 10

10 9

10 8

D Dorian

10

8 10

9 10

10 9

10 8

10

F Lydian

8 10

9 10

9 10

10 9

10 8

A Aeolian

G Mixolydian

10

9 10

9 10 12

10 9

10 9

10

B Locrian

9 10

9 10 12 14 16

14 12 10 9

10 9

9 10

9 10 12 14

12 10 9

10 9

Modes Of The Major Scale

Mode 1 Ionian
Mode 2 Dorian
Mode 2 Phrygian
Mode 4 Lydian
Mode 5 Mixolydian
Mode 6 Aeolian
Mode 7 Locrian

Modes Of The Major Scale

(A string Tonic)

C Ionian

E Phrygian

8 10

9 10

10 9

10 8

D Dorian

F Lydian

8 10

9 10

9 10

10 9

10 8

A Aeolian

G Mixolydian

10 12

9 10 12

9 10 12

10 9

12 10 9

12 10

12 14 15

12 14 15

12 14

12

15 14 12

15 14 12

C Ionian

B Locrian

14 15 17

14 15 17

14 16

14

17 15 14

17 15 14

15 17

14 15 17

14 16 17

16 14

17 15 14

17 15

Modes Of The G Major Scale

(E string Tonic)
?#

G Ionian

?#

B Phrygian

8 10

9 10

10 9

10 8

?#

D Mixolydian

10 12

9 10 12

9 10 12

10 9

12 10 9

12 10

A Dorian

C Lydian

8 10

9 10

9 10

10 9

10 8

E Aeolian

12 14 15

12 14 15

12 14

12

15 14 12

15 14 12

G Ionian

?#

F# Locrian

14 15 17

14 15 17

14 16

14

17 15 14

17 15 14

15 17

14 15 17

14 16 17

16 14

17 15 14

17 15

Modes Of The Major Scale

(in isolation on C Root)

C Ionian

b b

b
b

C Dorian

? b b b b b b b b

C Phrygian

? b b

C Mixolydian

3 5

3 2

5 3 2

C Lydian

3 5

2 4 5

4 5

4 2

4 2

5 3

b b b b b

5 3

C Aeolian

? b b b b b b b b b b
4

C Locrian

Similarity Between Modes

Major Type Scales:
C Major

CDEFGAB

1234567

C Lydian

C D E F# G A B

1 2 3 #4 5 6 7

C Mixolydian

C D E F G A Bb

1 2 3 4 5 6 b7

Minor Type Scales:

C Natural Minor

C D Eb F G Ab Bb

1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7

C Dorian

C D Eb F G A Bb

1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7

C Phrygian

C Db Eb F G Ab Bb

1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7

C Aeolian (same as Nat Minor) C D Eb F G Ab Bb

1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7

C Locrian

1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7

C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb

Chords Built From Modes

Mode

Triad

7th Chord

Example

Ionian

Major Triad

Maj7

C Ionian Cmaj7

Dorian

Minor Triad

m7

C Dorian Cm7

Phrygian

Minor Triad

m7

C Phrygian Cm7

Lydian

Major Triad

Maj7

C Lydian Cmaj7

Mixolydian

Major Triad

C Mixolydian C7

Aeolian

Minor Triad

m7

C Aeolian Cm7

Locrian

Diminished Triad

m7b5

C Locrian Cm7b5

Relationship between Modes and

Chords within a Major Key
Scale Degree

Chord

Mode

maj7

Ionian

II

m7

Dorian

III

m7

Phrygian

IV

maj7

Lydian

Mixolydian

VI

m7

Aeolian

VII

m7b5

Locrian

Riff Examples

Characteristic Scale Steps

Dorian 6

Phrygian b2
Lydian - #4

Mixolydian b7
Aeolian b6
Locrian b2, b5
Difference between Dorian, Aeolian, Phrygian
C Dorian

Eb

Bb

(1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7)

C Aeolian

Eb

Ab

Bb

(1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7)

C Phrygian

Db

Eb

Ab

Bb

(1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7)

Each scale shares a Cm7 root chord: C Eb G Bb. The 2nd and 6th degrees are the differentiating factor.
This is due to the characteristic scale steps

Exercises:

1. Create 5 riffs for each mode from any root note in any feel or
tempo
2. Create a melody for each mode. Any number of bars. Try using
the riffs or a backing track for inspiration

Key Signatures

Method 1: Use the parent major scale. Eg. D Dorian uses C major key signature. No need for
accidentals.
Method 2: Use the closest major or minor scale to the mode. Eg. D Dorian uses D minor key
signature and use Bb accidental where necessary.