Introduction To Modes

This post is intended for guitarists just getting into Modes and how to use them. Modes can be a fairly complex area of music theory, and if you try to study them in depth right off the bat, you’ll probably just end up getting confused and annoyed in equal measure.

Instead, start off simple, then take it further if you want to get into the more advanced theory later on.

I’ve designed this post to try and give you a nice, basic understanding of how modes work, how they fit together, and most importantly, how to use them.

Modes are a great way of learning your fretboard, and opening up new avenues for your songwriting and improvisational abilities. In this post, I’ll explain each Mode, their individual properties, and how to use their shapes interchangeably.

The 7 Modes

Modes, in short, are a group of 7 scale types, each one with it’s own independent ‘Colour’ or feel.

The Mode that a song is based in will define it’s feel. For example, if it sounds jazzy, it’s most likely Dorian. If it sounds Sad, it’s most likely Aeolian.

Modes are ordered according to the same system as Chords (I-VII). If you’re unfamiliar: There are 7 chords to a key (just as there are 7 notes to a scale, with each of the root notes acting as the starting note for each chord). This is known as Chords 1-7, with the corresponding roman numerals being used for each chord.

For more on this, see my blog post: Chords 1-7 (Major and Minor).

The Order of Modes

The order is as follows: Major, Minor, Minor, Major, Major, Minor, Diminished.

Each Mode corresponds with each chord. If you need to determine which modes are minor, and which are major, you need only refer back to the order.

- Ionian (Happy feel/ Major Scale)

- Dorian (Jazzy feel)

- Phrygian (Spanish/ Metal feel)

- Lydian (Grand/ Epic feel)

- Mixolydian (Bluesy feel)

- Aeolian (Sad feel/ Minor scale)

- Locrian (Dissonant feel)

Remember their order with the following sentence…

‘I Don’t Particularly Like Masturbating After Lunch.’

You’re welcome…

Using Modes

When I was first learning about Modes, I wish somebody had just explained this to me right off: Any and all of the shapes can be used to play over a backing track. This is always possible, regardless of the Key, or the appropriate Mode for the backing track.

When I was starting off, my teachers would usually just start delving into the theory side of the subject. I wouldn’t end up incorporating much of the theory I’d learned to my actual playing, and I’d focus too heavily on the hard science aspect.

The more you know, the better, but I much prefer to teach people about concepts they can start off by applying to their instrument. Once you’ve done that, studying the underlying theory will come much more quickly (and with a lot less frustration).

Despite all modal shapes being usable over a song or backing track, the 'Mood' of the song is usually defined by the Mode that it is based in. For example: If something sounds Jazzy, it's very likely that it's based in the Dorian mode. That's what gives the music it's particular flavour.

Exercise 1

This Exercise is designed to familiarise yourself with the 7 Modal shapes, and how they correspond to a backing track. Use the Modes diagram at the top to learn each of the shapes.

Check out the backing track in the link below. It’s in C Major.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjlE5dyiPlw

Remember, each of the notes of the Major/ Minor scale correspond to the root notes of each mode. We’ll start in C Major, as it’s the only Major key with no sharps or flats. Check out my post: Notes in Chords and Keys for more on that (*coming soon!*).

The notes of the the C Major Scale are as follows:

C D E F G A B C

Starting at the 8th fret on the E string of your guitar (C) play the C Major Scale. The diagram below shows you the shape, if you don’t know it already.

Ascend to the D string until you reach the octave note (C) and then descend to back to the lowest note.

Now play the notes of the C Major scale again, but exclusively on the E string this time. Each of the 8 individual notes of the Scale correspond to the the root note of each mode.

The order of Modes (once again) is as follows:

Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian

Starting at the 8th fret on the E string of your guitar (C) play the first Mode (Ionian) ascending and descending.

Now move up to the 10th fret (D) on the E string, and play the 2nd Mode (Dorian). Play it through, ascending and descending, and then repeat this process with the next mode up until you’ve reached the final note of the Locrian Mode. If you’re unsure about the root note of each Mode, play the C Major scale on your E string once more. Each individual note is the root of the next mode up. If you need a hint, check out the listed order of modes just above...

This might seem confusing at first, but just break it down into individual steps and you’ll pick it up. You'll probably want to finish reading the entire post before you begin. Play over the backing track I've linked below, it'll provide a solid base for getting you familiar with the order of modes.

If you go up past Locrian, or down past Ionian, you’d find the loop point, and arrive at the first/ last shape of the sequence.

Use the illustration below to familiarise yourself with this concept, and how the modes are ordered according to one another, as well as the notes of the C Major scale.

**I've included the order of chords 1-7 below the notes. Don't panic if you don't know what that is. I'll elaborate on that in my post: Chords 1-7- Major and Minor**

Exercise 2 (Part 1)

Now that you’ve got the shapes down, try to play each one without consulting the diagrams.

Next, try to use each Mode to improvise, without moving outside of the shape. Go from Ionian up to Locrian, like before, and then back down.

Exercise 2 (Part 2)

Once you’re comfortable with this, take this a step further. Use each Modal shape to improvise, like before, but attempt to link them together without breaking your flow.

And Finally…

Practice these exercises for a week or two until you’ve got the shapes and their feel under your fingers. You can also use different backing tracks (both Major and Minor) and work out how the Modes are laid out along them.

I’ll be posting another lesson on modes soon, which will deal with the notes inside each shape, and how to use them to emphasise the feel of a backing track. Keep an eye out.