In C Major the modes would be as follows:ī Locrian: B-C-D-E-F-G-A-B Major Scale Intervals The third mode is Phrygian, the fourth is Lydian, the fifth is Mixolydian, the sixth is Aeolian (Also called the Natural minor scale) and the seventh is Locrian mode. If we start on D but play the same notes as C Major we get the second mode of the major scale, Dorian. The second example is a melody in C Major played over the chords C major, G major and D minor (All from the Key of C Major) C Ionian Building The Modes Since C major is the easiest key to learn (It contains only ‘natural’ notes, no sharps or flats) I’ll list the notes of C major and it’s related modes, however remember that each fingering pattern can be moved up or down the fretboard so you can play in any key.īelow is an example of C Ionian over 1 octave ascending and then descending. For example moving the pattern up to the 12th fret would give us ‘E Major’. If we play the same pattern starting from a different note then we would name the scale from that note. Since this is the note ‘C’ we get ‘C Major’.

Let’s start by playing from the 8th fret low E string. The diagram above shows how to play the Ionian mode on a standard tuned 6 string guitar. Pretty much all Western music can be related back to the major scale. The first mode is called the Ionian mode, this is what you would normally refer to as “The Major Scale”. Let’s start by looking at the Major Scale itself: Modes of The Major Scale The notes of D Dorian are the same as C major except they run from D to C instead of C to B. The second mode of the major scale is ‘Dorian’ so in C major we get the D Dorian mode. So what are the modes of the major scale?Ī mode is basically the major scale, shifted along so that the ‘root’ note is different, for example in C major the second note is D. You’ll also often see modes of the major scale listed in books for reference but with little or no explanation of how to use them. Modes seem to be a source of confusion for a lot of people, especially the ‘self-taught’ guitarists among us. We’ll learn how the modes relate to the major scale and look at when and how to use them. In this series of lessons we will look at the modes of the Major Scale.

E flat major scale ionian