Modes - Part 2 - Intermediate

The Seven Major Scale Modes - A Basic Introduction to Sounds, Chords & Formulas

Continuing from where we left off in Part 1 of this series on Modes, this tutorial will examine the moods we can create with each mode, how to begin to play the modes, and also the basic understanding of scale formulas.

Different Moods

In the last lesson, we discovered that modes are scales hidden within the Major scale. We also learnt that modes can simply be explained as moods. By selecting the appropriate notes within the major scale, we can create a mood (happy, sad, melancholy, sinister, etc.), which in turn will generate an emotional response from the listener. We were also introduced to the names of the seven major scale modes, in order of darkest to brightest sounding mood.

Here is a bit more detail regarding the moods (darkest to brightest) that these modes evoke;

Locrian = Dark/Sinister
Phrygian = Spanish/Exotic sounding
Aeolian = Sad/Melancholy
Dorian = Jazzy/Dark with a Bright Edge
Mixolydian = Bluesy/Soulful/Light & Shade
Ionian = Happy/Joyful
Lydian = Bright/Airy/Mysterious

Please note: Before you read on, do make sure that you have a complete grasp of the seven major scale shapes introduced last lesson, including knowledge of the C root notes in all shapes.

How do we play a mode?

To conjure up any of the seven modes, you will now need to start to thoroughly learn the names of the notes in each of the seven major scale positions. This will take time. Don't worry if this isn't completely mastered yet, as long as you are making the effort to do so (you can refer to last lesson's worksheets during this tutorial - study the middle column). Ok, so here is the simple explaination of how to create a mode.

The C major scale consists of seven notes, C D E F G A B C (the last C does not count as a new note, it is there to demonstrate where the scale ends and then begins again). To create a mode from within the C major scale, we can start on any one of the remaining six notes (D E F G A B) and play seven notes from the note chosen. For example, we could play from D to D (D E F G A B C D), or E to E (E F G A B C D E), etc.

The two TAB sheets below illustrate how we can play each mode in a very simple way. Each of the seven C major scale positions begins on one of the seven notes of the C major scale (either C, D, E, F, G, A, or B). By rooting (starting and focusing upon) each one of these notes, we create each of the modes.

Note: TAB is a convenient tool for playing music, but unfortunately an inferior way of understanding the theory presented here. This is why having an excellent knowledge of where the notes are on the fingerboard is so essential, and why I am again stressing that you need to know what notes you are playing when you use the C major scale (and any other). Sight reading (reading music) helps greatly (I'm not going to go on about the merits of music reading here - I'll leave that for another tutorial on another day!).

To get a true idea of the sound of each mode, playing each of the above scales over a backing track of some sort will help greatly. Of course, using any old chord progression (series of chord changes) is not nescessarily going to work. We need to know which chords work with each mode.

Now take a look at the following worksheet. The sheet contains two tables. The first table names each mode, it's root note (the note it is named after), and the notes contained within it. It also describes the basic chord (triad) that the mode can be played over.

TASK 1: Record seven individual backing tracks (on your computer, a tape recorder, even your mobile phone will do - we're not looking for Abbey Road production here!). Choose the chord in the table that relates to the mode you wish to practice. For example; D minor for D Dorian, E minor for E Phrygian, F Major for F Lydian, etc. Each backing track should last at least 4 minutes or more in length to give you time to play and experiment with the mode in question. Now play the selected mode over the backing. Pause on it's root note (the note it is named after) to get your ear acustomed to it's sound. Experiment and jam, but try to arrive back at the root note to resolve phrases (later we will look at more advanced ways of creating licks).

Task 2: The second table lists the notes of the major scale. It also lists the formula of the scale. The formula is simply a way of numbering the notes of scales, arpeggios and chords. Formulas use Arabic numerals, in the case of the major scale these are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. The table also lists the basic triad (three note chord) and 7th chord (four note chord) that can be built from each of these notes. The chords are described by Roman Numerals (I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, and vii).

All of the chords can be used with any of the modes. The only rule is, you must center your chord progression around the root chord (see table 1). Emphasise (play more of) the root chord than any of the others. Start the chord pattern on the root chord. End on it too. Record a progression using a series of chords, starting on the root chord related to the mode you wish to play (i.e.; D minor for D Dorian, E minor for E Phrygian, F major for F Lydian, etc.). Now play the scale over the top of the progression as described in task 1.

Also, memorize the names of the chords and their related formula and roman numeric names. This will be essential for later lessons.

Right, that's it for now. Any questions, please do leave a comment and I will help clarify any confusion!

Extra Task: The next mode lesson will be coming shortly, where we will be looking at individual modes and how to get the best out of them. Between now an then, study the C major scale positions and try to find pentatonic shapes within them. It's a bit like one of those wordsearch puzzles! Find A minor, D minor and E minor pentatonic (shapes 1 to 5). For those of you familiar with the major pentatonic, can you spot the C major pentatonic? What about F major and G major pentatonic too? (shapes 1 to 5 also). Can't wait to show you how to get some excellent and cool sounds using these shapes and scales! All will be revealed...


VIDEO/AUDIO TO FOLLOW SHORTLY

The Minor Pentatonic Scale - Part 1 - Novice/Intermediate

The A Minor Pentatonic Scale (5 Positions) - Part 1

The A Minor Pentatonic Scale is an incredibly common scale used in many styles of music (blues, rock, metal, funk, jazz, pop, classical etc.) and can prove to be very versatile, and useful, once it has been thoroughly studied and practiced.

Pentatonic literally means “5 notes”. Pent means five (as in pentangle or pentagon) and tonic means tone or note. The key that we are playing in (for the moment) is the key of A Minor. A key is simply explained as a group of notes that work really well with a certain group of chords. The reason we are using the key of A Minor is because it does not contain any #s (sharps) or bs (flats). This makes it easier to understand when we look at the scale in detail. It also means that the chords we will use to accompany the scale are going to be much more familiar to you, which in turn means they will be easier to play (we'll move onto the chords in a future lesson).

So why learn scales anyhow? They suck right? You just want to be playing the cool stuff and not wasting your time practicing boring scales? Well, here’s the bad news... If you want to get good on the guitar (or any instrument), you need to know your scales (or at least some). Here’s the good news... Scales allow you to play those crazy solos you’ve been listening to and have been dreaming of one day being able to play. Scales get your fingers strong. Scales make you faster. Scales get both your left and right hands coordinated and working well together which makes all of your playing improve. Many incredibly famous riffs are made up of scales and single notes – practice your scales and you’ll be playing these riffs easily and hopefully making up your own. Best of all, scales allow you to create! Soon you’ll be making up your own solos and have the freedom and knowledge to be able to jam with other musicians. You never know, you might just start to find they become great fun!

Take a look at the two sheets below. First of all, please don’t be terrified by what you see here! It looks ever-so-confusing but in fact it's pretty simple once you know what you are looking at. If you look at the first sheet, you will see that the page is divided into three vertical columns labelled – Fingering – Notes – Formula. For now I’d like you to ignore the formula column (that’s the science/maths bit that we’re not interested in right now!). The note column is useful so we can check out the five notes that are contained in the scale (A, C, D, E and G - the note in the square "A" is the note the scale is named after and is called the Root Note), but once again, don't worry too much about this column either for the moment.




Now look at Shape 1 in the Fingering column (the column we are interested in for this lesson). This is a diagram of the fretboard viewed upside down. The low E (fat string) is at the bottom of the page, the high E (thin string) at the top. The numbers in circles are which fingers you use to play the scale (1 = index/pointing, 2 = middle, 3 = annular/ring, 4 = little/pinkie). The frets are marked in as vertical lines. The scale begins on fret number 5 as there is a number 5 written below the first fret of the diagram.

Starting on the low (fat) string, play the 1st finger note on fret 5, followed by the 4th finger note on fret 8. Then move to the next string (the A string) and play the 1st finger note on fret 5 followed by the 3rd finger note on fret7. Continue this process until you reach the final note (4th finger on fret 8, thinnest string). You have now played the entire scale shape ascending (going up in pitch). Now play the scale descending (going down in pitch). Simply start on the highest note (the 8th fret, high string) and then go backwards to the previous note (5th fret, high string). Continue this until you reach the final note (5th fret, lowest/fat string).

You will also need to practice the scale with down/up (alternate) picking once you have mastered the shape. Start with a down stroke on the first note (towards the floor with the plectrum), followed by an up stroke on the second note (towards the ceiling with the plectrum). Repeat on each string of the scale.

Also practice with Hammers. This is where you play the first note of each pair on a string with the plectrum, and then you make the second note of the pair sound by hitting the string hard with the correct finger for that note. For example; Pick the 1st finger, 5th fret low string note with the plectrum. Now hit the 8th fret note forcefully with your little finger to make it sound. Repeat this process until you reach the highest/final note of the scale (8th fret, thin string).

The reverse of the Hammer is the Pull-Off. This is when you play the highest note of a pair on a string with the plectrum. Have the lowest note fretted ready. Then drag the highest note finger off the string in a downward motion. This will make the lowest note sound. For example; Pick the 4th finger note on the 8th fret, highest string. Make sure your first finger is already fretting the 5th fret note on the same string. Pull the 4th finger note off the string, downwards towards the floor. This will make the 5th fret note sound. Continue this process until you finish with the lowest note of the scale (5th fret, low E string).

Try to practice daily with these techniques. Eventually you will need to learn all five scale shapes (which snake their way up the neck, before repeating themselves), but for now Shape 1 will be fine. This will then allow you to move on to the really fun bit – learning some licks so that you can jam! I’ll be posting 50 licks shortly so get practicing!!! :)

NOTE: VIDEO COMING SOON...