Guitar Modes Cheat Sheet

Ver 0.1. Written by Norio De Sousa. Copyright 2007 GuitarModes.co.za. All Rights Reserved.

Application
Practising Your Modes
First things first, you need to practise all your modes as much as possible. The easiest and most intuitive way to do this comes as a suggestion from Joe Satriani. Play an open E (or use a single-note backing track) and then play each modal scale over that. Keep at it and, eventually, you will come to understand the relationship between each note of each mode of the major scale and its root (tonic) note. Once youve practised your modal scales in this way, you can move on to playing them over songs in a specific modal key or playing the correct mode over each chord in a composition as briefly outlined below.

Songs in a Modal Key

If you take the notes of any mode of the major scale and you play those notes as chords, you will have created a song in a modal key. Joe Satrianis Surfing with the Alien is a classic example of this type of composition. Once you know the Modal Key of a song, you can simply solo over it using that Modal scale. This is a good place for beginners to start their adventure.

Modal Scales Played Over Specific Chord-Types

The Jazzier approach to using modes is to play the corresponding modal scale over each chord in a song. As a quick example, you could play A Aeolian or A Dorian over an A minor chord. The reason for this is that an A Minor chord is made up of the 1st, flatted 3rd and 5th intervals of the major scale. If you look at either the Aeolian or Dorian modes, you will find that they both contain a flatted 3rd, giving them a minor sound. Please refer to the links at the end of this eBook for further reading on the subject.

Personal Taste & Preference

While Im trying my best to provide a useful resource for learning the modes of the major scale in a guitarists context, there is no right and wrong when it comes to music. If it sounds right, then it probably is. Meir Taitz (South African Virtuoso & Music Teacher) Some people say that the Dorian mode sounds melancholy. I say it makes a ripping rock n roll mode to play in! Some people say that the Ionian mode always sounds happy. I say it can sound like anything you want it to! It depends wholly on your application of the mode, the sequence of the notes and, all-in-all, your entire composition. So take this book or cheat-sheet merely as a guide to get you going. Once youre familiar with each mode, try your damndest to break ALL of the rules (even if the result sounds terrible) because music isnt based on rules. We created rules to help us understand music but music, itself, comes from self-expression. Express yourself and you will find people that enjoy whatever it is that you create. Thats art. Thats life. Enjoy! Norio De Sousa

Ionian
Mode Number: Formula: Intervals: Sound & Special Characteristics: Songs You Might Know: 1st First 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 W W H W W W H The Ionian mode is the natural mode of the major scale and has a happy sound. Queen Dont Stop Me Now Starship We Built This City Louis Armstrong What a Wonderful World Maj, Maj7

Fits Over These Chords:

Dorian
Mode Number: Formula: Intervals: Sound & Special Characteristics: 2nd Second 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7 W H W W W H W The Dorian mode is the Rock n Roll mode of the major scale. Its flatted 3rd gives it a minor sound, perfect Pop, Rock and even some Blues. Michael Jackson Billie Jean Pink Floyd Another Brick in The Wall Metallica One Min, min7 & min9

Songs You Might Know:

Fits Over These Chords:

Phrygian
Mode Number: Formula: Intervals: Sound & Special Characteristics: 3rd Third 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 H W W W H W W The Phrygian mode has a minor sound but its flatted 2nd and 6th give it a particularly darker sound, better suited to metal and alternative rock. Steve Vai For The Love of God Metallica Wherever I May Roam (solo) Min, min7

Songs You Might Know: Fits Over These Chords:

Lydian
Mode Number: Formula: Intervals: Sound & Special Characteristics: 4th Fourth 1 2 3 #4 5 6 7 W W W H W W H The Lydian mode is very much like the Ionian except that it has a sharped 4th, giving it a more exotic and mysterious sound. Joe Satriani Flying in a Blue Dream (mostly) Steve Vai The Riddle Maj7, maj7#11

Songs You Might Know: Fits Over These Chords:

Mixolydian
Mode Number: Formula: Intervals: Sound & Special Characteristics: 5th Fifth 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7 W W H W W H W The Mixoydian mode is very much like the Ionian except that it has a flatted 7th and is often used in place of the Ionian mode. ACDC Back in Black Guns n Roses Sweet Child o Mine 7th, 9th, 13th

Songs You Might Know: Fits Over These Chords:

Aeolian
Mode Number: Formula: Intervals: Sound & Special Characteristics: 6th Sixth 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 W H W W H W W The Aeolian mode is also known as the natural minor scale. Its the saddest of all modes and is used in blues, rock ballads, hymns and many other styles of music. Andy Timmons Cry For You Gary Moore Still Got The Blues Min, min7, min9

Songs You Might Know: Fits Over These Chords:

Locrian
Mode Number: Formula: Intervals: Sound & Special Characteristics: 7th Seventh 1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7 H W W H W W W The Locrian mode is mostly used in Jazz and VERY heavy metal mainly because of the dissonance created between the mode and its corresponding chord. Used mostly within songs but not as the basis for a whole song. Maj7b5

Songs You Might Know: Fits Over These Chords:

Credits
Got a correction to make? If you can back up your claims with facts and provable theory, Ill list your name in the credits andyoure your option), link to your web site. All constructive criticism is welcomed.