Guitar lesson
C Major Modal scales
Modal scales
In this lesson we take a look at modal scales and try to take some of the mystery out of them
So what are they and how do you use them.
Modal scales are simply, scales which come off the notes of a parent scale.
As a practical example
The key of C looks like this. The notes in the scale are
C D E F G A B C
From these notes will come the modal scales and it works as follows.
The Ionian: This is the first note of the C scale:
The scale notes are C D E F G A B
The Dorian: This starts on the second note of the C scale:
The scale notes are D E F G A B C
The Phrygian: This starts on the third note of the C scale:
The scale notes are E F G A B C D
The Lydian: This starts on the fourth note of the C scale:
The scale notes are F G A B C D E
The Mixolydian: This starts on the fifth note of the C scale:
The scale notes are G A B C D E F
The Aeolian: This starts on the sixth note of the C scale:
The scale notes are A B C D E F G
The Locrian: This starts on the seventh note of the C scale:
The scale notes are B C D E F G A.
The following series of illustrations will show the physical layout
as they would appear on the fretboard.
This shape represents the Ionian scale or the
C Major scale.
Starting on the A string at the third fret
the notes would be
C D E F G A B C
Ionian Shape
In this lesson we take a look at modal scales and try to take some of the mystery out of them
So what are they and how do you use them.
Modal scales are simply, scales which come off the notes of a parent scale.
As a practical example
The key of C looks like this. The notes in the scale are
C D E F G A B C
From these notes will come the modal scales and it works as follows.
The Ionian: This is the first note of the C scale:
The scale notes are C D E F G A B
The Dorian: This starts on the second note of the C scale:
The scale notes are D E F G A B C
The Phrygian: This starts on the third note of the C scale:
The scale notes are E F G A B C D
The Lydian: This starts on the fourth note of the C scale:
The scale notes are F G A B C D E
The Mixolydian: This starts on the fifth note of the C scale:
The scale notes are G A B C D E F
The Aeolian: This starts on the sixth note of the C scale:
The scale notes are A B C D E F G
The Locrian: This starts on the seventh note of the C scale:
The scale notes are B C D E F G A.
The following series of illustrations will show the physical layout
as they would appear on the fretboard.
This shape represents the Ionian scale or the
C Major scale.
Starting on the A string at the third fret
the notes would be
C D E F G A B C
Ionian Shape
This shape represents the Dorian scale
This starts on the second note of the C major scale
at the D position and is found at the fifth fret on the A string.
The notes would be
D E F G A B C D
Dorian Shape
This shape represents the Phrygian scale
This starts on the third note of the C major scale
at the E position and is found at the seventh fret on the A string.
The notes would be
E F G A B C D E
Phrygian Shape
This shape represents the Lydian scale
This starts on the fourth note of the C major scale at the
F position and is found at the eighth fret on the A string.
The notes would be
F G A B C D E F
Lydian Shape
This shape represents the Mixolydian scale
This starts on the fifth note of the C major scale at the
G position and is found at the tenth fret on the A string.
The notes would be
G A B C D E F G
Mixolydian Shape
This shape represents the Aeolian scale
This starts on the sixth note of the C major scale at the
A position and is found at the twelfth fret on the A string.
The notes would be
A B C D E F G A
Aeolian Shape
This shape represents the Locrian scale
This starts on the seventh note of the C major scale
at the B position and is found at both the
Second and Fourteenth frets on the A string.
The notes would be
B C D E F G A B
Locrian Shape
This will bring us back to the Ionian at either the third or 15th fret on the A string.
This same sequence of shapes works on the E string starting at the third fret at the G note.
Rather than illustrate them here for you, As an exercise you might want try these
shapes out for yourself. Using the same fret positions on the Sixth string.
Find the scales and name them.
The G major scale has these notes
G A B C D F G.
How are they used
They are used to create alternate sounds when playing over the root chord.
Take a C major chord and play the Ionian scale over it you get a specific tonal sound.
Take the same chord and play for example the Locrian pattern over it.
But playing that pattern in the root position. Will produce a very
different tonal quality.
As an example play the C major chord, then play the Lydian scale shape.
But start it at the third fret on the A string at the C position.
Get the idea, practice these shapes from the C position and you will
very soon see the subtle differences that can arise from using these scales.
If your playing over a C major chord, and use say the Mixolydian scale
on the tenth fret at the G position. It sounds like a normal C major scale
played at the higher register.
So what you now have is a way to play the C major scale in 7 different patterns
at 7 different places on the guitar.
Should you wish to explore this idea further, take the same scale patterns
and start them off using the C note at the Eighth fret on the E string.
This study was taken from our Modal scales Course
and is available in ebook format.
For further details on the full course please see the link below.
Chords, Scales and Modal Scale Patterns
for Guitar