Modes on Guitar - Easiest Method Ever - Introduction - Part 1
Modes on Guitar - Easiest Method Ever
Here I’m going to show you the easiest way to understand, and start playing modes. In the case of the Major scale modes, the 7 modes come from the 7 notes with a scale. 1 through 7. The modes are indicating the degree of the scale. We’re going to start off very basic.
Major Scale Ionian Mode
For this entire lesson, we’re only going to play one scale in one position with one fingering. That scale is the C major scale. Let’s play the scale starting on the first note C. Remember the letters. We just played C Ionian. The 1st mode of the C Major scale. Let’s loop a C note rhythm. Play the mode. Do you hear how it sounds happy? It’s major. Because C is the root note, playing all the notes in this scale gives us a certain sound. We want to think of the C as the 1 and continue counting up. Go through the intervals. Hear the differences. Major 3rd, Major 6, Major 7. Riff around a little bit.
Dorian
Let’s play the same scale in the same position with the same fingering. This time we’ll play the scale starting on the second note D. Remember the letters. We just played D Dorian. The second mode of the C major scale. Let’s loop a D note rhythm. Play the mode. Do you hear how different it sounds? Sad in a bluesy way. Because D is the root note, playing all the same notes this gives us a new sound. We want to now think of the D as the 1 and continue counting up. Way in the back of your mind you can remember that it is the 2 of C. It’s a new mode, a new beginning. Go through the intervals. Hear the differences. Minor 3rd, Major 6, Flat 7. Listen to how different this sounds. It’s all the same notes. It’s just that the bottom root note is now different. Riff around a little bit.
Phrygian
Let’s play the same scale in the same position with the same fingering. This time we’ll play the scale starting on the third note E. Remember the letters. We just played E Phrygian. The third mode of the C major scale. Let’s loop a E note rhythm. Play the mode. Do you hear how different it sounds? It has a Spanish vibe to it. Because E is the root note, playing all the same notes this gives us a new sound. We want to now think of the E as the 1 and continue counting up. Way in the back of your mind you can remember that it is the 3 of C. It’s a new mode, a new beginning. Go through the intervals. Hear the differences. Minor 2nd, Minor 3rd, Minor 6, Flat 7. Listen to how different this sounds. It’s all the same notes. It’s just that the. bottom root note is now different. Riff around a little bit.
Interested in the looper I used in this video? Check it out here: BOSS RC-1 Loop Station
I also use this momentary pedal to shut off the looper after recording a loop, allowing playback later in the performance: Check it out here: BOSS FS-5U Momentary Unlatch-Type Footswitch
Sting once said "During the song the chord is not a C unless I'm playing C in the bass."
Lydian
Let’s play the same scale in the same position with the same fingering. This time we’ll play the scale starting on the fourth note F. Remember the letters. We just played F Lydian. The forth mode of the C major scale. Let’s loop a F note rhythm. Play the mode. Do you hear how different it sounds? It has an open / uplifting vibe. Because F is the root note, playing all the same notes this gives us a new sound. We want to now think of the F as the 1 and continue counting up. Way in the back of your mind you can remember that it is the 4 of C. It’s a new mode, a new beginning. Go through the intervals. Hear the differences. Major 3rd, Sharp 4, Major 7. Listen to how different this sounds. It’s all the same notes. It’s just that the bottom root note is now different. Riff around a little bit.
My mission here is to help you improve your guitar playing, and take the necesary steps to become successful.
Mixolydian
Let’s play the same scale in the same position with the same fingering. This time we’ll play the scale starting on the fifth note G. Remember the letters. We just played G Mixolydian. The fifth mode of the C major scale. Let’s loop a G note rhythm. Play the mode. Do you hear how different it sounds? Sounds like a happy blues. Because G is the root note, playing all the same notes this gives us a new sound. We want to now think of the G as the 1 and continue counting up. Way in the back of your mind you can remember that it is the 5 of C. It’s a new mode, a new beginning. Go through the intervals. Hear the differences. Major 3rd, Flat 7. Listen to how different this sounds. It’s all the same notes. It’s just that the bottom root note is now different. Riff around a little bit.
Aeolian
Let’s play the same scale in the same position with the same fingering. This time we’ll play the scale starting on the sixth note A. Remember the letters. We just played A Aeolian. The sixth mode of the C major scale. Let’s loop a A note rhythm. Play the mode. Do you hear how different it sounds? It sounds sad. It’s the natural minor. Because A is the root note, playing all the same notes this gives us a new sound. We want to now think of the A as the 1 and continue counting up. Way in the back of your mind you can remember that it is the 6 of C. It’s a new mode, a new beginning. Go through the intervals. Hear the differences. Minor 3rd, Minor 6th Flat 7th. Listen to how different this sounds. It’s all the same notes. It’s just that the bottom root note is now different. Riff around a little bit.
Lydian
Let’s play the same scale in the same position with the same fingering. This time we’ll play the scale starting on the seventh note B. Remember the letters. We just played B Locrian. The seventh mode of the C major scale. Let’s loop a B note rhythm. Play the mode. Can you hear how different it sounds? It sounds dissonant and wants to resolve. Because B is the root note, playing all the same notes this gives us a new sound. We want to now think of the B as the 1 and continue counting up. Way in the back of your mind you can remember that it is the 7 of C. It’s a new mode, a new beginning. Go through the intervals. Hear the differences. Minor 2nd, Minor 3rd, Flat 5th, Minor 6th, Flat 7th Listen to how different this sounds. It’s all the same notes. It’s just that the bottom root note is now different. Riff around a little bit.
We just played all 7 modes of the major scale.
Question of the day? What modes do you like the best?
Let me know in the comments below. I wanted to keep this lesson as simple as possibly so that I could to help you understand what the modes are. We didn’t get into anything about how chords fit into all this but now that you know how modes work you’ll be able to learn that very easily.
In future lessons we'll dive much deeper.
Remember. This is just one position. I idea is that you remember the intervals of the modes and play them in different positions all over the neck.
One of the most important parts of knowing the modes is playing them in Parallel.
Play C Ionian, C Dorian, etc. Now you’re making music. In future lessons we’ll get into modes in different positions, and how they fit over chords. Thank you very much for your interest in this lesson. I hope that you found it helpful.
Everything I used to make this video is on this checklist. Check it out:
Jerry Cherry Audio Video Gear Checklist.
Remember:
.Be Cool
.Be Kind
.Be Cherry
Here I’m going to show you the easiest way to understand, and start playing modes. In the case of the Major scale modes, the 7 modes come from the 7 notes with a scale. 1 through 7. The modes are indicating the degree of the scale. We’re going to start off very basic.
Major Scale Ionian Mode
For this entire lesson, we’re only going to play one scale in one position with one fingering. That scale is the C major scale. Let’s play the scale starting on the first note C. Remember the letters. We just played C Ionian. The 1st mode of the C Major scale. Let’s loop a C note rhythm. Play the mode. Do you hear how it sounds happy? It’s major. Because C is the root note, playing all the notes in this scale gives us a certain sound. We want to think of the C as the 1 and continue counting up. Go through the intervals. Hear the differences. Major 3rd, Major 6, Major 7. Riff around a little bit.
Dorian
Let’s play the same scale in the same position with the same fingering. This time we’ll play the scale starting on the second note D. Remember the letters. We just played D Dorian. The second mode of the C major scale. Let’s loop a D note rhythm. Play the mode. Do you hear how different it sounds? Sad in a bluesy way. Because D is the root note, playing all the same notes this gives us a new sound. We want to now think of the D as the 1 and continue counting up. Way in the back of your mind you can remember that it is the 2 of C. It’s a new mode, a new beginning. Go through the intervals. Hear the differences. Minor 3rd, Major 6, Flat 7. Listen to how different this sounds. It’s all the same notes. It’s just that the bottom root note is now different. Riff around a little bit.
Phrygian
Let’s play the same scale in the same position with the same fingering. This time we’ll play the scale starting on the third note E. Remember the letters. We just played E Phrygian. The third mode of the C major scale. Let’s loop a E note rhythm. Play the mode. Do you hear how different it sounds? It has a Spanish vibe to it. Because E is the root note, playing all the same notes this gives us a new sound. We want to now think of the E as the 1 and continue counting up. Way in the back of your mind you can remember that it is the 3 of C. It’s a new mode, a new beginning. Go through the intervals. Hear the differences. Minor 2nd, Minor 3rd, Minor 6, Flat 7. Listen to how different this sounds. It’s all the same notes. It’s just that the. bottom root note is now different. Riff around a little bit.
Interested in the looper I used in this video? Check it out here: BOSS RC-1 Loop Station
I also use this momentary pedal to shut off the looper after recording a loop, allowing playback later in the performance: Check it out here: BOSS FS-5U Momentary Unlatch-Type Footswitch
Sting once said "During the song the chord is not a C unless I'm playing C in the bass."
Lydian
Let’s play the same scale in the same position with the same fingering. This time we’ll play the scale starting on the fourth note F. Remember the letters. We just played F Lydian. The forth mode of the C major scale. Let’s loop a F note rhythm. Play the mode. Do you hear how different it sounds? It has an open / uplifting vibe. Because F is the root note, playing all the same notes this gives us a new sound. We want to now think of the F as the 1 and continue counting up. Way in the back of your mind you can remember that it is the 4 of C. It’s a new mode, a new beginning. Go through the intervals. Hear the differences. Major 3rd, Sharp 4, Major 7. Listen to how different this sounds. It’s all the same notes. It’s just that the bottom root note is now different. Riff around a little bit.
My mission here is to help you improve your guitar playing, and take the necesary steps to become successful.
Mixolydian
Let’s play the same scale in the same position with the same fingering. This time we’ll play the scale starting on the fifth note G. Remember the letters. We just played G Mixolydian. The fifth mode of the C major scale. Let’s loop a G note rhythm. Play the mode. Do you hear how different it sounds? Sounds like a happy blues. Because G is the root note, playing all the same notes this gives us a new sound. We want to now think of the G as the 1 and continue counting up. Way in the back of your mind you can remember that it is the 5 of C. It’s a new mode, a new beginning. Go through the intervals. Hear the differences. Major 3rd, Flat 7. Listen to how different this sounds. It’s all the same notes. It’s just that the bottom root note is now different. Riff around a little bit.
Aeolian
Let’s play the same scale in the same position with the same fingering. This time we’ll play the scale starting on the sixth note A. Remember the letters. We just played A Aeolian. The sixth mode of the C major scale. Let’s loop a A note rhythm. Play the mode. Do you hear how different it sounds? It sounds sad. It’s the natural minor. Because A is the root note, playing all the same notes this gives us a new sound. We want to now think of the A as the 1 and continue counting up. Way in the back of your mind you can remember that it is the 6 of C. It’s a new mode, a new beginning. Go through the intervals. Hear the differences. Minor 3rd, Minor 6th Flat 7th. Listen to how different this sounds. It’s all the same notes. It’s just that the bottom root note is now different. Riff around a little bit.
Lydian
Let’s play the same scale in the same position with the same fingering. This time we’ll play the scale starting on the seventh note B. Remember the letters. We just played B Locrian. The seventh mode of the C major scale. Let’s loop a B note rhythm. Play the mode. Can you hear how different it sounds? It sounds dissonant and wants to resolve. Because B is the root note, playing all the same notes this gives us a new sound. We want to now think of the B as the 1 and continue counting up. Way in the back of your mind you can remember that it is the 7 of C. It’s a new mode, a new beginning. Go through the intervals. Hear the differences. Minor 2nd, Minor 3rd, Flat 5th, Minor 6th, Flat 7th Listen to how different this sounds. It’s all the same notes. It’s just that the bottom root note is now different. Riff around a little bit.
We just played all 7 modes of the major scale.
Question of the day? What modes do you like the best?
Let me know in the comments below. I wanted to keep this lesson as simple as possibly so that I could to help you understand what the modes are. We didn’t get into anything about how chords fit into all this but now that you know how modes work you’ll be able to learn that very easily.
In future lessons we'll dive much deeper.
Remember. This is just one position. I idea is that you remember the intervals of the modes and play them in different positions all over the neck.
One of the most important parts of knowing the modes is playing them in Parallel.
Play C Ionian, C Dorian, etc. Now you’re making music. In future lessons we’ll get into modes in different positions, and how they fit over chords. Thank you very much for your interest in this lesson. I hope that you found it helpful.
Everything I used to make this video is on this checklist. Check it out:
Jerry Cherry Audio Video Gear Checklist.
Everything I used to make this video is on this checklist. Check it out:
Remember:
.Be Cool
.Be Kind
.Be Cherry
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