Intro to Modes - Online Guitar Lesson Video

lesson summary

Lesson 22 of 54 in our Rock Series: Intro to Modes

If you want to master lead guitar, learning the modes and the theory behind them is absolutely necessary. In this lesson, Brad covers some of the basic theory behind modes.

Chapter 1: (2:32) Introduction Learning the modes derived from the major and minor scales is absolutely essential to your growth as a guitarist. Knowledge of scales/modes will open up your ears to a new world of tonal possibilities. Over the course of the next several lessons, Brad will introduce and explain the seven modes of the major scale. He will demonstrate how these modes can be applied to improvised guitar solos. Brad begins his discussion of the modes with the Ionian mode/Major scale. He opens the lesson with an improvisation that utilizes the G Ionian Mode.

Chapter 2: (9:26) Basic Scale Theory Before diving headfirst into modes, take some time to review the basic scale theory that Brad has taught you thus far. In a previous lesson, Brad demonstrated the order of half steps and whole steps within the major scale. Here is a brief review of this material from Lesson 8:

A. The Major Scale

The Major scale is one of the most fundamental units of music. Brad begins by breaking down some basic theory pertaining to this scale.

Let�s start at square 1. The musical alphabet consists of the following notes: A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. The distance between one consecutive note to the next can either be described as a half step or a whole step.

It may help to examine a piano keyboard to visualize this concept. The keyboard consists of black keys and white keys. A half step occurs between one key to the next regardless of color. Similarly, a half step on the guitar occurs from one fret to the next.

A whole step occurs between two frets on the guitar. For example, a whole step occurs between F on the 1st string and G on the 1st string. These notes are two frets apart.

Now, let�s return to the musical alphabet to apply these concepts. Make a careful note of where half steps and whole steps occur.
Between A and B: whole step
B and C: half step
C and D: whole step
D and E: whole step
E and F: half step
F and G: whole step
G and A: whole step
Many of you are probably wondering how all this theory is going to help your guitar playing. The answer is simple. All major scales follow the same pattern of half and whole steps. If you know this pattern, you can start on any given note and play a major scale.

Start with the C Major scale since it contains no sharps or flats. The C scale is spelled as follows: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. Take a look at where the whole and half steps occur within the scale. All major scales follow a pattern of whole step, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half.

B. Diatonic Triads

In a previous lesson, Brad demonstrated how a triad can be built from each note in the major scale. Start with the root note of each chord. Then stack diatonic thirds on top of it. The word �diatonic� means �a scale consisting of seven pitches that are adjacent on the circle of fifths.� Start with the tonic C major chord. Then add the note a third above that, this note is E. Next, add the note a third above E. This note is G. Thus, a C major triad is comprised of the notes C, E, and G. Repeat this process with the remaining notes within the scale. For example, the next diatonic triad is Dm. This chord consists of the notes D, F, and A.

Note: Open the �Supplemental Content� to see a harmonization of the C major scale in diatonic triads. These are the chords that occur within the key of C major.

C. Key of G Major

Brad applies all modal concepts in his Phase 2 lessons to the key of G Major. Use the pattern of half steps and whole steps to determine the correct spelling for a G major scale. The key of G has one sharp in its key signature (F#). The basic left hand fingerings for all seven modes lay across the fretboard better in G than the key of C.

D. History of the Modes

The ancient Greeks developed the seven modes of the major scale. Plato used the modal names to describe seven different ways of tuning a lyre. The modes were used to sing plainsong or chant in a specified tonality.

Each mode has its own distinct sound. For example, the Ionian, Lydian, and Mixolydian modes have a bright sound. This is due to the fact that the third scale degree is a major third above the root. The Dorian, Phrygian, and Aeolian modes have a minor sound. The Locrian mode has a diminished sound.

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Brad Henecke was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on May 5th of 1963. He has been a fan of music for as long as he & his family can remember. You could always find him running around the farm wailing on his cardboard guitar, pretending to be a member of the rock band KISS. Additional inspiration came during his first concert when he got the chance to see Boston & Sammy Hagar in the early 1970's. This opened up a whole new world of rock and roll music for him; his parents noticed his growing interest in music and enrolled him into guitar lessons when he was 13.

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Intro to Modes | Free Online Guitar Lesson