The C Major Scale's 7 Modes
The Modes are generally studied in the following order in the Key of C:
(I) Ionian (C D E F G A B C)
(ii) Dorian (D E F G A B C D)
(iii) Phyrigan (E F G A B C D E)
(IV) Lydian (F G A B C D E F)
(V) Mixolydian (G A B C D E F G)
(vi) Aeolian (A B C D E F G A)
(vii) Locrian (B C D E F G A B)
Ionian is the major "do-re-mi" scale that we all know and love. Its whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half (or T/s Tone/semitone) step construction can also be seen as:
C D E F G A B C
1 1 1/2 1 1 1 1/2
W W H W W W H
T T s T T T s
Dorian, the 2nd mode, runs from D to D (re mi fa sol la ti do re). It uses all natural notes (no sharps/flats) and is different than the D major scale which has 2 sharps. The whole & half step construction displaces the first Whole step (C to D) to the end of the series making it whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half-whole:
D E F G A B C D
1 1/2 1 1 1 1/2 1
W H W W W H W
T s T T T s T
The pattern of each following mode continues in the same fashion. Considering that the lowest fretted note on a guitar is F, this is where we start (for the key of C).
Open Position (iii - Phrygian)
|------------------------------0-1-3------------------|
|------------------------0-1-3------------------------|
|--------------------0-2------------------------------|
|--------------0-2-3----------------------------------|
|--------0-2-3----------------------------------------|
|--0-1-3----------------------------------------------|
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
1st Position (IV - Lydian)
|--------------------------------3-5-7----------------|
|--------------------------3-5-6----------------------|
|--------------------2-4-5----------------------------|
|--------------2-3-5----------------------------------|
|--------2-3-5----------------------------------------|
|--1-3-5----------------------------------------------|
2nd Position (V - Mixolydian)
|--------------------------------5-7-8----------------|
|--------------------------5-6-8----------------------|
|--------------------4-5-7----------------------------|
|--------------3-5-7----------------------------------|
|--------3-5-7----------------------------------------|
|--3-5-7----------------------------------------------|
3rd Position (vi - Aeolian)
|---------------------------------7-8-10--------------|
|--------------------------6-8-10---------------------|
|--------------------5-7-9----------------------------|
|--------------5-7-9----------------------------------|
|--------5-7-8----------------------------------------|
|--5-7-8----------------------------------------------|
4th Position (vii - Locrian)
The common "closed" Major Scale Position
|--------------------------------------8-10-12--------|
|------------------------------8-10-12----------------|
|-----------------------7-9-10------------------------|
|----------------7-9-10-------------------------------|
|---------7-8-10--------------------------------------|
|--7-8-10---------------------------------------------|
5th Position (I - IONIAN)
|-------------------------------------------10-12-13--|
|----------------------------------10-12-13-----------|
|--------------------------9-10-12--------------------|
|------------------9-10-12----------------------------|
|----------8-10-12------------------------------------|
|--8-10-12--------------------------------------------|
6th Position (ii - Dorian)
|----------------------------------------------12-13-15-|
|-------------------------------------12-13-15----------|
|----------------------------10-12-14-------------------|
|-------------------10-12-14----------------------------|
|----------10-12-14-------------------------------------|
|-10-12-13----------------------------------------------|
7th Position (iii - Phrygian)
|-----------------------------------------------13-15-17-|
|--------------------------------------13-15-17----------|
|-----------------------------12-14-16-------------------|
|--------------------12-14-15----------------------------|
|-----------12-14-15-------------------------------------|
|--12-13-15----------------------------------------------|
Master each of these, one at a time, practicing each ascending & descending. Listen to each and how the root notes relate to C...how many tones away from C that the mode starts on.
Also, try practicing each ascending a 3rd, descend a 2nd, ascend a 3rd, descend a 2nd...as such:
|---------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------|
|--------------------------9----10-9-12-|
|----------8----10-8-12-10---12---------|
|--8-12-10---12-------------------------|
|---------------------------------------10----12-----|
|---------------------10----12-10-13-12----13--------|
|---9----10-9---12-10----12--------------------------|
|10---12---------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------|
