Modes with Mode Dictionary If you find memorizing steps was too difficult, this is the lesson for you! Modes are not put together with steps, but by altering the major scale. The entire point of modes are to change scales to suit your needs. A mode is just an alteration of a major scale. Once you know your major scales, you can begin to learn modes. Good knowledge of you fretboard and basic intervals is a must for modes. I will go through how to make modes, as well as every mode for every note (Ab, A, Bb, B, C, Db, D, Eb, E, F, Gb, G) for easy refference. Ionian
- 1
2
3
4
5
6
7 1
Dorian
- 1
2 b3
4
5
6 b7 1
Phrygian
- 1 b2 b3
4
5 b6 b7 1
Lydian
- 1
2
3 #4
5
6
Mixolydian - 1
2
3
4
5
6 b7 1
Aeolian
- 1
2 b3
4
5 b6 b7 1
Locrian
- 1 b2 b3
7 1
4 b5 b6 b7 1
Ionian- Ionian mode is just the name for the major scale. It has no alterations made to it. Play this mode over Major chords, Maj7, Maj6. Dorian- Dorian mode has a flattened third and seventh (b3 and b7) making it ideal for m7 chords. You can also use Dorian mode for m6 chords. Dorian mode is often used in jazz styles. Phrygian- Phrygian mode has a lowered second, third, sixth, and seventh. Phrygian has a Spanish feel to it so you can Play it over spanish progressions or heavy metal/rock riffs with a b2. Lydian- Lydian mode's only alteration is a raised fourth (#4) making it very close to the major scale. The #4 makes it a good chord to use for Maj7#11 chords, but can also be used over maj7 chords. Mixolydian- The only alteration in Mixolydian mode is the lowered seventh (b7). This makes it perfect for dominant 7th chords. This mode can be used in blues, jazz or even country. Aeolian- Aeolian mode, a.k.a. the minor scale has a b3, b6 and b7. (All minor scales have a b3). Aeolian mode works over minor chords, and can be used as a substitute for Dorian mode, by using it over m7 chords. Locrian- Locrian mode has a b2, b3, b5, b6 and b7. Locrain mode is very dark sounding. It fits a m7b5 chord perfectly. Mode Dictionary. To find the mode you want press Ctrl+F, then type the note, and mode. (ex. C Ionian). Each entry has the name of the mode, the notes that are found in it, and the TAB for it. Legend. #= sharp b= flat bb= double flat Ab Ionian (Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab): |-----------------------------4----| |-------------------------6-8------| |-------------------5-6-8----------| |-------------5-6-8----------------| |-------4-6-8----------------------| |-4-6-8----------------------------|
Ab Dorian (Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F Gb Ab): |-----------------------------4----| |-------------------------6-7------| |-------------------4-6-8----------| |-------------4-6-8----------------| |-------4-6-8----------------------| |-4-6-7----------------------------| Ab Phrygian (Ab Bbb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab): |-----------------------------4----| |-------------------------5-7------| |-------------------4-6-8----------| |-------------4-6-7----------------| |-------4-6-7----------------------| |-4-5-7----------------------------| Ab Lydian (Ab Bb C D Eb F G Ab): |-------------------------------4--| |-------------------------5-7-8----| |-------------------5-7-8----------| |-------------5-6-8----------------| |-------5-6-8----------------------| |-4-6-8----------------------------| Ab Mixolydian (Ab Bb C Db Eb F Gb Ab): |-----------------------------4----| |-------------------------6-7------| |-------------------5-6-8----------| |-------------4-6-8----------------| |-------4-6-8----------------------| |-4-6-8----------------------------| Ab Aeloian (Ab Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab): |-----------------------------4----| |-----------------------4-5-7------| |-------------------4-6------------| |-------------4-6-8----------------| |-------4-6-7----------------------| |-4-6-7----------------------------| Ab Locrian (Ab Bbb Cb Db Ebb Fb Gb Ab): |-----------------------------4----| |-------------------------5-7------| |-------------------4-6-7----------| |-------------4-6-7----------------| |-------4-5-7----------------------| |-4-5-7----------------------------| ___________________________________ A Ionian (A B C# D E F# G# A): |-----------------------------5----| |-------------------------7-9------| |-------------------6-7-9----------| |-------------6-7-9----------------| |-------5-7-9----------------------| |-5-7-9----------------------------| A Dorian (A B C D E F# G A): |------------------------------5---| |--------------------------7-8-----| |--------------------5-7-9---------|
|-------------5-7--9---------------| |-------5-7-9----------------------| |-5-7-8----------------------------| A Phrygian (A Bb C D E F G A): |-----------------------------5----| |-------------------------6-8------| |-------------------5-7-9----------| |-------------5-7-8----------------| |-------5-7-8----------------------| |-5-6-8----------------------------| A Lydian (A B C# D# E F# G# A): |-----------------------------5----| |-------------------------7-9------| |-------------------6-8-9----------| |-------------6-7-9----------------| |-------6-7-9----------------------| |-5-7-9----------------------------| A Mixolydian (A B C# D E F# G A): |-----------------------------5----| |-------------------------7-8------| |-------------------6-7-9----------| |-------------5-7-9----------------| |-------5-7-9----------------------| |-5-7-9----------------------------| A Aeolian (A B C D E F G A): |-----------------------------5----| |-------------------------6-8------| |-------------------5-7-9----------| |-------------5-7-9----------------| |-------5-7-8----------------------| |-5-7-8----------------------------| A Locrian (A Bb C D Eb F G A): |-----------------------------5----| |-------------------------6-8------| |-------------------5-7-8----------| |-------------5-7-8----------------| |-------5-6-8----------------------| |-5-6-8----------------------------| Bb Ionian (Bb C D Eb F G A Bb): |----------------------------------6-| |-----------------------------8-10---| |----------------------7-8-10--------| |---------------7-8-10---------------| |--------6-8-10----------------------| |-6-8-10-----------------------------| Bb Dorian (Bb C Db Eb F G Ab Bb): |---------------------------------6--| |-----------------------------8-9----| |----------------------6-8-10--------| |--------------6-8--10---------------| |-------6-8-10-----------------------| |-6-8-9------------------------------| Bb Phrygian (Bb Cb Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb): |-------------------------------6----| |---------------------------7-9------|
|--------------------6-8-10----------| |-------------6--8-9-----------------| |-------6-8-9------------------------| |-6-7-9------------------------------| Bb Lydian (Bb C D E F G A Bb): |----------------------------------6-| |-----------------------------8-10---| |----------------------7-9-10--------| |---------------7-8-10---------------| |--------7-8-10----------------------| |-6-8-10-----------------------------| Bb Mixolydian (Bb C D Eb F G Ab Bb): |---------------------------------6--| |-----------------------------8-9----| |----------------------7-8-10--------| |---------------6-8-10---------------| |--------6-8-10----------------------| |-6-8-10-----------------------------| Bb Aeolian (Bb C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb): |-------------------------------6----| |---------------------------7-9------| |--------------------6-8-10----------| |-------------6-8-10-----------------| |-------6-8-9------------------------| |-6-8-9------------------------------| Bb Locrian (Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb): |-----------------------------6------| |-------------------------7-9--------| |-------------------6-8-9------------| |-------------6-8-9------------------| |-------6-7-9------------------------| |-6-7-9------------------------------| B Ionian (B C# D# E F# G# A# B): |----------------------------------7----| |-----------------------------9-11------| |----------------------8-9-11-----------| |---------------8-9-11------------------| |--------7-9-11-------------------------| |-7-9-11--------------------------------| B Dorian (B C# D E F# G# A B): |-----------------------------------7---| |------------------------------9-10-----| |-----------------------7-9-11----------| |---------------7-9--11-----------------| |--------7-9-11-------------------------| |-7-9-10--------------------------------|
B Phrygian (B C D E F# G A B): |-----------------------------------7---| |------------------------------8-10-----| |-----------------------7-9-11----------| |---------------7--9-10-----------------| |--------7-9-10-------------------------|
|-7-8-10--------------------------------| B Lydian (B C# D# E# F# G# A# B): |-----------------------------------7---| |------------------------------9-11-----| |----------------------8-10-11----------| |---------------8-9-11------------------| |--------8-9-11-------------------------| |-7-9-11--------------------------------| B Mixolydian (B C# D# E F# G# A B): |----------------------------------7----| |-----------------------------9-10------| |----------------------8-9-11-----------| |---------------7-9-11------------------| |--------7-9-11-------------------------| |-7-9-11--------------------------------| B Aeolian (B C# D E F# G A B): |----------------------------------7----| |-----------------------------8-10------| |----------------------7-9-11-----------| |---------------7-9-11------------------| |--------7-9-10-------------------------| |-7-9-10--------------------------------| B Locrian (B C D E F G A B): |----------------------------------7----| |-----------------------------8-10------| |----------------------7-9-10-----------| |---------------7-9-10------------------| |--------7-8-10-------------------------| |-7-8-10--------------------------------| C Ionian (C D E F G A B C): |---------------------------------------8--| |---------------------------------10-12----| |-------------------------9-10-12----------| |-----------------9-10-12------------------| |---------8-10-12--------------------------| |-8-10-12----------------------------------| C Dorian (C D Eb F G A Bb C): |----------------------------------------8-| |----------------------------------10-11---| |--------------------------8-10-12---------| |-----------------8-10--12-----------------| |---------8-10-12--------------------------| |-8-10-11----------------------------------| C Phrygian (C Db Eb F G Ab Bb C): |--------------------------------------8---| |---------------------------------9-11-----| |-------------------------8-10-12----------| |----------------8--10-11------------------| |--------8-10-11---------------------------| |-8-9-11-----------------------------------|
C Lydian (C D E F# G A B C): |---------------------------------------8--|
|---------------------------------10-12----| |-------------------------9-11-12----------| |-----------------9-10-12------------------| |---------9-10-12--------------------------| |-8-10-12----------------------------------| C Mixolydian (C D E F G A Bb C): |---------------------------------------8--| |---------------------------------10-11----| |-------------------------9-10-12----------| |-----------------8-10-12------------------| |---------8-10-12--------------------------| |-8-10-12----------------------------------| C Aeolian (C D Eb F G Ab Bb C): |--------------------------------------8---| |---------------------------------9-11-----| |-------------------------8-10-12----------| |-----------------8-10-12------------------| |---------8-10-11--------------------------| |-8-10-11----------------------------------| C Locrian (C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C): |------------------------------------8-----| |-------------------------------9-11-------| |-----------------------8-10-11------------| |---------------8-10-11--------------------| |--------8-9-11----------------------------| |-8-9-11-----------------------------------| Db Ionian (Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db): |-----------------------------------------9--| |-----------------------------------11-13----| |--------------------------10-11-13----------| |-----------------10-11-13-------------------| |---------9-11-13----------------------------| |-9-11-13------------------------------------| Db Dorian (Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb Cb Db): |----------------------------------------9---| |----------------------------------11-12-----| |--------------------------9-11-13-----------| |-----------------9-11--13-------------------| |---------9-11-13----------------------------| |-9-11-12------------------------------------| Db Phrygian (Db Ebb Fb Gb Ab Bbb Cb Db): |----------------------------------------9---| |----------------------------------10-12-----| |--------------------------9-11-13-----------| |-----------------9--11-12-------------------| |---------9-11-12----------------------------| |-9-10-12------------------------------------| Db Lydian (Db Eb F G Ab Bb C Db): |------------------------------------------9-| |------------------------------------11-13---| |---------------------------10-12-13---------| |------------------10-11-13------------------| |---------10-11-13---------------------------| |-9-11-13------------------------------------|
Db Mixolydian (Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb Cb Db): |----------------------------------------9---| |----------------------------------11-12-----| |-------------------------10-11-13-----------| |-----------------9-11-13--------------------| |---------9-11-13----------------------------| |-9-11-13------------------------------------| Db Aeolian (Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bbb Cb Db): |---------------------------------------9----| |---------------------------------10-12------| |-------------------------9-11-13------------| |-----------------9-11-13--------------------| |---------9-11-12----------------------------| |-9-11-12------------------------------------| Db Locrian (Db Ebb Fb Gb Abb Bbb Cb Db): |---------------------------------------9----| |---------------------------------10-12------| |-------------------------9-11-12------------| |-----------------9-11-12--------------------| |---------9-10-12----------------------------| |-9-10-12------------------------------------| D Ionian (D E F# G A B C# D): |-------------------------------------------10----| |-------------------------------------12-14-------| |----------------------------11-12-14-------------| |-------------------11-12-14----------------------| |----------10-12-14-------------------------------| |-10-12-14----------------------------------------| D Dorian (D E F G A B C D): |--------------------------------------------10---| |--------------------------------------12-13------| |-----------------------------10-12-14------------| |-------------------10-12--14---------------------| |----------10-12-14-------------------------------| |-10-12-13----------------------------------------| D Phrygian (D Eb F G A Bb C D): |--------------------------------------------10---| |--------------------------------------11-13------| |-----------------------------10-12-14------------| |-------------------10--12-13---------------------| |----------10-12-13-------------------------------| |-10-11-13----------------------------------------| D Lydian (D E F# G# A B C# D): |-------------------------------------------10----| |-------------------------------------12-14-------| |----------------------------11-13-14-------------| |-------------------11-12-14----------------------| |----------11-12-14-------------------------------| |-10-12-14----------------------------------------| D Mixolydian (D E F# G A B C D): |-------------------------------------------10----| |-------------------------------------12-13-------| |----------------------------11-12-14-------------| |-------------------10-12-14----------------------| |----------10-12-14-------------------------------|
|-10-12-14----------------------------------------| D Aeolian (D E F G A Bb C D): |-------------------------------------------10----| |-------------------------------------11-13-------| |----------------------------10-12-14-------------| |-------------------10-12-14----------------------| |----------10-12-13-------------------------------| |-10-12-13----------------------------------------| D Locrian (D Eb F G Ab Bb C D): |-------------------------------------------10----| |-------------------------------------11-13-------| |----------------------------10-12-13-------------| |-------------------10-12-13----------------------| |----------10-11-13-------------------------------| |-10-11-13----------------------------------------| Eb Ionian (Eb F G Ab Bb C D Eb): |-------------------------------------------11----| |-------------------------------------13-15-------| |----------------------------12-13-15-------------| |-------------------12-13-15----------------------| |----------11-13-15-------------------------------| |-11-13-15----------------------------------------| Eb Dorian (Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db Eb): |--------------------------------------------11---| |--------------------------------------13-14------| |-----------------------------11-13-15------------| |-------------------11-13--15---------------------| |----------11-13-15-------------------------------| |-11-13-14----------------------------------------| Eb Phrygian (Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb): |--------------------------------------------11---| |--------------------------------------12-14------| |-----------------------------11-13-15------------| |-------------------11--13-14---------------------| |----------11-13-14-------------------------------| |-11-12-14----------------------------------------| Eb Lydian (Eb F G A Bb C D Eb): |-------------------------------------------11----| |-------------------------------------13-15-------| |----------------------------12-14-15-------------| |-------------------12-13-15----------------------| |----------12-13-15-------------------------------| |-11-13-15----------------------------------------| Eb Mixolydian (Eb F G Ab Bb C Db Eb): |-------------------------------------------11----| |-------------------------------------13-14-------| |----------------------------12-13-15-------------| |-------------------11-13-15----------------------| |----------11-13-15-------------------------------| |-11-13-15----------------------------------------| Eb Aeolian (Eb F Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb): |-------------------------------------------11----| |-------------------------------------12-14-------| |----------------------------11-13-15-------------| |-------------------11-13-15----------------------|
|----------11-13-14-------------------------------| |-11-13-14----------------------------------------| Eb Locrian (Eb Fb Gb Ab Bbb Cb Db Eb): |-------------------------------------------11----| |-------------------------------------12-14-------| |----------------------------11-13-14-------------| |-------------------11-13-14----------------------| |----------11-12-14-------------------------------| |-11-12-14----------------------------------------| (These modes can alteritively play 12 frets (1 Octave up the fretboard) E Ionaian (E F# G# A B C# D# E): |-----------------------------0----| |-------------------------2-4------| |-------------------1-2-4----------| |-------------1-2-4----------------| |-------0-2-4----------------------| |-0-2-4----------------------------| E Dorian (E F# G A B C# D E): |------------------------------0---| |--------------------------2-3-----| |--------------------0-2-4---------| |-------------0-2--4---------------| |-------0-2-4----------------------| |-0-2-3----------------------------| E Phrygian (E F G A B C D E): |------------------------------0---| |--------------------------1-3-----| |--------------------0-2-4---------| |-------------0--2-3---------------| |-------0-2-3----------------------| |-0-1-3----------------------------| E Lydian (E F# G# A# B C# D# E): |-----------------------------0----| |-------------------------2-4------| |-------------------1-3-4----------| |-------------1-2-4----------------| |-------1-2-4----------------------| |-0-2-4----------------------------| E Mixolydian (E F# G# A B C# D E): |-----------------------------0----| |-------------------------2-3------| |-------------------1-2-4----------| |-------------0-2-4----------------| |-------0-2-4----------------------| |-0-2-4----------------------------| E Aeolian (E F# G A B C D E): |-----------------------------0----| |-------------------------1-3------| |-------------------0-2-4----------| |-------------0-2-4----------------| |-------0-2-3----------------------| |-0-2-3----------------------------|
E Locrian (E F G A Bb C D E): |-----------------------------0----| |-------------------------1-3------| |-------------------0-2-3----------| |-------------0-2-3----------------| |-------0-1-3----------------------| |-0-1-3----------------------------| (These modes can alteritively play 12 frets (1 Octave up the fretboard) F Ionian (F G A Bb C D E F): |-----------------------------1----| |-------------------------3-5------| |-------------------2-3-5----------| |-------------2-3-5----------------| |-------1-3-5----------------------| |-1-3-5----------------------------| F Dorian (F G Ab Bb C D Eb F): |------------------------------1---| |--------------------------3-4-----| |--------------------1-3-5---------| |-------------1-3--5---------------| |-------1-3-5----------------------| |-1-3-4----------------------------| F Phrygian (F Gb Ab Bb C Db Eb F): |------------------------------1---| |--------------------------2-4-----| |--------------------1-3-5---------| |-------------1--3-4---------------| |-------1-3-4----------------------| |-1-2-4----------------------------| F Lydian (F G A B C D E F): |-----------------------------1----| |-------------------------3-5------| |-------------------2-4-5----------| |-------------2-3-5----------------| |-------2-3-5----------------------| |-1-3-5----------------------------| F Mixolydian (F G A Bb C D Eb F): |-----------------------------1----| |-------------------------3-4------| |-------------------2-3-5----------| |-------------1-3-5----------------| |-------1-3-5----------------------| |-1-3-5----------------------------| F Aeolian (F G Ab Bb C Db Eb F): |-----------------------------1----| |-------------------------2-4------| |-------------------1-3-5----------| |-------------1-3-5----------------| |-------1-3-4----------------------| |-1-3-4----------------------------| F Locrian (F Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F): |-----------------------------1----|
|-------------------------2-4------| |-------------------1-3-4----------| |-------------1-3-4----------------| |-------1-2-4----------------------| |-1-2-4----------------------------| (These modes can alteritively play 12 frets (1 Octave up the fretboard) Gb Ionian (Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F Gb): |-----------------------------2----| |-------------------------4-6------| |-------------------3-4-6----------| |-------------3-4-6----------------| |-------2-4-6----------------------| |-2-4-6----------------------------| Gb Dorian (Gb Ab Bbb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb): |-----------------------------2----| |-------------------------4-5------| |-------------------2-4-6----------| |-------------2-4-6----------------| |-------2-4-6----------------------| |-2-4-5----------------------------| Gb Phrygian (Gb Abb Bbb Cb Db Ebb Fb Gb): |-----------------------------2----| |-------------------------3-5------| |-------------------2-4-6----------| |-------------2-4-5----------------| |-------2-4-5----------------------| |-2-3-5----------------------------| Gb Lydian (Gb Ab Bb C Db Eb F Gb): |-----------------------------2----| |-------------------------4-6------| |-------------------3-5-6----------| |-------------3-4-6----------------| |-------3-4-6----------------------| |-2-4-6----------------------------| Gb Mixolydian (Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb): |-----------------------------2----| |-------------------------4-5------| |-------------------3-4-6----------| |-------------2-4-6----------------| |-------2-4-6----------------------| |-2-4-6----------------------------| Gb Aeolian (Gb Ab Bbb Cb Db Ebb Fb Gb): |-----------------------------2----| |-------------------------3-5------| |-------------------2-4-6----------| |-------------2-4-6----------------| |-------2-4-5----------------------| |-2-4-5----------------------------| Gb Locrian (Gb Abb Bbb Cb Dbb Ebb Fb Gb): |-----------------------------2----| |-------------------------3-5------| |-------------------2-4-5----------| |-------------2-4-5----------------| |-------2-3-5----------------------| |-2-3-5----------------------------|
(These modes can alteritively play 12 frets (1 Octave up the fretboard)
G Ionian (G A B C D E F# G): |-----------------------------3----| |-------------------------5-7------| |-------------------4-5-7----------| |-------------4-5-7----------------| |-------3-5-7----------------------| |-3-5-7----------------------------| G Dorian (G A Bb C D E F G): |------------------------------3---| |--------------------------5-6-----| |--------------------3-5-7---------| |-------------3-5--7---------------| |-------3-5-7----------------------| |-3-5-6----------------------------| G Phrygian (G Ab Bb C D Eb F G): |------------------------------3---| |--------------------------4-6-----| |--------------------3-5-7---------| |-------------3--5-6---------------| |-------3-5-6----------------------| |-3-4-6----------------------------| G Lydian (G A B C# D E F# G): |-----------------------------3----| |-------------------------5-7------| |-------------------4-6-7----------| |-------------4-5-7----------------| |-------4-5-7----------------------| |-3-5-7----------------------------| G Mixolydian (G A B C D E F G): |-----------------------------3----| |-------------------------5-6------| |-------------------4-5-7----------| |-------------3-5-7----------------| |-------3-5-7----------------------| |-3-5-7----------------------------| G Aeolian (G A Bb C D Eb F G): |-----------------------------3----| |-------------------------4-6------| |-------------------3-5-7----------| |-------------3-5-7----------------| |-------3-5-6----------------------| |-3-5-6----------------------------| G Locrian (G Ab Bb C Db Eb F G): |-----------------------------3----| |-------------------------4-6------| |-------------------3-5-6----------| |-------------3-5-6----------------| |-------3-4-6----------------------| |-3-4-6----------------------------|