Comments on: Modes

By: Patrick MacFarlane

Patrick MacFarlane — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 10:43:44 +0000

In reply to Lewis.

Thank you for the good question. It depends where you start playing. The number you start on determines the mode you are playing. For example, if you start on the “5”, you are playing Mixolydian. It also depends on where you place the pattern on the fretboard. If you play box 4 pattern from the #5 using the 3rd fret of the 6th string, you are playing the G Mixolydian Mode.

I hope this helps.

By: Lewis

Lewis — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 09:22:35 +0000

Hi Patrick,
thanks for the well structured lesson!
one question. I was following until suddenly the 5 box shapes appeared. when played from start to finish, what scales am i playing when i play the whole of one of those box shapes?

thanks 🙂

By: Patrick MacFarlane

Patrick MacFarlane — Mon, 17 May 2021 10:28:49 +0000

In reply to christian claustro. Thank you for the kind words. I am glad it helped.

By: christian claustro

christian claustro — Mon, 17 May 2021 06:50:44 +0000

Your construction of the lesson is fantastic!

By: Patrick MacFarlane

Patrick MacFarlane — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 11:47:34 +0000

In reply to Donn Goodside. You use the octave of E. I hope this helps.

By: dave

dave — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 07:13:41 +0000

In reply to Joe. good for you joe, i want me some of that.

By: Donn Goodside

Donn Goodside — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 23:27:14 +0000

From the, #1 Ionian, if I reach for the 3rd, I kmow I’m in Phrygian.
If I want to reach for ‘Phrygian’ in a lower Register, do I go back …
3 degrees, from Tonic – C’ Bb’ Ab’ playing the Ab Major Intervals’ from the E’,? or / can I only find the, ‘Octave of E’ and Play from there?
( there seems to be a semi-tone difference in degrees when playing below. the Tonic ).

By: Patrick MacFarlane

Patrick MacFarlane — Sat, 19 May 2018 01:50:04 +0000

In reply to Cory.

Cory,
This is a great question. The guitar is complicated and we need to have ways to process the information as quickly as possible. Modes are one of those tools. The answer depends on what helps you the most. I like to keep the key’s major scale in mind and shift my thinking to play relative to the root of the chord. For example, if you are in the key of G major and a B chord is being played, I would focus my playing as if B were the root while the B chord is being played. You don’t have to start on the B to play a mode, but it likely played. Since the B chord, would be formed by every other note starting with B, you can find the chord tones easily (B-D-F#-A for Bm7)! I hope this helps.

By: Cory

Cory — Sat, 05 May 2018 00:04:40 +0000

I have one question if you dont mind me asking… I learned all 7 mode shapes 3 notes per string. I have the shapes memorized. However, if I am playing in g major and want to solo over the minor 2nd Am, do I start on the root of A and play any one of the minor shapes ( dorian,phrygian,aeolian,) or do i play the shape that corresponds to that note in the major scale? For instance in the key of G major the phrygian shape falls on a B and aeolian on an E. Do i just play that scale pattern from that note, or do i have to start on the root of the chord im soloing over? Ive often thought in the key of g major that you have g Ionian, A dorian, B phrygian, C Lydian, D mixolydian, E aeolian, and F# locrian. I feel like I’m understanding this wrong. Great layout. Thank you for your time sir.

By: Patrick MacFarlane

Patrick MacFarlane — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 05:48:56 +0000

In reply to Jason. Thank you for the question. First, I view keys based on their key signature (the number of flats or sharps without modifying any notes). That is the set of notes in a key. Generally, it isn't useful to name a key differently than major or minor. However, if you said you're playing D dorian, you'd imply the key of C, but you'd probably play the chords as if they were relative to D dorian. I recommend playing the I, IV, and V chords of a mode and judging for yourself. In my opinion, the diatonic series can be applied to the modes.