We’ll continue learning the seven modes of the Major scale by examining the Aeolian mode. This mode is also known as the “relative minor” scale which was introduced and referenced in the lessons titled The Minor Scale CAGED System and Basic Intervallic Chords.

To derive the Aeolian mode from the Major scale you start on the sixth interval of any given Major scale and play up to the octave of that interval. Again, we’ll use the C Major scale as an example. The sixth interval of the C Major scale is A. To play the Aeolian mode you would start on A and play through the notes of C Major up to the octave of A. So you would play A, B, C, D, E, F, G and A (the octave). We call this A Aeolian. This scale can be applied nicely over top of the minor chord. For example, you could play A Aeolian over top of an A minor chord.

Some of the fret board patterns for the Aeolian mode are mapped out in the image below using the same system of repetition across the fret board that we used in previous lessons. The patterns can be applied to all keys. Using A Aeolian as an example, you could play the first pattern in the image below starting on the A note in the fifth position on the 6th string and then you could play the second pattern in the image below in the third position starting on the same A note in the fifth position of the 6th string. The third pattern in the image would be played in the second position and so on. Target the root note of the mode wherever it exists as you play these patterns on each set of strings. The root note and its octave are colored white in the image.

Click the links below to download exercise examples for the A Aeolian mode in Power Tab and Guitar Pro format. These exercises ascend and descend each pattern in the order shown in the figure.

A Aeolian Power Tab
A Aeolian Guitar Pro

We’ll continue learning the seven modes of the Major scale by examining the Mixolydian mode. To derive the Mixolydian mode from the Major scale you start on the fifth interval of any given Major scale and play up to the octave of that interval. Again, we’ll use the C Major scale as an example. The fifth interval of the C Major scale is G. To play the Mixolydian mode you would start on G and play through the notes of C Major up to the octave of G. So you would play G, A, B, C, D, E, F and G (the octave). We call this G Mixolydian. This scale can be applied nicely over top of the major chord. For example, you could play G Mixolydian over top of a G major chord.

Some of the fret board patterns for the Mixolydian mode are mapped out in the image below using the same system of repetition across the fret board that we used in previous lessons. The patterns can be applied to all keys. Using G Mixolydian as an example, you could play the first pattern in the image below starting on the G note in the third position on the 6th string and then you could play the second pattern in the image below in the second position. The third pattern in the image would be played in the open position and so on. Target the root note of the mode wherever it exists as you play these patterns on each set of strings. The root note and its octave are colored white in the image.

Click the links below to download exercise examples for the G Mixolydian mode in Power Tab and Guitar Pro format. These exercises ascend and descend each pattern in the order shown in the figure.

G Mixolydian Power Tab
G Mixolydian Guitar Pro

We’ll continue learning the seven modes of the Major scale by examining the Lydian mode.  To derive the Lydian mode from the Major scale you start on the fourth interval of any given Major scale and play up to the octave of that interval. Again, we’ll use the C Major scale as an example.  The fourth interval of the C Major scale is F.  To play the Lydian mode you would start on F and play through the notes of C Major up to the octave of F.  So you would play F, G, A, B, C, D, E and F (the octave). We call this F Lydian.  This scale can be applied nicely over top of the major chord.  For example, you could play F Lydian over top of an F major chord.

Some of the fret board patterns for the Lydian mode are mapped out in the image below using the same system of repetition across the fret board that we used in previous lessons.  The patterns can be applied to all keys.  Using F Lydian as an example, you could play the first pattern in the image below starting on the F note in the first position of the 6th string and then you could play the second pattern in the image below starting on the F note in the first position of the 6th string and utilize the notes in the open position. The third pattern in the image would be played in the tenth position starting on the F note at the 13th fret of the 6th string and so on.  Target the root note of the mode wherever it exists as you play these patterns on each set of strings. The root note and its octave are colored white in the image.

Click the links below to download exercise examples for the F Lydian mode in Power Tab and Guitar Pro format. These exercises ascend and descend each pattern in the order shown in the figure.

F Lydian Power Tab
F Lydian Guitar Pro

Our next step in learning the seven modes of the Major scale is to take a look at the Phrygian mode.  To derive the Phrygian mode from the Major scale you start on the third interval of any given Major scale and play up to the octave of that interval. We’ll use the C Major scale as an example.  The third interval of the C Major scale is E.  To play the Phrygian mode you would start on E and play through the notes of C Major up to the octave of E.  So you would play E, F, G, A, B, C, D and E (the octave). We call this E Phrygian.  This scale can be applied nicely over top of the minor chord.  For example, you could play E Phrygian over top of an E minor chord.

Some of the fret board patterns for the Phrygian mode are mapped out in the image below using the same system of repetition across the fret board that we used in previous lessons.  The patterns can be applied to all keys.  Using E Phrygian as an example, you could play the first pattern in the image below starting on the E note in the open position of the 6th string and then you could play the second pattern in the image below starting on the E note on the 12th fret of the sixth string and so on. Again, target the root note of the mode wherever it exists as you play these patterns on each set of strings. The root note and its octave are colored white in the image.

Click the links below to download exercise examples for the E Phrygian mode in Power Tab and Guitar Pro format. These exercises ascend and descend each pattern in the order shown in the figure.

E Phrygian Power Tab
E Phrygian Guitar Pro

We’ll continue our study of the seven modes of the Major scale by taking a look at the Dorian mode.  We’ll use ideas and concepts similar to the ones that we used in the previous lesson titled Ionian Mode.

An easy way to go about deriving the Dorian mode is by starting on the second interval of any given Major scale and playing up to the octave of that interval.  Again, we’ll reference the C Major scale as an example.  The second interval of the C Major scale is D.  To play the Dorian mode you would start on D and play through the notes of C Major up to the octave of D.  So you would play D, E, F, G, A, B, C, and D (the octave).  The modes are named after their starting note or “root” note.  In this example we would call this D Dorian.

The point of learning the modes is to create the effect of 7 different tonalities using the same key.  When you focus on different intervals of a given key you create a different sound.  Here’s an example of how you could apply this concept: play a chord progression that works with the key of C Major using the C Major chord and the D minor chord.  You could play C Ionian (from the example shown in the Ionian Mode lesson) over top of the C Major chord and then play D Dorian over top of the D minor chord.  The modes give you an “index” for each interval of the Major scale and a system of memorizing the 7 different patterns generated by playing through the scale starting from each interval.

Some of the fret board patterns for the Dorian mode are mapped out in the image below.  Here I’m using the same system of repetition that I outlined in the Ionian Mode lesson. These patterns can be applied to all keys. Using D Dorian as an example you would play the first pattern in the image below starting on the D note in the 10th position on the 6th string and so on. Again, you’re always targeting the root note of the mode wherever it exists as you play these patterns on each set of strings. The root note and its octave are colored white in the image.

Click the links below to download exercise examples for the D Dorian mode in Power Tab and Guitar Pro format. These exercises ascend and descend each pattern in the order shown in the figure.

D Dorian Power Tab
D Dorian Guitar Pro