Jazz Guitar Scales : Guitar Modes

This lesson is about modes for guitar.

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Jazz scales are not really different from scales in other music, it's only the way that they are used that makes the difference in sound and feel.  The modes as we know and use today were formalized around 1675 and as far as I know there were not so many jazzers around back then.

You probably have all played modes before, but maybe without realizing you were playing them.  Can you play a major scale?  Then you know the first mode, the Ionian.

Let's have a look at the other 6.

Take for example the C major scale.  The major scale contains no sharps or flats and is the first of the modes : the Ionian mode.
Another scale most beginning guitarist will know is the natural minor scale. This one is in fact the 6th mode, the Aeolian mode.

On this page we'll be exploring the modes of C major.

Let's have a look at the C major scale :

C Major Scale	C    D    E    F    G    A   B
	1    2    3    4    5    6    7

The major scale is also the first mode : the Ionian mode. The guitar scale formula for the Ionian mode is :1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Now if we start de C major the second note we get the next mode, the Dorian mode :

D Dorian Mode	D    E    F    G    A   B    C
	1    2    b3    4    5    6    b7

The guitar scale formula for the Dorian mode is :1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7

the 3rd and 7th note are a half step behind compared to the Ionian scale.

Each mode has its own unique sound.  This sound depends on how the intervals are mapped across the scale.
Let's compare the Ionian and the Dorian mode note per note :

Between notes	Interval for Ionian in half steps	Interval for Dorian in half steps
1 - 2	C-D     2	D-E     2
2 - 3	D-E     2	E-F     1
3 - 4	E-F     1	F-G     2
4 - 5	F-G     2	G-A     2
5 - 6	G-A     2	A-B     2
6 - 7	A-B     2	B-C     1
7 - 8	B-C     1	C-D     2

Interval structure for (in half steps) :

-Ionian : 2    2    1    2     2     2    1
-Dorian : 2    1    2    2     2     1    2

So we can conclude that the notes in both scales are the same (without accidentals) and that it's the placement of the half steps that determine the kind of mode.

Now if we build a chord on the first note of the Ionian scale we get a Cmaj7 (if you don't know how to build chords then have a look at the jazz guitar chord theory tutorial) :

C    E    G    B

1    3   5    7

If we build a chord on the first note of the Dorian scale we get a Dmin7 :

D    F    A    C

1    b3   5    b7

Here are the 7 modes for C major, their guitar scale formulas and corresponding chord :

I	Ionian	1   2   3   4   5   6   7	C D E F G A B	Cmaj7
II	Dorian	1   2  b3  4   5   6  b7	D E F G A B C	Dm7
III	Phrygian	1  b2 b3  4   5  b6 b7	E F G A B C D	Em7
IV	Lydian	1   2   3  #4  5   6   7	F G A B C D E	Fmaj7
V	Myxolydian	1   2   3   4   5   6  b7	G A B C D E F	G7
VI	Aeolian	1   2  b3  4   5  b6 b7	A B C D E F G	Am7
VII	Locrian	1  b2 b3  4 b5  b6 b7	B C D E F G A	Bm7b5

Here's a mnemonic trick to help you remember the names of the modes:

I Don't Play Like My Aunt Lucy.