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Modes 101

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Basic modal scale forms

There are a lot of ways to play the different modes. But as a starting point here are the most basic forms of each mode. The root of the scale is indicated in red. Both a suggested fingering version, and a scale function version are given for each.

Ionian

Suggested fingering

|--1--|-----|--3--|--4--|
|--1--|-----|--3--|--4--|
|--1--|--2--|-----|--4--|
|-----|--2--|-----|--4--|

Scale functions

|--2--|-----|--3--|--4--|
|--6--|-----|--7--|--1--|
|--3--|--4--|-----|--5--|
|-----|--1--|-----|--2--|

Dorian

Suggested fingering

|--1--|--2--|-----|--4--|-----|
|--1--|--2--|-----|--4--|-----|
|-----|--1--|-----|--3--|-----|
|-----|--1--|-----|--3--|--4--|

Scale functions

|--2--|-b3--|-----|--4--|-----|
|--6--|-b7--|-----|--1--|-----|
|-----|--4--|-----|--5--|-----|
|-----|--1--|-----|--2--|-b3--|

Phrygian

Suggested fingering

|--1--|-----|--3--|-----|
|--1--|-----|--3--|--4--|
|--1--|-----|--3--|--4--|
|--1--|--2--|-----|--4--|

Scale functions

|-b3--|-----|--4--|-----|
|-b7--|-----|--1--|-b2--|
|--4--|-----|--5--|-b6--|
|--1--|-b2--|-----|-b3--|

Lydian

Suggested fingering

|--1--|-----|--3--|-----|
|--1--|-----|--3--|--4--|
|--1--|-----|--3--|--4--|
|-----|--2--|-----|--4--|

Scale functions

|--2--|-----|--3--|-----|
|--6--|-----|--7--|--1--|
|--3--|-----|-#4--|--5--|
|-----|--1--|-----|--2--|

Mixolydian

Suggested fingering

|--1--|-----|--3--|--4--|
|--1--|--2--|-----|--4--|
|--1--|--2--|-----|--4--|
|-----|--2--|-----|--4--|

Scale functions

|--2--|-----|--3--|--4--|
|--6--|-b7--|-----|--1--|
|--3--|--4--|-----|--5--|
|-----|--1--|-----|--2--|

Aeolian

Suggested fingering

|--1--|--2--|-----|--4--|-----|
|-----|--1--|-----|--3--|-----|
|-----|--1--|-----|--3--|--4--|
|-----|--1--|-----|--3--|--4--|

Scale functions

|--2--|-b3--|-----|--4--|-----|
|-----|-b7--|-----|--1--|-----|
|-----|--4--|-----|--5--|-b6--|
|-----|--1--|-----|--2--|-b3--|

Locrian

Suggested fingering

|--1--|-----|--3--|--4--|
|--1--|-----|--3--|--4--|
|--1--|--2--|-----|--4--|
|--1--|--2--|-----|--4--|

Scale functions

|-b3--|-----|--4--|-b5--|
|-b7--|-----|--1--|-b2--|
|--4--|-b5--|-----|-b6--|
|--1--|-b2--|-----|-b3--|

Page 9, Modes and chord use

Page 1, Review of the major scale

Modes 101 jump zone

Review of the major scale
Review of the minor scale
Relative modes
Parallel modes
Modes and chord scales

Major and minor modes
Characteristic notes
Establishing the sound of a mode
Modes and chord use
Basic modal scale forms

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