Demystifying Guitar Scales And Modes

A Beginner’s Guide:

The Outline:

Uncovering the Mystery of Guitar Scales: A Beginner’s Guide

• Introduction to the concept of guitar scales and their significance in music
• Explanation of what scales are and how they create the foundation for melodies and solos
• Differences between major and minor scales
• How learning scales can improve your guitar playing and musical understanding

The Road to Guitar Mastery: How Scales Shape Your Skills

• The role of muscle memory in mastering guitar scales
• The importance of practicing scales for improvisation and composition
• Techniques for efficient scale practice, including metronome use and finger exercises
• Connecting scales to chords and understanding the fretboard better

Exploring the World of Modes: Coloring Your Music

• Defining modes in a guitar context and their origins
• Breaking down the seven modes of the major scale with examples
• How to use modes to add emotion and depth to your playing
• Practical tips on incorporating modes into your guitar solos and songwriting

Integrating Scales and Modes into Daily Practice: A Path to Creativity

• Creating a practice routine that includes scales and modes
• Using backing tracks and jam sessions to apply scales and modes musically
• Resources for further learning – books, online courses, and community forums
• Encouraging ongoing exploration and experimentation with scales and modes

Demystifying Guitar Scales and Modes

When it comes to mastering the guitar, understanding scales and modes is crucial. These musical building blocks open up a world of creativity, helping you craft solos, compose songs, and elevate your overall playing. Whether you’re a Bedroom Strummer or a Guitar Hero Legend, demystifying these concepts can unlock new potentials in your playing. Let’s break it down.

What Are Scales?

At their core, scales are a series of notes ordered by pitch. Think of them as the alphabet of music; just as letters form words, notes from scales form melodies and harmonies. The most common scales include the major and minor scales.

Here we refer to specifically the Diatonic Scale. The diatonic scale is any seven note scale that typically has 5 whole steps and 2 half steps contained within. What are whole steps, and half steps?

Hold we’ll talk about there in the next section.

Major Scale

The major scale is bright and happy-sounding. Its pattern is: whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step.

For example, the C major scale consists of the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, B, and back to C.

For example: the Lean on Me by Bill Withers is a song that uses the C major scale. In fact, we then say that Lean on Me is in the key of C major.

The major scale follows a pattern that I will refer to as its formula.

It is W W H W W W H.

W=Whole Step

H=Half Step

For example, the notes C to D is a whole step. Also D to E is a whole step. However, E to F is a half step, because on the keyboard, there is not black key between E and F. F to G is a whole step. G to A is a whole step. A to B is a whole step. B to C is whole step, again because there isn’t a black key between B and C.

*note: To understand keys better check out my post about the Circle of Fifths/ Fourths.*

Mastering the Circle of Fifths For Guitar

(Natural) Minor Scale

The minor scale, on the other hand, has a sadder, more melancholic tone. Its pattern is: whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step. The A minor scale, for instance, includes the notes A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and back to A.

Losing My Religion by R.E.M is an example of a song that uses the A natural minor scale.

Notice now, that with this scale the formula has changed, or shifted somewhat.

So now it is:

W H W W H W W

A to B is a whole step. But B to C is a whole step. C to D is a whole step. D to E is a whole step, but E to F is the other half step. F to G is a whole step. Finally, G to A is a whole step.

Introducing Modes

Exploring Each Mode

Modes are essentially scales that begin on a different note within the same sequence of notes as the major scale. They provide different tonalities and moods, giving your music distinct flavors. There are seven modes derived from the major scale:

Ionian (Major Scale)

We just talked about the major scale above. This is the same scale, just by another name. The names of the modes come from Greek. Originally, the modes came from Greek culture, and music. Therefore, the music theory they devised continued and adapted over time to become the modes we know of and use today.

It’s the most straightforward and familiar mode, bright and happy!

Here are some more song examples in the Ionian mode:

Eric Johnson – Cliffs of Dover (Key of G)

Joe Satriani – Always with Me, Always with You (Key of B)

Tom Petty – Free Falling (Key of F)

Creed – Higher, and One Last Breath (both in the Key of D)

Aerosmith – Crazy (Key of A)

Steve Vai – Liberty (Key of E)

Dorian

Dorian Mode: Starting on the second note of the major scale, Dorian has a jazzy and soulful feel. For example, D Dorian (from the C major scale) consists of D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D.

This is a minor mode but with a major sixth. Here is the formula for this mode:

W H W W W H W

D dorian would be:

D – w – E – h- F – w – G – w – A – w – B – h – C – w – D

Usually the chords that are used the most with the Dorian mode are the ii(7) and V(7). In Dm that would Dm(7) and G(7). I’m using the parentheses to note that the 7th isn’t always present and/ or needed.

Song examples in the Dorian mode include:

Oye Como Va – Carlos Santana – Am7 to D9 – A Dorian (original key of G)

Evil Ways – Carlos Santana – Gm to C – G dorian (original key of F)

Breathe – Pink Floyd – Em to A – E dorian (original key of D)

Great Gig in the Sky – Pink Floyd – Gm7 to C9 – G dorian (original key of F)

Another Brick in the Wall – Pink Floyd – Dm to G – D Dorian (original key of C)

Wish You Were Here (intro) – Pink Floyd – Em7 to Asus7sus4 – E dorian (original key of D)

I Wish – Stevie Wonder – Ebm7 to Ab7 – Eb dorian (original key of Db)

No Quarter – Led Zeppelin – C#m7 to F#7 – C# dorian (key of B)

Reptilia – The Strokes – Bm to E – B dorian (key of A)

Phrygian

Phrygian Mode: Starting on the third note, Phrygian has a Spanish or Middle Eastern vibe. E Phrygian (from the C major scale) is E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E.

The formula is: H W W W H W W

Song song examples include:

Baroque:

J.S. Bach – based on Luther’s Es will uns Gott genadig sein used in Die Hummel erzahlen die Ehre Gottes, BWV 76 (1723)

Henrich Schultz – Johannes – Passion (1666)

Classical:

Brahms – Symphony No. 4 2nd mov.

Isaac Albeniz – (classical piano and/ or guitar) Rumores de la Caleta, Op. 71 no. 6

Contemporary Classical:

John Coolidge Adams – Phrygian Gates

Samuel Barber – Adagio for Strings

Philip Glass – final aria from Satyagraha

Jazz:

Solea by Gil Evans as recorded by Miles Davis on Sketches of Spain (1960).

After the Rain by John Coltrane from Impressions (1963).

Infant Eyes by Wayne Shorter from his record Speak No Evil (1966).

Heavy Metal:

Symphony of Destruction – Megadeth

Remember Tomorrow – Iron Maiden

Wherever I May Roam – Metallica

War – Joe Satriani

Sails of Charon – Scorpions

Lydian

Lydian Mode: Beginning on the fourth note, Lydian is dreamy and ethereal. It’s the brightest of the Modes, very uplifting and powerful, majestic. F Lydian (from the C major scale) includes F, G, A, B, C, D, E, F.

The formula is: W W W H W W H

Some song examples include:

Flying in a Blue Dream – Satriani

Jane Says – Janes Addiction

Dreams – Fleetwood Mac

Landslide – Fleetwood Mac

Freewill – Rush

Man on the Moon – R.E.M.

Human Nature – Michael Jackson

Beatles – (George Harrison) I Want To Tell You

Mixolydian

Mixolydian Mode: Starting on the fifth note, Mixolydian feels bluesy and rock-oriented. G Mixolydian (from the C major scale) comprises G, A, B, C, D, E, F, G.

The formula is W W H W W H W

Song song examples include:

Clocks – Coldplay

Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd

Old Joe Clark – Woodie Guthrie

Express Yourself – Madonna

La Woman – the Doors

Bitter Sweet Symphony – The Verve

Dark Star – Grateful Dead

Royals – Lorde

Seven Bridges Road – the Eagles

Aeolian (Natural Minor Scale)

Aeolian Mode: This is the natural minor scale. It’s moody and melancholic, starting on the sixth note. A Aeolian (from the C major scale) includes A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A.

We talked about the theory up above.

Here are some more songs that use it:

Brothers in Arms – Dire Straits

All Along The Watchtower – Bob Dylan (Jimi Hendrix)

I See Fire – Ed Sheeran

My Favorite Things – from the Sound of Music (also John Coltrane)

Rylynn by Andy McKee

Kyrie from Mass XI – Gregorian Chant

Take Five – Dave Brubeck Quartet

Beat It – Michael Jackson

Something Just Like This – Coldplay and Chainsmokers

Part of Me – Katy Perry

Locrian

Locrian Mode: The least used, starting on the seventh note, and has a tense and unresolved sound. It’s the darkest of the modes. B Locrian (from the C major scale) is B, C, D, E, F, G, A, B.

The formula is H W W H W W W

Some song examples include:

Army of Me – Bjork – C Locrian

YYZ – Rush – C Locrian

Slipnot – Left Behind – B Locrian

Metallica – Sad but True (intro) – G Locrian

Enter Sandman (main riff) – E Locrian

Saxon – Attila the Hun (main riff notes) – Bb Locrian.

Applying Scales and Modes

Understanding and applying these scales and modes can transform your guitar playing. Here’s how:

Improvisation: Knowing different scales and modes helps you improvise solos with a variety of flavors. For instance, switching from an A minor scale to an A Dorian mode can add a fresh sound to your solo.

Songwriting: Using different modes can inspire new chord progressions and melodies. Experiment with writing a song in E Phrygian for an exotic feel or G Mixolydian for a rock edge.

Understanding Music Theory: Grasping scales and modes deepens your music theory knowledge, making it easier to learn new songs and understand the structure of music.

Practical Tips

• Practice in All Keys: Start by learning scales and modes in one key, then gradually practice them in all keys to become more versatile.
• Use Backing Tracks: Practice improvising with backing tracks to hear how scales and modes sound in different musical contexts.
• Apply to Real Music: Try identifying and using scales and modes in your favorite songs. This practical application helps reinforce your learning.

Conclusion

Demystifying guitar scales and modes is a journey worth taking. They are not just abstract concepts but practical tools that can enhance your playing and creativity. Whether you’re just starting or are already a seasoned player, delving into scales and modes can unlock new realms of musical expression, making you a more versatile and dynamic guitarist. So, pick up your guitar, explore these scales and modes, and watch your playing soar to new heights!