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Modes2
Modes2
E F
B C
3 4
7 1
The modes in the Natural series (shown in detail in Book I), and the chords that come from them, are as follows:
I
ii
iii
IV
V7
vi
vii
Mode
Ionian
Dorian
Phrygian
Lydian
Mixolydian
Aeolian
Locrian
Associated Chord
major7 (symbol, maj7)
minor 7 (min7, m7, 7)
m7
maj7
dominant 7 (symbol, 7)
m7
minor 7 flat 5 (symbol m7b5 or 75) or half diminished (symbol )
The 6th, or Aeolian Mode is the Natural Minor scale. The notes of the A Aeolian are shown below:
A
B C
E F
2 3
5 6
The Melodic Minor scale is based on this Natural Minor scale. When used by Baroque and Classical composers the
descending Aeolian Mode was left untouched. But when played in an ascending passage the 6th and 7th tones
were raised, as shown here:
A
B C
F#
G# A
2 3
7 1
Changing these notes gives us some really interesting harmonic possibilities, since many of the chords that are
made from the modes within it are quite different from those made from the Natural series. The resulting modes
and chords are shown below:
i
ii
III+
IV7
V7
vi
vii
Mode
Melodic Minor
Dorian Flat 2
Lydian Augmented
Lydian Dominant
Mixolydian Flat 6
Aeolian Flat 5
Super Locrian
Associated Chord
minor with a major 7th (symbol, min maj7)
minor 7
augmented with major 7 (symbol + maj7)
dominant 7
dominant 7
half diminished
half diminished (or altered chord see page 7 for details)
Technique
Playing scales and modes are to a musician what running is to an athlete. Its a great way to work on strength,
speed, coordination and stamina. And a good way to warm up, when played slowly. Playing through the modes
very slowly when you first pick up the guitar is a great way to relax, focus, and get the fingers ready for playing,
as well as getting one in the right frame of mind for making music.
Using the left hand properly and safely.
its good to remember Ruffis 3 rules of intelligent technique:
When at all possible...
1 When you skip a fret skip a finger. This first rule is most important because it prevents us from spreading the
2nd and 3rd fingers across more than 2 adjacent frets.
2 Never use the same finger twice in a row (unless shifting or sliding).
3 Never shift twice in a row.
Of course, like every rule, these sometimes have to be broken. Thats why it says when at all possible.
1
1
2
3
4
1
2
1
2
This mode is a minor mode with a major 7th. The flatted third
gives it the minor sound, but the 7 is only a half step down from
the root, or 1 which gives it a major 7th.
1
5
7
2
6
6
1
2
3
6
1
7
1
4
1
2
7
4
2
Modal Guitarist Part II Melodic Minor Modes
6
copyright 2006 John Ruffi
1
72
As the name says, this mode is like the Dorian Mode, but has a flat 2 as well, making it
2
1
a flat 7, 3 and 2 mode. Throughout this book all flatted or sharped
degrees are in
2
comparison to the Ionian Mode, or Natural Major Scale.
3
1 4
4
5 2
5
5
4
6
71
7
4
1
5
4 1
1
2
1
2
5
4
1
7
3
6
5
2
1
6
5
2
1
2
2
3
4
1
2
This mode has a sharp 4 and 5. Sharping the 5 is what makes it an augmented
mode.
1
6
1
2
7
1
1
3
6
4
1
2
1
2
5
3
1
2
7 13
6
5
2
1
2
7
5
3
4
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
6
3
Modal Guitarist Part II Melodic Minor Modes
1
1
1
IV The Lydian
Dominant
Mode
2
1
2
1
5
6
1
2
1
2
3
6
5
2
13
1
6
71
34
23
67
1
1
1
4
7 3
1
2
7
1
2
4 2
5 3
11 1
12 1
1
2
6
1
71
2
1
2
1
2
1 3
4
4
1
1
2
5
6
6
7
4
5
2
1
7
7
3 1
1 44
6
3
1
2
5
3
1
1
6
1
1
5
6 1Mode
V The
b6
5
7 Mixolydian
1
1
1
1
2
1
2
4 3
1
2
7
2
2
1
2
6
5
43
7
4
1
4
1
5
6
4
1 3
1
1
vi The Aeolian
b5 Mode
This mode has a flat 7, 3, 6, and 5. The chord tones (arpeggio) that come out of it
2
form a half diminished
(symbol ) or what is2 also called a minor 7 flat 25 chord.
7
3
6
1
7 33
4
4
7
12
2
5
5
1 1
2
3
4
4
5
1
2
1
2
4
5
1
2
45
1 1
2
5
6
1
2
1
2
1
2
3
4
1
2
7
5
3
4
6
7
7
1
1
notes 2in
1 4
The Super Locrian is probably the most unusual sounding in this group of unusual
sounding modes.5 All the tones,
with the exception of the root, are4 flatted.
This mode is
4
72
2
2
1
also called the Altered Scale, and is commonly used as a subsitution for the Misolydian
2
Mode when 3a more
sound
Mode
3 over the G7
6 exotic
2
7 is desired. Try a G Super
3
6 Locrian
2
chord in the progression G7 - C and youll see what i mean.
3
1
2
4
7
3 Locrian,
5
4
3
vii The Super
1
1or Altered Mode
1
1
1
3
7
Typical chord
progression
for using the F# Aeolian b5 Mode:
1
F#m7b5 |2 G#m7b5 or F#m7b5 | Bm7
1
1
2
2
7
1
2
1
2
4 1
1
6
1 3
7
copyright 2006 John Ruffi
The Arpeggios
Below are each of the seven modes weve just gone over. Here they are shown with the arpeggios highlighted.
The roots (or 1s) are highlighted in red; all other arpeggio notes, or chord tones, are shown in blue. It is
recommended that after playing the mode ascending and descending, you should play the corresponding
arpeggio ascending and descending first without the 7th (1 3 5s only), and then with 1, 3, 5 and 7.
7
2
i Melodic Minor
minor chord with a major 7th
min maj7
ii Dorian
minor 7th arpeggio
1
V Mix flat 6
dominant 7th arpeggio
5
3
6
3
1
4
2
6
7
vii SuperLocrian
half diminished arpeggio
4
1
2
7
5
4
5
1
7
6
1
IV Lydian Dominant
dominant 7th arpeggio
5
6
2
7
vi Locrian Natural 2
minor 7th flat 5 (or half
diminished) arpeggio
1
4
2
5
Extended Arpeggios
The preceding page shows each mode, with the 1, 3, 5 and 7 marked. But what about other chords, such as 9th
chords, 11th chords, and so on? These are based on an extended arpeggio. If we continue numbering the notes
up past the octave (8ve), which is merely the root note again, we find that 2 is also 9, 4 is also 11, and 6 is also
13. So a ninth chord is 1 3 5 7 and 9 (or 2). An 11th chord is 1 3 5 7 9 and 11 (1 3 5 7 2 4).
When playing the extended chords on guitar its common to leave out some of the notes. The best notes to keep
would be the 3 and 7, since they define whether the chord is a major 7th, dominant 7th, or minor 7th chord. For
a C major ninth chord (C E G B D) the 1, 3, 7, 9 (C E B D) or 3, 5, 7, 9 (E G B D) can be played.
By using the charts in the folllowing pages and becoming familiar with the arpeggios and their extended tones,
the guitarist can have a hundred options for any and every chord.
Melod-Minor 6 - 1
6th string, 1st finger
1
7
2
Melod-Minor 6 - 2
6th string, 2 finger
Melod-Minor 6 - 4
6th string, 4th finger
3
7
1
6
4
2
3
7
5
7
2
3
7
Melod-Minor 5 - 1
5th string, 1st finger
6
3
7
6
4
2
3
7
5
3
7
7
1
10
6
4
2
3
6
4
6
4
Melod-Minor 4 - 1
4th string, 1st finger
3
3
6
4
7
Melod-Minor 5 - 4
5th string, 4th finger
7
6
Melod-Minor 5 -3
5th string, 3rd finger
2
3
7
1
Dorian b2 6 - 1
6th string, 1st finger
1
2
6
Dorian b2 6 - 3
6th string, 3rd finger
7
6
1
Dorian b2 6 - 4
6th string, 4th finger
6
7
1
2
6
4
3
6
4
2
6
5
3
5
3
1
2
6
4
Dorian b2 4 - 1
4th string, 1st finger
3
11
2
5
1
6
3
5
Dorian b2 5 - 4
5th string, 4th finger
Dorian b2 5 - 3
5th string, third finger
7
6
1
Dorian b2 5 - 1
5th string, first finger
1
2
2
5
6
7
5
3
1
4
7
1
2
5
3
Lyd-Aug 6 - 2
6th string, 2nd finger
7
1
5
6
4
2
1
5
1
6
7
1
6
5
12
5
7
Lyd-Aug 4 - 1
4th string, 1st finger
1
4
2
5
2
4
Lyd-Aug 5 - 4
5th string, 4th finger
3
5
6
5
5
Lyd-Aug 5 - 1
5th string, 1st finger
2
4
Lyd-Aug 5 - 2
5th string, 2nd finger
Lyd-Aug 6 - 4
6th string, 4th finger
1
4
1
4
Lyd-Dom 6 - 1
6th string, 1st finger
1
7
4
5
3
6
4
Lyd-Dom 6 - 3
6th string, 3rd finger
7
7
3
6
7
4
2
4
5
4
5
7
4
13
6
4
4
2
Lyd-Dom 4 - 1
4th string, 1st finger
3
1
3
7
3
7
4
Lyd-Dom 5 - 4
5th string, 4th finger
3
4
1
Lyd-Dom 5 - 1
5th string, 1st finger
6
7
4
6
7
3
Lyd-Dom 6 - 4
6th string, 4th finger
Lyd-Dom 5 - 2
5th string, 2nd finger
3
1
7
4
3
1
Mix b6 6 - 1
6th string, 1st finger
1
5
3
Mix b6 6 - 3
6th string, 3rd finger
6
2
7
3
1
3
4
2
7
2
7
5
6
14
3
7
Mix b6 4 - 1
4th string, 1st finger
3
5
6
7
2
7
5
6
Mix b6 5 - 4
5th string, 4th finger
6
2
Mix b6 5 - 1
5th string, 1st finger
6
3
5
Mix b6 5 - 3
5th string, 3rd finger
4
2
5
3
2
Mix b6 6 - 4
6th string, 4th finger
3
1
6
3
3
1
Aeol b5 6 - 1
6th string, 1st finger
1
5
2
3
1
6
4
5
Aeol b5 6 - 3
6th string, 3rd finger
7
4
2
4
5
2
3
5
4
15
2
3
1
6
Aeol b5 4 - 1
4th 5string, 1st finger
3
1
6
4
5
3
6
2
4
5
1
Aeol b5 5 - 4
5th string, 4th finger
5
1
2
1
Aeol b5 5 - 1
5th string, 1st finger
6
1
5
2
Aeol b5 5 - 3
5th string, 3rd finger
4
Aeol b5 6 - 4
6th string, 4th finger
4
5
2
4
7
5
1
3
Super Locrian 6 - 3
6th string, 3rd finger
7
4
1
2
4
3
4
1
4
1
3
4
1
2
3
5
1
6
4
7
16
Super Locrian 4 - 1
4th string, 1st finger
4
7
5
1
2
7
Super Locrian 5 - 4
5th string, 4th finger
5
3
Super Locrian 5 - 1
5th string, 1st finger
7
5
Super Locrian 5 - 3
5th string, 3rd finger
Super Locrian 6 - 4
6th string, 4th finger
1
1
3
4
5
7
Taking a look at the A Melodic Minor once again, we notice a long stretch
of whole tones from C to G#.
A
B C
F#
G# A
2 3
7 1
Replacing the A and B with the note halfway between, a Bb, would
transform tha above scale into a whole tone scale:
Bb
F#
G#
Bb
The Whole Tone Scale is completely symmetric. Any tone can be used as
the starting point, or root, and the scale still has the same sound.
Playing every other note as an arpeggio gives us the notes to create and
augmented chord. Again, because this scale is symmetric, any tone can be
used as the root. And the augmented arpeggio is symmetric as well:
C
E
major 3rd
G#
major 3rd
C
major 3rd
Try using the Whole Tone Scale as a substitute for the Mixolydian, Altered
Scale, or over any Dominant (symbol = 7) chord.
Whole Tone Scale
Below is a progression using an augmented chord:
C Ionian
||:
Cmaj7
C Whole Tone
C+
F Lydian
Fma7
F Melod Minor
Fm
17
||
C Lydian
||:
Cmaj7
E Mix Flat 6
||
E7
C Ionian
||:
Cmaj7
||
Bb7
We can continue by using any of the C Major Modes in the same way:
A Aeolian
||:
Am7
Bb Lydian Dom
G Mix
||:
G7
||
Bb7
Bb Lydian Dom
||
Bb7
Here the Melodic Minor Mode is susbstituted in place of the Aeolian. The Major 7 in the C Melodic Minor is the
same note as the 3 in the G Mixolydian.
G Mix
||:
G7
C Melodic Minor
Cmmaj7
18
||
Substitutions
Try the two modes below over the following:
modes to use:
progression:
G Mix
||:
G Super Locrian
G7
G Mixolydian
||: G7
||
G7
C Ionian
G Super Locrian
Cmaj7
G7
C Ionian
||
Cmaj7 :
Try substituting Mix b6 and Lydian Dominant in any progression where the Mixolydian can be used.
In the following progression Db7 and G7 are used interchangeably. Db Super Locrian has all the same notes as
G Lydian Dominant.
Db Super Loc
||: Db7
C Ionian
|
|
D Locrian
||: Dm7-5
Cmaj7
D Aeol b5
||: Dm7-5
Db Super Loc
G Mix b6
C7
||
C Ionian
G7
G7
C Ionian
Cmaj7
||
C Melodic Minor
G7
19
Cmmaj7
||
In Closing
Contained in this book is everything you need to know to become thoroughly familiarized with the Modes based
on the Melodic Minor Scale. There are 4 books in this series:
The Modal Guitarist Part I
Modes from the Major Scale
20