Guitar Modes

Cheat Sheet
Ver 0.1. Written by Norio De Sousa. Copyright © 2007 GuitarModes.co.za
GuitarModes.co.za.. All Rights Reserved.
Reserved.
 Application
Practising Your Modes
First things first, you need to practise all your modes as much as possible. The easiest and most intuitive way to do this comes as a
suggestion from Joe Satriani.

Play an open E (or use a single-note backing track) and then play each modal scale over that. Keep at it and, eventually, you will
come to understand the relationship between each note of each mode of the major scale and it’s root (tonic) note.

Once you’ve practised your modal scales in this way, you can move on to playing them over songs in a specific modal key or playing
the correct mode over each chord in a composition as briefly outlined below.

Songs in a Modal Key

If you take the notes of any mode of the major scale and you play those notes as chords, you will have created a song in a modal key.
Joe Satriani’s “Surfing with the Alien” is a classic example of this type of composition. Once you know the Modal Key of a song, you
can simply solo over it using that Modal scale. This is a good place for beginners to start their adventure.

Modal Scales Played Over Specific Chord-Types

The Jazzier approach to using modes is to play the corresponding modal scale over each chord in a song. As a quick example, you
could play “A Aeolian” or “A Dorian” over an “A minor” chord. The reason for this is that an “A Minor” chord is made up of the 1st,
flatted 3rd and 5th intervals of the major scale. If you look at either the Aeolian or Dorian modes, you will find that they both contain a
flatted 3rd, giving them a “minor sound”. Please refer to the links at the end of this eBook for further reading on the subject.
 Personal Taste &
Preference
While I’m trying my best to provide a useful resource for learning the modes of the major scale in a guitarist’s context, there is no
right and wrong when it comes to music.

“If it sounds right, then it probably is.” – Meir Taitz (South African Virtuoso & Music Teacher)

Some people say that the Dorian mode sounds melancholy. I say it makes a ripping rock n roll mode to play in!

Some people say that the Ionian mode always sounds happy. I say it can sound like anything you want it to! It depends wholly on
your application of the mode, the sequence of the notes and, all-in-all, your entire composition.

So take this book or cheat-sheet merely as a guide to get you going. Once you’re familiar with each mode, try your damndest to break 
ALL of the rules (even if the result sounds terrible) because music isn’t based on rules. We created rules to help us understand music
but music, itself, comes from self-expression. Express yourself and you will find people that enjoy whatever it is that you create.

That’s art. That’s life. Enjoy!

 Norio De Sousa
 Ionian
Mode Number: 1st – First

Formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Intervals: W W H W W W H

Sound & Special Characteristics: The Ionian mode is the “natural” mode of the
major scale and has a happy sound.

Songs You Might Know: Queen Don’t Stop Me Now

Starship We Built This City
Louis Armstrong What a Wonderful World

Fits Over These Chords: Maj, Maj7

 Dorian
Mode Number: 2nd – Second

Formula: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7

Intervals: W H W W W H W

Sound & Special Characteristics: The Dorian mode is the Rock ‘n’ Roll mode of
the major scale. It’s flatted 3rd gives it a minor
sound, perfect Pop, Rock and even some
Blues.

Songs You Might Know: Michael Jackson Billie Jean

Pink Floyd Another Brick in The Wall
Metallica One

Fits Over These Chords: Min, min7 & min9

 Phrygian
Mode Number: 3rd – Third

Formula: 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7

Intervals: H W W W H W W

Sound & Special Characteristics: The Phrygian mode has a minor sound but it’s
flatted 2nd and 6th give it a particularly darker
sound, better suited to metal and alternative
rock.

Songs You Might Know: Steve Vai For The Love of God
Metallica Wherever I May Roam (solo)

Fits Over These Chords: Min, min7

 Lydian
Mode Number: 4th – Fourth

Formula: 1 2 3 #4 5 6 7

Intervals: W W W H W W H

Sound & Special Characteristics: The Lydian mode is very much like the Ionian
except that it has a sharped 4th, giving it a more
exotic and mysterious sound.

Songs You Might Know: Joe Satriani Flying in a Blue Dream (mostly)
Steve Vai The Riddle

Fits Over These Chords: Maj7, maj7#11

 Mixolydian
Mode Number: 5th – Fifth

Formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7

Intervals: W W H W W H W

Sound & Special Characteristics: The Mixoydian mode is very much like the
Ionian except that it has a flatted 7th and is
often used in place of the Ionian mode.

Songs You Might Know: ACDC Back in Black

Guns n Roses Sweet Child o Mine

Fits Over These Chords: 7th, 9th, 13th

 Aeolian
Mode Number: 6th – Sixth

Formula: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7

Intervals: W H W W H W W

Sound & Special Characteristics: The Aeolian mode is also known as the natural
minor scale. It’s the saddest of all modes and
is used in blues, rock ballads, hymns and many
other styles of music.

Songs You Might Know: Andy Timmons Cry For You

Gary Moore Still Got The Blues

Fits Over These Chords: Min, min7, min9

 Locrian
Mode Number: 7th – Seventh

Formula: 1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7

Intervals: H W W H W W W

Sound & Special Characteristics: The Locrian mode is mostly used in Jazz and
VERY heavy metal mainly because of the
dissonance created between the mode and its
corresponding chord.

Songs You Might Know: Used mostly within  songs but not as the basis
for a whole song.

Fits Over These Chords: Maj7b5

 Credits
Got a correction to make? If you can back up your claims with facts and provable theory, I’ll list your name in the credits andyou’re
your option), link to your web site.

All constructive criticism is welcomed.