Great Guitar Modes Explained

Modes are extremely useful tools for making new and exciting music. Not only do they possess extravagant and sometimes odd qualities, they are also easy to remember, and contain absolutely no accidentals.

Today we will discuss some of the most common modes used in modern music. Not only this, but we will give tips on how to incorporate them into your own music to help you achieve a unique style that will cause fellow musicians as well as fans to take notice.

Before we discuss modes, you should understand what a mode is. A mode is a scale. Not just any scale though, the modes are ancient scales, ones that predate our Major and minor, diminished and augmented scales by a long shot.

The most basic of the modes is the Dorian mode. This mode is the easiest mode to remember is it begins on D, so just remember D for Dorian. This mode is a perfect companion to the pentatonic and blues scales is it is absolutely identical to both the C Major and A minor scales.

The Dorian mode consists of the notes D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. If you were to play this mode begging on the leading tone, you would have a C Major scale. You will come to see that all modes are nearly identical to the C Major and A minor scale, the only difference being note placement and usage. The D minor scale is the closest scale to Dorian, the only difference being Dorian’s raised sixth note, from Bb to B.

Next up is my personal favorite mode, the Phrygian mode. The Phrygian mode is extremely close to a minor scale. The difference is the Phrygian mode’s super tonic has been lowered half a step. This mode is perfect for neoclassical guitarists, and players such as Yngwie Malmsteen, Michael Romeo, and Jeff Loomis take full advantage of the diminished minor sound of this mode. The Phrygian mode consists of the notes E, F, G, A, B, C, and D. Note how this is nearly identical to E minor save for Phrygian’s raised F# has been lowered a half step to an F.

Finally, the Aeolian. This mode is utterly identical to A minor. This mode consists of the notes A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. This mode is perfect for sad sounding epics. The only difference between the Aeolian mode and the A minor and C Major scales is the usage. This is how you achieve the contrast between happy and sad sounding music. Next to the Dorian, the Aeolian mode is the most common mode used in heavy metal, blues, and jazz.

Now that you know the three great modes, the next step is to put them to use. You may come to find that Dorian, Phrygian, and Aeolian are simply rearranged versions of one another. This is both true and false; consider how many songs use the same keys, yet they are completely different. All keys contain the same notes, as there are only seven in total. Keep this in mind, as usage is the key to all great music. Enjoy!

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