Scales And Modes For Guitar - Starter Guide For Beginners

Guitar Modes And Scales For Beginners

By Stef Ramin On 2016-07-12 0

Ecclesiastical modes, also named "Greek modes"or "church modes" or "Gregorian modes" formed in the Middle Ages a set of seven scales whose use has weakened because of the appearance of the major / minor tonal system.

Several centuries later these modes have reappeared. They are very used in jazz improvisation as scales of chords and modal playing.

This guitar lesson explains what are the seven modes, how they are built and how to play them on guitar.

The Ionian Mode

The Ionian mode is the first of the seven musical modes. The Ionian mode is built the same as the major scale and surely the first scale to learn for a beginner musician. It is made up of seven notes :

C Ionian mode	C	D	E	F	G	A	B
Formula	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Intervals	W	W	H	W	W	W	H

(W = whole step ; H = half step)

You can play the Ionian mode over major chord types as :

Major, major seventh (M7) , major sixth (M6 or 6) , major ninth (M9), major six/nine (M6/9), sus 2, sus 4.

The Dorian Mode

The Dorian mode is the second of the seven musical modes. It is a minor type scale because of the minor third (b3).

The Dorian mode is generally the first choice for improvising over minor chords and one of the most important scale to know for a jazz guitar improviser.

It is made up of seven notes including a minor third (b3) and minor seventh (b7).

D Dorian mode	D	E	F	G	A	B	C
Formula	1	2	b3	4	5	6	b7
Intervals	W	H	W	W	W	H	W

The Lydian Mode

The Lydian mode is the fourth mode of the major scale. It is very used to play over major chords, it is a major type scale (because of its major third).

The Lydian mode has a very interesting sound because of its #4 (or #11), it is similar to the Ionian mode but has a raised fourth (#4) instead of a perfect fourth. Playing the F Lydian mode over a C major chord is the same as playing the C Ionian mode starting by the fourth (F).

Lydian mode gets interesting when it is played over a major chord, for example playing a F Lydian scale over a CM7 brings tension because of the raised fourth / Raised eleventh (#4).

F Lydian mode	F	G	A	B	C	D	E
Formula	1	2	3	#4	5	6	7
Intervals	W	W	W	H	W	W	H

The Mixolydian Mode

The Mixolydian mode is the fifth mode of the major scale. This is a major type scale (also called dominant scale) because of the major third (3) and the minor seventh (b3).

It has the same notes as the Ionian mode except the minor seventh (b7). This is the mode to know when you want to play over dominant chords (not altered).

The Mixolydian mode is widely used in jazz and blues music it's one of the most important mode to master.

G Mixolydian mode	G	A	B	C	D	E	F
Formula	1	2	3	4	5	6	b7
Intervals	W	W	H	W	W	H	W

The Aeolian Mode

The Aeolian mode (also called "natural minor scale" or "relative minor scale) is the sixth mode of the major scale, it is known as a relative minor to the major scale (ionian mode).

This is the third of the three minor modes (Aeolian, Dorian and Phrygian) of the major scale and a very important minor mode to master. It has a minor third (b3), a minor seventh (b7) and a minor sixth (b6).

A Aeolian mode	A	B	C	D	E	F	G
Formula	1	2	b3	4	5	b6	b7
Intervals	W	H	W	W	H	W	W

The Locrian Mode

The Locrian mode is the seventh mode of the major scale. It has a particular sound because of its b2, its b3, b5, b6 and b7. It is the least used, and probably the most misunderstood out of all of the modes of the major scale.

It is usually played over minor seventh flat ninth chords (m7b5), in a minor II-V-I sequence for example.

B Locrian mode	B	C	D	E	F	G	A
Formula	1	b2	b3	4	b5	b6	b7
Intervals	H	W	W	H	W	W	W

6 Tritone Substitution Jazz Guitar Licks - Free PDF Method

This Printable PDF eBook available for free download contains 6 easy jazz guitar licks with tabs/notation, youtube video link and analysis about the tritone substitution.

25 Diminished Jazz Guitar Patterns | eBook PDF with Audio Files

This eBook PDF with audio files contains 25 dominant diminished jazz guitar patterns using the half-whole diminished scale and diminished 7th arpeggios.

25 Soul Jazz Licks For Guitar | Printable PDF Method With Tabs, Analysis And Audio files

You will find here an eBook available in PDF containing 25 soul jazz and hard bop guitar licks in the style of Grant Green, Melvin Sparks, George Benson.

40 Blues Licks For Jazz Guitar - PDF Method With Audio Files

This printable method is available as a PDF file containing 40 easy dominant jazz-blues guitar lines with tabs, standard notation, analysis, audio files and scale charts.

25 Altered Jazz Guitar Licks - eBook PDF Method With Audio Files

This PDF eBook method contains 25 altered jazz guitar licks with tabs, patterns, scale charts and audio files to master, apply and develop the altered scale.

11 Jazz Blues Chord Studies For Guitar | PDF Method With Audio Files

11 jazz blues chord studies with tabs, standard notation, analysis, and audio recordings and PDF.

Major 2-5-1 Chord Voicings - 50 Exercises For Jazz Guitar - PDF eBook Method With Audio

This printable PDF guitar method provides 50 exercises with audio files, analysis, tab and staves for learning major 2-5-1 chord voicings.

25 Pentatonic Lines for Jazz Guitar - PDF eBook Method with Tabs and Audio Files

This jazz guitar method is an eBook available as a PDF with standard notation, guitar tabs, diagrams, analysis, audio files and backing tracks. You will find in this booklet 25 easy jazz guitar lines with theory using common and rare pentatonic scales.

49 Essential Jazz Guitar Licks - PDF eBook Method With Tabs, Standard Notation & Audio Files

This printable eBook method in PDF format provides 49 jazz solo transcriptions of the greatest jazz musicians. Tab, standard notation, audio files & analysis.

40 Major Jazz Guitar Licks - PDF eBook Method With Tabs And Audio Files

Printable PDF eBook method containing 40 major jazz guitar licks with tab, standard notation and audio files for beginners and intermediates.

101 Dominant Arpeggio Exercises For Guitar Players - Tab & Standard Notation - Printable PDF eBook Method

This printable PDF method provides 101 dominant arpeggio exercises with tab, theory and standard notation for the jazz, blues and rock guitarist.

40 Minor (Dorian) Jazz Guitar Licks - PDF Method With Audio Files

This printable guitar method in PDF format contains 40 easy minor jazz guitar lines based on the Dorian mode.

40 II V I Jazz Guitar Licks - Printable PDF eBook Method With Audio Files

This pdf method for guitar contains fourteen 2 5 1 jazz guitar lines with tab, standard notation, analysis, scale charts and audio files.

Mixolydian Jazz Guitar Licks - PDF Method - 40 Exercises With Audio

PDF guitar method with tabs, audio files and theory providing 40 dominant jazz guitar lines for teachers and students.

120 Easy Jazz Licks For Guitar - BUNDLE - PDF Methods With Audio

This package contains 120 jazz guitar lines based on diatonic modes as Mixolydian, Dorian and Ionian. PDF format with tabs, audio files and analysis.

Guitar Walking Bass Lines & Chords - PDF Method - 35 Exercises With Tabs and Audio Files

This jazz guitar method about walking bass lines and chords is available as a PDF files containing 35 exercises with tabs, analysis and audio files

40 Minor II V I Jazz Guitar Licks - PDF eBook Method With Tabs & Audio

This guitar method is a printable PDF with tabs, diagrams, theory and audio files providing 40 minor 2 5 1 jazz patterns.

Minor 2 5 1 Chord Voicings For Jazz Guitar - PDF Method - 40 Exercises Audio Files

This PDF method contains 40 exercices with tabs, scores and audio files for practicing jazz guitar chords over the minor 2 5 1 progression.

30 Smooth Jazz Guitar Licks | PDF Method - Tabs, Standard Notation, Analysis, Audio Files

In this package you'll get a printable PDF Method with tabs, notation, analysis, scale shapes and audio files for practicing 30 smooth jazz guitar licks.

Triads For Guitar - 126 Shapes - Printable PDF Method

This handbook for guitar players is intended both for teachers and students. It includes 126 guitar shapes for mastering triads.

Arpeggios For Guitar - 172 Shapes With Formulas - Printable PDF Method

This printable PDF is a method dedicated to guitarists of all styles who want to learn build and play the most important types of arpeggios.

Guitar Chord Dictionary - Printable PDF Method With Diagrams and Theory

This PDF eBook provides over 550 guitar chord shapes. This is the perfect reference guide to understand how chords are built and how to play them on the guitar neck.

2 5 1 Licks and Chords - 170 Jazz Guitar Exercises - PDF and Audio

This bundle contains 4 PDF methods for a total of 170 exercises with tabs, staves, analysis & audio files for practicing scales, arpeggios licks & chords over the 2-5-1 progression.

Guitar Scale Dictionary - PDF Method With Formula Charts, Intervals and Diagrams

This E-book is a printable PDF method including over 700 scale diagrams and formula charts for guitarists.

30 Minor Arpeggio Licks For Jazz Guitar - PDF Method With Audio Files

This package includes a printable PDF method containing 30 exercises with tabs, staves and audio files for practicing minor arpeggios on guitar.

Guitar Scales Poster

Guitar posters and wall art with eighteen neck diagrams representing the most used scales in music.

Guitar Chord Poster - Reference Chart And Wall Art

This printed color posters contains 63 guitar chord diagrams for jazz players, students, teachers and schools.

Guitar Poster - Modes of The Major Scale

Guitar reference posters and wall art about modes of the major scale for guitar teachers, students and music schools.

Arpeggio Shapes For Guitar - Posters and Wall Art

This giant guitar poster for any guitar player, student or instructor contains colorful arpeggio diagrams. Giant size 24 x 36 inches (60 x 90 cm).

Guitar Triads Poster - Reference Chart - Shapes & Formulas (Handwritten Style) - 24"x 36" (60 x 90 cm)

This reference poster show the positions and intervals of the main triads used on guitar. This is a useful tool for guitarists, teacher and students.

Decorative Guitar Poster - Four Archtop Guitars - Wall Art - Landscape Format

This is a decorative poster with four archtop jazz guitars. Several size and colors in landscape format available on Teespring and redbubble.

Melodic Minor Modes - Guitar Poster With Scale, Arpeggio And Chord Charts

Educative and decorative giant guitar poster with neck diagrams, interval names about the seven modes of the melodic minor scale.

Pentatonic Scales - Guitar Poster - Educative Reference Chart

This guitar reference poster shows the positions and intervals of the major pentatonic scale.

Guitar Poster With Notes On Fretboard And Staff

This is a giant poster showing the notes on the guitar fret board and their positions on a musical staff.

Intervals On Guitar - Poster With Neck Diagrams

This giant poster for guitar provides neck diagrams with interval positions.

Diatonic Major Scale Modes - Guitar Theory Poster

This poster is created for music teachers and students, illustrating the structure of the seven modes of the major scale.

Melodic Minor Modes - Guitar Theory Poster

This music theory poster available in several sizes shows the construction of the seven modes of the melodic minor scale.

Harmonic Minor Modes - Guitar Theory Poster

This music theory poster, offered in various sizes, demonstrates the structure of the seven modes of the melodic minor scale.

Major Scale Chords - Guitar Poster

This handy poster provides a clear visual guide to the chords built from the major scale, helping you recognize patterns and improve your playing.

Harmonic Minor Scale Chords - Guitar Poster

Discover the chords of the harmonic minor scale with this guitar poster.

Melodic Minor Scale Chords - Guitar Poster

Explore the rich harmonic possibilities of the melodic minor scale with this essential guitar poster.

Guitar Walking Bass Lines And Chords - Mini Lesson 01 (ML 01)

You'll find a mini guitar lesson about walking bass lines and chords containing a PDF with tab, score analysis, shapes, a video and a guitar pro file.

Jazz Guitar Lines Over Basic Chord Progressions - Mini Lesson 02 (ML 02)

In this mini jazz guitar lesson you will learn how to play easy and cool jazz lines over basic chord changes found in jazz. Pdf, tab and video included.

Arpeggio Practice - Mini Guitar Lesson 03 (ML 03)

With this short lesson you will learn how to play and connect basic guitar arpeggios over a diatonic chord progression.

Jazz Blues Arpeggio Study in Bb (part 1) - Mini Guitar Lesson 04 (ML 04)

This is a downloadable package with PDF, Tab, guitar pro file and video to practice guitar arpeggios over a jazz blues chord progression.

Jazz Blues Arpeggios - Study in Bb (Part 2) - Mini Guitar Lesson 05 (ML 05)

This downloadable package provides a PDF with Tab/score, a guitar pro file and a short video for practicing guitar arpeggios on a jazz blues progression in Bb.

Jazz Blues Arpeggio Study (Bb) Part 3 - Mini Guitar Lesson 06 (ML 06)

This package for guitarists contains a PDF with tab, video, backing track and guitar pro file for practicing arpeggios over a basic jazz blues progression.

Arpeggio Superimposition For Guitar - Mini Lesson 07 (ML 07)

With this mini guitar lesson you will learn how to superimpose arpeggios over a diatonic chord progression. Video, pdf, jamtrack and guitar pro file included.

Connecting Scales And Arpeggios Over Bb Blues - Mini Lesson 08 (ML08)

Mini lesson with PDF, guitar pro file, video and backing track for practicing scale and arpeggio connections over a Bb jazz blues progression.

Mixing Jazz Guitar Chords And Melodic Lines Over a Blues In B - Mini Lesson (ML09) - PDF, Backing Track, Video and Guitar Pro File

This mini lesson is a downloadable package containing a PDF, video, backing track and guitar pro file of a jazz blues progression study in B.

Open Triads On Guitar - Fly Me To The Moon - Mini Lesson 10 - Printable PDF, Video, Backing Track, Guitar Pro File

This mini guitar lesson provides a printable PDF with tab/notation, video, backing track and guitar pro file for practicing open triads over Fly Me To The Moon.

Blue Bossa Solo Lines For Guitar - Mini Lesson 11 - PDF, Video, Guitar Pro File, Backing Track

This guitar lesson is a package inlcuding a PDF transcription with analysis, a short video, a backing track and a guitar pro file to learn to play jazz solo lines over Blue Bossa.

Jazz Blues Guitar Study in G - Mini Lesson (ML12) - Melodic Lines, Chord Extensions & Substitutions

This mini lesson provides a video, a guitar pro file and PDF transcription of a jazz blues study in G implying melodic lines, chord extensions and substitutions

Take The A Train Jazz Guitar Solo Study - Mini Lesson (ML 13)

Take the A Train jazz guitar lesson: solo study with PDF tab, backing track, audio demo and Guitar Pro file to improve phrasing and improvisation.

ionian mode dorian mode Locrian mode jazz guitar lesson Ecclesiastical modes greek modes church modes gregorian modes phrygian mode lydian mode

Easy 2 5 1 Jazz Guitar Lick For Beginners - YouTube Short

2 5 1 Jazz Guitar Lick With Tab And YouTube Short - Dorian Mode, Altered Scale, Major 7 Arpeggio

On 2024-10-23

Welcome to this lesson on a classic jazz guitar lick that navigates through a 2-5-1 progression in C using some essential jazz concepts.

Comparison of Five Phrygian Modes - Guitar Lesson

Comparison Between Phrygian Modes - Guitar Theory Lesson

On 2023-07-05

In this guitar lesson, we will explore the differences between five different Phrygian modes taken from the major, harmonic minor, melodic minor, harmonic major and double harmonic major scales.

Parallel And Relative Modes - Music Theory For Guitar

Relative And Parallel Modes - Music Theory Lesson For Guitar

On 2023-05-19

In this theory lesson with diagrams and charts you will learn what's the difference between relative and parallel modes and how to play them on guitar.

Major Jazz Guitar Licks With Chords - Free PDF With Tab

Major Lick Harmonized and Transposed - Jazz Guitar Lesson With Free PDF

On 2022-02-10

This blog post provides a guitar lesson implying a basic jazz line, built with notes from the Ionian mode (major scale), harmonized and transposed in halftone steps. Once again you'll find the free PDF of the lesson transcribed in tab / standard notation in the GUMROAD SHOP and also the related Youtube short video at the bottom.

Jazz Guitar Study - II V I and I VI I V Licks and Chords

Jazz Guitar Phrases Over Common Changes - II V I and I VI II V - PDF With Tab, Shapes and Video (part 1)

On 2021-11-09

This short jazz guitar study with tab, score and chord charts provides some easy jazz lines to apply over three common chord progressions found in jazz. These licks will help you better understand what scales and modes can be used over basic chord changes. You'll find a link to the free PDF at the end of this lesson.

Warm-up Exercise For Guitar - Seventh Arpeggios

On 2021-08-11

This warm-up exercise for guitar is to repeat a melodic line following the cycle of fourths.

This line is made of two bars containing a major seventh arpeggio (1 - 3 - 5 - 7) and two half-diminished arpeggios (1 - b3 - b5 - b7).

Modes of The Major Scale - Music Theory

On 2021-07-18

This cheat sheet show how the modes of the major scale are built and what is the relation between them.

Satin Doll Guitar Lesson - Chords and Scales

Satin Doll - Chords and Scales For Guitar - Lesson For Beginners

On 2021-03-22

Satin Doll by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, witten in 1953, is one of the most famous jazz tune. It has been recorded by many jazz musicians as Wes Montgomery, Ella Fitzgerald, Mc Coy Tyner, Oscar Peterson and of course Duke Ellington himself. It has become a classic jazz standard, a must-hear, very popular at jam sessions.

This guitar lesson with chord shapes and scale charts explains how to play easy jazz chords and what basic scales to choose for improvising over Satin Doll.