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Chapter 2 - The Modes

guitar lesson 1
CHURCH MODES

The entire major scale contains 7 smaller scales, known as the CHURCH MODES. Each mode starts on a different degree, 1 through 7. Each mode has a specific name, such as Ionian or Aeolian. Each mode is also a specific type of scale, such as major or minor.

Degree Name Type
1-First Ionian Pure Major
2-Second Dorian Minor
3-Third Phrygian Minor
4-Fourth Lydian Major
5-Fifth Mixolydian Major
6-Sixth Aeolian Pure Minor
7-Seventh Locrian Diminished

 

The Ionian mode is the PURE MAJOR scale, because it starts on the first degree. As mentioned earlier the first degree indicates the starting point or home base of a song that is in a major key. The Aeolian mode is the PURE MINOR scale, because it starts on the sixth degree. The sixth degree is the starting point or home base for a song that's in a minor key.

There are countless possible ways to play each of the modes. In most cases, any scale that starts at the first degree, of the entire major scale and travels through the degrees to the next first degree, is an Ionian mode. Any scale that starts at the second degree and travels through the degrees to the next second degree, is a Dorian mode. Any scale that starts at the third degree and travels through the degrees to the next third degree, is a Phrygian mode and so on.

In the diagram below, look for a few possible ways to play the Ionian mode. Three possibilities of the Ionian mode, have boxes around them.

This is the entire major scale, showing three possible Ionian modes.

 

The Ionian mode is a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 1. The Dorian mode is a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 1, 2. The Phrygian mode is a 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 1, 2, 3 and so on.

 

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