Guitar Modes... the smart (easy) way!

Part 3 of 3: Pentatonic Scales and Diatonic Modes - Learning Guitar Modes the Smart Way

This section on guitar modes is divided into three lessons. The first is a brief introduction to modes. The second article lays the ground for a really cool way to learn modes on the fretboard. Finally, this lesson will show you how to simplify the way you think of modes on the fretboard. Using this technique, you can learn all 6 true diatonic modes in mere minutes.

Most guitar beginners learn the following fingering patterns at the very start:

Major and minor pentatonic fingering patterns...

There are many more ways of playing these scales,
however, given the probability of YOUR knowing them already,
we will use them in the following explanation.
However, for the sake of simplicity, we will use only 1 octave of each:

One octave major and minor pentatonic fingering patterns...

Pentatonic scales are no exception to our definition above. They also follow specific interval patterns. As mentioned under the last heading, 3 of our modes are major-like, and 3 of them are minor-like. The following may (or may not) surprise you:

If we overlay the interval pattern of the major pentatonic scale on our 3 major-like modes, all 5 degrees match notes within each mode.

This leads us to one more very interesting fact: only degrees 4 and 7 of each diatonic mode are NOT in the major pentatonic scale. The arrow pointing toward the Ionian mode -in the middle- is there because we will use it as our reference to learn all 3 major-like modes...

Guitar Modes Diagram 1: The 3 Major-like Modes

The only difference between the Ionian mode and the Lydian mode is the 4th degree
(a 1/2 step higher).

The only difference between the Ionian mode and the Mixolydian mode is the 7th degree
(a 1/2 step lower).

Presto: 5 birds, one stone... you now know how to play the major pentatonic scale, the Ionian mode, the Lydian mode, and the Mixolydian mode. You also know how to shift between them. I told you it didn't have to be hard, didn't I? ;-)

The same holds true for the minor pentatonic scale: If we overlay the interval pattern of the minor pentatonic scale on our 3 minor-like modes, all 5 degrees match notes within each mode.

Again, this leads to the interesting fact that only degrees 2 and 6 of each diatonic mode are NOT in the minor pentatonic scale. The arrow pointing toward the Aeolian mode -in the middle- is there because we will use it as our reference to learn all 3 minor-like modes...

Guitar Modes Diagram 2: The 3 Minor-like Modes
The only difference between the Aeolian mode and the Dorian mode is the 6th degree
(a 1/2 step higher).

The only difference between the Aeolian mode and the Phrygian mode is the 2d degree
(a 1/2 step lower).

...& presto: 5 more birds with a single stone... you now know how to play the minor pentatonic scale, the Aeolian mode, the Dorian mode, and the Phrygian mode. You also know how to shift between them.

Guitar Modes: a piece of cake, or what?

For the remaining strings... understand pentatonic scales!

These principles hold true on all octaves, of course. Since we have taken pentatonic scales as our point of departure, it is a good idea to understand them better. Understand the logic behind their layout along and across the fretboard, and you will be able to move around using guitar modes as much as you want.