• Ionian
  • Dorian
  • Phrygian
  • Lydian
  • Mixolydian
  • Aeolian
  • Locrian

If I play the C Major scale starting with the 1st note on C on 5th fret on 3rd string I am playing Ionian.

If I play the same scale starting with the 2nd note of the C Major scale on D on 7th fret on 3rd string I am playing Dorian.

If I play the same scale starting with the 3rd note of the C Major scale on E on 5th fret on 2nd string I am playing Phrygian.

And so on, for each note of the C Major Scale.

Aeolian ABCDEFG (A Minor Scale)

Locrian BCDEFGA

Ionian CDEFGAB (C Major Scale)

Dorian DEFGABC

Phrygian EFGABCD

Lydian FGABCDE

Mixolydian GABCDEF

Ioninan

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

W W H W W W H

Bright and uplifting

Find the 1st note of the C Major scale which is C. C is our Root. Skip a note E skip a note G That gives us a C major triad which is the tonic. This shape starts with our index finger on 3rd string. Now you can move this shape up two frets to play a D major Ionian. Or move it anywhere where your index finger is on the root. Play that same shape for the root note of that particular key. Emphasize the Major 7th.

Dorian

1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7

W H W  W W H W

Smooth and bright

Find the 2nd note of the C Major scale which is D. D is now our root. Skip a note F skip a note A that gives us a D minor triad which is the tonic. This shape starts with our ring finger on 3rd string. Now you can move this shape up two frets to play a E minor Dorian. Move it anywhere where your ring finger is on the root. Play that same shape for the root note of that particular key. Emphasize the natural 6th.

Phrygian

1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7

H W  W  W H W  W

Exotic and dark

Find the 3rd note of the C Major scale which is E. E is now our root. Skip a note G skip a note B that gives us a E minor triad which is the tonic. This shape starts with our index finger on 2nd string. Now you can move this shape up three frets up to play a G minor Phyrigian. Move it anywhere where your index finger on 2nd string is on the root. Play that same shape for the root note of that particular key. Emphasize the Flat 2nd.

Lydian

1 2 3 #4 5 6 7

W W W H  W W H

Dreamy and disconnected

Find the 4th note of the C Major scale which is F. F is now our root. Skip a note A skip a note C that gives us a F major triad which is the tonic. This shape starts with our middle finger on 2nd string. Now you can move this shape up 2 frets up to play a G major Lydian. Move it anywhere where your middle finger on 2nd is on the root. Play that same shape for the root note of that particular key. Emphasize the tritone.

Mixolydian

1 2 3 4 5 6   b7

W W H W W H  W

Upbeat and rocking

Find the 5th note of the C Major scale which is G. G is now our root. Skip a note B skip a note D that gives us a G major triad which is the tonic. This shape starts with our pinky on 2nd string. Now you can move this shape up 2 frets up to play a A major mixolydian. Move it anywhere where your pinky on 2nd is on the root. Play that same shape for the root note of that particular key. Emphasize the flat 7th.

Aeolian

1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7

W H W  W H W  W

Somber and dark

Find the 6th note of the C Major scale which is A. A is now our root. Skip a note C skip a note E that gives us an A minor triad which is the tonic. This shape starts with our index on 1st string. Now you can move this shape up 2 frets up to play a B minor Aeolian. Move it anywhere where your index finger on 2nd string is on the root. Play that same shape for the root note of that particular key. Emphasize the Flat 6th.

Locrian

1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7

H W  W  H W  W  W

Chaotic and unsettling

Find the 7th note of the C Major scale which is B. B is now our root. Skip a note D skip a note F that gives us an B diminished triad which is the tonic. This shape starts with our ring finger on 1st string. Now you can move this shape up 1 frets up to play a C diminished Locrian. Move it anywhere where your ring finger on 2nd string is on the root. Play that same shape for the root note of that particular key. Emphasize the Flat 2nd.

A Major (A Ionian) A B C#D E F# G#A

G Major (A Dorian) A BC D E F#G A

F Major (A Phrygian) ABb C D EF G A

E Major (A Lydian) A B C# D#E F# G#A

D Major (A Mixolydian) A B C#D E F#G A

C Major (A Aeolian) A BC D EF G A

B Major (A Locrian) ABb C DEb F G A

Modes Brightest to Darkest:

  • Lydian
  • Ionian
  • Mixolydian
  • Dorian
  • Aeolian
  • Phrygian
  • Locrian

I Don’t Play Like My Aunt Lucy

Ionian Mode – Use on Major Chords
Dorian Mode – Use on Minor Chords
Phrygian Mode – Use on Minor Chords
Lydian Mode – Use on Major Chords
Mixolydian Mode – Use on Dominant chords that resolve to major chords
Aeolian Mode – Use on Minor Chords
Locrian Mode – Use on half diminished chords

Explore More

Other Scales

I’ve included some other scales for reference. The following diagrams are all in the key of A (unless otherwise noted). Acoustic Scale Altered Dominant Scale Asavari Scale – G Blues

G Major Modes

Modes on All 6 StringsAeolianE--------------------------------2-3-5--B--------------------------1-3-5--------G--------------------0-2-4--------------D--------------0-2-4--------------------A--------0-2-3--------------------------E--0-2-3--------------------------------LocrianE--------------------------------3-5-7--B--------------------------3-5-7--------G--------------------2-4-5--------------D--------------2-4-5--------------------A--------2-3-5--------------------------E--2-3-5--------------------------------IonianE--------------------------------5-7-8--B--------------------------5-7-8--------G--------------------4-5-7--------------D--------------4-5-7--------------------A--------3-5-7--------------------------E--3-5-7--------------------------------DorianE---------------------------------7-8-10--B--------------------------7-8-10---------G--------------------5-7-9----------------D--------------5-7-9----------------------A--------5-7-9----------------------------E--5-7-8----------------------------------Phrygian E--------------------------------------8-10-12--B------------------------------8-10-12----------G-----------------------7-9-11------------------D----------------7-9-10-------------------------A---------7-9-10--------------------------------E--7-8-10---------------------------------------LydianE-------------------------------------------10-12-14--B----------------------------------10-12-13-----------G--------------------------9-11-12--------------------D------------------9-10-12----------------------------A----------9-10-12------------------------------------E--8-10-12--------------------------------------------MixolydianE-----------------------------------------------12-14-15--B--------------------------------------12-13-15-----------G-----------------------------11-13-14--------------------D--------------------10-12-14-----------------------------A-----------10-12-14--------------------------------------E--10-12-14-----------------------------------------------Modes on Bottom 3 StringsAeolianE--------------2-3-5--B--------1-3-5--------G--0-2-4--------------D---------------------A---------------------E---------------------LocrianE--------------3-5-7--B--------3-5-7--------G--2-4-5--------------D---------------------A---------------------E---------------------IonianE--------------5-7-8--B--------5-7-8--------G--4-5-7--------------D---------------------A---------------------E---------------------DorianE---------------7-8-10--B--------7-8-10---------G--5-7-9----------------D-----------------------A-----------------------E-----------------------Phrygian E-----------------8-10-12--B---------8-10-12----------G--7-9-11------------------D--------------------------A--------------------------E--------------------------LydianE-------------------10-12-14--B----------10-12-13-----------G--9-11-12--------------------D-----------------------------A-----------------------------E-----------------------------MixolydianE--------------------12-14-15--B-----------12-13-15-----------G--11-13-14--------------------D------------------------------A------------------------------E------------------------------Modes on Top 3 StringsAeolianE-------------------B-------------------G-------------------D--------------0----A--------0-2-3------E--0-2-3------------ w h w w h wLocrianE-----------------B-----------------G-----------------D--------------2--A--------2-3-5----E--2-3-5---------- h w w h w wIonianE-------------------B-------------------G-------------------D--------------4----A--------3-5-7------E--3-5-7------------ w w h

Common Chord Progressions

Below are some common chord progressions. This is not a complete list. i bVI iv ivI bVI V Vi bVII bVI VI bVII IVI I bVII IVI I IV VI