Guitar Modes: Ionian to Locrian
The seven modes are the major scale started on each of its notes: Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian. Change the mode and key above; the guitar modes chart below lists all seven side by side.
Showing A Dorian: A B C D E F♯ G
Scale on the fretboard
A Dorian: A B C D E F♯ G · Pattern 1 · frets 5–10 · starts on the root (A) on the 6th string
Tap a dot to hear it. Drone holds the root. Brightest dot = root. High e on top. Swipe for higher frets.
The seven modes on A
Every mode on the same root, so you can compare them note by note. The colour note is the one that sets the mode apart from plain major or natural minor.
| Mode | Formula | Colour | Sound | Chord | Notes on A | Parent key |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ionian | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 | 7 | The major scale | Amaj7 | A B C♯ D E F♯ G♯ | A major |
| Dorian | 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7 | 6 | Minor with a major 6th | Am7 | A B C D E F♯ G | G major |
| Phrygian | 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 | ♭2 | Minor with a ♭2 one fret above the root | Am7 | A B♭ C D E F G | F major |
| Lydian | 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7 | ♯4 | Major with a raised 4th | Amaj7 | A B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ | E major |
| Mixolydian | 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7 | ♭7 | Major with a ♭7 | A7 | A B C♯ D E F♯ G | D major |
| Aeolian | 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 | ♭6 | The natural minor scale | Am7 | A B C D E F G | C major |
| Locrian | 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7 | ♭5 | ♭2 and ♭5; its home chord is diminished | Am7♭5 | A B♭ C D E♭ F G | B♭ major |
Use the modes
- Modes on the fretboard mapfrets 0 to 15, any key and tuning
- Pentatonic scalefive-note boxes to learn before the modes
- Chords in G majorA Dorian uses its notes
- Chords in D majorE Dorian uses its notes
How the modes work on guitar
A mode is the major scale started on one of its seven notes and heard with that note as home. D Dorian uses exactly the notes of C major; what changes is the root you resolve to and the chord underneath.
There are two ways to find a mode. By parent key: A Dorian has the notes of G major, because A is the 2nd note of G major. By formula: take the A major scale and lower its 3rd and 7th. The table gives both for every mode.
Each mode uses the same seven three-notes-per-string shapes as its parent major scale, starting from a different one: pattern 1 of A Dorian is pattern 2 of G major. Learn the character note of each mode and target it over the chord.
The seven patterns, in A Dorian
Seven three-notes-per-string patterns per mode; pattern 1 starts on the root of the mode on the 6th string.
| Pattern | Frets | Starts on (6th string) |
|---|---|---|
| Pattern 1 | 5–10 | A (1) at fret 5 |
| Pattern 2 | 7–12 | B (2) at fret 7 |
| Pattern 3 | 8–14 | C (♭3) at fret 8 |
| Pattern 4 | 10–15 | D (4) at fret 10 |
| Pattern 5 | 12–17 | E (5) at fret 12 |
| Pattern 6 | 2–7 (shown an octave lower, same shape as frets 14–19) | F♯ (6) at fret 2 |
| Pattern 7 | 3–8 (shown an octave lower, same shape as frets 15–20) | G (♭7) at fret 3 |
Pattern 1 of each mode on A, found in its parent major key: Ionian = A major pattern 1, Dorian = G major pattern 2, Phrygian = F major pattern 3, Lydian = E major pattern 4, Mixolydian = D major pattern 5, Aeolian = C major pattern 6, Locrian = B♭ major pattern 7.
Tap a number above the fretboard to show that pattern in any key. The CAGED system groups the same notes into five shapes around the open C, A, G, E and D chords: see CAGED system scales.
Related scales
- Major scalethe scale every major key and its chords are built from
- Natural minor scalemelodies and chords of minor keys
- Harmonic minor scalethe major V chord of a minor key, neoclassical and flamenco sounds
Keep practising
- All guitar scalesevery scale in one fretboard tool
- Keyschords and progressions in every key
- Guitar tunertune up before you play along
FAQ: modes
Which mode should I learn first?
Dorian and Mixolydian come up most in rock, blues, funk and folk: Dorian over minor chord vamps, Mixolydian over dominant 7th chords.
Are the modes different scales or the same notes?
Both. C Ionian, D Dorian and E Phrygian share one set of notes, but each has its own root and formula, so A Dorian and A Phrygian on the same root are different notes.
Is Aeolian the same as natural minor?
Yes, and Ionian is the major scale. The other five modes have no older everyday name.