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These exercises which will prepare you for
playing in chordal context within a progression. When practicing
modes (the seven scales within a scale) realize that you are not
learning a new fingering pattern for each mode, but are just playing
the same notes in a key from a different note each time. (Be careful--your
ear will try to trick your fingers!) The following example is
in the key of G major but may be applied to any major or minor
key. (The key of G works best for acoustic guitar, mandolin, and
fiddle because you have a two-octave range in first position.)
Three-Step Practice
Method
STEP ONE: Practice each separate mode non-stop
until each is equally fluent. (One mode will take a one measure
to play.) Identify the name of each starting note and the name
of the mode.
STEP TWO: Practice neighboring pairs, that
is, the ionian and dorian, the dorian and phrygian, the phrygian
and lydian, etc. until each pair is consistent. You may use the
multiple repeat method. (Play each mode non-stop four times, then
two, then finally once each.)
STEP THREE: Sequence the entire scale non-stop.
Ascend and descend the full range or fingering position of your
instrument.
At this stage it would be beneficial to play
the these exercises in context to a chord progression. (It also
makes it more interesting.) If you don't have "Band In A
Box" for your computer or a programmable keyboard you can
use a metronome and tape recorder to make your own back-up tape.
Record yourself playing one or more measures of each of the chords
in the diatonic progression for several minutes. (One measure
per mode).
Ascending Chords - Ascending Modes
Play ascending modes (8-note sequences) in
ascending order. Identify the name and the half-step definition
of each mode. (This is also a great exercise for ear training--sing
it!)
| chord |
mode |
half steps |
|
| G |
1.) ionian |
3-4, 7-8 |
G - A - B - C - D - E
- F# - G |
| Am |
2.) dorian |
2-3, 6-7 |
A - B - C - D - E - F#
- G - A |
| Bm |
3.) phrygian |
1-2, 5-6 |
B - C - D - E - F# - G
- A - B |
| C |
4.) lydian |
4-5, 7-8 |
C - D - E - F# - G - A
- B - C |
| D |
5.) mixolydian |
3-4, 6-7 |
D - E - F# - G - A - B
- C - D |
| Em |
6.) aeolian |
2-3, 5-6 |
E - F# - G - A - B - C
- D - E |
| D7 |
7.) locrian |
1-2, 4-5 |
D - E - F# - G - A - B
- C - D |
| G |
8.) ionian |
3-4, 7-8 |
G - A - B - C - D - E
- F# - G |
Ascending Chords - Descending Modes
Target the higher octave note in each mode
and play descending modes in ascending order.
| chord |
mode |
half steps |
|
| G |
1.) ionian |
3-4, 7-8 |
G - F# - E - D - C - B
- A - G |
| Am |
2.)
dorian |
2-3, 6-7 |
A - G - F# - E - D - C
- B - A |
| Bm |
3.)
phrygian |
1-2, 5-6 |
B - A - G - F# - E - D
- C - B |
| C |
4.) lydian |
4-5, 7-8 |
C - B - A - G - F# - E
- D - C |
| D |
5.) mixolydian |
3-4, 6-7 |
D - C - B - A - G - F#
- E - D |
| Em |
6.) aeolian |
2-3, 5-6 |
E - D - C - B - A - G
- F# - E |
| D7 |
7.) locrian |
1-2, 4-5 |
F# - E - D - C - B - A
- G - F# |
Descending Chords - Descending Modes
Target the higher octave note in each mode
and play descending modes in descending order.
| chord |
mode |
half steps |
|
| G |
1.) ionian |
3-4, 7-8 |
G - F# - E - D - C - B
- A - G |
| D7 |
2.)
dorian |
2-3, 6-7 |
A - G - F# - E - D - C
- B - A |
| Em |
3.)
phrygian |
1-2, 5-6 |
B - A - G - F# - E - D
- C - B |
| D |
4.) lydian |
4-5, 7-8 |
C - B - A - G - F# - E
- D - C |
| C |
5.) mixolydian |
3-4, 6-7 |
D - C - B - A - G - F#
- E - D |
| Bm |
6.) aeolian |
2-3, 5-6 |
E - D - C - B - A - G
- F# - E |
| Em |
7.) locrian |
1-2, 4-5 |
F# - E - D - C - B - A
- G - F# |
| mode |
half steps |
|
| IONIAN |
3-4, 7-8 |
C - B - A - G - F - E - D - C |
| DORIAN |
2-3, 6-7 |
D - C - B - A - G - F - E - D |
| PHRYGIAN |
1-2, 5-6 |
E - D - C - B - A - G - F - E |
| LYDIAN |
4-5, 7-8 |
F - E - D - C - B - A - G - F |
| MIXOLYDIAN |
3-4, 6-7 |
G - F - E - D - C - B - A - G |
| AEOLIAN |
2-3, 5-6 |
A - G - F - E - D - C - B - A |
| LOCRIAN |
1-2, 4-5 |
B - A - G - F - E - D - C - B |
(keep going until you run out of range or position)
3. DESCENDING-DESCENDING: Starting upon the
higher octave note play descending modes in descending order.
| IONIAN |
C - B - A - G - F - E - D -
C |
| LOCRIAN |
B - A - G - F - E - D - C -
B |
| AEOLIAN |
A - G - F - E - D - C - B -
A |
| MIXOLYDIAN |
G - F - E - D - C - B - A -
G |
| LYDIAN |
F - E - D - C - B - A - G -
F |
| PHRYGIAN |
E - D - C - B - A - G - F -
E |
| DORIAN |
D - C - B - A - G - F - E - D |
4. ASCENDING-DESCENDING: Play ascending modes
in descending order. Identify the name and the half-step
definition of each mode. (And sing it!)
| IONIAN |
C - D - E - F - G - A - B -
C |
| LOCRIAN |
B - C - D - E - F - G - A -
B |
| AEOLIAN |
A - B - C - D - E - F - G -
A |
| MIXOLYDIAN |
G - A - B - C - D - E - F -
G |
| LYDIAN |
F - G - A - B - C - D - E -
F |
| PHRYGIAN |
E - F - G - A - B - C - D -
E |
| DORIAN |
D - E - F - G - A - B - C - D |
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