Hey Friend,
Okay, so we covered the names of the seven modes yesterday.
Now that you’re all brushed up on your Greek, let’s get down to using these puppies.
Each of these modes represents a location on the fingerboard. But keep in mind, each location is in relation to the key you’re playing in.
Every example and exercise you’ll see here is in relation to the key of C major, and the mode examples are going to reflect that. If we changed the key to E major, everything shifts so it’s in relation to E major.
Make sense? If not, let me know...
Onward to C major!
Download this PDF of the C major scale modes. This will show you the starting points on the guitar neck for each mode, beginning with the eighth fret. Read through each page so you can familiarize yourself with the tabs.
Now I can already sense the anxiety building from my acoustic guitar players. I know you don’t have access to frets much past the twelfth.
Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered, but I’ll need a couple days to revamp some of my lesson files. Turns out I must have either deleted files or zipped them up for archiving, so the MP3 I intended on attaching here is MIA… My bad.
In the meantime, focus your attention on the C Ionian mode. I want you to practice playing this scale in the eighth position.
This is where those index/middle finger stretches are going to come in handy.
When you play the interval C to D on the low E string (sixth string), you’re going to use your index finger for C on the eighth fret and your middle finger for the D note on the tenth fret.
When you play the D to E interval, your middle finger stays on the tenth fret and you use your pinky for the E note at the twelfth.
That’s right, your poor little pinky is going to get a workout, too!
Hey, maximize your resources, right?!
Now, obviously I’m not there to slap your hand if you don’t use this fingering, but I’d like you to at least try it.
There’s a reason for this torture. Actually, a few reasons: - Your training the muscles in your hands.
- You’re learning to be efficient with your fingerings
- You’re getting more flexibility in your hands due to the stretching
- You’re developing discipline in your technique
Just study and play through the first page of the tabs (C major Ionian mode). Get your fingers used to the the movements and the stretch between notes.
I’ll get my stuff straightened out so you can have the audio files as well.
Hope you have a Fabulous Friday!
Peace~
Dave
| 
