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Firstly, Modes aren’t really separate scales and they certainly don’t require learning separate patterns, once you get comfortable with a specific scale (say for example C Major) you will find yourself naturally playing across all the modes associated with that scale anyway. Modes are just scale degrees and not specific pitches.

For example the notes of the C major scales are C,D,E,F,G,A,B,C – and the 7 modes within the C Major scale are:

1)   Ionian C,D,E,F,G,A,B,C

2)   Dorian D,E,F,G,A,B,C,D

3)   Phrygian E,F,G,A,B,C,D,E

4)   Lydian F,G,A,B,C,D,E,F

5)   Mixolydian G,A,B,C,D,E,F,G

6)   Aeolian A,B,C,D,E,F,G,A

7)   Locrian B,C,D,E,F,G,A,B.

My advice to you would be to take a more simplified approach. Learn the ‘blues’ scale as this simple scale is one of the most important you will ever need to know and will be a great way to improvise your own solos.

The notes of the G minor blues scale (as an example) are:

G, Bb, C, C#, D, F, G.

Another good method is to learn as many other guitar players licks & solos as you can. Also, try and learn them without someone having to show you how as this will help train & develop your ‘ear’ and ultimately will be a very useful tool when working out your own melodies & solos.  Keep an eye out for my masterclass!

Hi Edd,

Thanks for the question, I will indeed be doing a video for Atomic Chaser and tabs as well, which will be available only to our mailing list, so watch out for the newsletter.

Regards,

Dave