Practicing Modes.
A great finger-stretching exercise too!
Learning how to play melody notes and how to improvise on your guitar, ultimately helps you become a better rhythm player. Scales, modes, notes - all of that can be a little intimidating - unless you actually practice them on a regular basis. Let’s take a look.
The “A Dorian” Mode.
So, continuing from the last lesson, let’s move on to the next mode.
The “Dorian” mode is a minor scale. This means that there is a “minor 3rd” in the scale, opposed to a major 3rd in a major scale.
Below is the key of “G major”, but the root note starts at the “A” note. This means that “A” is the 2nd note in the key of “G major”. It also means that this is called the “A Dorian” mode.
The notes have changed from the “A Ionian” mode, as well. The “A Dorian” has moved the “C#” and the “G#” down one half step. However, the “F#” is still present in the scale.
Look at it as the “G major” scale, but instead playing the scale as:
G - A - B - C - D - E - F#
the root note is “A”:
A - B - C - D - E - F# - G.
The notes in this exercise all exist between frets 4 and 8. Think of it as a five-fret frame, however, you will need to “shift” your 1st finger between frets 4 and 5.
Below is another way to look at the exact same scale as above, only from the perspective of the “Roman numerical” placements on the fretboard.
Notice, the “Dorian” mode structure has changed from the “Ionian”. Two of the notes have been lowered in the scale. Now we have a “minor 3rd” (iii) and a “dominant 7th” (vii). This automatically makes this a “minor” scale.
I - II - *iii - IV - V - VI - *vii
Again, study this scale and mode structure, because it will be important to know as we move on to other modes in the next articles.
Here is how you practice this scale.
Make sure you set your metronome at 60-70bpm to start. As you get better with the scale, slowly increase the tempo until you can play it clean and correct at 90bpm. Remember to use the proper finger placements for technique.
Stay tuned for more articles on modes and scales coming soon.
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Dave