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Preset
C - Major vs Lydian |
C - Major vs Mixolydian |
C - Minor vs Dorian |
C - Minor vs Phrygian |
A - Major / Ionian

Visualizing Modes: The Parallel Method

Visualizing Modes: The Parallel Method

Stop Memorizing Modes, start Visualizing Them.

Perhaps the biggest lie in guitar theory is that "Dorian is the C Major scale starting on D.". While technically true, thinking that way makes it impossible to solo. You just end up playing C Major licks over a D minor chord, and it sounds weak.

The secret to mastering modes is Parallel Comparison. Instead of thinking "Relative," think "What note is different from the Major or Minor scale I already know?"

The Bright Modes - Major Variations

If you know your Major Scale (Ionian), you already know Lydian and Mixolydian. You just need to change one single note.

Lydian = Major with a #4

Lydian is the "Dreamy" mode (think Steve Vai or The Simpsons theme). It is exactly the Major Scale, but the 4th note is sharped (raised one fret). See the Difference:

1.
C - Major vs Lydian
Major
Lydian
E
3
4
♯4
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
B
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♯4
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
G
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♯4
5
D
2
♭3
3
4
♯4
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
A
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♯4
5
♭6
6
E
3
4
♯4
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
0123456789101112

Mixolydian = Major with a ♭7

Mixolydian is the "Rock/Blues" mode (think AC/DC or Guns N' Roses). It is exactly the Major Scale, but the 7th note is flatted (lowered one fret). See the Difference:

2.
C - Major vs Mixolydian
Major
Mixolydian
E
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
B
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
G
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
D
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
A
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
E
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
0123456789101112

The Dark Modes - Minor Variations

If you know your Natural Minor Scale (Aeolian), you already know Dorian and Phrygian.

Dorian = Minor with a Natural 6

Dorian is the "Funky/Soulful" minor (think Pink Floyd or Santana). It is the Minor Scale, but with a Major 6th (♭6 raised one fret). This removes the harsh "sadness" of the minor scale. See the Difference:

3.
C - Minor vs Dorian
Minor
Dorian
E
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
B
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
G
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
D
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
A
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
E
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
0123456789101112

Phrygian = Minor with a ♭2

Phrygian is the "Evil/Metal" mode (think Metallica or Slayer). It is the Minor Scale, but with a flatted 2nd (lowered one fret). That half-step interval right at the start gives it that dark, sort of Spanish flavor. See the Difference:

4.
C - Minor vs Phrygian
Minor
Phrygian
E
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
B
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
G
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
D
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
A
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
E
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
0123456789101112

How to Practice

Don't run up and down the neck. Stay in one position.

  1. Select the Major scale below.
  2. Switch to Lydian.
  3. Watch which dot moves. That moving dot is the "flavor note." Target that note in your solos to bring out the modal sound.
  4. Repeat for Mixolydian, then Minor and Switching to Dorian and Phrygian.
5.
A - Major / Ionian
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
A
B♭
B
C
C♯
D
E♭
E
F
F♯
G
G♯
1
12
E
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
B
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
G
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
D
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
A
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
E
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
0123456789101112

Wait, where is Locrian? Locrian is the 'diminished' mode (Minor with b2 and b5). It's incredibly unstable and rarely used in rock/pop, so we left it out to keep things simple. But you can find it in the chart above if you want to get a bit weird.

Want to create your own charts here is a quick guide.

Rock on!

Stop Memorizing Modes, start Visualizing Them.

Perhaps the biggest lie in guitar theory is that "Dorian is the C Major scale starting on D.". While technically true, thinking that way makes it impossible to solo. You just end up playing C Major licks over a D minor chord, and it sounds weak.

The secret to mastering modes is Parallel Comparison. Instead of thinking "Relative," think "What note is different from the Major or Minor scale I already know?"

The Bright Modes - Major Variations

If you know your Major Scale (Ionian), you already know Lydian and Mixolydian. You just need to change one single note.

Lydian = Major with a #4

Lydian is the "Dreamy" mode (think Steve Vai or The Simpsons theme). It is exactly the Major Scale, but the 4th note is sharped (raised one fret). See the Difference:

1.
C - Major vs Lydian
Major
Lydian
EADGBE
0
3
6
2
5
7
3
1
4
♭7
♭3
♭6
1
4
2
♯4
7
3
6
♭2
♯4
3
5
1
4
♭7
2
5
4
♭6
♭2
♯4
7
♭3
♭6
5
6
2
5
1
3
6
6
♭7
♭3
♭6
♭2
4
♭7
7
7
3
6
2
♯4
7
8
1
4
♭7
♭3
5
1
9
♭2
♯4
7
3
♭6
♭2
10
2
5
1
4
6
2
11
♭3
♭6
♭2
♯4
♭7
♭3
12
3
6
2
5
7
3

Mixolydian = Major with a ♭7

Mixolydian is the "Rock/Blues" mode (think AC/DC or Guns N' Roses). It is exactly the Major Scale, but the 7th note is flatted (lowered one fret). See the Difference:

2.
C - Major vs Mixolydian
Major
Mixolydian
EADGBE
0
3
6
2
5
7
3
1
4
♭7
♭3
♭6
1
4
2
♭5
7
3
6
♭2
♭5
3
5
1
4
♭7
2
5
4
♭6
♭2
♭5
7
♭3
♭6
5
6
2
5
1
3
6
6
♭7
♭3
♭6
♭2
4
♭7
7
7
3
6
2
♭5
7
8
1
4
♭7
♭3
5
1
9
♭2
♭5
7
3
♭6
♭2
10
2
5
1
4
6
2
11
♭3
♭6
♭2
♭5
♭7
♭3
12
3
6
2
5
7
3

The Dark Modes - Minor Variations

If you know your Natural Minor Scale (Aeolian), you already know Dorian and Phrygian.

Dorian = Minor with a Natural 6

Dorian is the "Funky/Soulful" minor (think Pink Floyd or Santana). It is the Minor Scale, but with a Major 6th (♭6 raised one fret). This removes the harsh "sadness" of the minor scale. See the Difference:

3.
C - Minor vs Dorian
Minor
Dorian
EADGBE
0
3
6
2
5
7
3
1
4
♭7
♭3
♭6
1
4
2
♭5
7
3
6
♭2
♭5
3
5
1
4
♭7
2
5
4
♭6
♭2
♭5
7
♭3
♭6
5
6
2
5
1
3
6
6
♭7
♭3
♭6
♭2
4
♭7
7
7
3
6
2
♭5
7
8
1
4
♭7
♭3
5
1
9
♭2
♭5
7
3
♭6
♭2
10
2
5
1
4
6
2
11
♭3
♭6
♭2
♭5
♭7
♭3
12
3
6
2
5
7
3

Phrygian = Minor with a ♭2

Phrygian is the "Evil/Metal" mode (think Metallica or Slayer). It is the Minor Scale, but with a flatted 2nd (lowered one fret). That half-step interval right at the start gives it that dark, sort of Spanish flavor. See the Difference:

4.
C - Minor vs Phrygian
Minor
Phrygian
EADGBE
0
3
6
2
5
7
3
1
4
♭7
♭3
♭6
1
4
2
♭5
7
3
6
♭2
♭5
3
5
1
4
♭7
2
5
4
♭6
♭2
♭5
7
♭3
♭6
5
6
2
5
1
3
6
6
♭7
♭3
♭6
♭2
4
♭7
7
7
3
6
2
♭5
7
8
1
4
♭7
♭3
5
1
9
♭2
♭5
7
3
♭6
♭2
10
2
5
1
4
6
2
11
♭3
♭6
♭2
♭5
♭7
♭3
12
3
6
2
5
7
3

How to Practice

Don't run up and down the neck. Stay in one position.

  1. Select the Major scale below.
  2. Switch to Lydian.
  3. Watch which dot moves. That moving dot is the "flavor note." Target that note in your solos to bring out the modal sound.
  4. Repeat for Mixolydian, then Minor and Switching to Dorian and Phrygian.
5.
A - Major / Ionian
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
A
B♭
B
C
C♯
D
E♭
E
F
F♯
G
G♯
1
12
EADGBE
0
5
1
4
♭7
2
5
1
♭6
♭2
♭5
7
♭3
♭6
2
6
2
5
1
3
6
3
♭7
♭3
♭6
♭2
4
♭7
4
7
3
6
2
♭5
7
5
1
4
♭7
♭3
5
1
6
♭2
♭5
7
3
♭6
♭2
7
2
5
1
4
6
2
8
♭3
♭6
♭2
♭5
♭7
♭3
9
3
6
2
5
7
3
10
4
♭7
♭3
♭6
1
4
11
♭5
7
3
6
♭2
♭5
12
5
1
4
♭7
2
5

Wait, where is Locrian? Locrian is the 'diminished' mode (Minor with b2 and b5). It's incredibly unstable and rarely used in rock/pop, so we left it out to keep things simple. But you can find it in the chart above if you want to get a bit weird.

Want to create your own charts here is a quick guide.

Rock on!

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