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How To Use Modes To Instantly Create Amazing Country Solos (it’s easy!)

By Mike Hayes | June 22, 2010

If you are a regular reader of guitar magazines you are probably
sick and tired of hearing about modes, everyone is talking about
them, people say you should learn them but do you think you can
find anyone who can tell you HOW to use them!

Modes … it’s all Greek to me (pun intended), actually if you
take your time and let yourself get your head (as well as your
fingers) around the basic concepts of modes and their application
they are quite guitar friendly and certainly lots of fun.

Modes – a quick overview (for those who already know this stuff
please talk amongst yourselves.)

The ancient Greeks had this neat idea that a scale could be
subdivided (played) from any point within that scale to create a
number of sub-scales all related to the original scale but each
having it’s own unique underlying structure of tones and
semitones thereby giving each sub-scale (mode) a unique sound,
flavor and mood.

Here’s what I mean …

C major scale (parent scale)

C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C

Playing this scale from the first degree of the parent scale is
called the Ionian mode; in this instance the ‘C’ Ionian mode.

‘C’ Ionian mode = C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C

If I began on the second note of our parent scale (the note ‘D’)
and continued alphabetically until I reached the letter ‘D’ again
I would be playing the ‘D’ Dorian mode.

The Greeks called this scale beginning on the second degree the
Dorian mode.

Parent scale beginning on the second note ‘D’ indicated as []

C – [D] – [E] – [F] – [G] – [A] – [B] – [C] – [D]

Creates the D” Dorian mode

‘D’ Dorian mode = D – E – F – G – A – B – C – D

Basically the idea is that each sub-scale (mode) has it’s own
name, like this:

Scale from 1 – 1 is the Ionian mode;

2 – 2 = Dorian

3 – 3 = Phrygian

4 – 4 = Lydian

5 – 5 = Mixo-Lydian

6 – 6 = Aeolian

7 – 7 = Locrian

In each of these examples 2 – 2 refers to playing the original
parent scale from the second note and continuing alphabetically
until we arrive at a note of the scale name.

3 – 3 would refer to playing

E – F – G – A – B – C – D – E (‘E’ Phrygian)

4 – 4 would refer to playing

F – G – A – B – C – D – E – F (‘F’ Lydian)

Now let’s transfer our modes to the guitar fretboard for some
interesting country pickin’.

I’m going to use the ‘A’ Aeolian mode to create a cool run that
I’ll use in a country chord progression (see below).

Aeolian mode means start on the sixth note of the original parent
scale.

‘A’ Aeolian mode = A – B – C – D – E – F – G – A

I’m going to play the notes of the mode in this order to create a
melody:

A – B – C – B – A – G – F – E – D – C – B – G (Am chord)

Here’s one way you could play this melody on your guitar using
hammer-on’s; pull-off’s and open strings to give it a country
guitar ‘feel’.

step 1:

–5-h-7-h-8-p-7-p5——-
——————————-
——————————-
——————————-
——————————-
——————————-

A – B – C – B – A

step 2:
————0————
–8-p-6—————–
————————-
————————-
————————-
————————-

G – F – E

step 3:
————————–
———-  -0————-
–7-p-5——  -0——–
—————————
—————————
—————————

D – C – B – G

Notice how I broke this long run into tiny sections, the idea is
to learn in groups of four to six notes sections. (six note
maximum).

After you have practiced your run try this chord progression
derived from the Aeolian mode, I think you will like it!

Am /// | G /// | Am /// | G /// |

I played some of the notes ascending then played the scale
descending to create a simple (Aeolian) melody; try making your
own melodies using this scale on your guitar.

Topics: Country Guitar, Modes, guitar scales | No Comments »

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