Using the CAGED major postions as modes!

An introduction

Once you've learnt the 5 postions of the major scale the next step is to use these shapes to play the major modes.

The word mode is just a posh name for a scale. We can use the modes in improvisation and composition to create more complex and interesting tonalities. Each mode has its own characterises and it's important to learn and understand the sound of each mode.

To get the major modes we start on a different note of the major scale - this note then becomes the home note but and we build the scale from that point using the notes from the parent major scale. For example if our parent scale was G major which has the notes G A B C D E F# and we started the scale on B we would have this set of notes B C D E F# G A - B has become our home note and we get the B Phrygian scale. More on that down below.

Major and Minor modes

We can divide the modes into 2 separate groups, this helps us distinguish the sound of the notes. In the Key of G we have the following modes:

G Ionian (aka the major scale)

A Dorian

B Phrygian

C Lydian

D Mixolydian

E Aeolian (aka the Natural Minor Scale)

F# Locrian

Each of these modes contain exactly the same notes G A B C D E F# but the home note/root note changes which gives us these different tonalities.

Major Modes

There are 3 major modes, they all have a major 3rd which characterises them as a major mode. They all have one note difference which gives them their own sound. Below are the formula and the descriptive chord.

Ionian: R maj2 maj3 P4 P5 maj6 maj7 (maj9 chord)

Lydian: R maj3 maj3 #4 P5 maj6 maj7 (maj7#11 chords)

Mixolydian: R maj2 maj3 P4 P5 maj6 min7 (dominat 7th chords)

Minor modes

There are 3 minor modes and one other mode which is slightly different but we'll put in this category.

They all have difference which gives them their own sound. Below are the formula (the highlighted notes are the notes that give it characteristics) and the descriptive chord.

Dorian: R maj 2 min3 P4 P5 maj6 m7 (either m7 chords or m6 chords)

Phygian: R min2 min3 P4 P5 m6 m7 (sus4b9 chords)

Aeloian: R maj2 min3 P4 P5 m6 m7 (m7 chords)

The other mode:

The last mode is the Locrian mode. This mode isn't talked about very often but it can be useful in some circumstances.

The fomula is:

R m2 m3 P4 b5 (dim5) m6 m7 (m7b5 chord)

How to practice the modes

• Using the diagrams below you can learn all the modes related to the parent key of G. The root note notes of the scales are highlighted to give you the shape where the root note is the lowest note.

• You could use any of the shapes for any of the modes but you need to know where your root note would be in each shape, first try and learn them how they are laid out below.

• Play the chord before the scales

This is important to help your ear get used to the sound of the scale, the chord will help highlights the descriptive notes.

• Compose a melody

Try and write a short piece of music using the notes of the scale you might find that Phrygian would be great for a middle eastern sounding composition.

• Improvise

Below are some backing tracks for all the modes in the parent key of G major. improvising and putting them to music will really help you understand the sound of the mode. There are lots of others on youtube so try and improvise over lots of different styles of backing track.

• Singing.

If you can sing the mode then you have a great understanding of the sound and the intervals in the mode.