Learning Guitar Scales

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You can play modes following the whole and half formula described on "Modes of the major scale lesson", but to make it easy on you, i am going to give how you can play modes on the fretboard.

I'm going to apply the G major scale (in the key of G) : G - A - B - C - D - E - F# - G again.

These are the shapes of the modes on the fretboard:

Lets begin with the first mode (The major scale or the Ionian mode), we begin with the root note G

E---------------------------------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------------------------------
G---------------------------------------------------------------
D----------------------------------2---4---5------------------
A--------------------2---3---5--------------------------------
E-----------3---5----------------------------------------------

The second mode (Dorian mode), we begin with the second note A

E---------------------------------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------------------------------
G---------------------------------------------------------------
D---------------------------------4---5---7-------------------
A------------------------5---7---------------------------------
E----------5---7---8------------------------------------------

The third mode (Phrygian mode), we begin the mode with the third note B

E---------------------------------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------------------------------
G---------------------------------------------------------------
D-----------------------------------------7---9----------------
A-------------------------7---9---10-------------------------
E---------7---8---10-----------------------------------------

The fourth mode (Lydian mode), we begin with the fourth note C

E---------------------------------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------------------------------
G---------------------------------------------------------------
D-----------------------------------7---9---10---------------
A-------------------7---9---10-------------------------------
E--------8---10-----------------------------------------------

The fifth mode (Mixolydian mode), we begin with the fifth note D

E---------------------------------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------------------------------
G---------------------------------------------------------------
D---------------------------------------9---10---12---------
A---------------------9---10---12---------------------------
E--------10---12---------------------------------------------

The sixth mode (Aeolian mode or natural minor scale), we begin with the sixth note E

E---------------------------------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------------------------------
G---------------------------------------------------------------
D------------------------------------------------12---14-----
A-----------------------------12---14---15-----------------
E----------12---14---15------------------------------------

The seventh and last mode (Locrian mode), we begin with the seventh and the last note of the G major scale F#

E---------------------------------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------------------------------
G---------------------------------------------------------------
D------------------------------------------------14---16-----
A----------------------------14---15---17------------------
E---------14---15---17-------------------------------------

These are the shapes of all modes of the major scale, and you must learn them when learning guitar scales.