3 notes per string scales. A way to learn those mystical modes.

I have a way to get into the modes, which may be helpful to some people. I would suggest that there are literally dozens of ways to learn the modes, so if this one still has you scratching your head, don't worry, because one of them must be right up your alley. But it's just a way that I have of simplifying a subject that tends to cause a little difficulty.


3nps scales.
Okay, so firstly, we need to know a little about our three note per string major scales. Lets look at one, this is G major (Ionian) First position.

Three notes per string


If you don't have the powertab editor, it can be downloaded for free from here:

http://www.power-tab.net/

Line 1 Excuse the formatting, I've laid it out to show you something. Look at the patterns, two strings at a time. You'll see that for this position, that there are really only three patterns. The first one, covering the low E and A strings is a stretch, fingers 1,2,4 -1,2,4. The second pattern, covering the middle D, and G strings, is just a normal 1,2,4 - 1,2,4 fingering. And lastly the high B and E strings, is 1,3,4 - 1,3,4.

So to nail the first position, we just have 3 patterns to learn. As long as we can memorize them, it should make our job easier.

In fact there are only 6 patterns in total to learn they are used again and again. And you've just covered 3 of them.

So here they are: (Shown in line two of the 3nps powertab file, I've moved the positions around on two strings, in order to keep the example in G major).
1. Both strings the same, fingers 1,2,4 stretch between the first and second finger.
2. Both strings the same, fingers 1,2,4, no stretch
3. Both strings the same, fingers 1,3,4 no stretch

The rest are mixes of the first three patterns
4. Both strings different. A mix of one string of pattern 3 (above), followed by pattern 1. The first finger stays on the same fret
5. Both strings different. A mix of one string of pattern 2, followed by pattern 3
6 Both strings different. A mix of one string of pattern 1, followed by pattern 2. The first finger moves up one fret on this, so that the 4th fingers are level

I've numbered these patterns carefully. They are not numbered the order that they appear in the scale. The reason why I've set them like this, is because when you are learning them, to help you remember which of the mixed patterns mix together, pattern 1 is always followed by pattern 2, pattern 2 is always followed by pattern 3, and pattern 3 always goes back to be followed by pattern 1. When going back down, the reverse is true.

Okay, so what you'll now see in the third full section, is a 3 note per string sequence, 7 positions, but only using the bottom two strings. Notice that bar 5 uses pattern 1, (it appears twice in the scale).

Down to the modes.

Right. Look at this file, it's a representation of the entire scale, in the seven positions. I’ve marked each position with it’s relation (based on the starting note for that position). Once you read on, this should become more clear.

Modalpositions

You can learn this any way you want, but I suggest that you get down to it, and learn the lot. One of the ways might be to take what you know from above, and apply it, (so that position 1 is simply, patterns 1,2, and 3, position 2 is patterns 4,1,6, etc ). This is the 7 positions of the major scale, in G. If you wanted to play the 8th position, it would be exactly the same as position 1. Similarly, to go lower than position 1, you can start playing the fingering for position 7, starting with your first finger on the 2nd fret. At the moment, we haven't moved out of G major. Try this as an exercise. You can start on any position you like, go up that position then down the next. I've done another file to show you (oh no, not another one!! )

Scale exercises



Okay, so now you know the G major scale in all positions. But you also know the basic fingerings for all of the modes!! The same scale works as this:
Chord: A minor. Scale: A Dorian
Chord: B minor. Scale: B Phrygian
Chord C major. Scale: C Lydian
Chord D major. Scale: D Myxolydian
Chord E minor. Scale: E Aolean (E Natural Minor scale)
Chord F# Diminished. Scale F# Locrian.

So the same scale works, with exactly the same fingerings, in all of those keys. It sounds different, depending on which chord you use as a base. Try to find and hit each base note, so for instance, in B minor, try to "aim" for B. You'll instantly get a “spanishy” type sound, that the phrygian mode is famous for. I've got one last example of how this can sound, it’s very rough. I’ve got B Phrygian, and C Lydian, using basically the same notes, just with a different focus note, and with a different chord underneath it. Hopefully you can hear the difference.

Examples

Explore the rest for yourselves, there's quite a bit of work here for now

Best of luck, hope it helps. (Clear as mud, I hear you cry!!! )

Tank