How to use modes easily

Now you know the modes, you can use this knowledge to play all over the neck and up and down the neck. You now have infinite range rather than the 2 octaves that playing across the neck gave you. Let’s try playing through the modes E to E ( 3 octaves). Play the pattern below. Note how it goes through all the patterns you just learned. Note how it is the same finger pattern all the way up. If you find ways of playing scales using the same finger pattern, you will play much faster. Only pluck the string to get it moving then hammer on the other notes, you should only pluck when you change string. Think economically, then you will find it easy to shred.

The line between the notes means slide your finger to the next note. Imagine how fast you could play this.

Now try this scale B to B (3 octaves ).

All you need to know to learn this pattern is where the B is, 2 up and 3 up.

Because these scales use the same finger pattern, they are a fast way of playing three octaves. When you are an accomplished guitarist you will use these scale patterns all the time; they are your basic toolkit.

Now if you have the ability to span out your left hand fingers like Satriani, try this scale, it’s the same as the above one but it uses all 4 fingers rather than three. Ouch… Practice way up the neck at first, where the frets are closer, then play lower as your span increases. Don’t  worry, you’ll be able to do it, eventually.

This is how you play like the best. It is very hard to do but I guarantee that you will astound everyone with your ability; even yourself.I remember the day that I became good at guitar. I had a neighbour who was always complaining about the noise I was making with the guitar, then one day she started complaining about my stereo; she thought it was a stereo playing when it was me shredding.What a lovely moment.

Now have you ever wondered how you play in a minor key, well you already can. You learned all the minor scales when you learned the modes. Here’s how.The natural minor note to any note is 3 frets down. This means in essence, the note three frets down from any other note is harmonically the same as it. For example,if you are playing rhythm with a C chord for 4 bars, you could play C for 2 bars and Am for 2 bars instead of C. If someone is playing a tune using a C major scale using the Ionian pattern on the 8^th fret, you can play the same tune in harmony by playing the same thing using an Aeolian pattern on the 5^th.   If you play a tune on your own using the Aeolian instead of the Ionian pattern then what you have done is changed the key from C major to C minor.

Now let’s use the modes in a similar way, to play Spanish guitar.

Spanish guitar.

In Just the same way that you convert a C major Tune to a C minor tune by playing the tune in a different mode. You can play Spanish guitar simply by changing the Mode from Ionian to Phrygian.Play with the scale like this:

Do you hear how even though you are using a C major scale, you are playing Spanish guitar in the key of E? That’s why it sounds Spanish because you have changed the mode. The scale is C but the root note is E.

Remember how to play up and down the neck from mode to mode using the same finger pattern? Use this and the open E as a drone to play some really clever Spanish. If you want to stick some Chords in with it use E F G A B C D E for the chords. Experiment. Have fun. That’s why you play guitar. That’s why they call it playing guitar.

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