Major Modes

The Major Scale and its related 7 modes are some of the most popular musical concepts for guitarists of all levels, backgrounds and musical tastes. Because of this, they are often the first scale one studies after they have moved on from the Pentatonic Scales that are usually taught/studied when we first pick up the guitar and begin to delve into melodic playing. Though there are several standard fingerings for these modes that most people learn along the way, there are also some great non-standard fingerings that can really open up the neck of the guitar and increase our finger dexterity at the same time.

Click on any mode below to learn more about how each one is built and see fingerings for 1 and 2 octave patterns with three finger variations for each one.

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Major Mode Fingerings for Guitar

• Ionian
• Dorian
• Phrygian
• Lydian
• Mixolydian
• Aeolian
• Locrian

Click to return to the Essential Jazz Guitar Scales Page