Scales and Modes on the Guitar
Below you can study the Major Scales and Modes. Read each major scale across. For example the first row is the C Major Scale, the second row is the G Major scale. Between the 3 and 4 degree, and 7 and 8 degree of any major scale, there is a half-step (move one fret). A whole step is 2 frets.
Major Scale Formula
Start on any root note:
(1) whole step (2) whole step (3) half-step (4) whole step (5) whole step (6) whole step (7) half-step (8)
Notice the key of C has natural half steps at E F and B C. The key of G has one sharp, F sharp. This is so that you end the G major scale with a half-step. The key of D has 2 sharps. G is the 5th note of the C scale. D is the 5th note of the G scale and so on until you have the chart below. This is called the cycle of fifths.
Example: Click on E in the Minor Scale column. (E is the 6th note of the G major Scale). The notes of E minor are the same as G Major. Then click on G Major. Only the root note (our starting point) changes. Once you learn all the modes in one key, you will soon realize that the patterns are all the same in the other keys! You just shift the whole pattern you know on to a different root. Try holding the same root and go through all the modes to see the changes (use the bottom menu).
You don't have to memorize the colors or the note names to use these maps. But I encourage you to read the note names to yourself while you are learning each scale. Don't worry about speed at first. The note names will start to become familiar without trying. Click on each Mode name to see a clear template of the scale, without the note names. Click on the music icons to hear each scale. Set your MP3 to Loop.
For further explanation, go to the discussion on the C Major Scale and Modes. For more scales, chords and arpeggios, use the Visual Guitar App Online here.
Major Scales and Modes Mapper
| Major | Dorian | Phrygian | Lydian | Mixolydian | Minor | Locrean | Major |
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Major  |
Dorian |
Phrygian |
Lydian |
Mixolydian |
Minor |
Locrean |
Major |
Scales and Modes in the Visual Guitar App
| Chromatic Whole Tone |
Major Dorian Phrygian Lydian Mixolydian Minor Locrian |
Major Pentatonic Minor Pentatonic Blues |
Melodic Minor Dorian 2b Lydian Augmented Lydian Dominant Hindu Locrian 2 Super Locrian |
Harmonic Minor Locrian 6 Ionian 5# Dorian 4# Phrygian 3 Lydian 2# Alt 7bb |
Harmonic Major Dorian 5b Phyrgian 4b Lydian 3b Dominant 2b Lydian Aug 2# Locrian 7bb |
Hungarian Minor Oriental Ionian Aug 2# Locrian 3bb 7bb Double Harmonic Lydian 6# 2# Alt 5 7bb |
Hungarian Major Alt 6bb 7bb Locrian 2 7 Alt 6 Melodic Aug Dorian 2b 4# Lydian Aug 3# |
Neopolitan Minor Lydian 6# Dominant Aug Hungarian Gypsy locrian 3 Ionian 2# Alt 3bb 7bb |
Neopolitan Major Lydian Aug 6# Lydian Dom Aug Lydian Minor Major Locrian Alt 2 Alt 3bb |