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[C major] [ C Ionian ] [ Dorian mode ] [ Phrygian mode ] [ Lydian mode ] [ Mixolydian Mode ] [ Aeolian mode ] [ Locrian mode ]
C major Ionian mode and the guitar modes in the key of C major
Take a look at the image below and you will notice seven sections. Each section makes up the Key of C Major and each note will represent the all the modes.
The illustration I’ve designed below shows all the notes and chords on the outside ring. The inner notes are those that make up each guitar chord. The C major chord has the notes of C E and G. Look below at the C section and notice those 3 notes. You can easily determine the chords and notes of each chord.
- The first note of the C Major key is the C note and will equal the Ionian mode.
- The second note is the D note or Dorian mode, then the E note, Phrygian mode, F, G, A, B and C notes in that order.
Each of these notes or chords have names for them, check out leading to modulation part 1.
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The first mode you will learn out of the Key of C Major will be the C Ionian mode. Each mode in the key of C has a different name. The names are from the ancient Greek language. The Ionian mode is a medieval church mode corresponding to the modern major diatonic scale, or the first mode of the major key. The first mode in the major key is always the Ionian mode. This means if you are in the key of G major, G would be the Ionian mode.
We will learn the C major Ionian mode position starting at the C note, Low E string 8th Fret. This is the same position as the C major pentatonic scale starting at the VIII position 8th fret or C note. The only difference is the two extra notes added. These two notes are the F and B.
Once again the notes and chords in the key of C major are illustrated below. Each chord or note in the major key can be illustrated by a guitar mode. There are 7 guitar modes in every major key. There are 3 major modes, 3 minor modes and a diminished mode in every major key.
Look at the image below. All of the notes on the fretboard have been included, but only the notes of the C major scale or key of C major have be placed in circles. If you study this illustration, you should be able to pick out each mode in the key of C major.
There are many ways to play each guitar mode, but we are going to learn to play the C major scale or Ionian mode starting at the 8th fret position.
The video below shows me playing lead guitar over a simple progression. Once you learn to play the modes illustrated below, you can use them to play lead guitar. Find me on Instagram and Spotify
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Compare the illustration below, to the one above. Look how the fingering patterns compare to each image. Can you see the pattern below in the one above?
C Ionian mode tablature below. The tablature below would be the same notes and fingering pattern as the illustration above.
Look at the image above and check out the notes and their placement. Compare the C major pentatonic scale below to the C Major scale above and notice the only difference is the two notes F and B. You should have the A minor pentatonic scale and C major pentatonic scale below memorized from the previous lessons. If not, please go back and review. The major key has eight notes and the pentatonic scale has only 5. You can go about playing lead in a number ways, but I will only mention two for now.
The notes in the key of C major are, C, D, E, F, G, A, B and C. The notes in C major pentatonic are C, D, E, G and A. If you wanted to play lead over the C chord or the notes in the key of C major, you could use the C major pentatonic scale. Look below and pick out the notes of the C major pentatonic scale. C, D, E, G and A. This is a popular position to use this scale. This is because the C chord is easily played in this position. You can play the C chord in this position using the Root 6 E type bar chord.
This scale can also be considered C major pentatonic. C major is the relative major to Am, so they share the same exact notes.
To play the C Major scale or Ionian mode you would start on the C note. Look at the image above and notice that the C note is on the Low E string, 8th fret. You would play from C to C going through all six strings. The image below shows the recommended fingering pattern for this position. Notice the fingering pattern and how it starts on the Low E string, 2 finger on the 8th fret. I hope you remember what each fingering number equals, if not they are shown below. In this lower image, the C notes are highlighted in blue. Notice how there are 3 C notes from the Low E string to the High E string. Low C to High C will cover two octaves.
Each finger number has been shown again below.
1 Index finger
2 Middle finger
3 Ring finger
4 Pinky
Notice you will be playing from the Low E string, C note down through the notes to the High E string, C note.
Remember, the C major scale s also called the Ionian mode. This mode is the first mode in the Key of C major and is played from C to C.
Look at the image below. This also the C major Ionian mode, but using a different fingering pattern at a different location at the fretboard. You are still playing from C to C. Look below and notice you are starting on the C note, but with the 4 finger. The C note has been highlighted in blue. Play from the Low E string, 8th fret, to the high E string, 8th fret.
Play the 4 finger, 8th fret, low E string now. The next note is played with the 1 finger, A string, 5th fret. Play that now. 3 and 4 finger A string is next. Move to the D string, 1, 3 finger. Continue through the rest of the strings using the recommended fingering pattern. Once again, the notes are illustrated below.
Once again, can you see the pattern above in the pattern below. This is another way of playing the key of C major scale or Ionian mode.
The tablature below shows the type 4 fingering type.
You can use the following scale exercise to really help learning the Ionian Mode. This scale exercise starts with your 4 finger, at the 8th fret. The 4 finger is the only note that is played out of position. Compare the exercise below to the image above.
To make practicing a little more enjoyable, lay down a progression of C, F and G chords on a recorder and play this mode over them. Eventually you will want to play this mode in as many different positions as possible. As you play lead over the C, F and G chords, concentrate on playing the notes of each of those chords. For example, when playing over the C chord, play the notes of that chord. When you play over the G chord, you can play over the notes of the G chord. The same goes for the F chord. The notes of each of these chords are in the mode above and in all modes of the key of C major.
Another way to play lead over these chords is to play the major pentatonic scale over each of these chords. Remember, there are 3 major chords and 3 minor chords in every major key. For example, above you could play over the C chord using the C pentatonic major scale. C, D, E, G and A for the C chord. But you could very easily move this same fingering pattern around and use different major pentatonic scales to play over the F and G chords, since they are both major chords. You could use the F major pentatonic over the F chord or G major pentatonic over the G chord.
Now it’s time to learn the next position of the key of C Major. The Greek name is the Dorian mode.
Good Luck,
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