...Gw I. Learn the Notes...	Welcome to Guitarweek! Get Involved, Support this stuff!... ----------------
Guitar Lessons | Piano Lessons | Bass Sites | Guitar Sites | Tab Sites Flash Lessons - Video Lessons - Chords - Songs - Music Teachers

GW Home | Register | Login

Catching Up II...

   The Ionian mode is the very first mode of any key and is also known as the 'major scale', Just so you know the first letter is an 'i' and for years 'i' thought it was the 'Lonian' mode (he he). So now you have 'three'(3) terms that point to the exact same thing which is somewhat confusing, The 'C Ionian mode' and the 'C major scale' and the 'Key of C' are all refering to the exact set and order of tones...

The first 'C Ionian' mode in the Key of C...

The second 'C Ionian' mode in the Key of C...

   Our scales lessons tell you to learn the 'scale' as chunks of the fretboard such as the 0-4th fret, When learning the modes you should learn them as patterns while paying close attention to the starting point, The 'ionian' mode is a great mode to use on the top (biggest) string because its easy to quickly see what 'key' you are in... (that is if you know the notes on the top string)

A tonic duplicate of the first 'C Ionian' mode...

   Traditionally (old school) you can stretch out beyond the strict one octave mode which in strict terms is rubbish, The only reason to learn theory is to make the scales easier to remember and stretching out will just make it more confusing, Instead of the strict cdefgabc you would have cdefgabcdefg which could be an extension of the mixolydian mode and be gabcdefgabc...

   It is good to stretch out a mode for observational reasons such as filling in the 'D' on the above diagram, You should always learn a mode in pairs like first and second positions that are stacked...

The first and second 'C Ionian' mode stretching out to 'd' and 'e'...

   The diagram above shows the first two modes stacked meaning they don't span that many frets (five here), The red line shows how the patterns can be observed as mirrored patterns like a rorschach inkblot test, Technically speaking the pattern on the bottom strings shows an 'E Phrygian' and the top strings pattern shows a 'C Ionian' that has been extended by one tone...