Blog - Guitar Lessons by Genaaron Diamente

Aeolian Mode Explained – Theory, CAGED Positions and Diagrams

The Aeolian mode is the 6th mode of the major scale. It is contains a ‘flat 3’, ‘flat 6’ and ‘flat 7’. The aeolian mode is an important scale because it is also the relative minor scale, or the natural minor scale. It is used frequently as a kind of ‘default’ minor scale and its sound can be heard across many styles of music. In this post we are going to discuss how to construct the aeolian mode.

If you have read the post, guitar modes explained, or any of the other posts on the different modes, you might already have a solid understanding of modes and its theory. In that case, this post will be a good reinforcement of some key ideas and concepts.

Mixolydian Mode Explained – Theory, CAGED Positions and Diagrams

by Genaaron Diamente

The Mixolydian mode is the 5th mode of the major scale. It contains a lowered (or flat) 7. It is used frequently over dominant 7th chords. In this post we will explore the mixolydian mode and discuss how to construct it.

If you have read the post on guitar modes explained, you might already have a solid understanding of how modes work and may not need the extra theory that is presented in this post. If however, you are still trying to grasp the concept of modes, this post should serve as extra reinforcement of some key ideas and concepts. The mixolydian mode, just like the lyidan mode is a good practical mode to analyze, as there is only 1 note that differentiates it from the major scale.

Lydian Mode Explained – Theory, CAGED Positions and Diagrams

by Genaaron Diamente

The Lydian mode is the 4th mode of the major scale. It is a frequently used mode in modern music across a number of styles. The only difference between a major scale and the lydian scale is that it contains a sharp 4. It therefor sounds quite similar to a major scale, but with perhaps a ‘brighter’ sound.

In this post we are going to explore exactly what the lydian mode is and how to construct it.

Phrygian Mode Explained – Theory, CAGED Positions and Diagrams

by Genaaron Diamente

The Phrygian mode is the 3rd mode of the Major scale. It has a ‘flat 2, ‘flat 3, ‘flat 6’ and ‘flat 7. In this post, we are going to look at how to construct the phrygian mode and explain how it works.

To understand the Phrygian mode, just like any other mode, you need to understand the concept of major scales. This means you need to know what a major scale is, what it sounds like and how to construct it. Read the post on major scales if you need to brush up on any of this theory.

Dorian Mode Explained – Theory, CAGED Positions and Diagrams

by Genaaron Diamente

The Dorian mode is the 2nd mode of a major scale. If you have read guitar modes explained, you should already have a pretty good idea of how modes work. In this post we are going to go into the specifics of the dorian mode.

Remember, to understand how modes work, you first need to understand major scales. Period.

Major Scales on the Guitar – 5 CAGED Positions Including Tabs, Notation, Diagrams and Theory

by Genaaron Diamente

Major scales are one of the most fundamental tools, both from a practical and theoretical perspective on the guitar. From a technical point of view, being able to play every major scale in any position on the guitar gives you great access and control over the fretboard.

From a theoretical point of view, major scales are the cornerstone for much theory relating to soloing, composition, chord construction and the formation of other scales. When you construct chords, you are actually using the notes from a major scale to do so. For example, to play an F major chord, you need to use the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes (F, A, C) of an F major scale. Even the construction of minor chords and altered chords uses major scales as its basis. For example, a Gmin7b5 chord uses the altered notes of a G major scale – 1, b3, b5, b7 (G, Bb, Db, F).