Learn Guitar Scales: Discover The Ionian Mode for Great Guitar Solos
Posted by Kay Stanford Jr Kastum at 3:26 AMAs you learn guitar scales it is important to learn the modes of the major scale. A good starting point is the Ionian mode also referred to as the major scale. This scale is used in amany different types of music from classical to jazz to rock as well as many others. The major scale is used as a reference point for much of the terminology in music. Understanding how the scale is formed is an important concept for all musicians.
As you learn guitar scales you will realise that scales are simply a series of notes separated by distinct intervals or steps. The intervals of the Ionian mode are root tone -T-T -ST -T-T-T-ST, where T = a tone or two frets and ST = a semitone or 1 fret. A major scale can be formed by simply arranging any set of notes with these intervals. This set of intervals gives the well known - do, re, me, fa, so la, ti sound.
The intervals of the Ionian mode generally produce a bright, happy feel. This is mainly due to the major 3rd but also how the other notes or intervals sound in relation to the root note. This scale is often chosen to give a piece of music a happy and positive vibe. As you learn guitar scales, listen to how the intervals or steps in the scale affect the feel and mood, this is an important skill as a musician.
The natural, easy sounding intervals of the major scale make it a good reference point in music. Once you can easily identify how it sounds, you can train your ear to listen out for differences in these familiar intervals. You can then identify other scales by using the major scale as a reference point. As you learn guitar scales, you will find this an invaluable skill.
A typical major scale progression will use chords built from the root, fourth and fifth intervals of the scale. These chords will be major chords and tend to be the easiest to solo with.
The ionian mode or major scale is used extensively in country, classical, jazz and even nursery rhymes and church hymns. A little trivia ; the longest guitar solo ever to appear in the US top forty charts - Slash's "November Rain" used this scale. This demonstartes just how good this scale can be when soloing on the guitar. As you learn guitar scales and progress beyond the basic pentatonics and blues scales - ensure to learn the modes. Learning the major scale or first mode is a good starting point to begin to expand your lead guitar playing skills.
As you learn guitar scales you will realise that scales are simply a series of notes separated by distinct intervals or steps. The intervals of the Ionian mode are root tone -T-T -ST -T-T-T-ST, where T = a tone or two frets and ST = a semitone or 1 fret. A major scale can be formed by simply arranging any set of notes with these intervals. This set of intervals gives the well known - do, re, me, fa, so la, ti sound.
The intervals of the Ionian mode generally produce a bright, happy feel. This is mainly due to the major 3rd but also how the other notes or intervals sound in relation to the root note. This scale is often chosen to give a piece of music a happy and positive vibe. As you learn guitar scales, listen to how the intervals or steps in the scale affect the feel and mood, this is an important skill as a musician.
The natural, easy sounding intervals of the major scale make it a good reference point in music. Once you can easily identify how it sounds, you can train your ear to listen out for differences in these familiar intervals. You can then identify other scales by using the major scale as a reference point. As you learn guitar scales, you will find this an invaluable skill.
A typical major scale progression will use chords built from the root, fourth and fifth intervals of the scale. These chords will be major chords and tend to be the easiest to solo with.
The ionian mode or major scale is used extensively in country, classical, jazz and even nursery rhymes and church hymns. A little trivia ; the longest guitar solo ever to appear in the US top forty charts - Slash's "November Rain" used this scale. This demonstartes just how good this scale can be when soloing on the guitar. As you learn guitar scales and progress beyond the basic pentatonics and blues scales - ensure to learn the modes. Learning the major scale or first mode is a good starting point to begin to expand your lead guitar playing skills.
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