In the Ionian mode the intervals are as follows: Root, major 2nd, major 3rd, perfect 4th, perfect 5th, major 6th, major 7th. The trick is exploiting the most colourful sounding intervals in your ...

So, the list goes: Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian. Some of them are major modes, some are minor, and some are ambiguous. Some modes are sadder or holier than others.

The ‘happiest’ sounding of the modes, the Ionian is identical to the major scale, so it’s highly likely you’re already playing it on guitar. However, things really come alive when you ...