Sunday, March 6, 2011

Learn Guitar Scales: Discover The Ionian Mode for Great Guitar Solos

By Nick Dillon


It is important as you learn guitar scales to learn the modes of the major scale. A good starting point is the Ionian mode or simply called the major scale. This scale is very popular in all different types of music from classical to rock to jazz and many others. This scale is in a sense a reference point for much of the terminology in music and is the one scale that is essential for musicians to understand.

As you progress with the guitar and learn guitar scales you will realise that scales are simply a series of notes separated by specific steps, known as intervals. The intervals of the Ionian mode or major scale are R or root tone then : T-T -ST -T-T-T-ST, where T stands for a tone or two frets and ST stands for a semitone or 1 fret. The Ionian mode can be created by simply starting with any note, then applying these intervals creating the well known sounding - do, re, me, fa, so la, ti.

The major scale intervals produce a bright and happy feel. This can be attributed mostly to the major 3rd but also how the other notes sound in relation to the root note. This scale is often chosen to convey a positive, happy vibe to a piece of music. As you learn guitar scales, listen to how the intervals affect the mood and feel of the scale.

The major scale will give a good starting or reference point to other scales, due to its neutral, easy sounding intervals. Once you know how it sounds, you can train your ear to listen out for differences in these familiar intervals giving different scales. This is an important skill as you learn guitar scales.

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 major scale is used extensively in jazz, classical and rock music, but also nursery rhymes and even church songs or hymns. Despite this scale scale being associated with these genres of music it also works very well with lead guitar. Did you know that the longest guitar solo ever in the top forty charts - Slash's "November Rain" used the Ionian mode or major scale ? This demonstrates just how good it can sound on guitar. As you learn guitar scales and progress beyond the pentatonics, ensure to learn the modes of the major scale. The Ionian mode is a good starting point to upscale your lead guitar technique.




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