Congratulations on making it to this point in our mode studies! You’ve done the hard part. However, here’s what I feel is the key to practical use on the gig.

The Snapshot

I believe that getting the modes to a place where they are an intuitive tool, readily available to employ “on the fly” in your various musical situations, is best accomplished by memorizing them in what I refer to as the snapshot.That term simply refers to memorizing the various related elements surrounding each mode as if it was one photograph, or snapshot. The mode reference sheet we completed last time is a perfect resource for this.

FIGURE 1

Check this out:

We’ve established that the 1st mode is the Ionian mode, which is also known as the major scale. We’ve also covered that the Ionian mode, in terms of scale degrees, is 
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, octave...and that the corresponding chord quality is M7.

So...now you want to DRILL (memorize, like working with flash cards) this info...repeatedly & consistently (the latter cannot be overemphasized). If you’re new to the modes (or if you’re working on finally getting them to be of practical use to you), I strongly encourage you to incorporate this into your daily woodshed regimen. I’ve found that the best way to really retain this info is by focusing on bite-size pieces and drilling them for an extended duration. Exercises 1 through 3 (below) are intended to be practiced ad nauseam, focusing upon each individual mode for 1-2 weeks before moving on to the next.

EXERCISE 1

We’ll initially focus upon the first 3 modes we covered: Ionian, Mixolydian and Aeolian.

Note: This exercise doesn’t require that you have your bass on hand: as a matter of fact, it’s preferable that you don’t, unless you’re simply using it to further reinforce memorization of the musical concepts.

Using our mode reference sheet, start with the Ionian mode, and drill yourself on the various elements of the snapshot. If given any piece of the puzzle, have INSTANT access to all of the other pieces. In other words, if I said, “1st mode”, you should immediately be thinking:

Ionian
Major Scale
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, octave
M7 chord

Alternatively, If I said, “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, octave”, you should immediately (i.e., without having to work through any sort of mental gymnastics) know:

1st mode
Ionian
Major Scale
M7 chord

Again, memorize the snapshot for each mode so that, if given ANY portion of the snapshot, all other elements immediately come to mind.

After you’ve assimilated the Ionian mode, move on and memorize the snapshots for the Mixolydian and Aeolian modes.Note: At a certain point, you’ll feel that you’re going to lose your mind if you have to drill that one particular mode again...but it’s at that point that you’re starting to REALLY have assimilated it...to the extent that you could revisit it 6 months from now and still have instant recollection.

That’s when you’ve hit pay dirt.

It’s at that point that you’ll be able to freely apply the modes on the gig: if there’s ANY sort of delay (i.e., if this bogs down your processor, to put it in modern day computer terms), then you’ll find yourself unable to keep up with the tune. It has to be something that your brain handles on “autopilot”...hence the memorization drills until it’s effortless.

EXERCISE 2

Expand your snapshot memorization to focus on the Dorian and Lydian modes.

EXERCISE 3

Add the Phrygian and Locrian modes to the snapshot memorization list.

EXERCISE 4

Here’s an exercise I find helpful for further assimilating these snapshots.

It involves playing each of the modes built upon the scale degrees of the C major scale. We’ll start by playing C at the 8th fret of the E string, as that will give us plenty of room on the fingerboard without running into the nut!

You’ll notice that we move down an octave with A Aeolian (A at the 5th fret of the E string), to keep from completely abandoning the low register (as well as keeping the 6th degree of the key of C major in a familiar location relative to the C with which we began this exercise).

Video Example 1

 
 

EXERCISE 5

Practice randomly playing various individual modes from Exercise 4. Further drill the snapshot memorization aspect of this by verbalizing the mode number and name prior to playing each one.

Work through this as slowly as necessary to keep accurate.

Video Example 2

 
 

EXERCISE 6

Here’s a similar exercise, but it uses the arpeggios that correspond to the modes.

 
 

Video Example 3

 
 

EXERCISE 7

We’ll now approach Exercise 6 in a random manner, mixing up the sequence. As with Exercise 5, verbalize various other pieces of the snapshot to further reinforce them.

Video Example 4

 
 

EXERCISE 8

Lastly, you should be able to look at the chart below and identify the appropriate mode for each chord, based upon the key of C.

 
 

Isn’t that cool? You’re DOING it! If it still requires a lot of thought, no worries: it will definitely come together with consistent and focused practice.

Practice playing the modes and arpeggios corresponding with each chord in this chart.

By the way, here are the appropriate modes for Exercise 8, above:

C Ionian
E Phrygian
D Dorian
G Mixolydian
A Aeolian
F Lydian
B Locrian

Next time, we’ll complete our introduction to the modes with more practical application and real world scenarios.