One-Octave Parallel Mode Fingerings

How to Approach the Modes

Learn all of the fingerings for one-octave modes, and use them to frame your approach to improvisation with the modes. As you get more comfortable with the modes, try expanding the range of your improvisation to include the entire fretboard for each mode.

One good way to use these mode fingerings is to practice improvising over a chord progression which changes from one mode to the other. For instance, you can practice the C major mode going to the C minor mode, or the C minor mode going to the C Phrygian mode.

Don’t worry too much about the modes, as you’ll learn more about them later. For now, you can think of them as a way of switching keys without switching positions, or as a way of taking the major scale and forcing one of its notes to become the tonic, resulting in an interesting sound.

1-Octave C Major Mode Pattern

1-Octave C Dorian Mode Pattern

1-Octave C Phrygian Mode Pattern

1-Octave C Lydian Mode Pattern

1-Octave C Mixolydian Mode Pattern

1-Octave C Aeolian Mode Pattern

1-Octave C Locrian Mode Pattern

Key Tasks

• Memorize all modes presented here.
• Learn the modes by formula, not by shape; remember which notes are altered.
• Use the modes to improvise; try changing between modes during your improvisation.