THE LOCRIAN MODE
Locrian The locrian mode is found on the VII degree of the major scale and is built on a diminished triad. Scale Construction Fingerings Harmonization (triads) Harmonization (seventh chords) Harmonization (quartal)
La Sfera Disarmonica
THE PHRYGIAN MODE
Phrygian The phrygian mode is found on the third degree of the major scale. It’s one of the minor modes and its characteristic interval is the minor second. Scale Construction Fingerings Harmonization (triads) Harmonization (seventh chords) Harmonization (quartals) Coming up with some original idea
THE MIXOLYDIAN MODE
Mixolydian The mixolydian mode is built on the fifth degree of the major scale. It’s one of the major modes and is built around the dominant seventh chord. Scale Construction Fingerings Harmonization (triads) Harmonization (seventh chords) Harmonization (quartal)
THE IONIAN MODE
Ionian The Ionian mode is the “modal equivalent” of the major scale: its intervals are the same but the notes of the scale are treated differently. In particular it changes the relation between melody and harmony; if tonality has its meaning in the use of cadences and harmonic functions, we can say that in modality …
THE DORIAN MODE
Dorian The dorian mode is found on the II degree of the Major scale. It’s one of the minor modes and its characteristic interval is the major sixth. Scale Construction Fingerings Harmonization (triads) Harmonization (seventh chords) Harmonization (quartal) Dorian riff After all the theory, let’s take the guitar and play. Here’s the chart of the …
THE AEOLIAN MODE
Aeolian (natural minor scale) Just like the Ionian and the major scale are made by the same seven notes, the aeolian scale is the modal version of the natural minor scale. Once again we should remember that the difference between modal and tonal lies in the way the notes are treated, rather than in the …
Harmonizing with fourth chords
Harmonizing the scale I’m sure you already know everything about how to harmonize the scale with triads (if, on the other hand, you have no idea what I’m talking about you can first take a look here), but have you ever tried using fourth chords instead? I’ve already talked about quartal harmony, and now I …
MODAL HARMONIZATION
Modal Harmonization Harmonic Principles of the Present Day In a very generic way, “harmonizing” means stacking sounds together to create harmony. If we speak about modern harmony derived from jazz, we deal with charts where chords are expressed by their letter names. But this only shows the “exteriority” of the chord, hence hiding the internal …
SUSPENDED TRIADS (FINGERINGS)
Suspended Triads (Fingerings) In another lesson I’ve introduced suspended chords in the context of the major scale. Now let’s see how these chords can be played on the guitar. Sus2 In the image below I’ve taken the sus2 chord in its basic form 1-2-5, considering it on every three-strings set and I’ve labeled it Root …
