If you play country guitar you are probably wondering what all the fuss about old Greek scales is all about and what in the world has it got to do with playing country guitar.
Good question, as a matter of fact you have probably played these scales or sounds in songs you already know, you will certainly recognize them when you hear them!
Like everything we learn in music we will want to apply these scales to our songs as soon as possible so let's get started.
Modes are really a way of describing or identifying sounds or moods created by starting traditional scales from different points (notes) within the traditional scale.
By beginning a scale from a different starting note we alter the underlying tone/semitone structure of the original scale thereby creating different types of musical tension.
Country Guitar Scales - the Phrygian Mode
Step 1: Learn the notes in the standard G major scale
G - A - B - C - D - E - F# - G
Using the modal system of identifying sounds it is possible to create seven different scales (or modes) from this G scale with each sub-scale having it's own unique modal name.
Step 2: Learn the names of the modes in C major
G Ionian: G - A - B - C - D - E - F# - G
A Dorian: A - B - C - D - E - F# - G - A
B Phrygian: B - C - D - E - F# - G - A - B
C Lydian: C - D - E - F# - G - A - B - C
D Mixo - Lydian: D - E - F# - G - A - B - C - D
E Aeolian: E - F# - G - A - B - C - D - E
F# Locrian: F# - G - A - B - C - D - E - F#
Points of interest:
(a) All the modes contain the same seven different notes of the original G major scale.
(b) the G major scale can also be called the G Ionian mode.
(c) each modal name is used to identify a specific point in the scale e.g., Ionian means begin on note one of the scale; Dorian begins on note two; Phrygian starts on note three; Lydian begins on note four of the scale and so on.
Step 3: Select the B Phrygian mode
B Phrygian: B - C - D - E - F# - G - A - B
Here is one way the B Phrygian mode could be played on guitar.
B Phrygian mode
----------------------
----------------------
----------------------
-----------2--4--5---
-2--3--5------------
----------------------
That's the correct notes but it sure doesn't sound country so we will have to take it a step further and include some open strings and hammer-on's to really get the guitar to come alive.
Step 4: modify scale to get that country guitar sound
B Phrygian: B - C - D - E - F# - G - A - B
-------------------------------------
---------------------------------0---
-----------------------0-------------
-----------0---------------7--------
--------------7-h-9-----------------
--7-h-8-----------------------------
Compare the country version of this scale with the standard way of playing the mode on the guitar, notice how the country version has a great ringing quality created by the use of hammer-on's and opens strings.
Step 5: Apply this mode to a chord or chord progression
You could use this mode as a cool run to introduce or connect any chord(s) in the key of G.
Here's is some ideas to get you started:
B Phrygian mode => Em /// |
or
B Phrygian mode => G /// |
one more example...
B Phrygian mode => C /// |
These are just a few of the many possibilities that begin to come to mind when you start thinking and playing your scales creatively on the guitar.
