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Modes Explained

Modes Explained 4: Mode Construction

Lets explore the interval structure of the modes.

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Modes Explained

Modes Explained 3: CAGED Modes

In the last modes post I introduced all of the modes of the major scale, and included the fretboard diagrams of each of the CAGED positions of each of the modes. Today we’re going to look closer at how the CAGED system and the modes work together.

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Modes Explained

Modes Explained 2: Meet the Modes

This post introduces the modes of the major scale which are the Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian modes. It also introduces important terms such as ‘parent scale’, ‘relatives’ and ‘scale degrees’.

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Modes Explained Scales

Modes Explained 1: An Introduction

Over the next few months we’ll be exploring the theory and usage of the most common scales guitarists use. Specifically we’ll be exploring the seven modes, which include the simple major and minor scales, and we’ll also be looking at the major and minor pentatonic scales as well as the blues scale. After we’ve covered the ‘basics’ we’ll look at the harmonic minor and the melodic minor scales, which are the most common variations on the natural minor scale; and finally look at a few modes of those minor scales. Hopefully, this series will end up as the most thorough and detailed explanation of scales for guitarists anywhere on the web! :fingers crossed:

Today though, we’ll start simple, and find out just what a scale is 🙂 .

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Finding the Notes on the Fretboard

Finding the Notes on the Fretboard Part 3

If you’re like many students, you can manage to find the notes within the first three or four frets, but find the upper registers much more daunting. In Part 3 of ‘Finding the Notes on the Fretboard’ we have a look at how the notes are laid out on the neck, and identify patterns to make the higher frets more manageable.

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Finding the Notes on the Fretboard Theory

Finding the Notes on the Fretboard Part 2

In Part 2 we begin applying every thing that we have learned so far to the guitar neck.

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Finding the Notes on the Fretboard Theory

Finding the Notes on the Fretboard Part 1

In this post we learn about the musical alphabet and the sharps and flats. This post focuses around the notes on a piano, because it is easiest to visualise what’s being discussed – but you don’t need to understand the piano to make sense of this post. Once you have a basic understanding of the musical alphabet we start applying the notes to the fretboard in Finding the Notes: Part 2‘.

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The CAGED System

The CAGED System 7: UNCAGED

Hopefully by now you understand how the CAGED system helps to navigate, and link up the fretboard. Maybe you’ve even explored the chord & scale diagrams category to learn other patterns from the CAGED system.

But now its time to explore its short-comings, and wrap up this series (finally… phew!).

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The CAGED System

The CAGED System 6: A Closer Look at the ‘E’ Shape

Today we’re going to examine a particular set of very common chord shapes, which don’t seem to fit in the CAGED system…. or do they?

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Arpeggios The CAGED System

The CAGED System 5: Arpeggios

So far our look at the CAGED system has been limited to scales and chords, but the CAGED system also works nicely with arpeggios too.