The EASIEST Way to Learn the Modes on Guitar!

[@BenEller]

Thanks for checking out this new approach to learning the modes! Grab the charts + the bonus lesson showing you how to SHRED these things here: www.patreon.com/posts/101673271?

[@thenickseditious]

dude you rule really helped me put this stuff together. great videos been going through them.

[@zer0dave]

Hi Ben! This seemed like a scam but I received this message from "@YT_BenEller", wanted to make you aware of it: "Tᴇxᴛ ᴍᴇ ᴏɴ ᴛᴇʟᴇɢʀᴀᴍ 👉@YT_BenEller replied: "There's an item(Guitar and a MacBook)on my mind that I'd like to handover to ya." Just wanted to make you aware. Keep up the great content!

[@Sarahbuildsstepsequencers]

You may recognize me, Ben. I don’t play guitar but still I very much enjoy your content. This in my humble opinion is one of your most important lessons. I played lead guitar, knowing next to nothing, going on what sounded right after practicing easily 4-7 hours a day. And people dug my playing. I was heavy into Randy Rhoads, Al di Meola, VH, Sabbath. But looking back, this is what I should’ve learned. I knew some scales, but I didn’t understand the use of modes. Stupid me. Anyway, if I start playing again, it’ll be because of this video you made, Ben. Showing the emotion in each progressive scale against chords made such a loud click! The different modes are what create emotion in line with easy played chord. And once one memorizes the emotion for each of the 7 modes, you can begin to craft that song about something spooky or uplifting or mysterious, exciting, hardcore - whatever! Seriously. It finally clicked - and I don’t even play, lol!

[@Wagnar6000]

Been playing guitar for 26 years now , I have done the band thing, took like ten years of lessons also been to and finshed a diploma in jazz guitar and I teach for a living . so I have been around the guitar a lot, and no one has ever shown me these before, so slick and super intuitive this was a great lesson. thank you and you had me with the lord of the rings lore

[@jeisindillow3766]

You just smashed 3 half hour headache lessons into one smooth easy to swallow burrito. Well done sir. Well done.

[@BenEller]

Glad to help

[@AncientGranules]

Exactly!

[@johnnymcjohnsonville9529]

Love your content Uncle Ben, you’ve taken many string ticklers to new heights. Some things I hope can be helpful to others - the way I’ve learned the modes AND fretboard is to memorize all the natural notes CDEFGAB on the fretboard using mode pattern boxes. Background music theory: each note letter has a mode associated with it where all the notes are natural (no sharps or flats): 1. C Ionian aka Major scale (way to remember: “See-eye”) CDEFGAB 2. D Dorian (D-D, easy) DEFGABC 3. E Phrygian (“Eat-fridge”) EFGABCD 4. F Lydian (“F- Lydia”, she sucks) FGABCDE 5. G Mixolydian (“Granola mix”) GABCDEF 6. A Aeolian Aka minor scale (A-A, easy) ABCDEFG 7. B Locrian (“Be-low”) BCDEFGA See how the sequence is always alphabetical, but starting on a different letter. Someone just starting out might be confused about G Ionian mentioned in the video, because C is usually associated with Ionian. You can apply a mode’s note interval spacing to any root note, which is how Uncle Ben gets the G Ionian at the 3rd fret. GABCDEF# If the root note or background chord is a C major, you can play any of the modes of C Ionian listed above and it will sound major and happy. Change the chord to A minor but keep playing the same notes from those modes and suddenly it sounds sad. All the notes are the same but the mood becomes different because the context (root note) has changed. A mode/scale’s mood comes from the *note relationships to the root*, not the individual notes themselves. There are 5 mode box patterns in the sequence E-Phrygian/G-Mixolydian/A-Aeolian/B-Locrian/D-Dorian (C Ionian is inside in B, just ignore the first C note) and (same, F Lydian is inside E, skip E) Start with the open E string and play the natural note sequence EFGABCD in a box that spans the open strings to the third fret (reference a chart that shows fret notes). Continue this idea with G on the third fret of the E string, A-5th fret, B-7th fret, D-10th fret. You’ll see that the guitar is tuned in such a way that you can go through all notes in the modes within a 4 fret finger stretch across all 6 strings. The mode boxes attach to each other end-to-end in an endless cycle. These mode boxes can be shifted and applied to any root note to allow you to play the modes in any key. Also remember that any 7 note scale contains 7 modes in 7 different keys (5 note scale=5 modes, 5 keys etc). Every mode of a scale contains the same notes, just with the sequence starting on a different letter. It’s a bargain 7-for-1 deal. Knowing the modes and their major/minor character also helps in understanding chord progressions. This is just one way to learn the fretboard and music theory that I taught myself, but there are many others that have their own benefits. TL;DR Learn the C major scale, then how the modes are based off it. Apply to fretboard. This is what has helped me wrap my head around music theory+the fretboard and improvisation.

[@mrebysan]

4:00 Frying pan shape major scale

[@WyattScott]

Ben’s my favorite YT guitar guy cause he’s like a bro ya know. Like someone I know and grew up with, no pretentious BS, just gold content and delivery.

[@BenEller]

Thanks dude

[@CorumBryant]

Uncle Ben. You are the fucking best ❤

[@stevevender1154]

Very much a beginner here. Wasn’t sure I’d get much out of this but just the two string Ionian scale was worth it. Slowly but surely. Thanks!

[@johnnypatterson77]

What really helped me learn the modes was an old Guitar World article it suggested to learn the modes in this order Lydian. Ionian, Mixolydian, Dorian, Aeolian, Phrygian, Locrian, L.I.M.D.A.P.L., in this order you are seeing the modes from the one-note changing perspective, this always you to see and hear the changes to each mode by starting on Lydian and lowering one note at a time, you can quickly and easily build and memorize all seven major scale modes on the guitar. I really don't know why were not taught these modes in this order, it really was a game changer for me.

[@ScottfromBaltimore]

It still gets me that modes are all just diatonic scales with different root notes. The bit at the end where you play each over its home chord was helpful.

[@buzzbabyjesus]

One of the best lessons I've ever had. Came just at the right time. I'm going to learn and practice this for the next forever. Thanks!

[@buzzbabyjesus]

It's really the shapes in relation to the scale and chords as the complete package. Guitar seems to be a G Major E minor instrument.

[@caladan_brewed]

Yes we've had first scale shape memorization strategy, but what about second scale shape memorization strategy?

[@DisruptedSinner]

I've seen a lot of modes tutorials but this is by far the easiest one to understand. Great video! Added to my practice repertoire.

[@askerzie]

Chuckled a bit over "F# demolished chord" at 11:12 haha. Good vid

[@michaelvarney.]

Amazing video. A few weeks ago I started in on doing 3nps shapes for all modes and the “atoms” of the 3nps. I asked myself if there are other groupings and tried variations and found this one as well for each mode. And then suddenly this great video comes out and validates all that hard work!

[@LiveLaughJordan-oi6tg]

Ben thank you so much for this video! You rock

[@BenEller]

My pleasure!

[@AlvinWar]

You always have a sweet sounding rig! Cheers Unk!

[@graysonhester2955]

That lady Lydia really knew what she was doing when she cooked up her mode

[@BenEller]

The fairest in all the land

[@Bundyman1]

I don't know... That Phrygid chick knew how to create a mood... 🤘😁

[@freesk8]

"Lydia, oh, Lydia that encyclopydia, Lydia the tah-ha-toed lady..." Groucho Marx

[@EssensOrAccidens]

She is sworn to carry your burdens...

[@Mike-rw2nh]

Intelligent lesson structure. Genuinely funny and engaging teaching style. Hell’s bells, I even like the no nonsense (and pretty) handwritten notes too. Stellar content, good sir. Bravo.

[@9th_note]

I already have all of the modes memorized in my head, but visualizing them on the fretboard is a different story and I am visually impaired so this helps a lot because shapes help me get around a lot easier. I have a lot of tools in my guitar tool bag, but this is going to be one of those that goes in the special pouch. thank you Ben, I really do appreciate learning this from you and all of the videos I have learned from from you contain awesome little bits of information like this that have helped me a shit load.

[@chucksaeger7500]

That was fantastic and was a revelation as well. Thanks

[@conpappas1066]

I really like the way you teach all the modes. Great teacher. 👍

[@Nicolae8607]

Man I can finally see the light ❤️ Thank you so much for sharing this lesson..your are Mr. Miyagi in the guitar world😊

[@zer0dave]

Great video to help me get this under my fingers better, thanks so much! Couldn't help but notice the NES TMNT overworld music playing in the background, nice touch ;)...

[@brendanshervington3560]

Thanks Uncle Ben, another Great lesson!much luv🤩👍

[@lbarj]

well done, another great way of looking at the modes. I will add this to my mash up of fretboard visualizations.

[@kdmason]

Exactly what I needed. Right to the point... Thx for this.

[@dougbenton8101]

Awesome way of showing octaves on this! Locrian is a no fly zone lol

[@freefromleftwing]

I thought that I had found the best explanation regarding modes. Wrong , this is the ultimate, full comprehensive explanation. Thank you Ben .

[@charles-davidcorbin3341]

Thanks for all this valuable informations. Really good video.

[@eddaymusic]

I just tried that same Jackson American Series Soloist SL2 HT at a local shop. Very different than any guitar I had played before. Quite tempting and Ben Eller approved! 😎

[@stavies7525]

Is that a tyrannosaur on the wall? Can't beat a bit of T. Rex! Great video!!!

[@KevinNolin]

Another great lesson. Thanks Uncle Ben!

[@freesk8]

Wow, great lesson! Thanks! :)

[@A.J.99]

Thanks Uncle Ben for this epic lesson !

[@MikeHansen1970]

That was really cool.

[@Hegder]

I learnt modes 25 years ago and never had a way to remember them but this is killer. Thank you.

[@Swanlord05]

Ben can you do the modes in E and A?

[@UserNameWasCensored]

BE earns a thumbs up simply for all the LOTR references in the first two minutes

[@kenny3485]

Thanks! Good stuff.

[@bunzi1964]

Excellent lesson Ben. The one thing that's always confused me is when to use what mode. A lot of chord progressions do not neatly fall into 1 key all the way through a song.

[@thebipolarbear1]

Beautiful guitar man very nice

[@agirlsname7159]

2nd Bfast joke lol credit. You are not forgotten.

[@bradsutherland_writer]

I didn't get the "Just don't call it late for second breakfast" joke. Maybe it's something in American culture I'm missing?

[@agirlsname7159]

@@bradsutherland_writer Lord of the Rings book/movie reference...Ben snuck in a few this vid!

[@michaelk9943]

Shredi Nights 😂 ok you win. I laughed way too hard at that.

[@avocadoflowmix7171]

Thanks for wonderful, step by step, scale learning lesson.

[@ergonaught]

Probably going to call you Bendalf now.

[@PawpawJamz]

Getting these shapes down and working on your legato and palm muting will have you ripping up the fretboard in no time. Good stuff, Ben. 🤘

[@artromo4980]

Great lesson. Lighting, audio and camera work on point. What camera are you using? Looks great.

[@BenEller]

Oh thanks! It’s a garbage Canon T5i hahaha super outdated

[@gtrjoe1901]

Hello Ben, I'm working up a song lesson by the Scorpions and was very surprised at the use of a Bdim and Ddim in the song - It's titled Loving You Sunday Morning; I think it would be a great song to discuss the use of diminished chords (Zeps Wanton Song also) in a rock context. Thanks for all you do ~ My Very Best ~ Joe

[@BenEller]

Totally! Gotta love those demolished sounds.

[@teamzero9465]

Hey uncle Ben! Do you have a music theory class that you teach online? Thank you very much

[@nicocortes5145]

Great lesson! I also really like Guthrie Govan's creative guitar book series for modes and Frank Gambale's video on modes.

[@freesk8]

I'd just like to mention that from 9:37 to 11:12 Ben does all seven mode scales, twice each, all the way up the guitar neck and never makes a single mistake. It's all one take. Impressive!

[@MonsieurKaizer]

10:55 checkmate

[@freesk8]

@@MonsieurKaizer Hmm. You seem to be correct. Slight bobble. And my bet is that YOU couldn't do as well. Not even close! And neither can I. Now, go practice! :)

[@TheMirrorify]

Just want to compliment your tone in this video, fantastic.

[@BenEller]

Thanks man! That guitar and the Synergy OS module really sing.

[@dannyspitzer1267]

Thanks Uncle Ben!

[@70topbananaman]

Clearest explanation ever, thank you.

[@dannyspitzer1267]

Luv that axe!

[@pickboy7]

Dude that lick at the 2:24 was fire ⚡️🎸⚡️

[@turdferguson7348]

Very helpful video.. ❤ Thank you.

[@brayan_lopes]

Its very interesting. I have been using a similar strategy for a few months now. I was looking for a way to play a scale/mode through the whole neck and I came a cross these kind of shapes. For me, they mix the shapes I have memorized. For example, in your first example, the way I see it, you are mixing the Major shape with the Minor shape. You are starting on the Major shape and ending on the second note of the Minor shape. I don't know if it makes sense to you but this is how I learned to vizualize the shapes on the neck.

[@guitarplayer6565]

Great stuff

[@gtaglia779]

Dear Uncle Ben. Sincerely, many thanks 🙏 This is such a simple, yet so amazing hack! It's working wonders for me. I was stuck living secretly in a 3 note-per-string lifestyle - "Not that there's anything wrong with that!" 😉

[@JPM777]

I might be the dumbest regarding scales and modes but I don't know why, but I've had a block on this subject. I've been playing for 10+ years and can't figure it out... I haven't even tried because it seems confusing. I want so much to learn all this. Hopefully, this video will help.

[@omarpervaiz]

Two strings to rule them all! Thank you uncle BenDalf! ✌🏽

[@rawsonband4582]

My mom was right!!! You are the best!

[@DanielAlzapiedi-on4oi]

YES!!!! With Trevor. Delish.

[@kcmyers]

Very good lesson Ben, thank you

[@Low.Key.Music01]

This is exactly what I was looking for: A way to cover more territory on the fretboard

[@LiveLaughJordan-oi6tg]

Ben I would love a theory course! Looking forward to that

[@robonguitarnz]

Thats a beautiful guitar! Looks like a Jackson and a ESP MII mixed, the primo combo!

[@gkfrandsen7739]

so in a G major progression, I could play 8th fret G lydian over the 4 chord C, and so forth? these sound good but I don't necessarily know how to apply each modal scale to each chord change.

[@meridian7143]

I'm ready for elevensies after that!

[@patandmacmusic]

Ben is the best. Still changing the way I play years later

[@darrenjackson582]

Id sugest for a better way to hear the harmonic gesture of the modes, is to play them all from the same root..eg as in the lesson but keep the root as G and change the pattern accordingly. Not only will the harmonic differnce really stand out but it will help in retaining the note difference between each mode...no right or wrong way..this way just really helped me! Great lesson Uncle Ben!!

[@BRNREK47]

That's how I've seen Frank Gambale teach it. He'd follow the G down each scale degree against a chord progression in the corresponding key signature. For example "G Aeolian" (G natural minor) would be played against a 1,4,5, progression (per Frank's recommendation) in B flat major. The harmonic quality of the mode then jumps out dramatically. What Ben is doing is the starting point which comes together at the end of the video but it sounds like the major scale just played all over the neck at first. The ear training comes in when you construct chord progressions to play over but it's tricky. I actually like what Ben did at the end though as a starting point. Playing against the synth to become acclimated with the tonal color of each single note.

[@JessieJames0317]

You can practice that on your own though. Take a delay and set it to hold a root note for you. Boom, scale it up bro!

[@cchuvan]

That’s exactly what I was wondering. Because I have no theory background, I’ve tried to understand modes as different scales played from the same root note so I was confused when Ben started to move up the neck to demonstrate each mode. I think that says more about me and my own lack of knowledge, though. I’m sure there’s a good reason to show it that way and i feel like my brain is an inch away from getting it but I’m not there yet…

[@Ickigz]

With these shapes, we should be able to find the pocketses.

[@LoraxChannel]

Crazy, I've used the all whole step pattern/idea for latin music for years, but never changed modes with it. I'm really looking forward trying out the other patterns.

[@AncientGranules]

This is a GREAT lesson sir! Even for a 'late' re-learner! Thanks for your easy explanation. 🎸🎸🎸🎶🎶🎶🤪

[@WillGamache]

I need to practice more

[@chewycenter]

Wow modes with a context! Finally. Great lesson.

[@davespin9034]

This makes a lot of sense as we’re talking octaves do the pattern will be the same, it’s just do Ray mi fa so la ti do, Ray mi fa so la ti do Ray…

[@2thdoctom]

Starting off with Keep it Dark by Genesis in G Ionian.

[@glenicelaughlin5721]

Man I could"nt Thank you enough I have just learnt a new way to play the Guitar Thanks Again BENELLERGUITARS Donald Laughlin Melbourne Australia

[@Ehrmann_Gregsson]

Hey, I really like the intro song! How can I find it?

[@SanithMohanCase305]

3:03

[@Mac-fm5yh]

Thanks 🙏

[@joshdelacour]

The lord of the rings references and jokes you dropped are 10/10 Thanks uncle Ben!

[@gonepickin990]

Unca Ben, yer a nerd...lol! Love the lesson! Another way to connect the scale. Thanks!

[@icecold337]

Nice touch with the NES TMNT overworld map background music. 🤘🏼😎🤘🏼

[@GeneralTHC]

That's pretty cool. But, for me, if C Ionian = D Dorian = E Phrygian = F Lydian = G Mixolydian = A Aeolian = B Locrian is true, then it stands to reason there ought to be a major scale I can play for every mode instead of having to memorize a bunch of shapes. I mean, everyone already knows the major scale anyway, right? So I do believe that if you wanted to play: C Locrian, you'd just play Db major scale C Aeolian you'd just play Eb major scale C Mixolydian, you'd just play the F Major scale C Lydian, you'd just play the G major scale C Phrygian, you'd just play the G# major scale C Dorian, you'd just play the Bb major scale I hope this helps someone.

[@Dan-zq5wt]

Wow! I’ve been so confused about this topic and this totally opened my eyes to the modes. So - they way it relates to keys - if I’m playing D mixolydian I’m in the key of G, but if I’m playing D Dorian, I’m playing in Cmajor. And the mode covers the whole fretboard while playing over that chord (in this case D minor). Is that a correct example?

[@BenEller]

Sounds like you’re on the right track here. Happy to help!

[@Rummy73]

Uncle B also has a cooking lesson, friends. Pies and a la modes made simple. Tasty riffs, tasty treats.

[@matthewcyahoo]

I have always played blues so I live in the 5 shapes of the minor pentatonic. I have always tried to figure out how the major scale fits into my playing and modes have always confused me. Dumb question, your example starts in G, if I am playing in a different key do the shapes and names, Ionain, Dorian, stay the same or does it key off the new root I am playing in? Or can I just memorize the shapes you showed us and if I am playing in C, can I just call it Lydian and play the shape you showed me? Hope this makes sense? I think I "saw the light" when watching this video but i want to confirm before I memorize all the shapes and am applying them wrong..

[@johnnymcjohnsonville9529]

If I understand the question... memorize the shapes and then apply the shape to whatever key you want. eg If you want to play C Dorian, start the Dorian shape on the E string 8th fret OR A string 3rd fret, etc... any C on the fretboard

[@mojodojo5533]

Oh hell to the mode yeah!

[@maqam_guitar]

It's a simple concept but this will have big ramifications on my playing. You can apply this to other scales like harmonic and melodic minor

[@davidballon2990]

Great video

[@babylemonade2868]

Longbottom leaf and guitar go hand in hand Uncle Ben

[@RF944]

You got to have a second breakfast after a little bit of old Toby.

[@gordobot24]

Nice job Uncle Ben…

[@JoeysSG]

When playing the 3 -4 combo are you using strict alternate picking or are you using a hybrid picking technique from the 4th note to the beginning of the next pattern?

[@leelooki]

2:17 I hear lord of the ring, good enough for me to learn 😄

[@orcapodmedia]

So, if we were to follow this lesson, would we change the modes to match whatever chord is being played at the time and change the mode when the chord changes? Or would we keep playing the mode that matches whatever Key the song is in at that time? Does this question even make sense??

[@chrisdaviesguitar]

But which mode do you use over which chord pattern?