The EASIEST Way to Learn the Modes on Guitar!

Get assets for this video, downloadable practice tracks, bonus guitar lessons, and a HUGE bonus video showing you how to navigate these 3+4 scale patterns here: / benellerguitars
Snag your official SHRED TILL YOU'RE UNDEAD merch here!!!! vonkowen.threadless.com/colle...
Get sweet deals on all the nice things i use here @Sweetwater !!! Sick deals on all kinds of good stuff: imp.i114863.net/jxdA0
You want the EASIEST way to learn the modes on guitar??? Uncle Ben Eller here has your back!!! I'm gonna take you all on an epic journey through ALL 7 MODE SHAPES in the key of G major as you've likely never played them before. These 3+4 patterns are SO easy to learn and SHRED. Whether you're a modal master or a scale n00b, these shapes are gonna change the way you play! They're a lot easier to visualize and memorize than big clunky patterns you've seen and used in the past, and they'll help you learn the notes on the fretboard more better by locating root notes on various strings. Your mind gonna be BLOWN.
Playing my Jackson SL2 American Series Soloist into the Synergy OS module into the UA OX, and it sounds NICE!!!!
What theory topic do you want to see a lesson on next? Let me know in the comments!

[@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!

[@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

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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

[@user-dz2vt7sf7u]

Uncle Ben. You are the fucking best ❤

[@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!

[@Hegder]

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

[@askerzie]

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

[@Ickigz]

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

[@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

[@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!

[@dougbenton8101]

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

[@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.

[@kdmason]

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

[@KevinNolin]

Another great lesson. Thanks Uncle Ben!

[@AlvinWar]

You always have a sweet sounding rig! Cheers Unk!

[@niklet805]

Great lesson Ben, thanks.

[@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.

[@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.

[@charles-davidcorbin3341]

Thanks for all this valuable informations. Really good video.

[@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!

[@A.J.99]

Thanks Uncle Ben for this epic lesson !

[@chucksaeger7500]

That was fantastic and was a revelation as well. Thanks

[@myerz666]

Very good lesson Ben, thank you

[@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.

[@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 ;)...

[@Beautiful_Evil]

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.

[@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! 😎

[@kenny3485]

Thanks! Good stuff.

[@freesk8]

Wow, great lesson! Thanks! :)

[@LiveLaughJordan-oi6tg]

Ben thank you so much for this video! You rock

[@BenEller]

My pleasure!

[@michaelk9943]

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

[@ergonaught]

Probably going to call you Bendalf now.

[@thebipolarbear1]

Beautiful guitar man very nice

[@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.

[@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. 🤘

[@nicocortes5145]

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

[@Low.Key.Music01]

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

[@dannyspitzer1267]

Thanks Uncle Ben!

[@mrebysan]

4:00 Frying pan shape major scale

[@guitarplayer6565]

Great stuff

[@Nicolae8607]

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

[@WillGamache]

I need to practice more

[@dannyspitzer1267]

Luv that axe!

[@MikeHansen1970]

That was really cool.

[@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.

[@icecold337]

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

[@LiveLaughJordan-oi6tg]

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

[@davidballon2990]

Great video

[@RF944]

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

[@DanielAlzapiedi-on4oi]

YES!!!! With Trevor. Delish.

[@AncientGranules]

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

[@TheMirrorify]

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

[@BenEller]

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

[@bumrecordingstudios]

Great video. Very good for people to learn to find root notes and go from there. Kudos!

[@mojodojo5533]

Oh hell to the mode yeah!

[@patandmacmusic]

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

[@stavies7525]

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

[@leelooki]

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

[@Mac-fm5yh]

Thanks 🙏

[@brayanlopes5222]

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.

[@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…

[@pickboy7]

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

[@babylemonade2868]

Longbottom leaf and guitar go hand in hand Uncle Ben

[@meridian7143]

I'm ready for elevensies after that!

[@rumy6871]

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

[@thelukoflove]

I like this way a lot

[@gonepickin990]

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

[@Snowman1318]

You are Great 👍

[@impoopnrightnow906]

*UNCLE BEN!*

[@BenEller]

HI!

[@joshdelacour4586]

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

[@UserNameWasCensored]

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

[@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

[@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

[@gordobot24]

Nice job Uncle Ben…

[@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.

[@Swanlord05]

Ben can you do the modes in E and A?

[@dengazz1004]

@dengazz1004 0 seconds ago I had the pleasure of meeting Ben just the other day in NY at the Satriani/Vai show. Your Uncle Ben cares about teaching, he’s great at it, he’s witty, he’s knowledgeable,…all the while being a down to earth, humble guy who’s in it for all the right reasons. He’s the real deal.

[@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.

[@Fake_Jesus]

That was gooood

[@edinguitar]

best analogies ever :D

[@richieismyhero]

Uncle Ben Rocks

[@jasonjuneau2948]

The C Lydian + C major sounded the nicest

[@2thdoctom]

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

[@LiveLaughJordan-oi6tg]

lmao "or old toby... like me" ONE OF US ONE OF US

[@BenEller]

Urry day

[@rawsonband4582]

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

[@chewycenter]

Wow modes with a context! Finally. Great lesson.

[@teamzero9465]

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

[@reckless-575]

I was hoping you would skip the Locrian mode. Nevertheless, it’s a excellent lesson uncle Ben! 👍

[@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!!

[@joesolorzano3207]

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…

[@randallhaney7909]

Yeah daddy, Uncle Benny Bob.. Awesome lesson (as always) .. In particular; I really like, That Frigid Lydia, Yup I am Smitten More than that you could say that I'm in really deep Smitt. with'um.. Thanks Uncle Benny Bob, For Always keeping it cool and Fun. You and your hard wok creating this content .. Are appreciated

[@killroy123]

Joe Bonamassa a la Mode is Joe Bonamassa with Ice Cream.

[@IDGAF_PLUS]

I still haven't figured out how to commit the pentatonic shapes to memory. It's why I suck on guitar.

[@florisrobert]

I know what you re saying, but you don' t need to. You can refer to the tutorial below, I also had to watch it three times to grasp everything and practiced it for a while, but now I can do pentatonic vertically on the fretboard with the root note anywhere on the fretboard, check it out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqfXipWYhNWqjpI I also made a playlist with all the videos I found useful to understand music theory and concepts a little bit clearer, you can check it out mate kzbin.info/aero/PLitR3nKFB-dvSgxBA0XfSawSbvWZqhaUX

[@IDGAF_PLUS]

​@@florisrobert Thanks! Very kind of you!

[@sweepmop7613]

"an adult guitar" hahahaha, perfect!

[@sotirios6882]

What? No pie ala mode? LOL. That Jackson is sweet. It looks like a Carbon Fiber body 🤔 Ben Ala mode strikes again 😂.

[@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!

[@Ehrmann_Gregsson]

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

[@SanithMohanCase305]

3:03