Modal scales in A Major

In this series of lesson we take a look at modal scales and try to
take some of the mystery out of them
So what are they and how do you use them.
Modal scales are simply, scales which come off
the notes of a parent scale. The scale patterns are the same
across the fretboard. To work with the accompanying videos
we have used the key of A major which starts on the 5th fret
on the E string.

The key of A Major looks like this. The notes in the scale are
A B C# D E F# G# A
From these notes will come the modal scales and it works as follows.



Mixolydian Mode E Mixolydian

Here the Mixolydian mode is shown as it sits
in the A Major scale
It starts at the fifh note of the scale and
contains the notes  E F# G# A B C# D E

This is the full two octave Mixolydian scale.
It starts on the 12th fret of the E string at the E note

This box shows the A major scale for comparison purposes.
Both scales start on the A note at the 5th fret of the E string.

The Mixolydian scale is a major scale
with the 7th note lowered by a half step