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.
Locrian Mode G# Locrian
Here the Locrian mode is shown as it sits
in the A Major scale It starts at the 7th note of the scale and contains the notes G# A B C# D E F# G# |
This is the full two octave Locrian scale.
It starts on the 4th and 16th frets of the E string at the G# 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 Locrian scale is a minor scale with the 2nd, 3rd, 5th,
6th and 7th notes lowered by a half step |