2. Modal TheoryThe major scale is said to be the first mode. For the purposes of this lesson we will concentrate on the use of C Major for the transpositions.To refresh, the C Major chord consists of C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. Using the C major scale does not mean you have to go from root to octave, it is just a fundamental building block to music. I.e if you are playing a C Major chord in you rhythm section, then the simplest scale to play over that chord is C Major, as you are guaranteed to encompass the Root, Third and Fifth. TranspositionTo transpose a chord or scale, loosely means to move it round the neck. This is also evident in scales.C Major: C D E F G A B C Suppose we start a run on the D of the chord its second note, we would then have. ???????: D E F G A B C D What is this scale, you may ask, it is still C Major. Lets say we analyse this group of notes, using the D as the parent rather than the second, and compare it to the D Major scale, Which we know. D Major: D E F# G A B C# D C Major: D E F G A B C D Here we can see that the third and the seventh note are flattened, this has given us a new mode of the Major scale, this is called the Dorian Mode. This can be done across the scale, producing 7 new modes.
Above is an illustration of the way that scalar modes are produced. The notes in the column ‘transposed’ all remain the same, just starting on a different note. However that note that they are starting ons major scale varies greatly, although the intervals remain the same.
Playing these variations to the Major scale, around the simple scale box that was in the previous lesson should enable you to learn these scales very quickly.  Please note that the above shape is to be used on strings E to D and A to G. Next lesson I will produce a neck diagram of the whole scale through the ocatves, so we can start to visualise the neck as numbers and intervals. Exclusive lesson for TabHeaven.com by Nathan. Please send a mail with questions, ideas of new lessons and other stuff. Back to all guitar, bass, drum lessons
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