Applying modes

How to find modes in any key, anywhere on the fretboard

1.    Drill the sandwich exercise using major scales
2.    Drill the sandwich exercise using lydian scales (#4)
3.    Drill the sandwich exercise using mixolydian scales (b7)
4.    Drill the sandwich exercise using Aeolian scale (b3,b6,b7)
5.    Drill the sandwich exercise using Dorian scales (Aeolian with nat.6th)
6.    Drill the sandwich exercise using Phrygian scales (Aeolian with b2)
7.    Drill the sandwich exercise using Locrian scales (Phrygian with b5)
8.    Use the CAGED system to find any mode anywhere in any key


How to apply modes to improvise diatonically
Using the chart above at 4. use the appropriate mode to improvise over the sequence to ‘I will Survive!’


Am7 (A Aeolian)  | Dm7 (D Dorian)      | G7 (G Mixolydian) | CMaj7 (C Ionian)            |

FMaj7 (F Lydian) | Bm7b5 (B Locrian) | Em7 (E Phrygian) | E7b9  E7 (E Mixolydian) :||


Note that the Non-diatonic chords E7b9  and E7 take the mixolydian mode. This is because they are dominant chords (Natural 3rd, but b7) and the mixolydian mode is the only one with this combination of intervals).

This is a great song to practice modes over as it includes all seven modes.

How to apply modes to improvise non-diatonically

Regardless of context try using:

Mixolydian mode over any dominant chord (7ths, 9ths 11ths, 13ths etc.)
Ionian or Lydian over any Major chord (6ths, 6/9, Maj7, Maj9, Maj11, Maj13 etc..)
Dorian, Phrygian or Aeolian over any Minor chord (m6,m7,m9,m11,m13 etc..)
Locrian mode over any half diminished chord (m7b5, m9b5).

Example:

Watermelon Man

F7 (F Mixolydian)       |                                   |                                |                                    |

Bb7 (Bb Mixolydian)  |                                    | F7 (F Mixolydian)   |                                    |

C7  (C Mixolydian)     |  Bb7 (Bb Mixolydian) | C7  (C Mixolydian)  |  Bb7 (Bb Mixolydian) | 

C7  (C Mixolydian)     |  Bb7 (Bb Mixolydian) | F7 (F Mixolydian)    |                                  :||