Lesson series

Modes Made Easy

Modes Made Easy takes you beyond basic scales and shows you how to use modes in your playing

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Online guitar course · Modes

Modes Made Easy

Learn the seven guitar modes and how to use them

Modes Made Easy is a six-week online guitar course on modes, taught by Steve Stine. Weeks 1 and 2 review scale and chord theory, the major scale in seven positions and how to emphasize chord tones. Weeks 3 and 4 teach each mode from Ionian to Locrian, and Week 5 covers parallel modes and using modes in metal and blues. Week 6 shows the modes in well-known songs, such as Evil Ways for Dorian and White Rabbit for Phrygian. It has 43 lessons with weekly PDF books (103 pages) and is included in GuitarZoom Premium.

43video lessons

5+ hoursof step-by-step teaching

7 modulesin a clear order

Intermediate to advancedlevel

Weekly PDF books (103 pages in total)included

In Premiumwith 15 more core courses

Excellent · 4.8 out of 5 on TrustpilotRead our reviews

START FREE 14-DAY TRIAL BUY THIS COURSE · $97

Included in GuitarZoom Premium · course 14 of 16 in the path (Stage 4: Advanced Soloing and Improvising)

Free preview

What Modes Made Easy is about

Steve breaks every skill into simple steps you can follow. In these videos, he introduces the course, reviews scale theory, and shows how modes work in metal.

Course intro: Introduction: Modes Made Easy Week 1 · 2:06

Free preview lesson: Scale Theory · 5:19

Free preview lesson: Using Modes in Metal Music · 2:57

Who it's for

Is Modes Made Easy right for you?

Players who know the major scale. You'll turn that one scale into seven distinct sounds.
Guitarists confused by modes. The course reviews the theory first, then takes one mode at a time.
Soloists who want more color. You'll learn when to use each mode, with song examples.

What you'll be able to do

Skills you'll walk away with

Review the chromatic scale, the major scale and chord theory
Play the major diatonic scale in seven positions
Convert pentatonic shapes into diatonic scales
Emphasize chord tones while soloing
Play and hear all seven modes from Ionian to Locrian
Use parallel modes
Apply modes in metal and blues settings
Recognize modes in well-known songs

What's inside

The course, module by module

Every module and every lesson, in the order you learn them.

Module 1

Week 1: Scale and chord theory

The chromatic scale, scale theory, the major diatonic scale, triads, chords with sevenths, chord shortcuts and an introduction to modes.

8 lessons · 70 min

See all 8 lessons

Introduction: Modes Made Easy Week 1 2:06
The Chromatic Scale 13:44
Scale Theory 5:19
The Major Diatonic Scale 13:46
Chordal Theory and Triads 12:48
Chords With Sevenths 9:12
Chord Shortcuts 5:08
Introduction to Modes 7:35

Module 2

Week 2: Modes on the fretboard

Exploring modes with chords, converting pentatonic to diatonic, the major scale over the fretboard, emphasizing chord tones and the seven positions of the major scale.

5 lessons · 61 min

See all 5 lessons

Exploring Modes with Chords 12:51
Converting Pentatonic to Diatonic 13:28
The Major Scale over the Fretboard 7:44
Emphasizing Chord Tones 14:50
The Seven Positions of the Major Diatonic Scale 12:09

Module 3

Week 3: Ionian, Dorian and Phrygian

The Ionian, Dorian and Phrygian modes.

3 lessons · 36 min

See all 3 lessons

Ionian Mode 3:43
Dorian Mode 18:31
Phrygian Mode 13:17

Module 4

Week 4: Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian

The Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian modes.

4 lessons · 33 min

See all 4 lessons

Lydian Mode 11:12
Mixolydian Mode 8:41
Aeolian Mode 7:18
Locrian Mode 5:46

Module 5

Week 5: Parallel modes and real-world use

Parallel modes and the parallel mode approach, modal multiple choice, and using modes in real situations, in metal and in a bluesy way.

7 lessons · 39 min

See all 7 lessons

Parallel Modes 10:38
The Parallel Mode Approach 6:10
Using Modal Multiple Choice 4:13
Using Modes In A-Real World 6:42
Using Modes in Metal Music 2:57
Using Modes In A Bluesy Sense 3:06
Finale 5:20

Module 6

Week 6: Modes in real songs

Mode examples from songs including Hey Jude, Let It Be, Evil Ways, Oye Como Va, Moondance, White Rabbit, Dreams, Can't You See, All Along The Watchtower and Maria Maria, plus dealing with Locrian.

15 lessons · 47 min

See all 15 lessons

Introduction To Real Life Situations in MODES 3:35
Start Practicing With Song "Hey Jude" 5:53
Ionian Example No.1 - Let It Be 6:12
Ionian Example No.2 - Heaven 1:56
Ionian Example No.3 - Hit Me With Your Best Shot 1:59
Ionian Example No.4 - Fool In The Rain 2:01
Dorian Example No.1 - Evil Ways 4:36
Dorian Example No.2 - Oye Como Va 2:06
Dorian Example No.3 - Moondance 3:09
Phrygian Example - White Rabbit 2:05
Lydian Example - Dreams 2:12
Mixolydian Example - Can't You See 2:37
Aeolian Example No. 1 - All Along The Watchtower 2:44
Aeolian Example No. 2 - Maria, Maria 1:59
Dealing With The Locrian And Final Words 3:33

Module 7

Bonus: The sound of each mode

A long bonus lesson exploring the sound of each mode.

1 lesson · 33 min

See all 1 lesson

Exploring the Sound of Each Mode 33:24

START FREE 14-DAY TRIAL BUY THIS COURSE · $97

How it works

Learn at your own pace

Clear video lessons

Every move is shown up close. Pause, rewind and repeat each lesson as often as you need.

Practice materials

Includes Weekly PDF books (103 pages in total). Use them to practice what you learn in each lesson.

Part of a clear path

This is course 14 of 16 in the Premium path, so you always know what to learn next.

Your instructor

Steve Stine

GuitarZoom Master Instructor

Steve has taught guitar for more than 30 years and has helped millions of players in over 100 countries. He has a Music Education degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead and taught guitar at North Dakota State University. He's known for breaking hard things into simple steps you can follow. Read Steve's full story

Student reviews

What students say about Steve's teaching

Excellent · 4.8 out of 5 on TrustpilotRead our reviews

"Steve Stine is the teacher that I have been looking for a long time."
Jimmy H.United States

"I discovered your courses. I find them great. It's a complete guitar journey and I learned something every week."
Philip M.United States

"It made the fretboard much, much simpler and easier to understand than I have imagined it to be."
Geoffrey E.United Kingdom

"I'm amazed with just how much improvement I've seen in my own guitar playing."
Don B.United States

"What I'd really say is definitely take Steve Stine's course. I think you would find it really, really beneficial."
Demetrio G.Canada

"One major problem that I had was just being lost. Steve helped me find the way."
Jared H.United States

Read 100+ more student reviews

FAQ

Modes Made Easy questions

Do I need to know music theory first?

It helps, but Week 1 reviews the chromatic scale, the major scale, triads and seventh chords before the modes begin.

Which modes are covered?

All seven: Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian, plus parallel modes.

Will I hear modes in real songs?

Yes. Week 6 uses songs such as Let It Be (Ionian), Oye Como Va (Dorian), White Rabbit (Phrygian), Dreams (Lydian) and All Along The Watchtower (Aeolian).

Can I use modes in rock, metal or blues?

Week 5 has lessons on using modes in metal music and in a bluesy way.

How long is the course?

It runs six weeks with 43 lessons, about 5 hours and 18 minutes in total, plus a bonus lesson on the sound of each mode.

How do I get Modes Made Easy?

Modes Made Easy is one of the 16 core courses in GuitarZoom Premium. Premium costs $39 a month or $299 a year and starts with a 14-day free trial. You can also buy Modes Made Easy on its own for a one-time $97.

What else is included in GuitarZoom Premium?

Premium gives you Steve Stine's 16 core courses in a clear, step-by-step path, from your first chords to improvising your own solos, plus a Jam Tracks library. You get every course from day one.

Can I cancel GuitarZoom Premium?

Yes. You can cancel any time. If you cancel before your 14-day trial ends, you won't be charged.

Can I watch on my phone or tablet?

Yes. You can watch on any computer, tablet or phone with an internet connection, as often as you like.

Next in the Premium path