The G Ionian mode has seven different notes. | ||||||
Certain chords belong with other chords in songs that are in a key. | ||||||
The notes of a G Ionian scale are only G, A, B, C, D, E, F# | ||||||
G is a major note and corresponds to a G chord in the Ionian mode. | ||||||
These are the notes of G Ionian. | ||||||
| 3rd Fret | 4th Fret | 5th Fret | 6th Fret | 7th Fret | ||
| Thickest string | G | A | B | |||
| C | D | E | ||||
| F# | G | |||||
| Thinnest String | ||||||
This is an example of the G Ionian mode. Notice the notes are the same and in the same order. | ||||||
| Open | 1st fret | 2nd fret | 3rd fret | 4th Fret | ||
| Thickest string | G | |||||
| A | B | C | ||||
| D | E | F# | ||||
| G | ||||||
| Thinnest String | ||||||
G is a major note and corresponds to a G chord in the Ionian mode. | ||||||
Here are two important ways to make a G chord. | ||||||
| 1 | ||||||
| Open | 1st fret | 2nd fret | 3rd fret | |||
| Thinnest string | G | |||||
| B | ||||||
| D | ||||||
| G | ||||||
| D | ||||||
| Thickest string | G | |||||
| 2 | ||||||
| 3rd Fret | 4th Fret | 5th Fret | ||||
| Thickest string | G | |||||
| D | ||||||
| G | ||||||
| B | ||||||
| D | ||||||
| Thinnest String | G | |||||
This is how to fret a G barre chord. | ||||||
| 3rd Fret | 4th Fret | 5th Fret | ||||
| Thickest string | Index | |||||
| ring | ||||||
| pinky | ||||||
| middle | ||||||
| Index | ||||||
| Thinnest String | Index | |||||
I will illustrate my point by using barre chords because I think it is easier to understand. | ||||||
Play these 7 chords in the sequence of an ascending Ionian scale if you can. | ||||||
Don't injure yourself. | ||||||
G major chord: This is the "I" chord of this scale. | ||||||
| 3rd fret | 4th fret | 5th fret | ||||
| Thickest string | Index | |||||
| ring | ||||||
| pinky | ||||||
| middle | ||||||
| Index | ||||||
| Thinnest string | Index | |||||
Amin chord: This is the ii chord of the G Ionian chordal scale. | ||||||
| 5th fret | 6th fret | 7th fret | ||||
| Thickest string | Index | |||||
| ring | ||||||
| pinky | ||||||
| Index | ||||||
| Index | ||||||
| Thinnest string | Index | |||||
Bmin chord: This is the iii chord of the G Ionian chordal scale. | ||||||
| 7th fret | 8th fret | 9th fret | ||||
| Thickest string | Index | |||||
| ring | ||||||
| pinky | ||||||
| Index | ||||||
| Index | ||||||
| Thinnest string | Index | |||||
Cmaj chord: This is the IV chord of the Ionian scale, mentioned as the IV chord in lesson 1 of my guitar theory series. | ||||||
The shape of this C chord is different than the one in lesson 1 | ||||||
| 3rd fret | 4th fret | 5th fret | ||||
| Thickest string | ||||||
| Index | ||||||
| ring | ||||||
| ring | ||||||
| ring | ||||||
| Thinnest string | ||||||
Dmaj chord: This is the V chord of the Ionian scale, mentioned as the V chord in lesson 1 of my guitar theory series. | ||||||
The shape of this D chord is different than the one in lesson 1 | ||||||
| 3rd fret | 4th fret | 5th fret | ||||
| Thickest string | ||||||
| Index | ||||||
| ring | ||||||
| ring | ||||||
| ring | ||||||
| Thinnest string | ||||||
It is possible to make a I IV V chord progression using barre chords, because the intervals are the same. | ||||||
The arranging of these barre chords have noticably different sound, because they are voiced differently. | ||||||
However, the notes, meaning the actual letters used, retain the chord's identity, and especially the mode. | ||||||
Different voicings of chords are often selected due to the flavor of how a artists want to express themselves. | ||||||
Emin chord: This is the vi chord of the Ionian scale. | ||||||
| 7th fret | 8th fret | 9th fret | ||||
| Thickest string | ||||||
| Index | ||||||
| ring | ||||||
| pinky | ||||||
| middle | ||||||
| Thinnest string | Index | |||||
I should also reveal that a maj is just an abbreviation for major. | ||||||
And, the min is just another abbreviation for minor. | ||||||
The last chord of the seven note Ionian mode is not maj or min. It is diminished. | ||||||
It is usually considered to be a more advanced chord and is rarely used in most forms of music. | ||||||
It is not a barre chord. | ||||||
It is an F# diminished chord. What makes it special is that it has a flatted 5th interval. | ||||||
| 6th fret | 7th fret | 8th fret | ||||
| Thickest string | ||||||
| middle | ||||||
| ring | ||||||
| index | ||||||
| pinky | ||||||
| Thinnest string | ||||||
When playing an F#dim it also sounds like it belongs to the G Ionian mode. | ||||||
There is no 8th chord to the chordal scale. | ||||||
The next chord would be another G chord voiced an octave higher than the first G. | ||||||
Can you think of how to play that chord on your own based upon the information in this lesson? |
