Guitar Theory II: Playing a Chordal Scale in the Key of G

 

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?