Introduction

I’ve been playing guitar for about 15 years. By year 3, I got to a medium-level of playing but haven’t developed much since then. Last weekend I got in in my head that I would learn all the modes and how to finger them on the fretboard.

I originally started out by trying to memorize each pattern, then I created a simple way to remember every scale as long as you know 1 basic pattern and a few rules. If you know this, you’ll know be able to find every note in a mode across the fretboard very easily. This method plays 3 notes per string. It could be adapted to Bass and 7 string guitar, but this guide is written for 6 string guitar.

I am not claiming to be the first person to use this method, but it was new to me!

The 3332211 Pattern

We start out by memorizing the 3332211 pattern. Note: This is pronounced three, three, three, two, two, one, one. Say 3332211 to yourself a few times, then say it backwards 1122333. Also practice starting at different locations in the pattern, for example 3221133, 1133322, etc.

3 Finger Placements

There are 3 finger placements for this method. I’ve matched the finger placement to what it feels like you are doing with your fingers.

Finger Placement 1

I call this finger placement ‘1’, because it starts out by using your index finger by itself, skipping your middle finger, then going to your ring and pinky finger.

Here’s the tab for finger placement 1, played on the low E.:

E -----

B -----

G -----

D -----

A -----

E 3-5-6 (1)

Finger Placement 2

I call this finger placement ‘2’ because it uses your index finger and middle finger right next to each other, skips your ring, then goes to your pinky. Similar to showing someone the number 2 with your hands.

Here’s the tab for finger placement 2, played on the low E.:

E -----

B -----

G -----

D -----

A -----

E 3-4-6 (2)

Finger Placement 3

The last finger placement is called ‘3’. It simply skips frets.

Here’s the tab for finger placement 2, played on the low E.:

E -----

B -----

G -----

D -----

A -----

E 3-5-7 (3)

Applying the 3332211 Method

Now that you know the 3 finger placements, you can apply them to the scales on the fretboard. You’ll be playing 3 notes per string, in the pattern of finger placement 3, finger placement 3, finger placement 3, finger placement 2, finger placement 2, finger placement 1, finger placement 1. It then continues to start over at finger placement 3, finger placement 3…

Two Rules

There are two rules to be aware of. These rules are for ascending scales, descending you just do the opposite.

Rule 1: If you are playing a 3 finger placement and the next finger placement is a 2 finger placement, you must move up a fret before playing the 2 finger placement.

Rule 2: If you are going to the B string (from the G), you must move up a fret regardless of the finger placement.

The rules ‘double apply’ if you are moving from a 3 pattern to a 2 pattern and you are on the G string moving to the B string. In this case you have to move up 2 frets (see the Dorian mode).



Modes

I will show you how to play each mode. We’ll be playing in the key of G starting on the Ionian (Major) mode, then will move up the next mode in the series of Modes. Of course, this can be applied to any key – simply move the pattern to match the key you are playing in.

I will also provide a pneumonic device for remembering the patterns. This is very helpful when someone says “This song is in B Phyrygian”. You’ll know exactly which scale to play, then can find all the notes around it easily. The pneumonic device gets you the first 2 finger placements of the scale.

The Ionian Mode (Major)

The major scale is a 3,3,2,2,1,1 pattern.

In the key of G, this starts on the 3rd fret of the low E string.

E 5-7-8 (1)

B 5-7-8 (1) (move up: G-B transition)

G 4-5-7 (2)

D 4-5-7 (2) (move up: coming from a 3 pattern)

A 3-5-7 (3)

E 3-5-7 (3)

As you can see, we start the 3332211 pattern on the second 3, then follow it down the strings.

Pneumonic Device: Major is ‘high’ or ‘popular’ in my mind. It makes sense that it starts with 33 as they are the two highest numbers in this method. 33 is the start of the pattern.

The Dorian Mode

Next, we’ll slide our index finger up to the 5th fret and play the Dorian mode.

E 7-8-10 (2)

B 7-8-10 (2) (DOUBLE move up: coming from a 3 pattern)

G 5-7-9 (3)

D 5-7-9 (3)

A 5-7-9 (3)

E 5-7-8 (1)

Pneumonic Device: Dr. Dorian, from Scrubs, is constantly getting teased by Dr. Cox. I’m sure, at some point, he’s compared him to a 13 year old girl. 13 is the start of the pattern.

Wait. How Do You Know What To Play?

There are two hints for figuring out what to play next.

Every pattern ends on the high E in the same place you’ll start your next scale. For example, the Ionian (Major) mode ends on 5-7-8, the Dorian Mode starts on 5-7-8 of the low E. So you’ve got the low E down, what do you play after that? The next finger pattern you play is the one that is missing from the previous pattern. For example, the Ionian (Major) mode consists of 332211. It is missing that first 3 (332211), so that is what we play on the A string.

Most of the time, you can conclude the rest of the pattern. For example, if you are playing a 2 pattern on the E string and a 2 pattern on the A string, you MUST have to play a 1 pattern next, and so on (221133),

The only time this isn’t simple to conclude is when you play a 33 pattern. Do you have to play another 3 or a 2? In practice, this is pretty easy to figure out. If you are in the key of G and your scale doesn’t start on the third or 15th fret of the E string (G), then you are not going to be playing an Ionian(Major) pattern. You’ll be playing a Mixolydian (3332211) pattern.

The Phrygian Mode

We’ll slide our index finger up to the 7th fret and play the Phrygian mode.

E 8-10-12 (3)

B 8-10-12 (3) (move up: G-B transition)

G 7-9-11 (3)

D 7-9-10 (1)

A 7-9-10 (1)

E 7-8-10 (2)

Pneumonic Device: I assume Pharaohs got drunk a lot. Phrygian sounds like pharaoh. You have to be 21 to drink in the US. This pattern starts with 21.

The Lydian Mode

On to the 8th fret, the Lydian Mode.

Note: This mode sounds awesome with rock/metal.

E 10-12-14 (3)

B 10-12-13 (1) (move up: G-B transition)

G 9-11-12 (1)

D 9-10-12 (2)

A 9-10-12 (2) (move up: coming from a 3 pattern)

E 8-10-11 (3)

Pneumonic Device: Lydia sounds like a 32 year old soccer mom name. This pattern starts with 32.

The Mixolydian Mode

The 10th fret starts the Mixolydian Mode.

E 12-14-15 (1)

B 12-13-15 (2) (move up: G-B transition)

G 11-12-14 (2) (move up: coming from a 3 pattern)

D 10-12-14 (3)

A 10-12-14 (3)

E 10-12-14 (3)

This one gets me sometimes because you have to move up a fret on when switching from the D to the G string, then move up a fret again when switching from the G to the D.

Pneumonic Device: It’s like major scale, but REMIX. This pattern starts with 333.

The Aeolian Mode (Minor)

Ol’ faithful, the minor mode, starts on the 12th fret in the key of G. (or open E string. It’s a little easier to visualize the pattern if you finger the root note.

E 13-14-16 (2) (move up: coming from a 3 pattern)

B 13-15-17 (3) (move up: G-B transition)

G 12-14-16 (3)

D 12-14-16 (3)

A 12-14-15 (1)

E 12-14-15 (1)

Pneumonic Device: Aeolian starts with the letter A which is the first letter of the alphabet. This pattern starts with 11.

The Locrian Mode

Finally, the Locrian Mode. It starts on the 14th fret in the key of G. Alternatively this can be played started on the second fret.

E 15-17-19 (3)

B 15-17-19 (3) (move up: G-B transition)

G 14-17-18 (1)

D 14-17-18 (1)

A 14-15-17 (2)

E 14-15-17 (2)

Pneumonic Device: I haven’t thought up a really good/fun pneumonic device for this one, but I have been remembering it because it is right after Aeolian. Aeolian is 11, so Locrian is 22.

Branching Out

I don’t want this method to box anyone into playing certain patterns. After you learn the method I urge you to jam along with some backing tracks (YouTube has a ton of them) and try to find the right notes based on the scale patterns I’ve provided and by what sounds right. The goal here is for these patterns to ‘click’ so you don’t have to constantly recite 3332211.

It’s easy to find which note is next when you ‘leave’ the patterns/boxes I’ve provided. For example, if you are playing a 4-5-7 (2 pattern), the next note on the same string is going to be a 9 because you recently did a half step (single fret move-up when you went from the 4 to 5. The same applies for the 1 pattern.

Sometimes I can get a little lost when doing a 3-5-7 (3 pattern), because the next note could be 2 frets away or 1 fret away. This is where practicing and all these scales will come in handy. You’ll somewhat know what comes next, and will definitely hear it when a note is wrong.

One trick for the 3 pattern conundrum is to think about what the next string would play. For example, 3-5-7 on the E string in the key of G. The next pattern is a 3 on the A string, so you are not having to shift your positioning up a fret like you would from a 32 transition. With this in mind, you can conclude you only have to go up a single fret, to the 8th fret on the 8th string.

Conclusion

I hope this makes sense. It makes sense in my mind and is MUCH easier than memorizing each pattern individually. I noticed after using this method to find my way around the fretboard, that I began to naturally know which notes are appropriate. From there I knew which scale would sound right.

I get that this may be confusing at first glance, but I’d love any feedback. Does something not make sense? Is something blatantly wrong? Let me know!