Practicing Mode Harmony

Modes which are three steps apart (major or minor 3rd) in the same key naturally harmonize. For instance, the Ionian and Phrygian modes – the 1st and 3rd modes of any major key – are a 3rd apart, so when they are played simultaneously, they harmonize nicely. When you have learned some of the mode patterns you can play one mode on your guitar while letting the app play the other one.

If you have learned the Ionian mode pattern, tap the Phrygian mode and play the Ionian mode on your guitar along with it. Or you can tap the Phrygian mode and play Mixolydian mode on your guitar.

Modes which harmonize as 3rds are;

Ionian (I) - Phrygian (III)

Phrygian (III) - Mixolydian (V)

Mixolydian (V) - Locrian (VII)

Locrian (VII) - Dorian (II)

Dorian (II) - Lydian (IV)

Lydian (IV) - Aeolian (VI)

Aeolian (VI) - Ionian (I)

... You play one of the above paired modes, the app plays the other.

Though only the Ionian/Phrygian Module contains two modes which follow the 3rds harmony pattern, you can use any of the individual modes to play along with once you've learned the corresponding 3rd-harmony mode.

Viewing Multiple Forms

If you want to study more than one form of a specific mode, you can select Upper Strings, Lower Strings, or All Forms from the wheel after you have selected the Module and Key. 

Tap Show Fretboard and then de-select the mode you do not want to study. The remaining mode will be seen in adjacent forms spanning two octaves in the Upper Strings, Lower Strings, or three octaves if you've selected All Forms.

In this view you can tap mode shapes to hear and play along, you can change key. You can also view the modes as scale degrees by toggling the ABC/NUM switch. And, of course you can zoom in to focus on a single shape and turn the phone to landscape view. The Clef button is deactivated.

Ionian Mode - Key of G - Upper Strings. 

Ionian Mode - Key of C - Lower Strings.

Ionian Mode - Key of C - All Forms.

All Forms - Ionian Mode - Key of C - All Forms. 

All Forms - Ionian Mode - Key of C - All Forms - Zoomed. 

Notation Function

You can see the standard notation for the selected modes by tapping the Clef button.

This will initiate play of the selected modes and show the notation.

You can pause play if you wish to study the notation, by tapping the Pause button in the lower right of the screen.

----

When the app is in Paused state, tapping the same button will resume play where it left off. You can also view notation in Landscape View. Turn the iPhone on its side and the image will rotate.

Tapping the clef in this view will bring up full screen notation accompanied by a silhouette of each selected mode shape.

Brief Introduction

FretApps: Modes 101 has just been added to the App Store! Here's a brief introduction to the app;

When you open the app you are brought to the wheel. You can select the mode-pair (Module) you wish to study, as well as the key and the Form. The Form denotes the specific string group for the modes, and the precise fingering pattern.

The image above shows the Ionian/Phrygian Module in the Key of C, Form 1 (rooted in the 3rd and 4th strings). Notice that the two modes form a symmetrical pattern when paired together, and that they overlap.

Here the view of the fretboard has been zoomed in by pinch-zooming. Also, the key has been changed to Eb and the note names have been replaced with Roman Numeral scale degrees. 

Tapping either of the mode shapes will cause the mode scale to play, starting from the lowest pitch. The modes will play as ascending and descending scales at a moderate tempo so you can play along on your guitar.