The 7 Major Scale Shapes And Modes

Ionian mode (A Ionian) (The Major scale or first major scale shape) Sounds great over the Amaj chord.

e|------------------------------------------------7--9--10--|
B|--------------------------------------7--9--10------------|
G|-----------------------------6--7--9----------------------|
D|--------------------6--7--9-------------------------------|
A|-----------5--7--9----------------------------------------|
E|--5--7--9-------------------------------------------------|


Dorian mode (B Dorian) (2nd scale shape of Amaj) Sounds great under the II chord (B minor)

e|-----------------------------------------------9--10-12-|
B|--------------------------------------9--10-12----------|
G|-----------------------------7--9--11-------------------|
D|--------------------7--9--11----------------------------|
A|-----------7--9--11-------------------------------------|
E|--7--9--10----------------------------------------------|


Phyrgian mode (C# Phrygian) (3rd scale shape of Amaj) Sounds great under the III chord (C# minor)

e|-----------------------------------------------10-12-14-|
B|--------------------------------------10-12-14----------|
G|-----------------------------9--11-13-------------------|
D|--------------------9--11-12----------------------------|
A|-----------9--11-12-------------------------------------|
E|--9--10-12----------------------------------------------|


Lydian mode (D Lydian) (4th scale shape of Amaj) Sounds great under the IV chord (D maj)

e|-----------------------------------------------12-14-16-|
B|--------------------------------------12-14-15----------|
G|-----------------------------11-13-14-------------------|
D|--------------------11-12-14----------------------------|
A|-----------11-12-14-------------------------------------|
E|--10-12-14----------------------------------------------|


Mixolydian Mode (E Mixolydian (5th Scale shape of Amaj) Sounds great under the V chord (E maj)

e|-----------------------------------------------14-16-17-|
B|--------------------------------------14-15-17----------|
G|-----------------------------13-15-16-------------------|
D|--------------------12-14-16----------------------------|
A|-----------12-14-16-------------------------------------|
E|--12-14-16----------------------------------------------|


Aeolian Mode (F# Aeolian) (6th scale shape of Amaj) Sounds great under VI chord (F# minor) Now here is the
catch with this mode - this is the RELATIVE MINOR of Amaj.
Meaning these work hand in hand with the Regular Major scale.

e|-----------------------------------------------16-17-19-|
B|--------------------------------------15-17-19----------|
G|-----------------------------14-16-18-------------------|
D|--------------------14-16-18----------------------------|
A|-----------14-16-17-------------------------------------|
E|--14-16-17----------------------------------------------|


Locrian Mode (G# Locrian) (7th and final scale shape of Amaj, after this it just goes up to the octave)
Sounds great under VII chord (G# Dominant)

e|-----------------------------------------------17-19-21-|
B|--------------------------------------17-19-21----------|
G|-----------------------------16-18-19-------------------|
D|--------------------16-18-19----------------------------|
A|-----------16-17-19-------------------------------------|
E|--16-17-19----------------------------------------------|