Modes of Jazz Minor

The jazz melodic minor scale may be displaced to create a series of modes. These are used almost exclusively in advanced jazz styles, and are relatively complex. That said, most guitarists will never have need to master these. Nevertheless, for the curious and the jazz-minded we will outline them here.

These modes are viewed as alterations of the major-scale modes, so the original modal names are employed along with descriptive tonal labels which identify the particular variation. Make sure you know all the major-scale modes very well before tackling these!

Each mode below is shown in its pattern 1, with its root on the sixth string.

Jazz melodic minor

This is the parent scale (and first mode). It doesn’t have a special modal name—we just call it the jazz melodic minor scale. This example starts with A jazz melodic minor, which you already learned on the previous page, but here it is again (pattern 1). The notes are A–B–C–D–E–F♯–G♯, so the following modes will each begin on one of these notes.

Dorian ♭2

Dorian ♭2 is the second mode of the jazz minor scale. As the name implies, this is simply a Dorian mode with a flatted (minor) 2nd tone. Below, the ♭2s are shown in grey.

Lydian augmented

Lydian augmented is the third mode of the jazz minor scale. This is a Lydian mode with a raised (augmented) 5th. Below, the ♯5s are shown in grey.

Lydian ♭7

Lydian ♭7 is the fourth mode of the jazz minor scale. This is a Lydian mode with a flat (minor) 7th. This structure is also known as the overtone scale. Below, the ♭7s are shown in grey.

Mixolydian ♭13

Mixolydian ♭13 is the fifth mode of the jazz minor scale. This is a Mixolydian mode with a flat (minor) 6th. (The ♭6th is known as a ♭13th because extended jazz chords use this note generally in a higher octave. This name, then, has been retained even though the note in question does in fact appear in every octave of the scale.) This structure is also known as the Hindu scale. Below, the ♭6s/♭13s are shown in grey.

Locrian ♯2

Locrian ♯2 is the sixth mode of the jazz minor scale. This is a Locrian mode with a raised 2nd. Since Locrian, however, starts out with a flat (minor) 2nd, raising it simply brings it back up to a “normal” major 2nd. Below, the 2nds are shown in grey.

Super Locrian (altered)

The super Locrian mode is the seventh mode of the jazz minor scale. It is also known as the “altered scale.” It consists of a Locrian mode with a flat 4th. In this case, every tone other than the root is flatted! Below, the 4ths are shown in grey.

Remember: As with the previous modes (page 34), all the modes here share the same notes. Delete the root information and all the patterns fit A jazz minor as well as B Dorian ♭2, C Lydian augmented, etc. To play in other keys, shift the patterns up or down the neck as appropriate.