Roy Ziv Guitar Modes Navigator Tutorial -
4.2. Seventh Chords & Voice Leading
If you want to dive deeper into this system, I can outline specific , provide a breakdown of picking mechanics , or explain how to use these patterns for sweep picking . Let me know how you would like to proceed! Share public link
Wait, this looks uneven? Actually, in a true 3NPS system, the G string adjustment is normal. The key is , not just fret numbers.
Because the guitar is tuned in Perfect 4ths except for the Major 3rd between G and B, every scale shape distorts here. Most guitarists learn 3-notes-per-string shapes and get lost at the B string. roy ziv guitar modes navigator tutorial
Rooted on the third degree of the parent scale. The immediate half-step interval between the 1st and b2 degrees provides its instantly recognizable tension. 4. Lydian (The Space-Age Dream) Interval Formula: 1 - 2 - 3 - #4 - 5 - 6 - 7 The Mood: Celestial, ethereal, uplifting.
If you want to take your phrasing to the next level, I can provide more specific resources. Design a .
Roy Ziv encourages guitarists to imagine the white and black keys of a piano on top of their fretboard. The Navigator shows you the "white keys" (Ionian) and how to find the "black keys" (altered notes). For example: Moving from F (white) to F# (black) turns C Ionian into C Lydian. Share public link Wait, this looks uneven
What makes the "Modes Navigator" particularly effective is Ziv’s use of asymmetrical navigation. Instead of relying on the familiar three-note-per-string patterns that can feel sterile, Ziv introduces hybrid fingerings that highlight the characteristic half-step intervals of each mode. For example, he isolates the critical "color notes"—the raised 4th of Lydian or the flattened 2nd of Phrygian—and shows the student how to target these notes by sliding horizontally. The tutorial functions like a GPS: it shows you where you are (the root), where the mode’s unique tension lies (the characteristic interval), and how to move to the next mode by shifting only one or two fingers. This reduces cognitive load, allowing the guitarist to focus on sound rather than shape .
Each mode has one specific note that gives it its unique personality. When navigating, intentionally resolve your melodic phrases on these target intervals: #4 Dorian: Major 6th Mixolydian: b7 Phrygian: b2 Step 3: The One-String Challenge
The magic happens when you place your over any note on the low E string. That note becomes the 1st degree of the mode you want to play. But here’s Ziv’s twist: Instead of repositioning the entire scale, you keep the exact same finger pattern and simply rename the degrees . Because the guitar is tuned in Perfect 4ths
: Replace confusion with an "AHA!" moment through a structured, no-fluff curriculum. Course Structure
The biggest mistake most guitarists make is learning in one position, Dorian in another, and Phrygian in yet another—treating them as unrelated patterns.
While guitar modes are a powerful tool for creating interesting and varied music, they can be daunting for many guitarists. The problem lies in the fact that traditional guitar modes are often taught in a dry, theoretical way, without much context or practical application. Many guitarists learn modes as a series of abstract patterns or shapes on the fretboard, without truly understanding how to use them in a musical context.
