A Messiaen's Mode #6 Guitar Scale
Guitar scale — fretboard diagram
A Messiaen's Mode #6 Scale — Notes and Intervals
The A Messiaen's Mode #6 scale is a symmetrical scale associated with radiance and light. On Guitar, its notes are A, B, C#, D, D#, F, G, G#. It creates a uniform coloration that transcends traditional keys, making the music sound brilliant and enlightened. Commonly used in Contemporary Classical, Sacred Music, Experimental. Notable players include Olivier Messiaen. Use for creating a sense of radiant, enlightened calm. Best in sustained, atmospheric contexts.
Notes: A, B, C#, D, D#, F, G, G#
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3M, 4P, 4A, 5A, 6A, 7M
Degrees: 1 2 3 4 #5 #6 #7 8
Formula: W-W-H-H-W-W-H-H
Number of notes: 8
How to Play A Messiaen's Mode #6 on Guitar
Place your index finger at fret 5 on the 6th (low E) to find your A root note. Because this scale has 8 notes, four-notes-per-string stretches may be necessary. Start with a single position and expand gradually. Keep your thumb centered behind the neck for reach.
The A Messiaen's Mode #6 scale contains 3 sharps (C#, D#, G#). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the A Messiaen's Mode #6 scale ascending and descending at 80 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (A-C#, B-D) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on A to let the characteristic intervals of the Messiaen's Mode #6 scale come through clearly.
Guitar Tips
Use hybrid picking (pick + fingers) when playing the A Messiaen's Mode #6 scale on guitar to access wider intervals and string skips that a pick alone cannot handle efficiently.
The A Messiaen's Mode #6 scale contains 8 notes (A, B, C#, D, D#, F, G, G#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for A Messiaen's Mode #6
The A Messiaen's Mode #6 scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 8-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore A Messiaen's Mode #6 Further
- Harmonize the A Messiaen's Mode #6 scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- A Messiaen's Mode #6 on Ukulele
- A Messiaen's Mode #6 on Bass
- A Messiaen's Mode #6 on Piano
Explore A Messiaen's Mode #6 in Other Tunings
- A Messiaen's Mode #6 in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- A Messiaen's Mode #6 in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- A Messiaen's Mode #6 in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- A Messiaen's Mode #6 in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- A Messiaen's Mode #6 in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- A Messiaen's Mode #6 in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- A Messiaen's Mode #6 in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- A Messiaen's Mode #6 in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- A Messiaen's Mode #6 in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- A Messiaen's Mode #6 in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- A Messiaen's Mode #6 in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- A Messiaen's Mode #6 in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- A Messiaen's Mode #6 in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- A Messiaen's Mode #6 in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)