A Messiaen's Mode #7 Guitar Scale
Guitar scale — fretboard diagram
A Messiaen's Mode #7 Scale — Notes and Intervals
The A Messiaen's Mode #7 scale is a nearly-chromatic scale that serves as the parent for many other symmetrical systems. On Guitar, the notes are A, Bb, B, C, D, D#, E, F, F#, G#. It represents divine authority and the vast, complex forces of the universe in Messiaen's musical language. Commonly used in Contemporary Classical, Experimental, Avant-Garde. Notable players include Olivier Messiaen. Use in complex, multi-layered compositions. Its near-chromatic density provides maximum harmonic flexibility.
Notes: A, Bb, B, C, D, D#, E, F, F#, G#
Intervals: 1P, 2m, 2M, 3m, 4P, 4A, 5P, 6m, 6M, 7M
Degrees: 1 b2 3 b4 5 #6 7 b8 9 10
Formula: H-H-H-W-H-H-H-H-W-H
Number of notes: 10
How to Play A Messiaen's Mode #7 on Guitar
Place your index finger at fret 5 on the 6th (low E) to find your A root note. Because this scale has 10 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 #7 scale contains both sharps and flats (3 sharps, 1 flat), which is common in altered and exotic scales. This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the A Messiaen's Mode #7 scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on A to let the characteristic intervals of the Messiaen's Mode #7 scale come through clearly.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, practice the A Messiaen's Mode #7 scale on a single string from the open position to the 12th fret. This trains your ear to hear the intervals linearly and helps with slide guitar applications.
The A Messiaen's Mode #7 scale contains 10 notes (A, Bb, B, C, D, D#, E, F, F#, 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 #7
The A Messiaen's Mode #7 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 10-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 #7 Further
- Harmonize the A Messiaen's Mode #7 scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- A Messiaen's Mode #7 on Ukulele
- A Messiaen's Mode #7 on Bass
- A Messiaen's Mode #7 on Piano
Explore A Messiaen's Mode #7 in Other Tunings
- A Messiaen's Mode #7 in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- A Messiaen's Mode #7 in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- A Messiaen's Mode #7 in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- A Messiaen's Mode #7 in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- A Messiaen's Mode #7 in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- A Messiaen's Mode #7 in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- A Messiaen's Mode #7 in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- A Messiaen's Mode #7 in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- A Messiaen's Mode #7 in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- A Messiaen's Mode #7 in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- A Messiaen's Mode #7 in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- A Messiaen's Mode #7 in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- A Messiaen's Mode #7 in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- A Messiaen's Mode #7 in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)