The ‘happiest’ sounding of the modes, the Ionian is identical to the major scale, so it’s highly likely you’re already playing it on guitar. However, things really come alive when you approach Ionian ...

Play these notes starting on C and you're playing the C major scale (also known as the Ionian mode – the 'first' mode). Start on D and you're playing the second mode (D Dorian, as it happens). By the ...