STRINGSCALES

A messiaen's mode #3 Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F, G, G#, A, B, C, C#, D#, E at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12

A string: A, B, C, C#, D#, E, F, G, G#, A at frets 0, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12

D string: D#, E, F, G, G#, A, B, C, C# at frets 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11

G string: G, G#, A, B, C, C#, D#, E, F, G at frets 0, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12

B string: B, C, C#, D#, E, F, G, G#, A, B at frets 0, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12

High E string: E, F, G, G#, A, B, C, C#, D#, E at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12

Pick a root note

Pick a scale

A messiaen's mode #3

Messiaen's mode 3 is a nine note mode of limited transposition: whole step, half, half, repeated three times. Built from three augmented-triad axes filled in with half steps, it only has four distinct transpositions before repeating itself. Messiaen used its dense, stained-glass harmony throughout his organ and orchestral music; guitarists can mine it for symmetrical runs that never settle into a key.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A

I

B

II

C

bIII

C♯

III

D♯

#IV

E

V

F

bVI

G

bVII

G♯

VII

messiaen's mode #3 in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Learn A Messiaen mode 3 as the repeating cell whole-half-half, three times per octave; the cell, not the scale, is the practice unit.
  • It has only four distinct transpositions, so a lick moved up a major 3rd lands in the same collection: instant sequences.
  • Built on three augmented axes: arpeggiate the augmented triad on A and its neighbors, connecting them by half step for idiomatic lines.
  • Use it for dense, stained-glass chords: stack any four or five adjacent scale tones and the harmony is already Messiaen.

How to play A messiaen's mode #3 on guitar

Open A string is the root and both E strings are the fifth, so three of the six open strings can drone under anything you play. Five open strings sit in the scale. Lowest root is fret 5, so box one gives way at fret 9. Other roots land at fret 2 on the G string, fret 7 on the D and fret 10 on the B.

homeall scalesaboutfaqpricingmicrotonalterms & conditionsprivacy policycookie policy© 2026 StringScales. All rights reserved.