# AI Wiki - Music - Modes ## Overview A mode is a scale defined by which note is treated as home. Take the seven notes of C major ([[AI Wiki - Music - Major Scale]]) and make D the tonic instead of C: the notes are identical, but the pattern of whole and half steps measured from D is different, so the scale sounds different. That's D dorian. Doing this from each of the seven notes gives the seven modes of the major scale. | # | Mode | Formula (vs major on same root) | White-key example | Tonic chord | Character | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1 | Ionian | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 | C to C | major (Cmaj7) | the major scale itself; bright, settled | | 2 | Dorian | 1 2 b3 4 5 **6** b7 | D to D | minor (Dm7) | minor, but warmer and "cool" | | 3 | Phrygian | 1 **b2** b3 4 5 b6 b7 | E to E | minor (Em7) | dark, Spanish, menacing | | 4 | Lydian | 1 2 3 **#4** 5 6 7 | F to F | major (Fmaj7) | bright, floating, dreamy | | 5 | Mixolydian | 1 2 3 4 5 6 **b7** | G to G | major (G7) | major, bluesy, earthy | | 6 | Aeolian | 1 2 b3 4 5 **b6** b7 | A to A | minor (Am7) | the natural minor; sad, serious | | 7 | Locrian | 1 b2 b3 4 **b5** b6 b7 | B to B | diminished (Bm7b5) | unstable, rarely used as home | The bold note is the characteristic note: the one that separates the mode from the closest major or minor scale. Dorian is natural minor with a raised 6th; mixolydian is major with a flat 7th; lydian is major with a sharp 4th; phrygian is natural minor with a flat 2nd. Locrian is the only mode whose tonic chord is diminished, which is why it's mostly theoretical ([[AI Wiki - Music - Triads]]). ## Two ways to think about modes ### Parent-scale (relative) approach Every mode is the major scale from a different degree. D dorian = C major from D; A mixolydian = D major from A (A is the 5th degree of D). To find a mode's notes, find its parent major scale and play it from the new root. - Dorian is built on degree 2, so its parent is a whole step below: E dorian → D major. - Phrygian, degree 3: parent a major third below. B phrygian → G major. - Lydian, degree 4: parent a fourth below (a fifth above). F lydian → C major. - Mixolydian, degree 5: parent a fifth below (a fourth above). G mixolydian → C major. - Aeolian, degree 6: parent a minor third above. E aeolian → G major. All seven modes of C major, each with its characteristic note marked: ```keyboard modes: C major range: C4-B4 columns: 4 ``` This view is efficient for spelling notes and for guitarists who already know major-scale shapes. Its trap: playing "C major shapes" over a D minor chord only sounds dorian if the music makes D home. The notes are the same; the centre of gravity is what makes the mode. ### Parallel approach Keep the root fixed and change the notes. All seven modes on C, compared with C major, show exactly which degrees move. Ordered from brightest (most raised notes) to darkest, each step lowers one more note: ```keyboard range: C4-B4 columns: 4 --- C lydian compare: C major --- C major title: C ionian (major) --- C mixolydian compare: C major --- C dorian compare: C major --- C aeolian compare: C major --- C phrygian compare: C major --- C locrian compare: C major ``` Lydian (#4) → Ionian → Mixolydian (b7) → Dorian (b3 b7) → Aeolian (b3 b6 b7) → Phrygian (b2 b3 b6 b7) → Locrian (b2 b3 b5 b6 b7). This brightness order follows the [[AI Wiki - Music - Circle of Fifths]]: each mode in the list has one fewer sharp (or one more flat) than the previous one on the same root. The parallel view is the one that matches what you hear. Over an A drone, A dorian and A aeolian differ by one note (F# vs F), and that single note is the whole flavour. Use the parent-scale view to find the notes and the parallel view to understand the sound. ## The modes you'll actually use - **Ionian:** the major scale. Most pop, [[AI Wiki - Music - Folk Music|folk]] and [[AI Wiki - Music - Country Music|country]] ([[AI Wiki - Music - Pop Music]]). - **Aeolian:** the natural minor ([[AI Wiki - Music - Minor Scales]]). "All Along the Watchtower" loops i–VII–VI (C#m–B–A in the Hendrix version; Am–G–F if you play it in A minor). - **Dorian:** minor with a bright 6th. The hallmark is a minor i chord moving to a major IV: Am–D in A dorian, Em–A in E dorian. Santana's "Oye Como Va" (Am7–D9) and Miles Davis's "So What" (D dorian) are standard examples; Irish traditional music uses dorian tunes in A and D. Over a [[AI Wiki - Music - Minor Blues and Jazz Blues|minor blues]] or funk vamp it's the go-to choice ([[AI Wiki - Music - Funk Music]]), often mixed with the [[AI Wiki - Music - Blues Scale]]. - **Mixolydian:** major with a b7, the sound of the dominant [[AI Wiki - Music - Seventh Chords|7th chord]]. The hallmark is I–bVII: D–C, A–G, E–D. Rock and blues use it constantly; "Sweet Home Alabama" (D–C–G) is often analysed as D mixolydian, though it can also be heard as G major starting on V. Irish tunes in D mixolydian are common too ([[AI Wiki - Music - Rock Music]], [[AI Wiki - Music - Blues Music]]). - **Lydian:** major with a #4. Hallmark: I–II, two major chords a whole step apart (F–G in F lydian, D–E in D lydian). Common in film music and in guitar instrumentals (Joe Satriani, Steve Vai). - **Phrygian:** minor with a b2. Hallmark: the half-step i–bII (Em–F). Heard in flamenco (usually with a raised 3rd, the "phrygian dominant") and metal riffs; both scales on the fretboard in [[AI Wiki - Music - Metal Music]]. - **Locrian:** a diminished tonic, so it rarely works as home; mostly encountered over a m7b5 chord in [[AI Wiki - Music - Jazz Music|jazz]]. ## On guitar Modes come alive over a vamp: a short chord loop that makes one note home. E dorian's i–IV vamp uses two [[AI Wiki - Music - Guitar Open Chords|open chords]]: ```chord Em 022000 023000 --- A x02220 x01230 ``` ```chords {title: Modal vamps} {time: 4/4} {comment: D mixolydian (I–bVII)} | [D] . . . | [C] . . . | [D] . . . | [C] . . . | {comment: A dorian (i–IV)} | [Am] . . . | [D] . . . | [Am] . . . | [D] . . . | {comment: E mixolydian (I–bVII–IV)} | [E] . . . | [D] . . . | [A] . . . | [E] . . . | ``` Dorian against natural minor on the fretboard: the outlined note is the major 6th (B in D dorian), the only difference. ```fretboard D dorian compare: natural minor frets: 3-7 labels: intervals ``` The practical shortcut: most modes contain a pentatonic scale. Dorian and aeolian both contain the minor pentatonic; ionian, lydian and mixolydian contain the major pentatonic. Start from the pentatonic box you know ([[AI Wiki - Music - Pentatonic Scale]]) and add the two missing notes, making sure one of them is the characteristic note. ## On piano Piano makes the parent-scale view tangible: every white-key mode is a C major scale started elsewhere. Play a low D with the left hand as a drone and improvise on the white keys with the right: that's D dorian. Move the drone to G: G mixolydian. Same keys, different home. ## How to practise 1. **Drone first.** Play a drone (open low E, or a keyboard note) and play E aeolian, then E dorian (C → C#), then E phrygian (F# → F). Listen for the one changed note. 2. **Target the characteristic note.** In dorian, land on the 6th over the i chord; in mixolydian, lean on the b7; in lydian, hold the #4 over the I chord. 3. **Loop a two-chord vamp** (above) and improvise with only the pentatonic first, then add the characteristic note. 4. **Name the parent**, then name the mode: "A dorian is G major from A". Both views, every time. 5. **Learn songs.** One dorian, one mixolydian song, chords first, then the melody by ear ([[AI Wiki - Music - Ear Training]]). ## Common mistakes - **"Playing D dorian" over a C major progression.** If the chords resolve to C, you're playing C major, whatever note you start on. The harmony decides the mode. - **Learning seven shapes before hearing seven sounds.** The shapes are the major scale you already know; the sound is new. - **Ignoring the characteristic note**, which makes the mode indistinguishable from plain major or minor. - **Treating modes as advanced.** Dorian and mixolydian are everyday sounds in rock, blues and folk. ## Key Points - Modes are the major scale played from each of its seven degrees, with that degree as home. - Each mode has a characteristic note: dorian 6, phrygian b2, lydian #4, mixolydian b7, aeolian b6, locrian b5. - Brightness order: lydian, ionian, mixolydian, dorian, aeolian, phrygian, locrian. - Parent-scale view finds the notes; parallel view explains the sound. Use both. - Two-chord vamps define modes in practice: i–IV for dorian, I–bVII for mixolydian, I–II for lydian, i–bII for phrygian. - Most modes contain a pentatonic: build on the box you know. ## Open Questions - Which songs on the practice list are dorian or mixolydian rather than plain minor or major? - **Answered** ([[AI Wiki - Music - Modes of Melodic and Harmonic Minor|Modes of Melodic and Harmonic Minor]]): How do modes of the melodic and harmonic minor (e.g. phrygian dominant) fit in, and when are they worth learning? They are the same mode idea applied to the two other minor scales; Phrygian dominant (harmonic minor from its 5th) is worth learning early for rock, metal and flamenco, while the melodic-minor modes (Lydian dominant, altered, Locrian ♮2) pay off once you play jazz ii–V–I progressions. ## References - Mode (music) — Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mode_(music) - Introduction to Diatonic Modes and the Chromatic Scale — Open Music Theory 2e: https://human.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Music/Music_Theory/Open_Music_Theory_2e_(Gotham_et_al.)/01%3A_Fundamentals/1.14%3A_Introduction_to_Diatonic_Modes_and_the_Chromatic_Scale - Diatonic Modes — Open Music Theory 2e: https://human.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Music/Music_Theory/Open_Music_Theory_2e_(Gotham_et_al.)/08%3A_20th-_and_21st-Century_Techniques/8.08%3A_Diatonic_Modes - How To Learn Modes (relative vs parallel) — FaChords: https://www.fachords.com/guitar-modes-relative-parallel - Borrowed chord — Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borrowed_chord ## Related - [[AI Wiki - Music - Major Scale]] - [[AI Wiki - Music - Minor Scales]] - [[AI Wiki - Music - Pentatonic Scale]] - [[AI Wiki - Music - Blues Scale]] - [[AI Wiki - Music - Relative and Parallel Keys]] - [[AI Wiki - Music - Circle of Fifths]] - [[AI Wiki - Music - Triads]] - [[AI Wiki - Music - Ear Training]] - [[AI Wiki - Music - Blues Music]] - [[AI Wiki - Music - Rock Music]] - [[AI Wiki - Music - Funk Music]] - [[AI Wiki - Music - Pop Music]] - [[AI Wiki - Music - Cadences]] - [[AI Wiki - Music - Common Chord Progressions]] - [[AI Wiki - Music - Diatonic Chords and Roman Numerals]] - [[AI Wiki - Music - Solfege and Singing]] - [[AI Wiki - Music - Metal Music]] - [[AI Wiki - Music - Metal Rhythm Guitar Techniques]] - [[AI Wiki - Music - Modes of Melodic and Harmonic Minor]]