Intro to Modes

What is a mode?

In it's simplest form a mode is a scale that starts and ends on a different note.

A common misconception is that this is all there is to modes. However, if we sing the scale: Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do. What modes do is change where the 'do' or the root of the scale is, changing the type of sound produced.

Why learn modes?

Music written using modes creates different “feels” then tonal music (music written using the major scale).

What are the seven “church” modes?

These are the seven most common modes, starting and ending on all seven notes of the major scale.

In the key of 'C':

I C – Ionian (same notes as the major scale)

ii D – Dorian
iii E – Phrygian
IV F – Lydian
V G – Mixo-lydian
vi A – Aeolian (same notes as the natural minor scale)
vii B – Locrian

Now let's examine the differences between the modes

Ionian – all major

Dorian - b3, b7
Phrygian - b2, b3, b6, b7
Lydian - #4
Mixo-Lydian - b7
Aeolian - b3, b6, b7
Locrian - b2, b3, b5, b6, b7

This means that to form Dorian off of Ionian you lower the third and the seventh a half-step.

Modal vs. Tonal music:

Most modern rock music is Modal, whether the writer of the song realizes it or not, the difference is how the chords move, Tonal music moves in a way discussed [here]. However, modal music tends to have relatively little chord movement in it's progressions. For example the song “So What” by Miles Davis has two chords across 32 measures: Dm7 and Ebm7.

Let's look at the example of the standard “My Favourite things.” The first 16 measures go as follows.

Em7    | F#m7 | Em7  | F#m7 |     E Dorian
Cmaj7  |  %   |  %   |  %   |     C Lydian
Am7    | D7   |Gmaj7 |Cmaj7 |     Tonal
Gmaj7  |Cmaj7 |Fm7b5 |B7    |     Tonal

Notice how the tune switches back and forth between Modal and Tonal progressions, play through these chords and you can hear how the amount of movement changes, the tune continues to switch between modal and tonal ideas throughout.