Musical Modes

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The Seven Modes

Ionian (Major)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

C D E F G A B

Happy, bright

Dorian

1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7

D E F G A B C

Jazzy, minor with major 6th

Phrygian

1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7

E F G A B C D

Spanish, exotic

Lydian

1 2 3 #4 5 6 7

F G A B C D E

Ethereal, dreamy

Mixolydian

1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7

G A B C D E F

Bluesy, rock

Aeolian (Natural Minor)

1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7

A B C D E F G

Sad, melancholic

Locrian

1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7

B C D E F G A

Unstable, tense

Mode Comparison

Ionian

Same as Major

Major 3rd, 6th, 7th

Dorian

♭3, ♭7

Major 6th

Phrygian

♭2, ♭3, ♭6, ♭7

♭2

Lydian

Major 2nd, 3rd, #4, 6th, 7th

Mixolydian

♭7

Major 2nd, 3rd, 6th

Aeolian

♭3, ♭6, ♭7

Same as Natural Minor

Locrian

♭2, ♭3, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7

♭2, ♭5

Modal Characteristics

Ionian (Major)

Happy, bright, stable. Used in pop, rock, and classical music.

Example: "Here Comes the Sun" - The Beatles

Dorian

Jazzy, minor with a major 6th. Common in jazz, rock, and folk.

Example: "Scarborough Fair" - Traditional

Phrygian

Spanish, exotic, Middle Eastern sound. Used in flamenco and metal.

Example: "Wherever I May Roam" - Metallica

Lydian

Dreamy, ethereal, magical. Common in film scores and progressive rock.

Example: "Flying in a Blue Dream" - Joe Satriani

Mixolydian

Bluesy, rock, dominant sound. Used in blues, rock, and funk.

Example: "Sweet Child O' Mine" - Guns N' Roses

Aeolian (Natural Minor)

Sad, melancholic, serious. Used in classical, rock, and metal.

Example: "All Along the Watchtower" - Bob Dylan

Locrian

Unstable, tense, dark. Rarely used due to the diminished tonic chord.

Example: "Dust to Dust" - John Kirkpatrick

Modal Interchange

Borrowing Chords

Modes allow borrowing chords from parallel scales to add color.

Example: Using ♭VII (B♭) in C Major (from C Mixolydian)

Modal Mixture

Combining modes that share the same tonic but different scales.

Example: Mixing C Ionian and C Dorian