Updated date:

May 11, 2019

Modes in Music: The Basic Theory

Author:: Mark Edward Fitchett

Music School Owner, Recording Artist, Guitarist, Composer, Performer & Educator. My goal is to make good music, make and keep good friends.

Seven Scales in One

MODES

There are seven chords in every key. If a song is to be thought of as being in a key, then the chords used in that song are chosen from those seven chords.

For instance, the chords (triads) in the key of C major are:

C major, D minor, E minor, F major, G major, A minor and B minor flat 5 (also known as B diminished), these chords are created by stacking notes in 3rds, that is to say from the starting pitch ex. C, you go C then 3rd above C is E then 3rd above E is G so CEG. Another way of saying this is to use the 1st, 3rd and 5th note from a scale. ex. CDEFG 1-3-5 = CEG

If the song is in the key of C major, then any of the seven chords could be present. Everything usually gravitates toward the C major chord (tonic chord). It is not unusual to start and end the piece on the tonic chord.

There are seven possible scales in a single major scale because any one of the seven notes of that scale could be considered as a starting point to create a new scale. The possibilities in the C major scale are:

CDEFGABC DEFGABCD EFGABCDE FGABCDEF GABCDEFG ABCDEFGA BCDEFGAB

These new scales are called modes.

They are named Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian.

Each new scale or mode directly corresponds with the chord that occurs on the same step of the scale.

Each of the modal scales work in the same way, everything will gravitate toward the new starting point on each mode.

Each mode has its own unique characteristic sound and mood, Many styles rely heavily on specific modes.

To be considered to be in a specific mode, the chord of that mode must be emphasized. Playing one of the seven chords for any length of time causes the ear to perceive that chord as a new key or tonal center.

There are three modes that have a major sound, and four modes that have a minor sound.

MODES & CHORDS derived from the C Major Scale

Ionian - CDEFGABC (I) C Major - CEG

Dorian - DEFGABCD (ii) D minor - DFA

Phrygian - EFGABCDE (iii) E minor - EGB

Lydian - FGABCDEF (IV) F Major - FAC

Mixolydian - GABCDEFG (V) G Major - GBD

Aeolian - ABCDEFGA (vi) A minor - ACE

Locrian - BCDEFGAB (vii) B minor b5 - BDF (B diminished)

A typical example is the relative minor. In the key of C the relative minor is A minor which means the potential chords for the key of A minor are the same as the chords for C.

The only difference between the two “keys” is that in the key of C major, everything gravitates around the C major chord, whereas in the key of A minor, everything gravitates around the A minor chord.

7th Chords

By adding a 3rd above the triad you get 7th chords. In the key of C they are:

Cmaj7 CEGB C major 7

Dmi7 DFAC D minor 7

Emi7 EGBD E minor 7

Fmaj7 FACE F major 7

G7 GBDF G dominant 7

Ami7 ACEG A minor 7

Bmi7b5 BDFA B minor 7 b5

Changing Keys

For analysis purpose each chord is given a Roman Numeral so the key of C would be:

I - C major, ii - D minor, iii - E minor, IV - F major, V - G major, vi - A minor and vii - B diminished.

This useful for changing keys because lets say you had a song in C that used C, F and G which is the I, IV and V, and wanted to do the song in the key of G (G, Ami, Bmi, C, D, Emi and F#dim), you just play the I, IV and V which is G, C and D.

7 Modes From C Demonstration

The Sound of Modes: Same Lead Guitar with 7 Modal Accompaniments - YouTube

Practical Application

When you are playing in any one of the 7 modes it is like you are in a new key. Even though they are the same notes, D Dorian sounds totally different than C Ionian.

There are common chord groupings used to emphasize the modes.

C Ionian

CMaj7-FMaj7

D Dorian

Dmi7-G7

E Phrygian

Emi-F

F Lydian

F-G/F

G Mixolydian

G-F or G7

A Aeolian

Ami-F

B Locrian

Bmi7b5

Pentatonic in Dorian Mode - Seeing the overlap - YouTube
How the Dorian mode and the minor pentatonic scale relate to one another. Seeing the overlap makes learning modal scales much easier since most guitarists tend to learn the pentatonic scale shapes first.

Dorian Guitar Solo Jamming

Improvisation Wizard Dorian Jam Guitar Improvisation Mark Edward Fitchett - YouTube

Mixolydian Guitar Lesson

Mixolydian Guitar Licks - YouTube

E Minor Aeolian Jamming

Melodic Phrasing E Minor Aeolian and Pentatonic Guitar Solo - YouTube
Phrasing and melody. An example of combining different rhythmic and melodic elements in a rock guitar solo.

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