Introduction
to modes was given previously. The seven modes are
Ionian
Dorian
Phrygian
Lydian
Mixolydian
Aeolian
Locrian
The
basic major scale is itself the Ionian mode. And Ionian mode is the first mode
of the major scale because it starts with the first note of the scale.
Consider
the C major scale. The notes are C D E F G A B C. The intervals in this scale
are:
C-D
major second
C-E
major third
C-F
perfect fourth
C-G
perfect fifth
C-A
major sixth
C-B
major seventh
C-C
octave
Now
the second note is D and the second mode is dorian. So it will be called D
dorian. The notes are: D E F G A B C D. The notes are same as the C major scale
but let us have a look at the intervals, this mode is composed of. The
intervals are as follows:
D-E
major second
D-F
minor third
D-G perfect
fourth
D-A
perfect fifth
D-B
major sixth
D-C
minor seventh
D-D
octave
Note
that the notes are same but now everything is compared to the D note. Hence the
overall sound of the scale has changed because the reference has been shifted
to D instead of C.
The
third mode is the Phrygian mode. The third note in C major scale is E. So the
third mode of C major scale is E Phrygian mode. The notes are given as: E F G A
B C D E. The intervals in this mode are:
E-F
minor second
E-G
minor third
E-A
perfect fourth
E-B
perfect fifth
E-C
minor sixth
E-D
minor seventh
E-E
octave
The
fourth mode will be F Lydian mode. The notes are F G A B C D E F. The intervals
are:
F-G
major second
F-A
major third
F-B
augmented fourth
F-C
perfect fifth
F-D
major sixth
F-E
major seventh
F-F
octave
The
fifth mode is G mixolydian mode. The notes are G A B C D E F G. The intervals
are:
G-A major
second
G-B
major third
G-C
perfect fourth
G-D
perfect fifth
G-E
major sixth
G-F
minor seventh
G-G
octave
The
sixth mode is A Aeolian mode. The notes are A B C D E F G A. The intervals are:
A-B
major second
A-C
minor third
A-D
perfect fourth
A-E perfect
fifth
A-F
minor sixth
A-G
minor seventh
A-A
octave
The seventh and the last mode is B locrian
mode. The notes are B C D E F G A B. The intervals are:
B-C
minor second
B-D
minor third
B-E
perfect fourth
B-F
diminished fifth
B-G
minor sixth
B-A
minor seventh
B-B
octave.
So now
you know about the intervals that each mode of the major scale contains. So if
now you are asked to write the notes of the C Lydian scale, you know the
intervals in the Lydian mode are major second, major third, augmented fourth,
perfect fifth, major sixth and major seventh.
So starting with C, you will get your C Lydian mode notes as: C D E G F#
G A B C.
Now
you know Lydian mode is the fourth mode of a major scale. So from which note in
this scale, C comes at the fourth position? If we take G note to be number 1,
then A would be 2, B would be 3 and C would be 4th. Hurray!!! So the
fourth mode of G major scale is the C Lydian scale. Hence C Lydian has same
notes as the G major scale. Only the reference(root) notes differ.
Now each
mode formula is summarised below:
IONIAN:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
DORIAN:
1 b2 3 4 5 6 b7
PHRYGIAN:
1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
LYDIAN:
1 2 3 #4 5 6 7
MIXOLYDIAN:
1 2 3 4 5 6 b7
AEOLIAN:
1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
LOCRIAN:
1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7
Now
let us arrange the modes in terms of order of flats. By doing so, we can get an
idea about the relative closeness of sounds of the different modes.
LOCRIAN:
# (1 sharp)
IONIAN:
NIL (no sharp no flat)
MIXOLYDIAN:
b (one flat)
DORIAN:
bb (two flats)
AEOLIAN:
bbb (three flats)
PHRYGIAN:
bbbb (four flats)
LOCRIAN:
bbbbb (five flats)
So
from this chart we can say the locrian mode sounds more similar to Ionian mode
as compared to dorian mode because there is only one interval difference
between Ionian and locrian. Similarly Aeolian is more closer in sound to
dorian.
The
practical application to it is that, whenever you try to incorporate scale or
key changes in your solos or songs, this can be a handy tool. Because more
closer is the sound, more smoother will be the change.
Now
look at the absolute colour of each of the modes and their applications:
LYDIAN:
this mode is very bright, upbeat. Good for anything very bright and upbeat such
as pop, kids’ music, etc. Follow this if you are a steve vai fan!!!
IONIAN:
this is also very sweet, happy, bright. Perfect for happy songs, love songs,
etc. Used for almost all childrens music
MIXOLYDIAN:
middle of the road bright scale. Good for light rock, pop, country, etc
DORIAN:
perfect middle ground. Not too bright, not to dark. Good for country, rock, blues.
AEOLIAN:
gritty, bluesy, warm sounding rock scale. This is the standard rock and blues
scale.
PHRYGIAN:
dark, classical metal sound. A Randy Rhoads favorite.
LOCRIAN:
very dark, dissident, brooding. Good for heavy metal, dark classical, etc
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