What are modes?
Just think of each mode as an individual scale. Job done!
OK, it is a little more involved than the title would suggest. But it is not complicated!
Let us begin by quickly looking at the idea of scales.
In western music there are a total of 12 notes that are the building blocks of music.
7 of these are labelled with the letters A-G.
The remaining 5 are called sharp or flat. They are also known as the accidentals.
The distance between each of these notes is called a half step or semitone.
For example if we move from A to A sharp this is a distance of a half step or semitone.
If we move twice this distance then we call it a whole step or tone.
So starting on A again, if we move to B this time it is a distance of a whole step or tone.
Notes are organised into collections known as scales.
We call a set of notes a scale when we remove the notes from their musical setting, such as a melody or chord progression, and arrange them in order from a starting point.
They will typically ascend in pitch, continually moving from lower to higher notes.
The difference in pitch between two notes is called an interval.
Scales will divide an octave, which has a maximum of 12 notes that we saw earlier, into a series of scale steps.
Scale steps can be thought of as intervals that make up the scale.
The distance between scale steps can be measured in the whole steps and half steps that we learnt earlier.
They can also include intervals that are wider than a whole step, but this is less common.
A typical number of steps, or notes, in a scale is 7. But this could be any number up to the total of all notes which is 12.
The scale steps or intervals that make up a scale are collectively called an interval pattern.
The interval pattern of a scale will give it a certain sound. These patterns are used to categorise scales in ways you may have heard before, such as major and minor.
Scales are defined by their interval pattern category and the note that the scale begins on. This is referred to as it's first degree or tonic.
For example, the C major scale has a major interval pattern, which gives it a major sound, and begins on or has the tonic of the C note.
The most common and foundational scale is the major scale.
The major scale notes, degrees or steps can be labelled with numbers to help understand their relationship.
We start with the tonic note as number 1. Subsequent notes get numbers in order until we get to number 7.
The interval pattern or formula for the major scale, starting from the tonic, is:
Whole Step - Whole Step - Half Step - Whole Step - Whole Step - Whole Step - Half Step - Whole Step
These patterns mean that you don't have to memorise the actual notes. You take the formula, start on your chosen tonic note and away you go.
This system can be applied to any scale or mode, for easy learning and understanding.
From these scales we can then construct chords, which make up a key.
That’s great, but what are modes?!
Each one has it's own interval formula so you can use them as easily as we used the major scale.
The modern modes are given complicated sounding names.
These are derived from ancient scales that pre date ideas of major and minor.
Don't let these names put you off. They may create a sense of mystery or feel like you need to be a genius to understand them but they are just names of scales.
Confusion can sometimes arise from the fact that all modes are made of notes from the major scale.
Indeed, they are referred to as the modes of the major scale, such as 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc.
This can lead to people thinking that they all sound the same as they use the same notes.
As we go through the 7 modes you may spot patterns that repeat or link them together.
Think of them as distinct scales in your mind, and you shouldn't have any problems.
We'll use the tonic/root note of C to show you the different modes and allow you to appreciate the sound and difference between them.
Let's begin with the 1st mode of the major scale, the Ionian Mode.
This one will be familiar to you, as it's the major scale we discussed earlier.
It has the interval pattern W W H W W W H.
C Ionian has the notes C D E F G A B.
The scale degrees are 1 2 3 4 5 6 7.
It has a major sound. It could be described as bright, happy or joyful.
The terms major scale and Ionian Mode are used interchangeably, but don't panic as they mean the same thing.
The second mode is called the Dorian Mode.
It has the interval pattern W H W W W H W.
C dorian has the notes C D E♭ F G A B♭.
The scale degrees are 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7.
You'll notice that this is the same as the Ionian but the first W has been moved to the end of the interval list. This pattern will repeat for the rest of the modes, taking the previous mode and moving that first interval to the end of the list. See if you can spot it on the remaining modes.
You'll see that the scale degree numbers show how the notes relate to the major scale / Ionian mode. This means that once you know the major scale the subsequent modes are easy to grasp. Here the changes are a flat 3rd and a flat 7th.
The Dorian mode has a minor sound. This comes from the flat 3rd note, which if you know about chord construction is integral to the minor chord.
Dorian can be described as mellow smooth or folky. Whilst being a minor mode it doesn't feel as sad as other minor modes.
The third mode is called the Phrygian Mode.
It has the interval pattern H W W W H W W.
C Phrygian has the notes C D♭ E♭ F G A♭ B♭.
The scale degrees are 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7.
The Phrygian mode has a minor sound. Where the Dorian lightened up the minor sound, the Phrygian intensifies and darkens it. It's tense, evil sound is commonly used in metal music.
The fourth mode is called the Lydian mode.
It has the interval pattern W W W H W W H.
C Lydian has the notes C D E F♯ G A B.
The scale degrees are 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7.
The Lydian mode has a major sound. It's interesting sound has little dissonance and creates a floaty, dream like feeling. This comes from the raised / augmented fourth degree.
The fifth mode is called the Mixolydian mode.
It has the interval pattern W W H W W H W.
C mixolydian has the notes C D E F G A B♭.
The scale degrees are 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7.
The mixolydian mode has a major sound. It is bright, upbeat and has a rock music feel to it provided by the b7.
The sixth mode is called the Aeolian Mode.
You may know it as the natural minor scale.
It has the interval pattern W H W W H W W.
C Aeolian has the notes C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭.
The scale degrees are 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7.
The aeolian mode has a minor sound. It is dark and sad as you would expect. It's frequently used in rock music.
The seventh mode is called the Locrian mode.
It has the interval pattern H W W H W W W.
C Locrian has the notes C D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭.
The scale degrees are 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7.
The Locrian mode has a diminished sound. It has an unstable, dark and tense feel that wants to resolve. For this reason it is found mostly in the heavier forms of metal.