Composition: Modes

Modes are used in many types of music; from sacred music to jazz to rock. Composers use Modes
to create a different "feel" in their compositions. Below is a table listing the Modes.

These Modes are basically formed by naming a different note as the root within a scale. Thus, in a
way, modes can be defined as displaced major scales, as you can clearly see in the table below;
Name

Formula

Example

In the Key of C

Feel

Ionian

12 3 45 67 8

CDEFGABC

CDEFGABC

Happy?

Dorian

1 2 3b 4 5 6 7b 8

C D Eb F G A Bb C

DEFGABCD

Dark?

Phrygian

1 2b 3b 4 5 6b 7b 8

C Db Eb F G Ab Bb C

EFGABCDE

Eastern?

Lydian

1 2 3 4# 5 6 7 8

CDEFGABC

FGABCDEF

Bitter-sweet?

Mixolydian

1 2 3 4 5 6 7b 8

C D E F G A Bb C

G A B C D E F G Happy with a twist?

Aeolian

1 2 3b 4 5 6b 7b 8

C D Eb F G Ab Bb C

Locrian

1 2b 3b 4 5b 6b 7b 8

ABCDEFGA

C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C B C D E F G A B

Sad?
Weird?

Below, I have pointed out some similaries/links which might help you remember the Modes!
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

The Ionian mode is the major scale.

The Dorian is rather like our natural minor scale, but with a raised sixth.
The Phrygian is like our natural minor scale but the second note of the scale is flattened.
The Lydian is like our major scale but the fourth note is sharpened.
The Mixolydian is basically our major scale with a dominant seventh
The Aeolian is the natural minor scale.
The Locrian sounds rather strange, and was hardly ever used in Medieval music. It is our
major scale with every note, other than the 1st and 4th, flattened. Think of B major!

Also, here are two notable exceptions, both variants of the Natural Minor (AKA the Aeolian Mode),
and both of which require a little extra explanation. The first is the Melodic Minor. It looks like
this...

Melodic Minor

1 2 3b 4 5 6 7 8

C D Eb F G A B C

Indian

...but only on the way up! On the way down (descending), traditionally you play the Natural Minor.
The second variant is called the Harmonic Minor scale, and it looks like this...
Harmonic Minor

1 2 3b 4 5 6b 7 8

C D Eb F G Ab B C

Sad with a twist?

Finally, just for fun, here are some deminished scales. The Octonic scale is easy to play if you
simply think of it as T S T S T S T S. The Octonic scale (also known as the
symmetrical) can also be permutated starting on the semi-tone.
Diminished Whole Tone Scale

1 b2 b3 3 b5 b6 - b7

C Db Eb E Gb Ab Bb

Dreamy?

Octonic Scale

1 2 b3 - 4 b5 b6 6 - 7

C D Eb F Gb Ab A B

Other-Worldly?

For the more adventurous, here is a a mind blowing website that will give you the notes for every
conceivable scale (and chord) that you could possible ever imagine. It even plays them back!
So yeah....have fun with the sleepless nights!

http://www.looknohands.com/chordhouse/piano/