Modes

Modes is an ordered series of musical intervals, which, along with the key or tonic, define the pitches. However, mode is usually used in the sense of scale applied only to the specific diatonic scales 

 C Ionian Mode  
    
 Notes         C   D   E   F   G   A  B  C 
                \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ /  
 Intervals       W  W  H   W   W  W  H
The Intevals of the modes minor/major Chords
Locrian mode BhCwDwEhFwGwAwB Half-diminished Min7b5, Min7b5b9
Locrian intervals* 1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7 darkest
Ionian mode CwDwEhFwGwAwBhC Major Major, Maj6, Maj7, Maj11
Ionian intervals* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 brighter
Dorian mode DwEhFwGwAwBhCwD Minor Min6, Min7
Dorian intervals* 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7 dark
Phrygian mode EhFwGwAwBhCwDwE Minor Min7b9
Phrygian intervals* 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 darkest
Lydian mode FwGwAwBhCwDwEhF Major Maj7, Maj7#11
Lydian intervals* 1 2 3 #4 5 6 7 brightest
Mixolydian mode GwAwBhCwDwEhFwG Major Dom7
Mixolydian intervals* 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7 bright
Aeolian mode AwBhCwDwEhFwGwA Minor Min, Min7, Min9
Aeolian intervals* 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 darker
* Characteristic Tone emphasized 
     B Locrian                     C Ionian (major)            
E||----------------------------|-----------------------------| 
B||--0--1--3--5--6--8--10--12--|--1--3--5--6--8--10--12--13--| 
G||----------------------------|-----------------------------| 
D||----------------------------|-----------------------------| 
A||----------------------------|-----------------------------| 
E||----------------------------|-----------------------------| 
     B  C  D  E  F  G  A   B      C  D  E  F  G   A   B   C    
 
 
       D Dorian                     E Prygian:                  
E||----------------------------|----------------------------| 
B||----------------------------|----------------------------| 
G||----------------------------|----------------------------| 
D||--0--2--3--5--7--9--10--12--|----------------------------| 
A||----------------------------|----------------------------| 
E||----------------------------|--0--1--3--5--7--8--10--12--| 
     D  E  F  G  A  B   C  D      E  F  G  A  B  C  D   E     
 
 
     F Lydian:                    G Mixolydian 
E||----------------------------|----------------------------| 
B||----------------------------|----------------------------| 
G||----------------------------|--0--2--4--5--7--9--10--12--| 
D||----------------------------|----------------------------| 
A||----------------------------|----------------------------| 
E||--1--3--5--7--8--10--12--13-|----------------------------| 
     F  G  A  B  C  D   E   F     G  A  B  C  D  E   F  G 
 
   
     A Aeolian (minor) 
E||----------------------------| 
B||----------------------------| 
G||----------------------------| 
D||----------------------------| 
A||--0--2--3--5--7--8--10--12--| 
E||----------------------------| 
     A  B  C  D  E  F  G   A

Modality - Intermediate lesson by Steve Giordano

In this lesson Steve Giordano clarifies the often misunderstood concept of Modality. Aimed at the intermediate player, he creates a playing field to practice hearing, creating, and understanding the diatonic modes.

See also

External links