The Truth About Modes

* For blues techniques click here * How many of you reading this have encountered modes and thought the topic was just too confusing to actually use? Maybe you read about them in a magazine and tried to understand their construction. Perhaps you had instructors cover the concept and your brain clouded over like a rainy Seattle day. In this article, I will attempt to demystify the confusion about modes and give you a clear explanation of them. Part 1 will break these modes down to their simplest form and will give you a quick way to memorize them. One more thing before we get started - The modes are not going to be presented as the 1st, 2nd or 3rd mode in a major scale. If modes are learned this way, They all sound the SAME. Instead, all examples will be spelled starting from the same pitch. This way you can see and hear the changes that take effect. The modes are categorized as Major or minor. If the mode contains a major 3rd it's major; if the mode contains a minor 3rd it's minor. Major Modes Ionian = Major scaleExample: C D E F G A B Lydian = Major scale with a raised 4th scale degree.Example: C D E F# G A B................... #4 Mixolydian = Major scale with a lowered 7th scale degree.Example: C D E F G A Bb.............................b7 After observing the major modes, there is only one alteration made to each. Raising the 4th degree makes a very bright sound while lowering the 7th degree makes for a slightly duller sound. Minor Modes Aeolian = Minor scaleExample: C D Eb F G Ab Bb Dorian = Minor scale with a raised 6th scale degree.Example: C D Eb F G A Bb.......................... ......#6 Phrygian = Minor scale with a lowered 2nd scale degree.Example: C Db Eb F G Ab Bb....................b2 Locrian = Minor scale with a lowered 2nd and 5th scale degrees.Example: C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb ............... .....b2 .......b5 After observing the minor modes, there is only one alteration made to the Dorian with a #6 to give a brighter sound. There is also only one alteration to produce the Phrygian mode with a lowered b2 to produce a darker sound. The Locrian is the only mode with two alterations. Lowering the 2nd and 5th scale degrees produces an even darker sound. Because the mode contains minor 3rd and diminished 5th intervals this is called more appropriately a Diminished mode. I hope this cleared up any confusion about constructing the modes. By executing each one from the same pitch ("C" in these examples) you should be able to hear the differences as well. Part 2 will explain the application of these modes as well as new perspectives to further make you comfortable and make you WANT to use them in your next project. Below is a quick reference table to help memorize these modes. Major Modes Lydian - #4 Mixolydian - b7 Minor Modes Dorian - #6 Phrygian - b2 Locrian - b2, b5