A Little info about Modes
I’ve been getting back into guitar lately. So much so that I’m planning on buying a Fender Strat real soon. See my previous post. I had a jazz improvisation class in college and have always been intrigued by the modes. I’ve been working on the Dorian mode lately and thought I would put some info up about it as well as the other modes.
Derivative
One thing you need to understand about the derivative manor is all of the modes have the same notes as the major mode, they just start on different notes other than the root.
Ionian mode (In the key of C it is known as C Ionian). The note formula is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. It starts on the C note. The notes are C, D, E, F, G, A, B. And the formula is W W H W W W H. EX. The key of G is G (1), A (2), B (3), C (4), D (5), E (6), F# (7).
Dorian mode (In the key of C it is known as D Dorian) The note formula is 1, 2, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7b. It starts on the D note of the C Major scale (again in the Key of C). It has a minor quality. The notes are D, E, F, G, A, B, C. The same notes as the C Major, just in a different order. D Dorian is actually in the key of D.
Phrygian mode (In the key of C it is known as E Phrygian) The note formula is 1, 2b, 3b, 4, 5, 6b, 7b. It starts on the E note of the C Major scale (again in the Key of C). It has a minor quality. What key is it in? E (E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D#), Use the formula you get E is 1, F# is 2 but 2is now flat so it becomes F, G# is 3 but 3b = G, A is 4, B is 5, C# is 6 but 6b = C and D# is 7 but 7b = D. So the notes are, D, E, F, G, A, B, C.
Lydian mode (In the key of C it is known as F Lydian) The note formula is 1, 2, 3, 4#, 5, 6, 7. It starts on the F note of the C Major scale (again in the Key of C). It has a major quality. What key is it in? F (F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E). Use the note formula and you get F is 1, E is 2, G is 3, A is 4, Bb is 5 but 4# = B, C is 5, D is 6 and E is 7. The notes are F, G, A, B, C, D, E.
Mixolydian mode (In the key of C it is known as G Mixolydian) The note formula is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7b. It starts on the G note of the C Major scale (again in the Key of C). It has a dominant quality. What key is it in? G (G, A, B, C, D, E, F#). Use the note formula and you get G is 1, A is 2, B is 3, C is 4, D is 5, E is 6, F# is 7 but 7b = F. The notes are G, A, B, C, D, E, F.
Aeolian mode (In the key of C it is known as A Aeolian, it’s the natural minor scale!) The note formula is 1, 2, 3b, 4, 5, 6b, 7b. It starts on the A note of the C Major scale (again in the Key of C). What is the relative minor scale in the Key of C? A Minor. So Aeolian is the relative minor scale in the key of C. It has a minor quality. What key is it in? A ( A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#), Use the note formula and you get A is 1, B is 2, C# is 3 but 3b = C, D is 4, E is 5, F# is 6 but 6b = F and G# is 7 but 7b = G. The notes are A, B, C, D, E, F, G.
Locrian mode (In the key of C it is known as B Locrian) The note formula is 1, 2b, 3b, 4, 5b, 6b, 7b. It starts on the B note of the C Major scale (again in the Key of C). It has a diminished quality. What key is it in? B (B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#,), Use the note formula and you get B is 1, C# is 2 but 2b = C, D# is 3 but 3b = D, E is 4, F# is 5 but 5b = F, G# is 6 but 6b = G and A# is 7 but 7b = A. The notes are B, C, D, E, F, G, A.
Parallel
Using modes in parallel you start the mode from the root. This is where you need to know the notes in each key and have the note formula memorized! So in the key of C you always start the note formula with C as 1. Again we will stay in the Key of C.
1. C Ionian mode note formula is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. The notes are C, D, E, F, G, A, B.
2. C Dorian mode note formula is 1, 2, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7b. The notes are C, D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb.
3. C Phrygian mode note formula is 1, 2b, 3b, 4, 5, 6b, 7b. The notes are C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb.
4. C Lydian mode note formula is 1, 2, 3, 4#, 5, 6, 7. The notes are C, D, E, F#, G, A, B.
5. C Mixolydian mode note formula is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7b. The notes are C, D, E, F, G, A, Bb.
6. C Aeolian mode note formula is 1, 2, 3b, 4, 5, 6b, 7b. The notes are C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb.
7. C Locrian mode note formula is 1, 2b, 3b, 4, 5b, 6b, 7b. The notes are C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb.
Rich