This is a another classic chart to understand how modes are built by comparing them to the major scale staring from the same note…you’ll see right away how D Dorian is a minor mode and how it differs from D major scale.

Printable PDF: Modes Pt3

C Ionian = C major by constitution and it is a Major mode.

D Dorian

As you can see the difference here is that the Dorian mode has the minor 3^rd (F natural instead of F#) and the minor 7^th (C natural).  The Dorian Mode is a Minor mode

E Phrygian

Here not only we can see the minor 3^rd and the minor 7^th but also the minor 6^th and 2^nd . This last note gives the characteristic sound to this mode. This is a minor mode.

F Lydian

A major mode with the raised 4^th (Bb raised to B natural). Quite an interesting sound, used a lot for its dream like qualities.

G Mixolydian

This is called a major dominant mode, the characteristic note is the minor 7^th on a major scale.

A Aeolian

This mode is also known as Relative minor or Natural minor. Has a minor 3^rd, minor 6^th and 7th

B Locrian

Maybe not as popular as the other modes, but used quite a lot in many jazz standards and similar tunes this is a minor mode with minor 2^nd , 3^rd, 6^th and 7^th. Also the characteristic note is the diminished 5^th, that makes this mode one of kind among those from the major scale.

Modes of the major scale Pt2.

In the first video I showed you all the modes from one scale (C major), where all the modes shared the same notes, each one starting from a different note. Here I’ll do something different: all my modes will start from the same note (C). Of course all these modes will belong to different major keys. This allows me to understand the structure of the modes, comparing them in a key (C) where it easier to calculate intervals. This is called the ‘parallel approach’.

C Ionian

C D E F G A B

C Dorian

C D Eb F G A Bb

C Phrygian

C Db Eb F G Ab Bb

C Lydian

C D E F# G A B

C Mixolydian

C D E F G A Bb

C Aeolian

C D Eb F G Ab Bb

C Locrian

C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb

And, as usual, this is the nice printable PDF for you to hang on the wall: Modes of The Major scale: parallel approach

Modes are a simple subject that sometimes can be misunderstood. Modes are ‘inversions’ of a scale, a scale ‘within’ a scale that takes life of its own.

In this first series of videos about modes I show you the modes from the major scale: these are just 7 other scales, built with the same notes from the major scale, only starting from a different degree of that major scale. As an example these are the modes of the C major scale:

C Ionian

C D E F G A B

D Dorian

D E F G A B C

E Phrygian

E F G A B C D

F Lydian

F G A B C D E

G Mixolydian

G A B C D E F

A Aeolian

A B C D E F G

B Locrian

B C D E F G A

You can Check out and Print This PDF File for All the modes nicely notated: Modes of the Major Scale

I am sure you have noticed by now that, as I was saying, all these modes share the same notes, but from a different starting point. This makes them ‘sound’ different when isolated and played as a ‘key’ of their own, as the center of gravity is now shifted. I will show you in the next two videos a couple of different approaches to get to grips with these modes.