Lesson 39 Modes

Lesson 39 Modes

Part I - Modes

The earliest examples of music notation date back to 900 AD.  It was back during the reign of Charlemagne that the modes were named.  

Each mode had two iterations, The first is where the final note is the lowest note in the scale, the "tonic" if you will.

The second id where the final note of the scale is the fourth scale degree, called the Plagal iteration of the mode.

Dorian Mode:

Authentic:                        :                                          Plagal

Phrygian Mode:
 Authentic:                                                                 Plagal:

Lydian Mode:

Authentic:                                                                   Plagal:

Myxolydian Mode:

Authentic:                                                                   Plagal:

An example of the Hypomyxolydian mode used on gregorian chant.

Part II - Forming the modes

Mode                                White key scale                                    Similar to:

Aeolian                                             A to A                                                         natural minor scale

Locrian                                             B to B                              natural minor with lowered 2nd and 5th scale degree

Ionian                                               C to C                                                           Major scale

Dorian                                              D to D                                      Natural minor with raised 6th scale degree

Phrygian                                           E to E                                       Natural minor with lowered 2nd scale degree

Lydian                                               F to F                                          Major with raised 4th scale degree

Mixolydian                                       G to G                                           Major with lowered 2nd scale degree

Here are a few examples of the relationships between modes and their related keys.

Listen:

Listen:

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Listen:

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Part III - Key signatures

Mode                                          Key signature

Aeolian                                       Parallel minor

Locrian                                       Add two sharps or subtract two flats from the parallel minor

Ionian                                         parallel Major

Dorian                                        Subtract one flat or add one sharp from the parallel minor

Phrygian                                     Add one sharp or subtract one flat from the parallel minor

Lydian                                         Subtract one flat or add one sharp from the parallel Major

Mixolydian                                 Add one flat or subtract one sharp from the parallel major

Part IV - Modal harmony

A variety of chord qualities and progressions arise when using modes.  For example, in the dorian mode the chord qualities are:
i  ii  III  IV  v  vi°  VII    

in the Phrygian mode they are:

i   II   III   iv   v°   VI   vii

in the Lydian mode:

I  ii  iii   iv°   V   vi   vii   

and in the Mixolydian mode:

I   ii   iii°   IV   v   vi   VII

Some standard chord progressions in the modes are

Dorian: i   v   i   IV   VII   i

Phrygian:  i   VI   iv   II   i

Lydian:  I   vi   II   V   I

Mixolydian:  I   ii   IV   I   vi   VII   I

Here is a standard chord progression in the key of C Dorian:

Listen: