Modes
contributed by George Miller
Musical examples copyright © 1988-99 Dan Coy
A Little History
The modes were used by the early church to form Gregorian chant,
Anglican chant, and Plainsong. Given names borrowed from ancient
Greek Theory, there were originally only four: Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian
and Mixolydian. They were extended to twelve and in todays modern music
reduced to seven.
Still borrowing from the Greek tradition they are as follows:
- Ionian the Major scale we know today and what all western music is based
- Dorian a minor sounding scale
- Phrygian a minor scale form with a gypsy or oriental sound
- Lydian a major sounding scale
- Mixolydian a major or dominant scale form
- Aeolian the Natural Minor scale
- Locrian a minor sounding scale with a gypsy or flamenco/spanish/latin sound
Simply put, each mode is a scale built on a different degree of the major
scale. In other words if you took a C Major scale (all white notes on piano)
and played D to D, that would be Dorian. If you played E to E that would be
Phrygian. If you played F to F that would be Lydian. By playing G to G you
form Mixolydian. Natural Minor, a commonly used scale, is A to A known
as Aeolian. Locrian, the last mode would go B to B. Seems simple enough,
but let's look into this a little deeper.
Ionian
O.K., so what is Ionian or the Major scale? It is a series of tones based
on intervals. To construct a C Major scale or the Ionian mode first play a
C. Go up a whole step to D, a whole step to E, a half step to F, a whole
step to G, a whole step to A, a whole step to B, and finally a half step
to C. So it follows that Ionian is (whole step = 1, half step = 1/2)
1, 1, 1/2, 1, 1, 1, 1/2. This intervallic relationship of whole tones and
semi tones is what all western music is based. Try playing this scale over
the Midi Sequence supplied. Sound familar? It should, even the Allman Brothers like it.
major.mid 3k
Dorian
Dorian is probably the most used of the minor modes for JAZZ. Made
popular by the likes of Miles "So What" and Coltrane "Impressions", the
Dorian mode can be played over any Minor Seventh chord. Now, let us
construct the scale. As stated earlier, Dorian would be like taking a
C Major scale but playing from D to D. Those intervals would be
1, 1/2, 1, 1, 1, 1/2, 1. However for this exercise, we want our Root note
or Tonic to be C. By doing so it follows that C Dorian would be
C D Eb F G A Bb. See the relationship here. C Dorian has the Key
signature of Bb. Dorian is built on the second degree (of a Major Scale)
and C is the second degree of Bb. Compared to a C Major scale though,
both the third and seventh degree have been lowered or "flatted". Play
this scale over the exercise. See how Kool that is. Miles would be proud.
(check out what Pat Martino does with that scale)
dorian.mid 3k
Phrygian
Not as popular with mainstreamers, Fusion artists such as John Mclaughlin
used to jam with it like a Matra. I still listen to "Inner Mounting Flame" and
get those warm Fuzzies. Geez...lets build the scale. If Phrygian was like
playing E to E in a C major scale, the following relationship develops:
1/2, 1, 1, 1, 1/2, 1, 1. Now lets build a C Phrygian scale. It should be
C Db Eb F G Ab Bb. That's the key signature of Ab Major and C would have
been the third degree. Starting to see it? Phrygian, the third mode, built
from the third degree of a Major scale will have the same key signature
as a major scale two whole steps down. Compared to a C Major scale
the second, third, sixth and seventh degrees have been flatted. Enough
said...go play that thing.
phrygian.mid 3k
Lydian
Lydian has got that bright Major sound. Used over Major seventh chords
(ma7#11), Pat Matheny makes great use of it on "Phase Dance". By now you
should be getting the "feel" for this. Let's construct a C Lydian scale. The
intervals are 1, 1, 1, 1/2, 1, 1, 1/2. The notes are: C D E F# G A B. So C Lydian has the same
key signature as G Major, C being a fourth in the G Scale. Get it??
I thought so. Have fun with the Seq.
lydian.mid 3k
Mixolydian
If you like that Wes Montgomery - George Benson school of playing then
you have heard plenty of Mixolydian being played. Sometimes called the
Dominant scale, it is what you play over dominant seventh and suspended chords.
It's kinda like a Blues scale with a raised third. Compared to a Major scale
it has a flatted seventh. The intervals are 1, 1, 1/2, 1, 1, 1/2, 1. The notes for
C Mixolydian are: C D E F G A Bb. But, you knew that. If you get a chance,
see how Monk uses it in "Well you Needn't". Happiness is but a half step
away.
mixolyd.mid 4k
Aeolian
Pure minor, Relative minor, Natural minor...many names, all for the
Aeolian mode. Used for about every Soul ballad ever written, it's where the
minor pentatonic scale comes from. Besides Ionian, it is the second most
popular mode for classical writers to compose in. Can you build one? The
intervals are 1, 1/2, 1, 1, 1/2, 1, 1. It's a major scale with the third, sixth,
and seventh flatted. C D Eb F G Ab Bb C.
aeolian.mid 5k
Locrian
Ah...Locrian. Chick's Electric Band Two (Paint the World) uses this mode
in a tune called Spanish Sketch. Also, listen to an older album called MY
SPANISH HEART. Locrian, Locrian, Locrian everywhere. John Mclaughlin also
employs it on "Inner Mounting Flame. How's it spelled? Well it should be
a peice of cake by now, but here it is anyway. 1/2, 1, 1, 1/2, 1, 1, 1. C Locrian
would be then ... C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C. Sometimes called the Half-diminished
scale, you can use it over minor-seven flat five chords (Cm7b5). Play it
over the Sequence. Ah.."to be in Spain when it rains on the plain."
locrian.mid 6k
Ad Finitum
In conclusion, I would like to mention the Melodic Minor Scale. This scale is a major scale with the third lowered. To spell a Melodic Minor scale play as follows:
1, 1/2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1/2. I want to encourage you to build chords and modes from this scale, just as we did with the Major scale. You'll find it is the answer to improvising over altered dominant chords (7#9, 9#11, 13b5, etc.) as well as many other chords commonly found in Jazz.
Contact the teach at: gsmiller@atl.mindspring.com
