Kaii had combined several piano/keyboard method books and her life long music learning books to create this sequential music theory study for this website. This page is about the understanding of Musical Modes. By clicking on the other colored links at the bottom of this page, the other music theory topics can be found easily.
In the Western music history, Modes came before the Scales. Like a scale, a Mode is any set of musical notes ordered by fundamental frequency or pitch used in primarily the 15th and the 16th centuries. The order of any mode is created by increasing pitches as an ascending scale (going up), and by decreasing pitch is a descending scale (going down). In the western music system, a Mode consists of seven pitches, while the number 8 pitch is exactly an octave higher. The intervals, such as an octave, will be discussed on the "Intervals" page on this website.
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Ionian | Dorian | Phrygian | Lydian | Mixolydian | Aeolian | Locrian
The following chart shows the comparison of all the Modes to a C Major Scale:
Name C Major Scale Degree Locations of Half-Steps Changes in Scale Degree Ionian 1
3-4, 7-8 None, like the Major scale Dorian 2 2-3, 6-7 Lowered 3 and 7 Phrygian 3 1-2, 5-6 Lowered 2, 3, 6 and 7 Lydian 4 4-5, 7-8 Raised 4 Mixolydian 5 3-4, 6-7 Lowered 7 Aeolian 6 2-3, 5-6 Lowered 3, 6, and 7, like the Natural Minor scale Locrian 7 1-2, 4-5 Lowered 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7
By using a piano keyboard, the Modes can be easily understood visually. All Modes are built with Whole and Half Steps. A Whole Step is the interval of a Major Second, such as the distance of the "White Key C" to the "White Key D", with a "Black Key C#/Db" in the middle of them. A Half Step is the interval of a Minor Second, such as the distance of the "White Key E" to the "White Key F", without any "Black Key" in the middle of them. When there is not a black key between any two white keys, it is also called a "Natural Half Step."
All Ionian Modes have two half steps between degrees 3-4 and 7-8. For the Ionian Mode that starts on "C", the half steps are located between "E and F", degrees 3 and 4, and "B and C", degrees 7 and 8. In the C Ionian Mode, these two half steps are the perfect examples of the "Natural Half Steps." It is equivalent to a C Major Scale. However, if the Ionian Mode starts on "G", the half steps are located between "B and C", degrees 3 and 4, and "F-Sharp and G", degrees 7 and 8. It is equivalent to start from the first degree of a G Major scale.
Ionian
Ionian starting on "G"
The Dorian Mode has two half steps between degrees 2-3 and 6-7. For the Dorian Mode that starts on "D" in the following example, the half steps are located between "E and F", degrees 2 and 3, and "B and C", degrees 6 and 7. It is equivalent to start from the second degree of a C Major scale. However, if the Dorian Mode starts on "F", the half steps are located between "G and A-Flat", degrees 2 and 3, and "D and E-Flat", degrees 6 and 7. It is equivalent to start from the second degree of an E-flat Major scale.
Dorian
Dorian starting on "F"
The Phrygian Mode has two half steps between degrees 1-2 and 5-6. For the Phrygian Mode that starts on "E" in the following example, the half steps are located between "E and F", degrees 1 and 2, and "B and C", degrees 5 and 6. It is equivalent to start from the third degree of a C Major scale. However, if the Phrygian Mode starts on "F-sharp", the half steps are located between "F-Sharp and G", degrees 1 and 2, and "C-Sharp and D", degrees 5 and 6. It is equivalent to start from the third degree of a D Major scale.
Phrygian
Phrygian starting on "F-Sharp"
The Lydian Mode has two half steps between degrees 1-2 and 5-6. For the Lydian Mode that starts on "F" in the following example, the half steps are located between "B and C", degrees 4 and 5, and "E and F", degrees 7 and 8. It is equivalent to start from the fourth degree of a C Major scale. However, if the Lydian Mode starts on "A", the half steps are located between "D-Sharp and E", degrees 4 and 5, and "G-Sharp and A", degrees 7 and 8. It is equivalent to start from the fourth degree of an E Major scale.
Lydian
Lydian starting on "A"
The Mixolydian Mode has two half steps between degrees 3-4 and 6-7. For the Mixolydian Mode that starts on "G" in the following example, the half steps are located between "B and C", degrees 3 and 4, and "E and F", degrees 6 and 7. It is equivalent to start from the fifth degree of a C Major scale. However, if the Mixolydian Mode starts on "E-Flat", the half steps are located between "G and A-Flat", degrees 3 and 4, and "C and D-Flat", degrees 6 and 7. It is equivalent to start from the fifth degree of an A-Flat Major scale.
Mixolydian
Mixolydian starting on "E-Flat"
The Aeolian Mode has two half steps between degrees 2-3 and 5-6. For the Aeolian Mode that starts on "A" in the following example, the half steps are located between "B and C", degrees 2 and 3, and "E and F", degrees 5 and 6. It is equivalent to start from the sixth degree of a C Major scale, or an A Natural Minor. However, if the Aeolian Mode starts on "E", the half steps are located between "F-Sharp and G", degrees 2 and 3, and "B and C", degrees 5 and 6. It is equivalent to start from the sixth degree of a G Major scale, or an E Natural Minor.
Aeolian
Aeolian starting on "E"
The Locrian Mode has two half steps between degrees 1-2 and 4-5. For the Locrian Mode that starts on "B" in the following example, the half steps are located between "B and C", degrees 1 and 2, and "E and F", degrees 4 and 5. It is equivalent to start from the seventh degree of a C Major scale. However, if the Locrian Mode starts on "A", the half steps are located between "A and B-Flat", degrees 4 and 5, and "D and E-Flat", degrees 4 and 5. It is equivalent to start from the seventh degree of a B-Flat Major scale.
Locrian
Locrian starting on "A"
The next topic in this Music Theory site is all about "Intervals." Thank you for reading!
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