Introduction To Modes: How To Use Them In Your Music

When you think about your favorite songs, do you notice they often have a distinct mood or character? This unique charm might stem from the musical modes used in their composition. 

So what exactly are modes?

Modes are types of scales with their own distinct melodic and harmonic characteristics.

Music modes have roots in ancient Greece and played a significant role during the Middle Ages, and they are a fascinating element of Western music theory.

Once you learn to recognize different modes, it can broaden your skills as a musician and expand your understanding of melody and harmony.

Fundamentals of Musical Modes

Musical modes each have their own distinct pitches in a scale. They offer a diverse sound palettes, with various tonal colors and emotive possibilities.

But why should you care? Do you really need to know some scales named after Greek words?

Actually, yes. In my experience, understanding the different ways modes can be used in improvising, composing or analyzing music can truly expand your ability to hear and relate to music.

As we cover a lot of strange sounding terminology, try and hang in there! It gets easier as you start to internalize how modes work, and what each mode's characteristic sound is like.

Understanding Diatonic Scales

A diatonic scale is the same as a major scale. It consists of seven whole and half-step patterns built from the natural notes. 

This means that it can be formed using the white keys on a piano without additional sharps or flats. A familiar example is the C Ionian scale, which we typically call a C-major scale.

Diatonic scales are the basis for all seven modes of the major scale.

Mode Starting Point Explained

Each mode originates by shifting the starting point of the scale to a different note within the Ionian scale; for example D Dorian mode would start on the second note within the C Ionian scale. 

All modes present a unique type of scale and distinct musical flavor, making understanding these patterns invaluable for any musician.

The Concept of Tonic Notes and Key Signatures

The tonic note is the first note of a scale, which acts as the home base or resolution point. 

In the C-Ionian scale, C serves as the tonic. The role of the tonic is critical as it influences harmonic tension and resolution.

Key signatures help to define which notes are typically sharp or flat throughout a piece. By understanding key signatures, you can easily transpose modes to different pitch centers. 

For example, shifting the tonic to D while maintaining the white-key pattern on the piano keys forms the D-Dorian mode, showcasing the flexibility of modes across different contexts.

Characteristics of Modes

Modes offer distinct tonal qualities that influence the feel of a composition. Major modes often convey brightness, while minor modes bring depth and complexity.

Modes and Their Influence

Ionian Mode

The Ionian mode is essentially the major scale, built from a set of notes that includes a whole step between most degrees, except between the third and fourth, and seventh and eighth. 

The bright and uplifting quality of the Ionian mode comes from its major triad, formed by the tonic, major third, and perfect fifth intervals. This major chord often forms the foundation for harmonic progressions in different keys. 

A key signature in C Ionian, for instance, contains the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, and B, leading to a harmonious and familiar sound.

Dorian Mode

The Dorian mode, often associated with minor chords, is a minor mode that features a raised sixth degree. 

This set of notes, starting on the second note of the major scale, produces a sound that is both minor and slightly brighter due to the raised sixth. For example, in D Dorian, the notes are D, E, F, G, A, B, and C, creating a minor key that still has a subtle uplifting quality compared to pure minor scales. 

The Dorian mode is particularly popular in jazz and rock music. You can easily find the Dorian mode in songs like "So What" by Miles Davis, showcasing its cool, laid-back tone. Rock musicians often use the D Dorian scale in solos and riffs to imbue their music with an edgy and dynamic feel. 

Whether you're into guitar shredding or smooth piano melodies, the Dorian offers diverse ways to enhance your musical pieces.

Phrygian Mode

Known for its exotic and somewhat dark sound, the Phrygian mode starts on the third degree of the major scale and features a half step between its first and second notes, which distinguishes it from other minor modes. 

This creates a dissonant and tense sound often used in flamenco and metal genres. 

In E Phrygian, the notes are E, F, G, A, B, C, and D, emphasizing the flat second note that gives this mode its unique flavor.

In rock music, Phrygian provides a dramatic flair that can help elevate a guitar solo or thematic passage.

Lydian Mode

The Lydian mode, starting on the fourth note of the major scale, is like the Ionian mode but with a raised fourth. This makes it sound dreamy and ethereal, often used in film scores and modern classical music. 

F Lydian, for instance, includes the notes F, G, A, B, C, D, and E, where the B natural (instead of Bb) creates a tension that resolves smoothly back to the tonic. 

The Lydian mode’s whole tone sequence between its starting note and its raised fourth is key to its floating, open sound.

Mixolydian Mode

The Mixolydian mode differs from Ionian by having a lowered seventh, giving it a relaxed and bluesy feel. 

This mode, starting on the fifth degree of the major scale, is commonly used in rock, blues, and funk music due to its dominant seventh sound. In G Mixolydian, the notes G, A, B, C, D, E, and F create a major tonality with a minor seventh, a combination that lends itself well to modal progressions. 

The inclusion of the minor seventh in this otherwise major mode provides a distinctly unresolved but groovy vibe.

In pop music, this mode is often used in catchy, upbeat songs that require a hint of soulful introspection. It's also a staple in classic rock anthems, where its bright yet slightly tense quality enhances vocal harmonies and guitar choruses. 

Mixolydian’s adaptability makes it a go-to choice for musicians for a balanced and engaging tonality.

Aeolian Mode

Also known as the natural minor scale, the Aeolian mode starts on the sixth degree of the major scale. This mode is the basis for all minor keys.

This minor mode is often associated with melancholy or somber music. In A Aeolian, for example, the notes A, B, C, D, E, F, and G produce a set of notes that define the minor key signature. 

The Aeolian mode is foundational in Western music. It forms the basis for many minor key compositions, often resolving to a minor chord.

Locrian Mode

The most unstable and dissonant of the modes, Locrian starts on the seventh note of the major scale and features a diminished fifth. 

This diminished interval creates a tense and unresolved sound, making it less common in tonal music. In B Locrian, the notes B, C, D, E, F, G, and A form a scale where the diminished fifth (F instead of F#) clashes with the tonic, producing a sense of instability. 

Because of its dissonant nature, Locrian is often used in modern and experimental music, where tension and unconventional harmonies are explored.

This mode adds a chaotic yet fascinating element to compositions, making it suitable for pieces that aim to challenge conventional tonal expectations. While not typically featured in mainstream pop or rock, it remains a useful tool for musicians looking to push boundaries and experiment with unconventional musical expressions.

History of the Modal System and Its Evolution

Modes have played a crucial role in the development of Western classical music. Tracing back to ancient Greece and evolving through medieval church modes, they ultimately shaped the major-minor scale system we use today.

From Greek Names to Church Modes

Modes originated in ancient Greece, where names like Dorian and Phrygian were used to describe different modal scales. Each mode had unique emotional qualities, offering a distinct musical palette.

In medieval Europe, these Greek modes were adapted into the church modes. The church used them to organize plainchant, influencing the development of Western music. As a result, modes such as the first mode, Dorian, and the second mode, Phrygian, provided a foundation for melodies and harmonies in the sacred music of the time.

Transition to the Modern Major Scale

Over time, the complex system of church modes began to change. During the Renaissance and Baroque periods, the focus shifted towards simplification. This transition led to the emergence of the major and minor scales.

In this new system, two modes dominated: the Ionian mode became the major scale, and Aeolian mode transformed into the natural minor scale. This change simplified musical structure, allowing composers to explore richer harmonic progressions, setting the stage for modern Western classical music compositions.

Practical Uses and Advanced Concepts

Composing with Modes: Tips and Techniques

When composing with modes, think about the unique characteristics and mood specific modes offer.

For example, the Dorian mode has a soulful quality due to its minor pentatonic scale feel, highlighted by adding a major sixth. By focusing on the mode's specific intervals, such as whole steps and half steps surrounding the third scale degree, you can emphasize different emotional textures.

Try experimenting with different starting notes within the mode; using the second mode or the third mode of a parent scale like C major can offer fresh soundscapes. Also think about the circle of fifths to see how modes intersect with diatonic chords, giving you some diverse progressions. 

Using the parent scale method, where you identify modes as alterations of a major scale, will help integrate them smoothly into your music.

Exploration of Modal Chord Progressions

Modal chord progressions can breathe new life into your musical ideas. 

Try selecting chords that highlight the mode’s unique characteristics. For example, using a fifth mode can give your progression a bright and stable sound, especially when emphasizing the fifth note of the scale.

Experiment with the inclusion of notes like the seventh note or fourth note to create tension and resolution within your progressions. Begin with the notes of a scale such as C D E F G and identify the following order of chords that accentuate the mode’s qualities. 

Incorporating different notes of the scale intentionally allows you to craft pieces of music that resonate with distinct modal flavors.

Adjust the musical scale by trying different positions, recognizing how each mode brings a different sound to the forefront. Concepts like modal interchange or using modes alongside the pentatonic scales, particularly the minor pentatonic scale, can offer you enriching harmonic possibilities.

Conclusion

Now that we've explored each mode and its characteristics, I bet you can see how powerful modal music can be in shaping the emotional depth and tonal variety of your compositions. 

Modes offer an easy way to diversify your sound. Each mode, with its unique collection of notes and intervals, provides a fresh palette to draw from in different places within your music.

Learning the modes and applying them can transform your approach to harmony and melody. With a little practice and understanding of the concept of modes, you’ll find yourself using them instinctively in your music.

About the author

Tero Potila is a professional music composer and producer. His career combining knowledge and experience from music, TV, film, ad, and game industries gives him a unique perspective that he shares through posts on teropotila.com.