#pianolessons : All about modes on the piano
- Modes are a fundamental concept in music theory that describe different scales derived from the same set of notes. To explain modes thoroughly, let's start with the major scale, as it forms the basis for understanding modes.
1. **Major Scale**: The major scale is the most basic scale in Western music, consisting of seven notes and following a specific pattern of intervals: whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step. For example, the C major scale consists of the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, and B.
2. **Ionian Mode**: The Ionian mode is simply another name for the major scale. It starts and ends on the same note but has a unique sequence of intervals.
3. **Modes Derived from the Major Scale**: By starting the major scale on different degrees (notes) within the scale, we get different modes. Here are the modes derived from the C major scale:
- **Ionian Mode**: Same as the major scale.
- **Dorian Mode**: Starts on the second degree of the major scale (D in the case of C major) and follows the pattern: whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole step.
- **Phrygian Mode**: Starts on the third degree (E in C major) and follows the pattern: half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step.
- **Lydian Mode**: Starts on the fourth degree (F in C major) and follows the pattern: whole step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step.
- **Mixolydian Mode**: Starts on the fifth degree (G in C major) and follows the pattern: whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole step.
- **Aeolian Mode**: Starts on the sixth degree (A in C major) and follows the pattern: whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step. This mode is also known as the natural minor scale.
- **Locrian Mode**: Starts on the seventh degree (B in C major) and follows the pattern: half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step.
4. **Playing Modes on the Piano**: To play modes on the piano, you would start with the corresponding note and follow the interval pattern for each mode. For example, to play the Dorian mode in C major, you would start on D and follow the pattern of intervals mentioned earlier.
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Here are the modes listed for all 12 keys:
1. **C Major (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 Natural Minor (Aeolian): A B C D E F G
- B Locrian: B C D E F G A
2. **C# Major (Ionian)**: C# D# E# F# G# A# B#
- D# Dorian: D# E# F# G# A# B# C#
- F Phrygian: F# G# A# B C# D# E#
- F# Lydian: F# G# A# B# C# D# E#
- G# Mixolydian: G# A# B# C# D# E# F#
- A# Natural Minor (Aeolian): A# B# C# D# E# F# G#
- C Locrian: C# D# E# F# G# A# B#
3. **D Major (Ionian)**: D E F# G A B C#
- E Dorian: E F# G A B C# D
- F# Phrygian: F# G A B C# D E
- G Lydian: G A B C# D E F#
- A Mixolydian: A B C# D E F# G
- B Natural Minor (Aeolian): B C# D E F# G A
- C# Locrian: C# D E F# G A B
4. **D# Major (Ionian)**: D# E# F## G# A# B# C##
- F Dorian: F G A Bb C D E
- G Phrygian: G A Bb C D E F
- G# Lydian: G# A# B# C## D# E# F##
- A# Mixolydian: A# B# C## D# E# F## G#
- C Natural Minor (Aeolian): C D Eb F G Ab Bb
- D Locrian: D E F G A B C
5. **E Major (Ionian)**: E F# G# A B C# D#
- F# Dorian: F# G# A B C# D# E
- G# Phrygian: G# A B C# D# E F#
- A Lydian: A B C# D# E F# G#
- B Mixolydian: B C# D# E F# G# A
- C# Natural Minor (Aeolian): C# D# E F# G# A B
- D Locrian: D# E F# G# A B C#
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6. **F Major (Ionian)**: F G A Bb C D E
- G Dorian: G A Bb C D E F
- A Phrygian: A Bb C D E F G
- Bb Lydian: Bb C D E F G A
- C Mixolydian: C D E F G A Bb
- D Natural Minor (Aeolian): D E F G A Bb C
- E Locrian: E F G A Bb C D
7. **F# Major (Ionian)**: F# G# A# B C# D# E#
- G# Dorian: G# A# B C# D# E# F#
- A# Phrygian: A# B C# D# E# F# G#
- B Lydian: B C# D# E# F# G# A#
- C# Mixolydian: C# D# E# F# G# A# B
- D# Natural Minor (Aeolian): D# E# F# G# A# B C#
- F Locrian: F# G# A# B C# D# E#
8. **G Major (Ionian)**: G A B C D E F#
- A Dorian: A B C D E F# G
- B Phrygian: B C D E F# G A
- C Lydian: C D E F# G A B
- D Mixolydian: D E F# G A B C
- E Natural Minor (Aeolian): E F# G A B C D
- F# Locrian: F# G A B C D E
9. **G# Major (Ionian)**: G# A# B# C# D# E# F##
- A# Dorian: A# B# C# D# E# F## G#
- C Phrygian: C# D# E# F# G# A# B#
- C# Lydian: C# D# E# F## G# A# B#
- D# Mixolydian: D# E# F## G# A# B# C#
- F Natural Minor (Aeolian): F G Ab Bb C Db Eb
- G Locrian: G# A# B# C# D# E# F##
10. **A Major (Ionian)**: A B C# D E F# G#
- B Dorian: B C# D E F# G# A
- C# Phrygian: C# D E F# G# A B
- D Lydian: D E F# G# A B C#
- E Mixolydian: E F# G# A B C# D
- F# Natural Minor (Aeolian): F# G# A B C# D E
- G# Locrian: G# A B C# D E F#
11. **A# Major (Ionian)**: A# B# C## D# E# F## G##
- C Dorian: C D# E F G A Bb
- D Phrygian: D Eb F G A Bb C
- D# Lydian: D# E# F## G## A# B# C##
- F Mixolydian: F G A Bb C D E
- G Natural Minor (Aeolian): G A Bb C D Eb F
- A Locrian: A# B C# D# E F# G#
12. **B Major (Ionian)**: B C# D# E F# G# A#
- C# Dorian: C# D# E F# G# A# B
- D# Phrygian: D# E F# G# A# B C#
- E Lydian: E F# G# A# B C# D#
- F# Mixolydian: F# G# A# B C# D# E#
- G# Natural Minor (Aeolian): G# A# B C# D# E F#
- A# Locrian: A# B C# D# E F# G#
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here are the chord compositions typically associated with each mode:
1. **Ionian Mode (Major Scale)**:
- Major chord on the 1st degree (e.g., C major in C Ionian)
- Minor chord on the 2nd degree
- Minor chord on the 3rd degree
- Major chord on the 4th degree
- Major chord on the 5th degree
- Minor chord on the 6th degree
- Diminished chord on the 7th degree
2. **Dorian Mode**:
- Minor chord on the 1st degree
- Minor chord on the 2nd degree
- Major chord on the 3rd degree
- Minor chord on the 4th degree
- Minor chord on the 5th degree
- Major chord on the 6th degree
- Diminished chord on the 7th degree
3. **Phrygian Mode**:
- Minor chord on the 1st degree
- Diminished chord on the 2nd degree
- Major chord on the 3rd degree
- Minor chord on the 4th degree
- Minor chord on the 5th degree
- Major chord on the 6th degree
- Diminished chord on the 7th degree
4. **Lydian Mode**:
- Major chord on the 1st degree
- Major chord on the 2nd degree
- Diminished chord on the 3rd degree
- Major chord on the 4th degree
- Minor chord on the 5th degree
- Minor chord on the 6th degree
- Major chord on the 7th degree
5. **Mixolydian Mode**:
- Major chord on the 1st degree
- Minor chord on the 2nd degree
- Diminished chord on the 3rd degree
- Major chord on the 4th degree
- Minor chord on the 5th degree
- Major chord on the 6th degree
- Minor chord on the 7th degree
6. **Aeolian Mode (Natural Minor Scale)**:
- Minor chord on the 1st degree
- Diminished chord on the 2nd degree
- Major chord on the 3rd degree
- Minor chord on the 4th degree
- Minor chord on the 5th degree
- Major chord on the 6th degree
- Major chord on the 7th degree
7. **Locrian Mode**:
- Diminished chord on the 1st degree
- Major chord on the 2nd degree
- Minor chord on the 3rd degree
- Minor chord on the 4th degree
- Diminished chord on the 5th degree
- Major chord on the 6th degree
- Minor chord on the 7th degree
These chord compositions provide a harmonic framework for each mode and are commonly used in music theory and composition.
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Here are examples of songs that utilize different modes:
1. **Ionian Mode (Major Scale)**:
- "Happy Birthday" - The melody of this classic song is based on the Ionian mode, starting on the tonic (1st degree) and following the major scale pattern.
2. **Dorian Mode**:
- "Scarborough Fair" - This traditional English ballad is often played in the Dorian mode, with a characteristic minor feel and a raised 6th degree.
3. **Phrygian Mode**:
- "Manha de Carnaval" (Black Orpheus) - This iconic bossa nova tune by Luiz Bonfá is often played in the Phrygian mode, which gives it a distinctive Latin flavor.
4. **Lydian Mode**:
- "The Simpsons Theme" - Composed by Danny Elfman, this theme song features a melody that utilizes the Lydian mode, giving it a quirky and adventurous sound.
5. **Mixolydian Mode**:
- "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd - The main riff and chord progression of this Southern rock anthem are based on the Mixolydian mode, giving it a bluesy feel.
6. **Aeolian Mode (Natural Minor Scale)**:
- "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin - The iconic guitar solo in this classic rock song is played in the Aeolian mode, contributing to its haunting and melancholic atmosphere.
7. **Locrian Mode**:
- "Enter Sandman" by Metallica - The intro riff of this heavy metal classic features the Locrian mode, creating a dissonant and tense sound that suits the song's dark theme.
These examples demonstrate how different modes can be used to create distinct moods and atmospheres in music.
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