The Ionian mode is the same as the major scale. In the key of C, it's:
C,D,E,F,G,A,B,C
or you could count scale degrees:
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8
If we build a chord progression using the primary chords (major chords) of this scale we get I,IV, and V (Roman numerals signify chords, numbers signify scale degrees) or the chords C, F and G.
If we use a C for the bass note for all chords we'll really get the sound of the mode (in this case Ionian) in our ears. Here's the progression (one measure each):
C G/C F/C F/C
Download:
http://www.divshare.com/download/14378890-a8f
Thursday, November 3, 2011
The Dorian Mode
The Dorian mode is the second mode of the major scale. In the key of C, it's: D,E,F,G,A,B,C,D.
Think of it as a C major scale starting on the second step. The only thing that changes are the resolution points of the scale. In the scale above (D Dorian), you'll notice it has the same notes a C major, so why not call it C major? Easy. Scales are all about tension and resolution. The 1,3, and 5 of a scale are the same notes that make of the tonic chord in that key, so they sound stable and they are good notes on which to start and end your melodic lines. In the example above (D Dorian), even though the notes are identical to the key of C, the note C is not a very stable note. The stable notes in D Dorian are the 1,3 and 5 of that scale or D,F and A. Not C,E and G as it was with the C major scale.
We're going to learn all of our modes starting on the note C, so we have to find out which key gives us the note C as the 2nd scale degree. The answer is Bb Major: Bb,C,D,Eb,F,G,A,Bb. Notice that C is the 2 here. C Dorian is the second mode of the key of Bb just like D Dorian is the second mode of the key of C.
You could also think of it this way: Dorian = b3 and b7.
To make any major scale a Dorian scale, lower the 3rd and 7th degrees.
C Major= C,D,E,F,G,A,B
C Dorian=C,D,Eb,F,G,A,Bb,C (Notice the b3 and b7)
So your resolution points will be C,Eb and G. or the 1,b3 and 5. Those notes played together make a C minor chord. If you add the 7th (Bb), you get a C minor 7 chord (1,b3,5,b7).
Let's build chord progression using the primary chords (major chords) of the Bb major scale :
Bb,C,D,Eb,F,G,A,Bb
Eb- the IV and F- the V.
Those will be the triads we use to create our C Dorian chord progression.
If we use a C for the bass note for all chords we'll really get the sound of the mode (in this case Dorian) in our ears. Improvise over this using the C Dorian mode (C,D,Eb,F,G,A,Bb,C) Here's the progression (one measure each):
Eb and F triads over a C bass line (the Dorian mode descending)
Download:
http://www.divshare.com/download/14378895-636
Think of it as a C major scale starting on the second step. The only thing that changes are the resolution points of the scale. In the scale above (D Dorian), you'll notice it has the same notes a C major, so why not call it C major? Easy. Scales are all about tension and resolution. The 1,3, and 5 of a scale are the same notes that make of the tonic chord in that key, so they sound stable and they are good notes on which to start and end your melodic lines. In the example above (D Dorian), even though the notes are identical to the key of C, the note C is not a very stable note. The stable notes in D Dorian are the 1,3 and 5 of that scale or D,F and A. Not C,E and G as it was with the C major scale.
We're going to learn all of our modes starting on the note C, so we have to find out which key gives us the note C as the 2nd scale degree. The answer is Bb Major: Bb,C,D,Eb,F,G,A,Bb. Notice that C is the 2 here. C Dorian is the second mode of the key of Bb just like D Dorian is the second mode of the key of C.
You could also think of it this way: Dorian = b3 and b7.
To make any major scale a Dorian scale, lower the 3rd and 7th degrees.
C Major= C,D,E,F,G,A,B
C Dorian=C,D,Eb,F,G,A,Bb,C (Notice the b3 and b7)
So your resolution points will be C,Eb and G. or the 1,b3 and 5. Those notes played together make a C minor chord. If you add the 7th (Bb), you get a C minor 7 chord (1,b3,5,b7).
Let's build chord progression using the primary chords (major chords) of the Bb major scale :
Bb,C,D,Eb,F,G,A,Bb
Eb- the IV and F- the V.
Those will be the triads we use to create our C Dorian chord progression.
If we use a C for the bass note for all chords we'll really get the sound of the mode (in this case Dorian) in our ears. Improvise over this using the C Dorian mode (C,D,Eb,F,G,A,Bb,C) Here's the progression (one measure each):
Eb and F triads over a C bass line (the Dorian mode descending)
Download:
http://www.divshare.com/download/14378895-636
The Phrygian Mode
The Phrygian mode is the third mode of any major scale. In the key of C, it's E,F,G,A,B,C,D,E. the 1,3,5 triad out of this scale gives us an E minor chord, so this mode has a minor quality to it.
Since we are learning all of our modes in the key of C, we have to find out in which key is C the 3rd tone. The answer is Ab major: Ab,Bb,C,Db,Eb,F,G,Ab. So, we'll be playing an Ab major scale with the 3rd tone (C) as our tonic note like this:
C,Db,Eb,F,G,Ab,Bb,C.
You can also think of it as a C major scale with lowered 2nd,3rd,6th and 7th degrees.
As before with the other modes, to get the sound of the mode in your ears, we'll have a C bass note and then use the IV and V chords from the relative major key. In this case the IV and V chords in Ab are Db and Eb. Here they are with a C bass note. Jam away on C Phrygian:
Download:
http://www.divshare.com/download/14378906-e59
Since we are learning all of our modes in the key of C, we have to find out in which key is C the 3rd tone. The answer is Ab major: Ab,Bb,C,Db,Eb,F,G,Ab. So, we'll be playing an Ab major scale with the 3rd tone (C) as our tonic note like this:
C,Db,Eb,F,G,Ab,Bb,C.
You can also think of it as a C major scale with lowered 2nd,3rd,6th and 7th degrees.
As before with the other modes, to get the sound of the mode in your ears, we'll have a C bass note and then use the IV and V chords from the relative major key. In this case the IV and V chords in Ab are Db and Eb. Here they are with a C bass note. Jam away on C Phrygian:
Download:
http://www.divshare.com/download/14378906-e59
The Lydian Mode
The Lydian mode is the 4th mode of a major scale. In the key of C Major, the 4th mode is: F,G,A,B,C,D,E,F. Since the 1,3,5 triad in this scale is F,A,C or F Major, the Lydian mode has a major sound to it.
To play the Lydian mode starting on C, we need to find which key has the note C as the 4th degree. The answer is G:
G,A,B,C,D,E,F#,G.
So the C Lydian scale is spelled like this:
C,D,E,F#,G,A,B,C
The IV chord and V chord in the key of G are C and D, so if we put a C bass note under them, we'll have a Lydian chord progression. Shred away with the C Lydian scale!
Download:
http://www.divshare.com/download/14384612-8c8
To play the Lydian mode starting on C, we need to find which key has the note C as the 4th degree. The answer is G:
G,A,B,C,D,E,F#,G.
So the C Lydian scale is spelled like this:
C,D,E,F#,G,A,B,C
The IV chord and V chord in the key of G are C and D, so if we put a C bass note under them, we'll have a Lydian chord progression. Shred away with the C Lydian scale!
Download:
http://www.divshare.com/download/14384612-8c8
The Mixolydian Mode
The Mixolydian mode is the 5th mode of a major scale. In the key of C it is: G,A,B,C,D,E,F,G.
It could be thought of as a major scale with a b7. In the above example, if you raise the F to F#, you have a G major scale. When the 7th is lowered, you have the Mixolydian mode.
To play C Mixolydian, we have to determine what key has C as the 5th degree. The answer is F. So, as before, We'll take the IV chord and the V chord of this key, and play them over a C bass note to bring out the sound of our mode. Fmajor= F,G,A,Bb,C,D,E,F. The IV chord is Bb, and the V chord is C.
This jam - and the Mixolydian sound in general- reminds me of the intro jam to the Late Night with David Letterman show. Major in tonality, with a hint of the blues.
It could be thought of as a major scale with a b7. In the above example, if you raise the F to F#, you have a G major scale. When the 7th is lowered, you have the Mixolydian mode.
To play C Mixolydian, we have to determine what key has C as the 5th degree. The answer is F. So, as before, We'll take the IV chord and the V chord of this key, and play them over a C bass note to bring out the sound of our mode. Fmajor= F,G,A,Bb,C,D,E,F. The IV chord is Bb, and the V chord is C.
This jam - and the Mixolydian sound in general- reminds me of the intro jam to the Late Night with David Letterman show. Major in tonality, with a hint of the blues.
The Aeolian Mode
The Aeolian mode is the 6th mode of the major scale. Being minor in nature (i.e. the 1st, 3rd and 5th degrees of the Aeolian mode form a minor chord) it is often called the natural minor scale.
In the key of C it is: C,D,Eb,F,G,Ab,Bb,C
It can be thought of as the Eb Major scale(Eb,F,G,Ab,Bb,C,D,Eb) starting on the 6th- or, as a C major scale with the 3rd, 6th and 7th degrees lowered (b3,b6,b7).
To bring out the sound of this mode, we use the IV and V chords of the relative major key and keep the root note of the mode in the bass. The resulting chord progression is and Ab triad to a Bb triad with C in the bass.
Good luck!
Download:
http://www.divshare.com/download/14401230-281
In the key of C it is: C,D,Eb,F,G,Ab,Bb,C
It can be thought of as the Eb Major scale(Eb,F,G,Ab,Bb,C,D,Eb) starting on the 6th- or, as a C major scale with the 3rd, 6th and 7th degrees lowered (b3,b6,b7).
To bring out the sound of this mode, we use the IV and V chords of the relative major key and keep the root note of the mode in the bass. The resulting chord progression is and Ab triad to a Bb triad with C in the bass.
Good luck!
Download:
http://www.divshare.com/download/14401230-281
The Locrian Mode
The Locrian mode is the 7th mode of the major scale. To play this mode in C, we must establish in what key is C the 7th degree. The answer is Db (Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C,). So playing C to C in the key of Db will give us the Locrian sound.
Over a C bass note, the chord progression you will hear is the IV and V chords of the key of Db: Gb/C to Ab/C.
Over a C bass note, the chord progression you will hear is the IV and V chords of the key of Db: Gb/C to Ab/C.
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