Questions tagged [modes]
For questions concerning the musical modes. These can include historical views of mode by the Greeks or the various rotations of scale collections. Questions about historical views of mode should also include the history tag.
296
questions
58
votes
22answers
118k views
What is the difference between a mode and a scale?
I can't seem to find a straight definition for both.
43
votes
9answers
18k views
Key signature for writing in modes other than major and minor
I have trouble deciding what accidentals to put in the key signature for pieces in Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian or Mixolydian modes. There seem to be trade-offs associated with each choice.
For example, ...
41
votes
10answers
19k views
What are modes and how are they useful?
I'm a self-taught guitarist with zero to little experience in music theory. After marrying a violinist I found that there's a lot to music theory that I know tribally but don't understand the ...
41
votes
5answers
8k views
When were the terms “Major” and “Minor” applied to keys?
In 1547, Heinrich Glarean published Dodecachordon in which he posited that in addition to the 4 existing pairs of church modes (plagal and authentic versions of modes with finals on D (Dorian), E (...
29
votes
8answers
14k views
Understanding minor key harmony
A comment discussion under this question from me, clued me in to the fact that I don't really understand how minor keys work very well. So here is what I think I know
The natural minor comes from the ...
27
votes
7answers
30k views
Why does the Dorian mode on C have two flats?
I'm studying scale modes and I just found on Wikipedia that the Dorian mode on C has two flats...
Why is this? Because the Dorian mode is just the major scale (Ionian) starting from the second note, ...
24
votes
8answers
17k views
Is F Lydian mode in the “key” of C Major?
In most cases (if not all), a piece of music without sharps or flats in the key signature, would be considered in the key of C major or A minor. This question assumes the context of Western Music ...
24
votes
6answers
24k views
Why is the aeolian mode the minor scale?
I've studied music theory for many years now, and one thing has always confused me about the naming methodology for the minor scale.
A major scale is based off the Ionian mode and consist of only ...
22
votes
3answers
11k views
What are the greek modes, and how do they differ from modern modes?
This Question might be TwoFold, based on an uncertainty I have
I understand the construction of traditional Ionian-Locrian modes, and I have read that various notes in the modes have traditionally ...
22
votes
2answers
691 views
Is this piece of renaissance music really in the locrian mode?
A fifteenth-century dance manual contains this piece of music:
which appears to be (uncharacteristically) in the locrian mode. Is it really, or am I mis-reading? Does anybody know of other music ...
19
votes
7answers
4k views
How to know if it's a mode or scale?
How do I differentiate between modes?
Suppose a person is playing "D Dorian". How do I know that it's "D Dorian" and not "C Major/Ionian" or "E Phrygian" and so on, and in fact "A natural minor" ...
18
votes
11answers
3k views
What are modes in the real world?
For months, I have been trying to understand modes.
Even though I have memorized all the names, what notes they start from and so on, I do not understand their meaning in the real world of music ...
18
votes
6answers
3k views
Harmony in Phrygian : What chords are tonic, subdominant, and dominant?
Phrygian is a very distinct sounding mode. I've been trying to better understand the harmony of the mode so I can use it more. Obviously the i chord is a tonic chord and iv is a subdominant chord, but ...
17
votes
4answers
4k views
What is an atonal mode?
I got an album by Ornette Coleman and Pat Methany, "X", and on the linear notes it talks about atonal experiments within the song structures. Are there scales and chord progressions that go along with ...
17
votes
1answer
1k views
Locrian Harmony
I like utilizing modes in my the pieces I write, but there is one mode I've never been able to fully grasp and utilize and that is the Locrian mode.
The chords that naturally occur in the Locrian ...
16
votes
3answers
3k views
Why did Beethoven include “in the Lydian Mode” in the title of String Quartet, Op.132 - 3?
Beethoven himself gave a title to String Quartet No.15 in A minor, Op.132 - 3:
A Convalescent's Holy Song of Thanksgiving to the Divinity, in the
Lydian Mode
From the language and context, and ...
15
votes
6answers
2k views
What does it mean to play in a mode?
So here's what I know about modes:
Let's say we're in the key of C major. If you're just improvising in the key of C, you would say you're using the C Ionian mode, right?
But here's where I get ...
15
votes
4answers
18k views
Different modes of pentatonic scale
Just as there are seven modes of the diatonic scale, I would expect five modes of the pentatonic scale.
Have these been classified?
Here they are, in the form of {semitone interval gaps} (Notes for ...
14
votes
5answers
48k views
What is the purpose of the mixolydian scale? [duplicate]
For example: the G-Mixolydian is G-A-B-C-D-E-F (rather than G-A-B-C-D-E-F#).
Why not just call it C?
thanks
14
votes
3answers
890 views
Do Neapolitan chords exist in modes with a minor second?
In relation to a question I asked earlier—What is a Neapolitan 6th chord—I have a follow up question.
A Neapolitan chord is pretty much a Major chord built on the lowered second scale ...
14
votes
5answers
2k views
Do different modes have the same cadence structure?
In major and minor keys, the perfect cadence is V to I
Will this structure remain the same in a different mode?
I.e. E Phrygian Mode in the key of C (E F G A B C D), the tonic chord is the iii of ...
13
votes
3answers
21k views
Using the Dorian Mode
I've been composing for years but know very little about modes, just stuck to major and minor.
If I took a chord progression from Cmajor, ie I - IV - V - I which would be C,F,G,C and then switched ...
13
votes
3answers
1k views
How to make C lydian not sound like G ionian?
What are some concrete melodic and harmonic tools to establish the correct tonic center in a lydian melody?
The reason for asking about lydian specifically is that there is no minor seventh for the ...
12
votes
4answers
6k views
Is the tritone (A4 / d5 / DA3 / Dd6) still banned in Roman Catholic music?
The tritone is one of the most dissonant intervals in music. It is also known as the "Augmented 4th", "Diminished 5th", "Doubly Augmented 3rd" or "Doubly Diminished 6th", and it is composed of three ...
12
votes
3answers
8k views
What is a parallel mode?
What is a parallel mode? How are the parallel modes used in composition and/or improvisation?
12
votes
5answers
6k views
Do modes exist in the harmonic / melodic minor scales?
I'm trying to get my head around modes and the tonal center.
In my understanding the natural minor scale is the same as the Aeolian mode.
However, when considering the mix-up that happens in the ...
11
votes
3answers
3k views
Why do we need modes?
We don't play scales, we play music. The notes we play and the order is based on sound and emotion. Then why is it that if the notes are the same for all of the derived modes, why do we need modes?
...
11
votes
3answers
1k views
How to establish a mode?
I would like to learn about the art of establishing a mode. For example, how to make A minor sound like A minor instead of C major.
11
votes
5answers
2k views
Do songs written in certain modes not have keys?
Up until recently I thought that if a song was written in a mode with a major 3rd, then it was in a major key, and if it was in a mode with a minor 3rd, then it was in a minor key. But I read an ...
11
votes
4answers
1k views
Raised leading tones in Phrygian mode counterpoint
In most cases the penultimate note of the counterpoint will be the
leading tone, which must be raised in minor to establish a sense of
tonality. But why is the leading tone in the Phrygian mode (E-...
10
votes
8answers
22k views
What is a good solo to learn in the Dorian mode?
I understand that Dorian is a commonly used mode in rock. I am starting to play / improvise in the mode and would like to learn some guitar solos that are good examples of this scale so that I see how ...
10
votes
5answers
1k views
What's the value of modes?
Let's say we have a progression where all of the chords fit within traditional diatonic harmony. Maybe something like this:
| E♭Maj♯11 | Cmin7 | F7 | B♭Maj |
All of these chords fit ...
10
votes
6answers
2k views
Incorporating modes in solos
I have been playing and improvising quite happily for many years on a few different instruments but can't seem to get my head around incorporating modes into my day-to-day playing. I am from a blues /...
10
votes
6answers
48k views
When to use different scales or modes over chord progressions?
I know my major/pentatonic/blues scales pretty well, and I can apply it pretty fluently when playing over 1-4-5-min6 chord progressions, but I find that when I try to improvise over more "non-standard"...
10
votes
3answers
748 views
Why does Fux use F# in his counterpoint to a firmus written in G mixolydian
In the given image below, Fux writes a counterpoint to a cantus firmus given to him as part of his studies by his fictitious teacher Aloysious.
A rule that is often emphasised is that one should ...
10
votes
2answers
5k views
Using modes and static harmony
Edit: i know what modes are and how they are related to major scale..etc. question is about modal harmony and chord progression in modal harmony. not what is a mode and name of other modes..etc
What ...
9
votes
5answers
2k views
If there are no diminished keys, then why does Locrian mode exist?
A diminished chord can't work as a tonic due to its dissonance. If then, why does Locrian mode even exist? It's confusing!
9
votes
3answers
1k views
What mode consists of the note G A Bb C Db E F G?
I was playing random scales .
I came to a strange nice sounding mode,but could not find out what it's name theoretically.
(Even I could not find a tonic sounding in it)
The scale/mode notes are :
G ...
9
votes
4answers
8k views
How did the plagal modes differ from their authentic counterpart in practice?
In the traditional modal system there were eight modes. Four that were authentic and four were plagal. These modes are depicted below:
Based on the description of the modes the final note of the ...
9
votes
3answers
2k views
Why are Ionian and Aeolian considered Major and Minor keys respectively, but not the other modes? [duplicate]
Why is the Ionian mode called a major key, and the Aeolian mode called a minor key, while the other modes aren't called "Keys"?
F Major is relative to D Minor, and just so G Dorian is relative to ...
9
votes
3answers
4k views
Cadences for Modes
For each of the modes, is there a certain chord that goes before the targeted I or i chord? For instance, it seems in the Phrygian mode that II to i is a quite strong progression. In Ionian, obviously ...
9
votes
1answer
586 views
Scales in modal versus tonal music
When tonal music replaced modal music, why were 6 of the 8 scales (modes) used in modal music abandoned in favor of only two, major and minor? Superficially this would look like a reduction in the ...
9
votes
2answers
282 views
Do people who don't study modes improvise the same as those who do?
Reading/watching interviews with some noted jazz/rock musicians (e.g., Jimmy Bruno), when asked about modes they will disavow themselves of bothering to study modes because doing so is, to their way ...
8
votes
3answers
1k views
Why don’t we use the term “scale signature”, rather than “key signature”?
This would avoid the confusion to some, of saying that the key/mode of A dorian has a key signature of G. I’m all for making things clearer for people learning music. If a piece is in D dorian, I ...
8
votes
5answers
861 views
Can you help me understand Modes from the aspect of chord changes?
I am 70 years old, have played (strummed) guitar all my life, with some multi-year gaps. I never wanted to know theory; was more interested in the occasional surprise of learning something new. I ...
8
votes
3answers
664 views
What other scales can be played over ii chord in ii-V-I besides Dorian?
Soloing over ii-V-I is usually associated with modes. Dorian-Myxolydian-Ionian. I'm trying to expand my soloing by playing "outside", so I wanted to find out what other scales can be played over ...
8
votes
4answers
5k views
2-5-1 Jazz progression and modes
I am classically trained and just started looking into jazz theory.
I understand that the 2-5-1 progression is a good place to start.
My basic understanding is to play the above progression with ...
8
votes
2answers
1k views
How would you go about writing a a chord progression properly using the circle of fifths in the phrygian mode?
My question is: How would you go about writing a a chord progression properly using the circle of fifths in the Phrygian mode? I have seen many discuss the circle of fifths using Majors and minors but ...
8
votes
3answers
2k views
Is there such a thing as “key of E Mixolydian”?
I was reading an article Steve Vai wrote in the 80's where he says - "In the key of E Mixolydian, you can use this fingering in the open, 2nd, 5th, 7th, 10th and 12th positions."
I thought that when ...
8
votes
2answers
978 views
What do we call a chord progression that doesn't have a tonic chord?
I came up with a chord progression the other day:
Fm7 Ebmaj7 Abmaj7 G7
It's clearly in C minor. But instead of resolving to Cm, I was looping through it. What catched my attention was that it ...
