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Modes

Lesson 21 from: Music Theory Essentials: Chords, Scales and Modes

Tomas George

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Lesson Info

21. Modes

<b>In this lesson, you will learn about modes.</b>
Next Lesson: Ionian Mode

Lesson Info

Modes

OK. So now we've had a look at major scales and minor scales, we're going to have a look at modes. So what modes basically are, are major scales but played on a different note. So if I just play c major notes, just the white notes C to C up here. So we have CD EFG ABC. However, if I play these same notes, but in a different order, this will create a different color, a different flavor to the scale. So if I start on the second note, this d here and play the same notes, the same white notes creates a different sound, a different flavor. So the same notes, but just starting on a different note. And that's what really, what modes are, we have seven of them for each seven of the notes of the scale. So if we count the notes on the scale, 1234567 and then it repeats eight back to one, we have a different mode for each of these. So all we're really doing is playing the scale but starting on a different note and ending on a different note, that's really what it is. We're just playing the major ...

scale. But with a different root notes, we have seven of them for each scale degree. So the first one will be onion, second will be Dorian, the third will be Phrygian, the fourth will be Lydian, the fifth will be Mixolydian, the sixth will be Ain and the seventh will be lorem. These words come from Greek and modes like this have been used for a very, very long time. So we actually already know two of them. We know Ionian the first one and we know Aeolian the sixth one. So this first one, this Ionian is a major scale, just a different way of saying it. And the sixth one, Aeolian is actually a natural minor scale. So we know these two already because if you remember a minor scale is the same as a major scale, but starting on the sixth note. So for example, in C major, we will use notes A B CD efg and back to a. So we're basically just reordering the major scale and changing the root position. So for a Aeolian, we're just playing the sixth note and finishing on the sixth note, but it's the same notes as the major scale just starting on a different note. That's really what modes are and we have seven of them depending on which notes we start on. So the first note will be Ionian, the second will be Dorian, the third will be Phrygian, the fourth will be Lydian, the fifth will be Mixolydian, the sixth will be Aeolian and the seventh will be Lorem. I actually have a little pattern to remember this just so you know, the order of these, there are two L's just remember Loren is the last one and the pattern goes if Dora plays like me all's lost. So if Dora plays like me all's lost. So that's the little pattern you can use to remember these. If Ionian Dora Dorian plays phrygian like Lydian me mix Lydian, all Ionians lost, all's lost. So if Dora plays like me, all's lost, so that's just a little pattern you can use to remember these. These are quite unusual words to remember. They do come from ancient Greek and we've kind of kept these traditional words apart from number one Aian, which is now called a major scale or major. And number six, Oon is now really called minor. So in the next few lectures, we're going to go through each one of these. And there are a few different ways we can actually work them out. The first way I've already explained is just have a look at the major scale, but start the scale on a different note. And the other way is actually adapting a major or a minor scale into one of these modes. So join me in the next lecture where we're going to have a look at the ionian mode

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