Modes
Scales created by starting on a different degree of a parent scale — same notes, different tonal center, distinct character.
The Idea
Each mode is two stacked Tetrachords. Swapping the lower tetrachord changes the tonic flavor; swapping the upper changes the dominant flavor.
| Mode | Tetrachord Combo | Example (C root) |
|---|---|---|
| Ionian | Major + Major | C D E F G A B C |
| Dorian | Minor + Minor | C D E♭ F G A B♭ C |
| Phrygian | Phrygian + Phrygian | C D♭ E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C |
| Lydian | Lydian + Major | C D E F♯ G A B C |
| Mixolydian | Major + Minor | C D E F G A B♭ C |
| Aeolian | Minor + Phrygian | C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C |
| Locrian | Phrygian + Lydian | C D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C |
On the Fretboard
- Lower swap → changes tonic flavor: Ionian → Dorian → Phrygian
- Upper swap → changes dominant flavor: Ionian → Mixolydian → Lydian
- From root, ascend to the upper 5th then descend to the lower 5th to hear the full modal color
Exercises
- Play each mode using the tetrachord swap approach from Tetrachords
- In a ii–V–I, swap only the upper tetrachord on the V for color
- Drone practice: pick a key, dwell in each mode over a drone track