# The modes

**Modes and other scales:** Modes · [Modes lab](modes-lab.md) · [Beyond the major scale](beyond-scales.md) · [Beyond the major scale lab](beyond-scales-lab.md)

Reading page: [`modes.html`](modes.html). Hear them on the [modes lab](modes-lab.html): pick a **root**
and a **mode**, press **Play mode**, and the notes, formula, quality, signature note and feel appear below.
It shares the pinned **metronome**, so every playback runs **one note per beat at that tempo** — set the
BPM to slow a scale down or speed it up.

You already moved home once. Hear the white keys from a new home, then the same home with changed notes. The relative and parallel tables live on [Western theory · Modes](/sangeet-yatra/theory/western/#modes).

## Start on a different white key

White keys from C are the major scale, also called **Ionian**. White keys from **D** (D E F G A B C D) are **D Dorian**: minor, because the 3rd is F rather than F♯, and hopeful, because degree 6 stays B. White keys from **A** are the minor scale again, called **Aeolian** in this list. White keys from E are **Phrygian**.

Seven starting notes, seven moods, one set of white keys. The formula is for building that mood on a note that is not the white-key home.

## Two ways to see them

Relative means the same notes and a new home. Parallel means the same home and changed notes. Both tables live on [Western theory · Modes](/sangeet-yatra/theory/western/#modes). The white-key buttons are the relative picture. The Listen column plays the parallel picture, every row starting on C.

## Characteristic notes

Each mode has one or two **signature notes** that give it its flavor. Lean on these when
you want the mode to sound like itself.

| Mode | Quality | Signature note | Where you hear it |
|------|---------|----------------|-------------------|
| Ionian | major | — | pop, hymns, most "happy" music |
| Dorian | minor | natural 6 | jazz, funk, folk, Santana |
| Phrygian | minor | ♭2 | flamenco, metal, "danger" cues |
| Lydian | major | ♯4 | film scores, dreamy prog |
| Mixolydian | major | ♭7 | blues, rock, Celtic, gospel |
| Aeolian | minor | ♭6 | sad ballads, the plain minor scale |
| Locrian | diminished | ♭2 & ♭5 | rare — jazz over m7♭5, some metal |

## All seven modes at a glance

Brightest to darkest. The formula says what to change in C major to get that mood with C as home. A ♭ lowers a degree; a ♯ raises it. **From C** spells the result. On the page, **Listen** plays that row up to the next C.

| Mode | From degree | Formula | From C | Feel | Listen |
|------|-------------|---------|--------|------|--------|
| Lydian | 4th | 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7 | C D E F♯ G A B | dreamy, floating, wonder | play |
| Ionian (major) | 1st | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 | C D E F G A B | bright, happy, resolved | play |
| Mixolydian | 5th | 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7 | C D E F G A B♭ | bluesy, rocky, dominant | play |
| Dorian | 2nd | 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7 | C D E♭ F G A B♭ | minor but hopeful, jazzy | play |
| Aeolian (natural minor) | 6th | 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 | C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭ | sad, serious | play |
| Phrygian | 3rd | 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 | C D♭ E♭ F G A♭ B♭ | dark, Spanish, tense | play |
| Locrian | 7th | 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7 | C D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ | unstable, dissonant | play |

Brightest → darkest: **Lydian · Ionian · Mixolydian · Dorian · Aeolian · Phrygian · Locrian.**