From theory — Western theory · Modes.

Modes — same frets, new home

Also in this track: Scales · Modes · Movable shapes · Jazz · technique gym on Hands

The same seven notes, a new home on the neck. Hear them against one tonic here. The names, and the relative and parallel tables, live on Western theory · Modes. Parent scale maps: Scales.

One model at a time; Play becomes Stop. Tempo follows the metronome.

Relative vs parallel

Relative = one parent major, start on each degree (C major → D Dorian, E Phrygian, F Lydian…). Same seven notes; the home note moves.

Parallel = keep the root fixed and alter the major scale (C Ionian vs C Dorian vs C Phrygian). Parallel is how modes feel different under one tonic.

Use Relative tour above for the shared-note view; use each card’s Play buttons for parallel colour. Then map modes onto boxes in Mode shapes.

Brightest → darkest

A common ear-order for parallel modes (same root):

Modevs majorSignature leanMood sketch
Lydian♯4raised 4dreamy / floating
Ionian—(home)major / settled
Mixolydian♭7flat 7dominant / folk colour
Dorian♭3, ♭7 (nat. 6)natural 6minor but hopeful
Aeolian♭3, ♭6, ♭7flat 6natural minor
Phrygian♭2, ♭3, ♭6, ♭7flat 2dark / Spanish
Locrian♭2, ♭3, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7flat 5unstable

Press Tour all 7 to hear this order against the parallel root.

Suggested order

  1. Hear Ionian as home, then Aeolian.
  2. Add Mixolydian and Dorian — the everyday folk / island / dominant colours.
  3. Lydian and Phrygian for brighter / darker edges.
  4. Visit Locrian briefly, then return to Ionian.
  5. Map one mode into a box via Mode shapes.

Lydian — dreamy / floating

Formula vs major: 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7. Signature: the raised 4th. Parent degree: 4th of a major scale (F Lydian from C major).

From C: C D E F# G A B C
Lean on the ♯4 against the tonic.

Ionian — major / settled

Formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (the major scale). No alterations. Parent degree: 1st.

From C: C D E F G A B C
Home base for every parallel comparison.

Mixolydian — dominant / folk colour

Formula vs major: 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7. Signature: flat 7. Parent degree: 5th (G Mixolydian from C major).

From C: C D E F G A Bb C
Folk, Celtic, gospel, and island dominant colour.

Dorian — minor but hopeful

Formula vs major: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7. Signature: natural 6 against a minor tonic. Parent degree: 2nd (D Dorian from C major).

From C: C D Eb F G A Bb C
Folk / island minor that is not fully sad.

Aeolian — natural minor

Formula vs major: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7. Signature: flat 6. Parent degree: 6th (A Aeolian from C major).

From C: C D Eb F G Ab Bb C
The default sad minor scale.

Phrygian — dark / Spanish

Formula vs major: 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7. Signature: flat 2. Parent degree: 3rd (E Phrygian from C major).

From C: C Db Eb F G Ab Bb C
Flamenco / Spanish tension from the half-step above tonic.

Locrian — unstable

Formula vs major: 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7. Signature: flat 2 and flat 5. Parent degree: 7th (B Locrian from C major). Rare as a home scale.

From C: C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C
Diminished tonic colour — hear it, then return to Ionian.

Mode shapes

Modes do not need a new neck — they need a new home note inside a shape you already know. The lab below is the gym; parent maps live on Scales.

Parallel first: keep the root fixed (C Dorian vs C Aeolian) inside one box so the colour change is obvious. Relative tours live above.

Mode-shape lab


        

        

      

      

        
How to hear the mode in a shape

        
    
          
  1. Play the shape ascending, but start and end on the mode root (lit squares).
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  2. Lean on the signature note against that root (buttons on each card above).
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  3. Switch mode (Dorian ↔ Aeolian) without moving the hand — only the home note changes.
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  4. On 2–3 notes-per-string shapes, walk parent maps with one mode root for an even workout.
    5. 
        

        
The mode names live on Western theory · Modes. The same colours on a keyboard are on piano modes.

      

    


    

      
A 10-minute mode routine

      

        
    
          
  1. 2 min — Ionian then Aeolian on the same parallel root.
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  2. 3 min — Mixolydian or Dorian with signature lean.
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  3. 3 min — one door in the mode-shape lab.
    4. 
          
  4. 2 min — relative tour, or link back to
            Scales / Movable shapes.
    5. 
        

      

      

        Hands
        Scales
        Western theory
      

    


    

      
Ready when

      

        
Move on when all of these are true on a normal day, not your best one:

        
    
          
  • You can name the signature note of each mode against major: Lydian ♯4, Mixolydian ♭7, Dorian natural 6, Phrygian ♭2, Locrian ♭5.
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  • You can say which relative mode starts on each degree of C major (D Dorian, E Phrygian, F Lydian, G Mixolydian, A Aeolian, B Locrian).
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  • Playing C Dorian then C Aeolian under the same root, you can point out the one note that changes (natural 6 versus ♭6).
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  • In one box you play the shape from the mode root to the mode root, and switch Dorian ↔ Aeolian without moving your hand.
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