How to play the mode on the in the key of
Modes of a scale are constructed by moving the root note (tonic) on the different degrees of this scale. There are seven modes in the major scale, these are the most important modes. Modes are also names as ecclesiastical modes or church modes.
| Mode | Notes | Interval | Scale degree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bâ™ ionian (also known as Major scale) | Bâ™, C, D, Eâ™, F, G, A | w-w-h-w-w-w-h | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
| C dorian | C, D, Eâ™, F, G, A, Bâ™ | w-h-w-w-w-h-w | 1, 2, â™3, 4, 5, 6, â™7 |
| D phrygian | D, Eâ™, F, G, A, Bâ™, C | h-w-w-w-h-w-w | 1, â™2, â™3, 4, 5, â™6, â™7 |
| Eâ™ lydian | Eâ™, F, G, A, Bâ™, C, D | w-w-w-h-w-w-h | 1, 2, 3, ♯4, 5, 6, 7 |
| F mixolydian | F, G, A, Bâ™, C, D, Eâ™ | w-w-h-w-w-h-w | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, â™7 |
| G aeolian (also known as Minor scale) | G, A, Bâ™, C, D, Eâ™, F | w-h-w-w-h-w-w | 1, 2, â™3, 4, 5, â™6, â™7 |
| A locrian | A, Bâ™, C, D, Eâ™, F, G | h-w-w-h-w-w-w | 1, â™2, â™3, 4, â™5, â™6, â™7 |
A locrian
012345678910111213141516171819
ABâ™CDEâ™FG
A locrian scale notes
Relative chords of
To understand a mode better, it is recommended to play the patterns starting with the root note. The root is a very important note which gives its name to a scale.
In the following table you can see which chord belongs to which mode, starting from the major scale.
As you see, for A locrian the Bâ™ is the chord that belong to the major scale.
So you can say that
Another fun fact is that the sixth chord is Gm, which relates to the minor scale.
| Mode | Triad | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| Bâ™ ionian (Major scale) | Bâ™ (Bâ™, D, F) | Bâ™maj7 (Bâ™, D, F, A) |
| C dorian | Cm (C, Eâ™, G) | Cm7 (C, Eâ™, G, Bâ™) |
| D phrygian | Dm (D, F, A) | Dm7 (D, F, A, C) |
| Eâ™ lydian | Eâ™ (Eâ™, G, Bâ™) | Eâ™maj7 (Eâ™, G, Bâ™, D) |
| F mixolydian | F (F, A, C) | F7 (F, A, C, Eâ™) |
| G aeolian (Minor scale) | Gm (G, Bâ™, D) | Gm7 (G, Bâ™, D, F) |
| locrian | Adim (A, C, Eâ™) | Ahalf dim7 (A, C, Eâ™, G) |
Next: Suspended chords