Modes

[MetallicaGirl]

How do you figure out the parallel modes to certain modes in certain keys like this one: For the F# Ionian mode, I found out two parallel modes- C# Mixolydian and B Lydian. How do you find the other four?

[wild_axeman]

Those aren't paralell modes those are diatonic or "derived" modes.

These are built on each degree of the Major scale.(examples in the key of C Major)

I Ionian (the Major scale) ..eg. C D E F G A B

ii Dorian (minor mode)........eg. D E F G A B C

iiiPhrygian(minor mode) .....eg. E F G A B C D

IV Lydian(Major mode).......eg. F G A B C D E

V Mixolydian (Major mode)..eg.G A B C D E F

vi Aeolian (the Minor scale).eg.A B C D E F G

vii*Locrian(minor mode)......eg.B C D E F G A B


Playing all of these modes off of the same root "C" would be parallel modes.

[wild_axeman]

Here's the parallel modes:

scale name........note names...........(intervals)

C Ionian =.........C D E F G A B ........( 1 2 3 4 5 6 7)

C Dorian =........C D Eb F G A Bb ......( 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7)

C Phrygian =.....C Db Eb F G Ab Bb ...(1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7)

C Lydian =........C D E F# G A B .......(1 2 3 #4 5 6 7)

C Mixolydian =...C D E F G A Bb .......(1 2 3 4 5 6 b7)

C Aeolian =.......C D Eb F G Ab Bb ....(1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7)

C Locrian =.......C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb .(1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7)

[MetallicaGirl]

ohhh...ok I had em switched. so Derived Modes can also be called Relative Modes right? And I still want to know how you find the derived modes for F# Ionian...

[wild_axeman]

How do you figure out the parallel modes to certain modes in certain keys like this one: For the F# Ionian mode, I found out two parallel modes- C# Mixolydian and B Lydian. How do you find the other four?

F# Ionian = F#,G#,A#,B,C#,D#,E#(E# is the enharmonic equivalent of F)

G# Dorian = G#,A#,B,C#,D#,E#,F#

A# Phrygian = A#,B,C#,D#,E#,F#,G#

B Lydian = B,C#,D#,E#,F#,G#,A#

C# Mixolydian = C#,D#,E#,F#,G#,A#,B

D# Aeolian = D#,E#,F#,G#,A#,B,C#

E# Locrian = E#,F#,G#,A#,B,C#,D#

[wild_axeman]

Those are the modes derived from F# Major(Ionian).They are diatonic to the key of F# Major.That leaves 5 notes that aren't in the key of F# Major or "chromatic" notes or note from outside the key.The "Chromatic scale" uses all twelve notes.

There are only twelve notes available to us.

Musical alphabet:

Natural notes = A B C D E F G (A minor scale)

Accidentals = (A#/Bb),(C#/Db),(D#/Eb),(F#/Gb),(G#/Ab)

*Accidentals have two names to describe one note.These are "enharmonic" equivalents.Depending on the situation they can be either/or...for example:if you raise the note "A" one half-step(one fret)then it becomes A#,while if you lower the note B by a half-step(one fret)it becomes Bb.Both are valid names to describe the not found between the notes A and B.

The 5 accidental notes make up an F# Major pentatonic scale(F#,G#,A#,C#,D#) and the relative minor pentatonic of F#->D#minor pentatonic(D#,F#,G#,A#,C#)

So the Chromatic scale if we start it on A would use all twelve notes:

A(A#/Bb),B,C,(C#/Db),D,(D#/Eb),E,F,(F#/Gb),G,(G#/Ab)

[John Prophet]

there is a little device for remembering modes...cuz they always appear in the same order.

Here is the order they appear in

Ionian
Dorian
Phrygian
Lydian
Mixolydian
Aeolian
Locrian

To remember those, learn this little saying

If Dora plays like me, all's lost.

I D P L M A L <--- see how thats the modes in order?

Now, starting on Ionian we know that a major scale has these intervals w-w-h-w-w-w-h

So using that, you can figure out all the modes for a key...like this.

They already did F# ionian so I will show you G Ionian and all its modes since it is very popular in rock..well, at least the E aeolian is. (E aeolian being the relative minor of Gmajor)

So starting on the "g" note we do the w-w-h-w-w-w-h intervals.

Which gives us g a b c d e f#

So know we take THESE notes and use the I D P L M A L thing

If G Ionian
Dora A Dorian
Plays B Phrygian
Like C Lydian
Me D Mixolydian
All's E Aeolian
Lost F# Locrian

Those are the modes to G Ionian.

if you get confused trying to remember which L is mixolydian and which is locrian remember that lydian and mixolydian are right beside each other and also that locrian sounds kinda "lost" anyway.

Another way I remember some of them is that the 1,4,5 chords of Ionian are all major and the !<$<% chords of aeolian are all minor

So I just know that the 1,4,5 modes of Ionian are ionian, lydian,mixolydian

And the 1,4,5 modes aeolian are aeolian, dorian, phyrgian

I use that more in aeolian...like if I am in eminor I know that the 4 chord is dorian mode , if you go across one set of string on the same fret thats a fourth...so a fourth from e is a so that gives a dorian and then 2 frets up is b phyrgian.

As you see there are tons of ways to memorize these thigns...the key is really learning one or two or three modes (or positions actually) and really KNOW them. For me it is the aeolian, dorian, phyrgian positions that I usually use.

Enjoy, JP

[FleaBass]

i used to knw all that stuff... too bad i dropped out of school

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[wild_axeman]

so Derived Modes can also be called Relative Modes right? That's right !