Modes Informational
A Brief History of Modes:
Modes existed long before what we now call “major” and “minor.” In early Western music — especially during the Medieval and Renaissance periods — composers didn’t think in terms of keys; they thought in terms of modes. Each mode had its own tonal center and distinct emotional character.
Over time (around the 1600s), modern tonal harmony developed, and two modes became dominant:
The other modes didn’t disappear — they simply became less common in classical harmony. Today, however, they have reemerged and appear frequently in contemporary styles of music.
We can think about and learn about modes in three different ways:
Each mode is the major scale played from a different starting degree — e.g. playing C major from D to D gives D Dorian.
Describe each mode by how it alters the major scale — e.g. Dorian is a natural minor scale with a raised 6th.
Order modes by brightness: Lydian (brightest) → Ionian → Mixolydian → Dorian → Aeolian → Phrygian → Locrian (darkest).
Related Curriculum from Piano for the Vocalist
