Modes
and chord use
Here are the basic chords in the
key of C major (you will not use diminished
chords or dominant 7th chords in a modal context.
These chords will drag your ear back into the
parent major key and away from the modal sound.
C
Dm Em F G Am
So not only are these chords in the Key of
C major, but they are the chords used in all of
the relative modes of C major. In just depends
on how they are used that will determine what
mode you are in.
Here are the relative modes
of C major with the tonic chord, and the characteristic
chords of that mode.
C
Ionian - a difficult mode to make sound like a
mode.
D
Dorian - Dm (Em, G)....characteristic note is
B(6)
E
Phrygian - Em (Dm, F)....characteristic note is
F(b2)
F
Lydian - F (Em, G)....characteristic note is B(#4)
G
Mixolydian - G (F, Dm)....characteristic note
is F(b7)
A
Aeolian - Am (Dm, F)....characteristic note is
F(b6)
Here is what those chord would be with all
of the modes build from the root of C.
C
Ionian - a difficult mode to make sound like
a mode.
C
Dorian - Cm (Dm, F)....characteristic note is
A(6)
C Phrygian - Cm (Bbm, Db)....characteristic
note is Db(b2)
C Lydian - C (Bm, D)....characteristic note
is F#(#4)
C Mixolydian - C (Bb, Gm)....characteristic
note is Bb(b7)
C Aeolian - Cm (Fm, Ab)....characteristic note
is Ab(b6)
In some upcoming lessons we will explore each
mode in a little more depth. Keep in mind that
depending on your background in music so far,
parts of this lesson might note be as clear
as you would like. Sometimes you have to have
a little understanding of a lot of topics before
you can fully understand any of them. So come
back to this lesson at a later time. And at
that time you will understand more....and maybe
more the next time.
Page 8, Establishing the sound of a mode