When you first start writing music, you probably explore the major and minor scales. While these scales are foundational, there are other musical modes that can bring a fresh and unique flavor to your compositions. Many hit songs are written using these modes, and exploring them can open up new creative possibilities. Here’s a list of the different musical modes, along with their interval patterns and some thoughts on each one.
What Are Scales and Modes?
A scale is a sequence of notes arranged in ascending or descending order. The most common scales are the major and minor scales. However, modes are variations of these scales and offer distinct emotional and tonal qualities. Modes use the same set of notes as the major scale but start from different points within the scale, creating unique interval patterns.
The Seven Musical Modes
1. Ionian (Major) – Happy, Uplifting, Joyful
- Interval Pattern: Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half
- Sound: Bright, Cheerful
- Styles: Pop, Rock, Classical
- The Ionian mode is the familiar major scale. It’s characterized by its happy and uplifting sound.
2. Dorian – Nostalgic, Bluesy, Mellow
- Interval Pattern: Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole
- Sound: Soulful, Bluesy
- Styles: Jazz, Blues, Soul
- The Dorian mode has a bluesy and soulful quality. It’s great for jazz and blues, adding a touch of nostalgia to your compositions.
3. Phrygian – Mysterious, Intense, Dark
- Interval Pattern: Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole
- Sound: Spanish, Middle Eastern
- Styles: Flamenco, Heavy Metal
- The Phrygian mode is known for its exotic and dark sound, often used in Spanish flamenco music and heavy metal.
4. Lydian – Dreamy, Floating, Spacey
- Interval Pattern: Whole, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half
- Sound: Ethereal, Avant-Garde
- Styles: Electronic, Ambient, Progressive Rock
- The Lydian mode has a dreamy and ethereal quality, making it perfect for creating ambient and progressive rock music.
5. Mixolydian – Laid Back, Groovy, Chill
- Interval Pattern: Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole
- Sound: Funk, Soulful
- Styles: Funk, R&B, Blues-Rock
- The Mixolydian mode has a relaxed and groovy feel, commonly used in funk, R&B, and blues-rock.
6. Aeolian (Natural Minor) – Melancholic, Soothing, Somber
- Interval Pattern: Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole
- Sound: Mournful, Dark
- Styles: Classical, Folk, Pop
- The Aeolian mode, also known as the natural minor scale, evokes a melancholic and soothing sound, making it suitable for classical, folk, and pop music.
7. Locrian – Dark, Tense, Mysterious
- Interval Pattern: Half, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole
- Sound: Dark, Mysterious
- Styles: Metal, Avant-Garde, Dark Ambient
- The Locrian mode is the darkest and most dissonant of all the modes, often used in metal and avant-garde music.
Exploring Additional Modes
Harmonic Minor – Suspenseful, Passionate, Intense
- Interval Pattern: Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half, Augmented Second, Half
- Sound: Exciting, Intense
- Styles: Classical, Flamenco, Heavy Metal
- The Harmonic Minor scale adds a sense of drama and intensity, often used in classical and flamenco music.
Melodic Minor – Wistful, Nostalgic, Sentimental
- Interval Pattern (Ascending): Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half
- Sound: Nostalgic, Sentimental
- Styles: Jazz, Blues, Soul
- The Melodic Minor scale offers a smooth and sentimental sound, frequently used in jazz and blues.
Whole-Tone – Hypnotic, Abstract, Experimental
- Interval Pattern: Whole, Whole, Whole, Whole, Whole, Whole
- Sound: Experimental, Abstract
- Styles: Jazz, Avant-Garde, Electronic
- The Whole-Tone scale is entirely composed of whole steps, creating a hypnotic and abstract sound.
Octatonic (Diminished) – Tense, Unstable, Disorienting
- Interval Pattern: Whole, Half, Whole, Half, Whole, Half, Whole, Half
- Sound: Disorienting, Tense
- Styles: Avant-Garde, Classical, Experimental
- The Octatonic scale alternates between whole and half steps, resulting in a tense and unstable sound.
Exploring these different musical modes can vastly expand your creative palette and lead to more interesting and diverse compositions. Whether you’re an artist, producer, beatmaker, or engineer, understanding these modes will enhance your songwriting and production skills.
Are you ready to dive deeper into music theory and unlock the full potential of your musical creativity? Enroll in our AMP Music Production Training Program at AMP Music Lab in West Palm Beach, FL, or join our online AMP Virtual Instruction Program (AMP VIP). Learn how to master these modes and more with our expert guidance.
