Modes give you a better understanding of music theory.And because of it’s extra alteration, there is no fancy shortcut-just your awesome brainpower! Application That’s because, as we mentioned earlier, it’s not as common as the other modes. You may have noticed that the Locrian mode isn’t listed in this acronym. The arrow indicates the direction in which the scale degree moves.The numbers indicate which scale degree moves.The uppercase letters indicate a major scale.The lowercase letters indicate a minor scale.Our brains love acronyms, and it’s especially great if you’re a music theory student and need to write out a key on your homework and tests! We’re giving you a handy acronym for the last memorization method! “PadMIL” with the corresponding numbers is an easy shortcut for remembering the modes. If you play this scale, you’ll notice it sounds pretty funky! Consequently, we see it used less than the other 6 modes. Now let’s lower the 2nd scale degree and the 5th scale degree to get a C Locrian Scale: The Locrian mode is a minor scale with a lowered 2nd scale degree and a lowered 5th scale degree. Now, we haven’t forgotten about Locrian mode, but we’ve saved it for last because it has a little extra pizzazz! Now, raise the 6th scale degree, and you have a C Dorian scale! So let’s say you are trying to write a Dorian scale starting on middle C. First, write out a C Minor scale. Phrygian – Minor Scale with a lowered 2nd scale degreeĭorian – Minor Scale with a raised 6th scale degree Mixolydian – Major Scale with a lowered 7th scale degree Lydian – Major Scale with a raised 4th scale degree Let’s start with the 6 most common modes: You might have better luck memorizing the rules.Įach mode has it’s own set of rules, and if you memorize these rules, you’ll be able to easily use modes in other key signatures. If this method makes the most sense to you and you can easily apply it to using modes in every key signature, then you’re good to go! But as we mentioned before, each mode has its own pattern of half steps and whole steps, and with this memorization method, it’s hard to pinpoint those characteristics. Many people are taught modes this way because it’s a great way to visualize each mode. The White KeysĮach mode can be associated with a coordinating white key scale. The rest sound like diatonic scales with some added accidentals here and there. Two of the modes are natural diatonic scales: There are 6 modes that are used regularly, and 1 more that’s still important to know. There are countless other non-Western modes found around the world.Ī mode is a type of musical scale A mode is a type of musical scale coupled with a set of characteristic melodic behaviors. Note that the modes we are discussing here refer to the Western church modes that evolved in the 6th and 7th centuries. We want to help you on your modal journey, so here are a few different ways you can memorize and master your modes. They are a fun way to expand your musical horizons and will enable you to try new sounds as a composer and performer. However, with just a little memorization you can master them easily.

Mabinogi pure music mode