Modal Harmony

Lydian

Mixolydian

Dorian

Aeolian

Phrygian

Locrian

Additional Examples

Lydian

Major mode progressions featuring major II or #ivº.

1) The Decemberists, “The Engine Driver,” verse
From Picaresque (2005), written by Colin Meloy.

Audio: Youtube (0:10–0:50)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| C∆7 | Em Bm | C∆7 | G D | (x2)

Cmaj7 Em Bm

I'm an engine driver

Cmaj7 G D

On a long run, on a long run

Cmaj7 Em Bm

Would I were beside her

Cmaj7 G D

She's a long one, such a long one

2) Sam Smith, “Restart,” verse
From In the Lonely Hour (2014). Written by Sam Smith & Zane Lowe.

Score: Image, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (0:41–0:57)

3) Softengine, “Something Better,” chorus
From Eurovision Song Contest (2014), written by Henri Oskár & Topi Latukka.

Audio: Youtube (0:43–0:59)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| C | D Em | C | D Em | (x2)

C D Em

But we found something better

C D Em

Plain answer, however

C D Em

For I'll not surrender

C D Em

We found something better

Mixolydian

1) The Beatles, “A Hard Day's Night,” verse

From A Hard Day's Night (1964), written by John Lennon & Paul McCartney

Audio: Youtube (0:00–0:16)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| G Cadd9 | G | Dm7 | G | (x2)

G C(add9) G

It's been a hard day's night

Dm7 G

and I've been working like a dog.

C(add9) G

It's been a hard day's night

Dm7 G

I should be sleeping like a log.

2) Lana Del Rey, “Wild at Heart,” chorus

From Chemtrails over the Country Club (2021), written by Lana Del Rey and Jack Antonoff.

Audio: Youtube (1:10–1:26)
Harmonic Rhythm: | G D | A | A | (x2)

G D

I left Calabasas, escaped all the ashes

A

Ran into the dark

G D A

And it made me wild, wild, wild at heart

3) Lorde, “Leader of a New Regime,” verse

From Solar Power (2021), written by Ella Yelich-O'Connor (Lorde) and Malay.

Audio: Youtube (0:12–0:34)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| A | G | A | G |
| A | G | D | A |

A G

Made it to the island on the last of the

A G

outbound planes (Ahh)

A G

Got a trunk full of Symone and Celine, and

of course my magazines

D A

I'm gonna live out my days

4) The Champs, “Tequila”

From Go, Champs, Go! (1958), written by Chuck Rio

Scores: Image, PDF, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (0:20-0:52)

5) The Verve, “Bitter Sweet Symphony,” chorus

From Urban Hymns (1997), written by Richard Ashcroft

Scores: Image, PDF, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (1:51- 2:13)

6) David Bowie, “Conversation Piece”

From Toy (2000)

Audio: Youtube (0:44–1:03)
Harmonic Rhythm:
. . . G | F C | G |F C | G |

G F

I can't see the road

C G

for the rain in my eyes

F C G

Ahhh . . . . .

7) Guns n’ Roses, “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” verse
From Appetite for Destruction (1987)

Audio: Youtube (0:27–1:00)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| D | C | G | D | (x2)

D
She's got a smile that it seems to me

C
Reminds me of childhood memories

G
Where everything

D
Was as fresh as a bright blue sky

D
Now and then when I see her face

C
She takes me away to that special place

G
And if I stared too long

D
I'd probably break down and cry

8) Nazareth, “Love Hurts,” chorus
From Hair of a Dog (1975). Written by Boudleaux Bryant.

Score: Image, PDF, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (0:55–1:06)
Harmonic Rhythm: | G | F C | G |

9) The Beatles, “Hey Jude,” outro

From Hey Jude (1970)

Audio: Youtube (3:08–7:05)
Harmonic Rhythm (student):
| D | C | G | D | (x3)

D C G D

Na na na na na na na na na na na, hey Jude

D C G D

Na na na na na na na na na na na, hey Jude

D C G D

Na na na na na na na na na na na, hey Jude (. . . )

10) The Rolling Stones, “Sympathy for the Devil,” verse

From Beggars Banquet (1968), written by Mick Jagger & Keith Richards.

Audio: Youtube (0:20–0:55)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| E | D | A | E | (x3)

E D

Please allow me to introduce myself

A E

I'm a man of wealth and taste

E D

I've been around for a long, long year

A E

Stole many a man's soul and faith

E D

And I was 'round when Jesus Christ

A E

Had his moment of doubt and pain

D

Made damn sure that Pilate

A E

Washed his hands and sealed his fate

11) Creedence Clearwater Revival, “The Fortunate Son,” verse
From Willy and the Poor Boys (1969), written by John Fogerty

Audio: Youtube (0:18–0:33)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| G | F | C | G | (x2)

G F

Some folks are born made to wave the flag,

C G

Ooh, that red, white and blue

G F

And when the band plays "hail to the chief",

C G

Ooh, they point the cannon at you, lord!

12) Jesse J. Hamilton, “Big White Room,” chorus

From Who are You (2011), words and music by Jessica Cornish and Benjamin Martinez

Score: Image
Audio: Youtube (1:18–1:59)

13) Katy Perry, “Lost,” verse

From One of the Boys (2008), written by Katy Perry & Ted Bruner

Audio: Youtube (0:15–0:26)
Harmonic Rhythm: |: C | F B♭ :|

C F B♭
I'm out on my own again,

C F B♭
Face down in the porcelain.

14) Gordon Lightfoot, “Sundown,” chorus

From Songbook (1999), written by Gordon Lightfoot

Audio: Youtube (0:27–0:46)
Harmonic Rhythm (student):
| E | A | D | E | (x2)

E A
Sundown ya better take care

D E
If I find you've been creepin' 'round my back stairs

E A
Sundown ya better take care

D E
If I find you've been creepin' 'round my back stairs

15) The White Stripes, “Doorbell,” chorus

From Get Behind Me Satan (2005), written by Jack White

Audio: Youtube (1:15–1:34)
Harmonic Rhythm (student):
| F B♭| E♭ F E♭ | (x3)

F B♭
I'm thinkin' about my doorbell

E♭
When ya gonna ring it,

F E♭
when ya gonna ring it?

(x3)

16) Brandie Carlile, “The Joke,” verse 1a

From By the Way, I Forgive You (2018), written by Tim Hanseroth, Phil Hanseroth, Dave Cobb & Brandi Carlile.

Audio: Youtube (0:33–1:00)
Harmonic Rhythm: |D | Am | G | D | (x2)

D Am

You're feeling nervous, aren't you, boy?

G D

With your quiet voice and impeccable style

Am

Don't ever let them steal your joy

G D

And your gentle ways, to keep 'em from running wild

Dorian

1) Imagine Dragons, “Monster,” Prechorus
From Infinity Blade III (2013), written by Ben McKee, Daniel Platzman, Dan Reynolds, Wayne Sermon, and Alexander Grant.

Audio: Youtube (0:53–1:03)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| Fm | A♭ | E♭ | B♭ | (x2)

Fm A♭

If I told you what I was,

E♭ B♭

Would you turn your back on me?

Fm A♭

And if I seem dangerous,

E♭ B♭

Would you be scared?

2) Gary Jules, “Mad World,” Verse & Prechorus

(2001) written by Ronald Orzabal; covered by Micharl Andrews and Gary Jules

Audio (Verse) : Youtube: 0:11–0:33
Audio (Prechorus) : Youtube: 0:55–1:11
Harmonic Rhythm:
| Fm | A♭ | E♭ |B♭ | (x2)
| Fm | B♭ | Fm | B♭ | (x2)

[Verse]

Fm A♭

All around me are familiar faces

E♭ B♭

Worn out places, worn out faces

[Prechorus]

Fm B♭ Fm

And I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad

B♭

The dreams in which I'm dying are the best

Fm

I've ever had

3) Green Day, “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” verse
From American Idiot (2004), written by Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt & Tré Cool

Audio: Youtube (0:35–0:50)
Harmonic Rhythm: | Em G | D A | (x2)

Em G

I walk a lonely road,

D A Em

the only one that I have ever known

G

Don't know where it goes,

D A Em

but it's home to me and I walk alone

4) Joss Whedon, Title Theme from the TV series Firefly, mm. 17–21

Score: Image
Audio: Youtube (0:35–0:52)

5) Lady Gaga, “Telephone,” chorus

From The Fame Monster (2009), written by LaShawn Daniels, Beyoncé, Lazonate Franklin, Rodney Jerkins & Lady Gaga

Score: Image
Audio: Youtube (0:46–1:03)

6) Muse, “Psycho,” verse

From Drones (2015), written by Matt Bellamy

Audio: Youtube (1:14–1:45)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| Dm | F | C | G | (x2)

Dm

Love, it will get you nowhere

F C

You are on your own

G

Lost in the wild

Dm

So come to me now

I could use someone like you

F C G

Someone who'll kill on my command

7) Selena Gomez, “Good for You,” chorus

From Revival (2015), written by Julia Michaels, Justin Tranter, Nick Monson, Nolan Lambroza, Rakim Mayers (ASAP Rocky), Hector Delgado, Selena Gomez.

Audio: Youtube (1:37–1:59)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| Fm | A♭ |B♭ | F E♭ | (x2)

Fm

Cause I just wanna look good for you, good

A♭

for you, oh oh

B♭

I just wanna look good for you, good for

Fm E♭

you, oh oh

8) Santana, “Evil Ways,” verse

From Santana (1969), written by Clarence “Sonny” Henry

Audio: Youtube (0:19–0:55)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| Gm7 |: Gm7 C :| (x12)
|D7 | D7 | Gm7 C | Gm7 |

Gm7 C Gm7 C

You've got to change your evil ways. . . ba-by.

Gm7 C Gm7 C

before I stop loving you.

C Gm7 C Gm7 C

You've go to change . . . ba-by.

Gm 7 C Gm7 C

And every word that I say, is true.

C Gm7 C

You've got me running and hiding,

Gm7 C

all over town.

C Gm7 C

You've got me sneaking and peeping,

Gm7 C

and running you down.

C D7

This can't go on . . .

Gm7 C Gm7

Lord knows you got to change . . . ba-by.

9) Steppenwolf, “Born to be Wild,” verse, chorus

From Steppenwolf (1968), written by Mars Bonfire

Scores: Image: MuseScore, PDF
Audio: Youtube (0:12–0:40)

10) Chic, “Le Freak,” chorus

From C'est Chic (1978), written by Nile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards

Audio: Youtube (0:01–0:08)
Harmonic Rhythm: | Am | D C | (x2)

Am

Aaahh freak out!

D C

Le freak, c'est Chic

Am D C

Freak out!

11) Kansas, “Dust in the Wind,” chorus
From Point of Know Return (1978), written by Kerry Livgren

Scores: Image, PDF, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (0:41-0:51)

12) Elton John, “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting,” verse

From Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973), written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin

Scores: Image, PDF, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (0:13-0:25)

13) Green Day, “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” verse

From American Idiot (2004), written by Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt & Tré Cool

Audio: Youtube (0:35–0:50)
Harmonic Rhythm (student):
| Em G | D A | (x2)

Em G

I walk a lonely road,

D A

the only one that I have ever known

Em G

Don't know where it goes,

D A Em

but it's home to me and I walk alone

14) Lady Gaga, “Abracadabra,” refrain

From Mayhem (2025), written by Lady Gaga, watt, Cirkut, Siouxsie, John McGeoch, Steven Severin & Budgie

Scores: Image File, MuseScore, PDF
Audio: Youtube (0:53–1:10)

15) Lady Gaga, “Abracadabra,” chorus

From Mayhem (2025), written by Lady Gaga, watt, Cirkut, Siouxsie, John McGeoch, Steven Severin & Budgie

Scores: Image File, MuseScore, PDF
Audio: Youtube (1:23–1:42)

16) Sabrina Carpenter, “Espresso,” chorus

From Short n' Sweet (2025), written by Sabrina Carpenter, Julian Bunetta, Amy Allen & Steph

Audio: Youtube: 0:08–0:28
Harmonic Rhythm:
| Dm7 | Em7 Am7| (x4)

Dm7 Em7

Now he's thinkin' 'bout me every night, oh

Am7 Dm7

Is it that sweet? I guess so

Em7

Say you can't sleep, baby, I know

Am7 Dm7

That's that me, espresso

Em7

Move it up, down, left, right, oh

Am7 Dm7

Switch it up like Nintendo

Em7

Say you can't sleep, baby, I know

Am7

That's that me, espresso

Aeolian

1) Simon & Garfunkel, “Sound of Silence,” verse

From Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. (1964), written by Paul Simon.

Score: Image
Audio: Youtube (0:02–0:37)

2) Klaus Badelt, “He's a Pirate”
From the film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (0:04–0:11)

3) Bruno Mars, “Grenade,” chorus
From Doo-Wops & Hooligans (2010), written by Bruno Mars, Phillip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Brody Brown, Claude Kelly, Andrew Wyatt

Audio: Youtube (0:39–0:49)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| Dm B♭| F C | (x2)

Dm B♭ F

I'd catch a grenade for ya yeah, yeah

C Dm B♭

Throw my hand on a blade for ya yeah,

F

yeah

C Dm B♭ F

I'd jump in front of a train for ya yeah, yeah

4) Toto, “Africa,” chorus

From Toto IV (1982), written by David Paich and Jeff Porcaro.

Audio: Youtube (1:09–1:19)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| F#m D | A E | (x2)

F#m D A E

Gonna take a lot to drag me away from you

F#m D

There's nothing that a hundred men or

A E

more could ever do

5) R.E.M., “Losing My Religion,” chorus

From Out of Time (1991), written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Michael Stipe

Audio: Youtube (0:45–1:31)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| Am | Am | Em | Em | Am | Am | Em | Em |
| Am | Am | Em | Em | Dm | Dm | G|
Bridge: |G | F | Dm G | Am | Am |
| F | Dm7 G | Am |G |

[Chorus]
Am

That's me in the corner,

Em

That's me in the spotlight

Am

Losing my religion.

Em

Trying to keep up with you.

Am Em

And I don't know if I can do it.

Dm

Oh no, I've said too much,

G

I haven't said enough.

[Bridge]

G F

I thought that I heard you laughing,

Dm G Am

I thought that I heard you sing.

Am F Dm G Am G

I think I thought I saw you try.

6) Daft Punk, “Face to Face,” verse

From Homework / Discovery / Alive 1997 (2001), written by Todd Edwards, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo & Thomas Bangalter

Audio: Youtube (1:12–1:30)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| G#m | F# | E | C#m | (x2)

G#m

What's going on?

F#

Could this be my understanding

E C#m

It's not your fault I was being too demanding

G#m F#

I must admit it's my pride that made me distant

E C#m

All because I hoped that you'd be someone different

7) Taylor Swift, “Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince,” verse

From Lover (2019), written by Joel Little & Taylor Swift

Audio: Youtube (0:11–0:39)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| Bm | A | G| A | (x2)

Bm

You know I adore you, I'm crazier for you

A

Than I was at 16, lost in a film scene

G

Waving homecoming queens, marching band playing

A

I'm lost in the lights

Bm

American glory faded before me

A

Now I'm feeling hopeless, ripped up my prom dress

G

Running through rose thorns, I saw the scoreboard

A

And ran for my life (ah)

8) Adele, “Set Fire to the Rain,” verse

From 21 (2011), written by Fraser T. Smith & Adele

Audio: Youtube (0:07–0:43)
Harmonic Rhythm (student):
| Dm | F | C | Gm |
| Dm | F | C | C | (x2)

Dm F

I let it fall, my heart,

C Gm

And as it fell you rose to claim it.

Dm F

It was dark and I was over,

C Csus(add2)

Until you kissed my lips and you saved me

Dm F

My hands they're strong,

C Gm

but my knees were far too weak,

Dm F/A

Stand in your arms

C Csus(add2)

without falling to your feet,

9) Adele, “Set Fire to the Rain,” chorus

From 21 (2011), written by Fraser T. Smith & Adele

Audio: Youtube (0:58–1:18)
Harmonic Rhythm (student):
| Dm | Dm | C | C|
| Gm7 | Gm7 | Dm | C |

Dm

But I set fire to the rain,

C

Watch it pour as I touched your face,

Gm7

Well, it burned while I cried,

Dm

Cause I heard it screaming out your name,

C

your name

10) Kelly Clarkson, “Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You),” chorus

From Stronger (2011), written by Ali Tamposi, Greg Kurstin, David Gamson & Jörgen Elofsson

Audio: Youtube (0:41–1:17)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| Am | F | C| G/B | (x4)

Am

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger

F

Stand a little taller

C

Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone

G/B Am

What doesn't kill you makes a fighter

F

Footsteps even lighter
C G/B

Doesn't mean I'm over cause you're gone

(G/B) Am

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger,
F C

stronger, Just me, myself and I

G/B Am

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger

F

Stand a little taller

C G/B

Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone

11) Oasis, “D’You Know What I Mean,” verse

From Be Here Now (1997), written by Noel Gallagher

Scores: Image, PDF, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (1:05–1:17)

12) Demi Lovato, “Heart Attack,” verse

From Demi (2013), written by Mitch Allan, Jason Evigan, Sean Douglas, Nikki Williams, Aaron Philips, and Demi Lovato

Scores: Image, PDF, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (0:11–0:22)

13) Simon & Garfunkel, “Sound of Silence,” verse

From Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. (1964), written by Paul Simon.

Score: Image
Audio: Youtube (0:02–0:37)

14) Ella Mai, “Trip,” verse

From Ella Mai (2018), written by Ella Mai, Mustard, Q Gulledge & Varren Wade

Scores: Image, PDF, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (0:10–0:23)

15) Marshmello & Jonas Bros, “Slow Motion,” verse

Single (2025), written by CASTLE, Connor McDonough, Earwulf, Jake Torrey, Marshmello, Nicholas Gale, Riley McDonough

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube: 0:08–0:27

Phrygian

1) Whitney Houston, “Love Will Save the Day,” verse
From Whitney (1997), written by Toni Colandreo

Audio: Youtube (0:18–0:51)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| Dm7 | Gm7 | E♭∆7| Dm7| (x4)

Dm7 Gm7

Sometimes life can make you crazy
E♭maj7 Dm7

It can really put your body to the test

Dm7 Gm7

You try so hard to make sure everything goes right

E♭maj7 Dm7

And you find you've only wound up with a mess

Dm7 Gm7

It's a common situation

E♭maj7 Dm7

Even though you feel abandoned and alone

Dm7 Gm7

Child, you ain't the first to experience the hurt

E♭maj7 Dm7

So don't panic when you hit the danger zone

2) Jefferson Airplane, “3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds,” chorus
From Surrealistic Pillow (1967), written by Marty Balin

Audio: Youtube (0:47–1:00)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| G | F | Em | Em |

G F

Know I love you baby

Em

Yes I do

3) Slick Rick, “Children's Story,” verse
From The Great Adventures of Slick Rick (1989), written by Ricky Walters

Audio: Youtube (0:28–0:33)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| Fm | Fm E♭m G♭|

Fm

Once upon a time not long ago

E♭m G♭

When people wore pajamas and lived life slow

4) John Williams, Imperial Motif
From Star Wars: A New Hope, Episode IV

Score: Image, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (1:50–2:03)

5) Aespa, “Drama,” chorus
From Drama (2023)

Scores: Image, MuseScore, PDF
Audio: Youtube (0:57–1:13)

Locrian

1) Björk, “Army of Me,” verse

From Post (1995), written by Björk and Graham Massey.

Audio: Youtube (0:25–0:47)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| C° | D♭ | D♭ | C° |(x2)

Cdim D♭

Stand up

D♭ Cdim

You've got to manage

Cdim D♭

I won't sympathize

D♭ Cdim

Anymore

Additional Examples

Yale Musical Examples Database: See the "Harmonic/Scale" tab at the bottom.