Mixolydian Harmony

Lydian

Phrygian

Locrian

Additional Examples

See also Other Modal Shuttles (e.g. Lydian I - II , Phrygian i -♭II )

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

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, Image (melody & chords only)
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.