Unit 1-4: Modes

Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

Construct and recognize the dorian, phrygian, lydian, mixolydian, and aeolian modes.
Analyze musical examples to determine their modal characteristics.
Identify common triads and distinctive scale degrees in each of the above six modes.
Diagram each of the six modes on a continuum of darkness to brightness (in relation to the major mode) and describe the aural characteristics of each mode.

Preparation for Class

Read:

Review the following readings from Theory I. Be sure that you can construct and identify the Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, and Locrian modes.
- - "Modes and Scales" (Popgrammar) - Read the first section on modes and listen to the examples.
  - Then, dive into more detail here:
    - - "Introduction to Diatonic Modes" (OMT).
      - "Diatonic Modes" (OMT) - Scroll down to read the section "Identifying Modes"

Watch

David Bennett created a playlist of videos that explores modes in popular music repertoire. Skim through a few of these videos to hear some examples and get the modal chord progressions in your ears.

Explore

ToneGym: Check out the mode player on ToneGym here. 1) Select a root note for your mode, 2) Select your mode, then 3) Click on the chord palette shown below the modes to play around with and hear the modal harmonies in that mode.

Notio: Check out the Notio keyboard here to play around with each of the modes. Click on the "Scale" button to change the scale. The "Keyboard" button will expand your keyboard. Change the scale's starting note, by clicking on the "Root" button.

Reference Aids

1) Modes: Arranged from Bright to Dark with Scale Degrees Labeled (PDF Handout) (Source: Sarah Louden , NYU)

2) Modes: Triads Built on Each Step (PDF Handout) (Source: Sarah Louden , NYU)

3) Relative Darkness and Brightness of Modes
(Source: Chelsey Hamm, OMT, from "Introduction to Diatonic Modes")

This is a spectrum. "Darker" is on the left and "brighter" is on the right. In order, the modes from left (darker) to right (brighter) are Locrian (lowered te - 7, ra - 2, me - 3, se - 5, and le - 6); Phrygian ((lowered te - 7, ra - 2, me - 3, and le - 6), Aeolian (lowered te - 7, me - 3, and le - 6), Dorian (lowered te - 7 and me - 3), Mixolydian (lowered te - 7), Ionian, and Lydian (raised fi - 4).

This is a chart. It reads: Lydian looks like Major, but has raised a 4th. Mixolydian looks like Major, but has a lowered 7th. Dorian looks like minor, but has a raised 6th. Phrygian looks like minor, but has a lowered 2nd. Locrian looks like minor, but has a lowered 2nd and 5th.

In-Class Activities

Suggested Fundamentals Review

Brush up on your fundamentals using the links in the "Additional Practice" section below. Aim for speed and accuracy!
Continued practice with keys, chord spelling, scale degrees, and Roman numerals.

Discussion

Modal Brightness or Darkness: Spell each of the 6 modes in the reading, then listen to each and categorize them as closer to major or minor on a scale of darkness to brightness (as in the OMT reading). Try to describe each mode using metaphors, colors, stories, or other descriptors. What does each mode remind you of? What are the characteristic scale degrees in each mode?

Activities

Review Materials from Theory & Practice I
- - Worksheets for Mode Construction & ID Practice (Review material from Theory I)
    - - Scale Construction: Worksheet 1, Worksheet 2, Worksheet 3, Worksheet 4
      - Mode ID in repertoire: Worksheet 1 & solution. Worksheet 2 & solution. (from Diverse Music Theory)
      - Mode ID and Error Detection: Worksheet 1, Worksheet 2, Turek's Today's Musician Workbook (pp. 1–9)
      - Quizlet Flashcards: Modes
  - Mode ID in TV: Identify modes used in the TV show, The Great British Bake Off. A worksheet is provided here with the music along with a link to the playlist. Use the mode ID diagram from the OMT reading to help guide your analysis.
Mode Analysis: Work through the examples in the anthology below to identify the mode of the melody or chord progression used. Use the modal harmony handout as a guide for identifying chord progressions.
Composition: Rewrite a familiar melody in a few different modes, listen to your compositions, and discuss how changing the mode affects the way you hear the melody.

Repertoire for Practice

Modal Melodies for Analysis: Given a melody, identify mode that best describes the melody.
Modal Chord Progressions: Given a chord progression, identify the mode that best describes the pitch collection used in the harmony.

Anthology: Modal Melodies

Anthology: Modal Chord Progressions

Assignment

Assignment 1-4

NEXT STEP

Next Lesson: Voice Leading Basics

Further Exploring

Adam Neely has a couple videos that explore changing the character of the different modes. Check out:

Additional Practice

Musition:
- Scales: Levels 2–3c
- Key/Mode ID: Level 3
- Pop Progressions: Level 1
Auralia:
- Scales: Level 3a–3c
- Tonality: Level 2
Quizlet:
- Mode ID from Scale Degrees
- Mode ID from Chords

Fundamentals Review
- - Scale Degree ID:
    - - In Major
      - In Minor
  - Roman Numerals (in Quizlet)
    - - Triad Qualities
      - Roman Numeral Spelling in the key of: Ab Major, F Major, E Major, Db Major, C# minor, G minor, B minor
  - Triad Construction: M, m, dim Triads
  - 7th Chord Construction:All 7th Chords
  - Key Signatures:
    - - Construction: Major, Minor
      - ID: Major, Minor

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