Greek modes are musical scales that have their roots in Ancient Greece and have been adapted throughout the history of Western music. They are fundamental to music theory, influencing harmony, melody, and improvisation across various musical genres. This article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of Greek modes, their characteristics, their applications in modern music, and how they can be utilized by music students.
The original Greek modes were named after regions or peoples of Ancient Greece: Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, and Locrian. These modes form the basis of Western music and were used by the Greeks for different purposes, such as religious rituals, dramas, and festivities.
In the Middle Ages, the Greek modes were adapted by the Roman Catholic Church to create the system of ecclesiastical modes, which became the foundation of medieval sacred music. This system was simplified and modified, resulting in a set of modes that included Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, and Mixolydian, among others.
Greek modes can be understood as different diatonic scales that start on different degrees of the major scale (Ionian scale). Each mode has a unique interval structure that gives it a particular sound.
Today, we classify modes as major or minor, depending on the first chord they form in their harmonic field.
The Ionian mode is identical to the traditional major scale. It is bright and stable, being widely used in Western music.
Whole and Half Step Formula: Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half
Interval Formula: 1P 2M 3M 4P 5P 6M 7M
Third: Major
Characteristic Interval: Perfect 4th
Notes: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C
Characteristic Note: F
Reference Scale: Same notes as C Major
Notes: D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D
Characteristic Note: G
Reference Scale: Same notes as D Major
Notes: E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D#, E
Characteristic Note: A
Reference Scale: Same notes as E Major
Notes: F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E, F
Characteristic Note: Bb
Reference Scale: Same notes as F Major
Notes: G, A, B, C, D, E, F#, G
Characteristic Note: F#
Reference Scale: Same notes as G Major
Notes: A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#, A
Characteristic Note: G#
Reference Scale: Same notes as A Major
Notes: B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#, B
Characteristic Note: A#
Reference Scale: Same notes as B Major
The Dorian mode is frequently used in jazz and folk music. It has a sound that blends major and minor characteristics, thanks to its major sixth degree.
Whole and Half Step Formula: Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole
Interval Formula: 1P 2M 3m 4P 5P 6M 7m
Third: Minor
Characteristic Interval: Major 6th
Notes: C, D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb, C
Characteristic Note: A
Reference Scale: Same notes as Bb Major
Notes: D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D
Characteristic Note: B
Reference Scale: Same notes as C Major
Notes: E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D, E
Characteristic Note: C#
Reference Scale: Same notes as D Major
Notes: F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb, F
Characteristic Note: D
Reference Scale: Same notes as Eb Major
Notes: G, A, Bb, C, D, E, F, G
Characteristic Note: E
Reference Scale: Same notes as F Major
Notes: A, B, C, D, E, F#, G, A
Characteristic Note: F#
Reference Scale: Same notes as G Major
Notes: B, C#, D, E, F#, G#, A, B
Characteristic Note: G#
Reference Scale: Same notes as A Major
The Phrygian mode has a dark and exotic sound due to its minor second degree. It is common in flamenco and classical music.
Whole and Half Step Formula: Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole
Interval Formula: 1P 2m 3m 4P 5P 6m 7m
Third: Minor
Characteristic Interval: Minor 2nd
Notes: C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C
Characteristic Note: Db
Reference Scale: Same notes as Ab Major
Notes: D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb, C, D
Characteristic Note: Eb
Reference Scale: Same notes as Bb Major
Notes: E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E
Characteristic Note: F
Reference Scale: Same notes as C Major
Notes: F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F
Characteristic Note: Gb
Reference Scale: Same notes as Db Major
Notes: G, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G
Characteristic Note: Ab
Reference Scale: Same notes as Eb Major
Notes: A, Bb, C, D, E, F, G, A
Characteristic Note: Bb
Reference Scale: Same notes as F Major
Notes: B, C, D, E, F#, G, A, B
Characteristic Note: C
Reference Scale: Same notes as G Major
The Lydian mode has an augmented fourth degree, providing a bright and unstable sound. It is used in jazz, rock, and modern classical music.
Whole and Half Step Formula: Whole, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half
Interval Formula: 1P 2M 3M 4A 5P 6M 7M
Third: Major
Characteristic Interval: Augmented 4th
Notes: C, D, E, F#, G, A, B, C
Characteristic Note: F#
Reference Scale: Same notes as G Major
Notes: D, E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D
Characteristic Note: G#
Reference Scale: Same notes as A Major
Notes: E, F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D#, E
Characteristic Note: A#
Reference Scale: Same notes as B Major
Notes: F, G, A, B, C, D, E, F
Characteristic Note: B
Reference Scale: Same notes as C Major
Notes: G, A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G
Characteristic Note: C#
Reference Scale: Same notes as D Major
Notes: A, B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A
Characteristic Note: D#
Reference Scale: Same notes as E Major
Notes: B, C#, D#, E#, F#, G#, A#, B
Characteristic Note: E# (F)
Reference Scale: Same notes as F# Major
The Mixolydian mode is similar to the major scale but with a minor seventh degree. It is common in rock, blues, and folk music.
Whole and Half Step Formula: Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole
Interval Formula: 1P 2M 3M 4P 5P 6M 7m
Third: Major
Characteristic Interval: Minor 7th
Notes: C, D, E, F, G, A, Bb, C
Characteristic Note: Bb
Reference Scale: Same notes as F Major
Notes: D, E, F#, G, A, B, C, D
Characteristic Note: C
Reference Scale: Same notes as G Major
Notes: E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D, E
Characteristic Note: D
Reference Scale: Same notes as A Major
Notes: F, G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F
Characteristic Note: Eb
Reference Scale: Same notes as Bb Major
Notes: G, A, B, C, D, E, F, G
Characteristic Note: F
Reference Scale: Same notes as C Major
Notes: A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G, A
Characteristic Note: G
Reference Scale: Same notes as D Major
Notes: B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A, B
Characteristic Note: G
Reference Scale: Same notes as E Major
The Aeolian mode corresponds to the natural minor scale. It is melancholic and widely used in various musical styles.
Whole and Half Step Formula: Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole
Interval Formula: 1P 2M 3m 4P 5P 6m 7m
Third: Minor
Characteristic Interval: Minor 6th
Notes: C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C
Characteristic Note: Ab
Reference Scale: Same notes as Eb Major
Notes: D, E, F, G, A, Bb, C, D
Characteristic Note: Bb
Reference Scale: Same notes as F Major
Notes: E, F#, G, A, B, C, D, E
Characteristic Note: C
Reference Scale: Same notes as G Major
Notes: F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F
Characteristic Note: Db
Reference Scale: Same notes as Ab Major
Notes: G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G
Characteristic Note: Eb
Reference Scale: Same notes as Bb Major
Notes: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A
Characteristic Note: F
Reference Scale: Same notes as C Major
Notes: B, C#, D, E, F#, G, A, B
Characteristic Note: G
Reference Scale: Same notes as D Major
The Locrian mode is the least common and is characterized by its diminished fifth degree, creating an unstable and tense sound. It is rarely used in popular music.
Whole and Half Step Formula: Half, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole
Interval Formula: 1P 2m 3m 4P 5d 6m 7m
Third: Minor
Characteristic Interval: Diminished 5th
Notes: C, Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C
Characteristic Note: Gb
Reference Scale: Same notes as Db Major
Notes: D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D
Characteristic Note: Ab
Reference Scale: Same notes as Eb Major
Notes: E, F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E
Characteristic Note: Bb
Reference Scale: Same notes as F Major
Notes: F, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, F
Characteristic Note: Bb
Reference Scale: Same notes as Gb Major
Notes: G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, G
Characteristic Note: Db
Reference Scale: Same notes as Ab Major
Notes: A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, A
Characteristic Note: Eb
Reference Scale: Same notes as Bb Major
Notes: B, C, D, E, F, G, A, B
Characteristic Note: F
Reference Scale: Same notes as C Major
Each Greek mode can be thought of as starting on a specific note that corresponds to a degree of a major scale. The table below shows how each mode can be understood this way.
Mode | Degree in the Major Scale |
---|---|
Ionian | 1st degree |
Dorian | 2nd degree |
Phrygian | 3rd degree |
Lydian | 4th degree |
Mixolydian | 5th degree |
Aeolian | 6th degree |
Locrian | 7th degree |
To determine the reference scale of a specific note in a particular mode, follow these simple steps. We will use G Dorian as an example to illustrate the process.
The G Dorian scale has the same notes as the F major scale. Therefore, thinking in G Dorian is the same as thinking of G as the second degree of F major.
Now let's consider another example: We know that the G Mixolydian scale has the same notes as the C major scale.
Here's how to discover this:
G Mixolydian is the same as thinking of G as the fifth degree of C major.
Applying Greek modes in music can be challenging, but understanding some basic principles can help clarify the process. Here are some guidelines on how to apply Greek modes, considering both chords and the tonality of the music.
The first step in applying Greek modes is to understand the tonality of the music you are working with. The tonality will determine which notes and chords are naturally compatible and provide a basis for exploring the modes.
If the music is in C major, you can use the Greek modes derived from the C major scale: Ionian (C), Dorian (D), Phrygian (E), Lydian (F), Mixolydian (G), Aeolian (A), and Locrian (B).
Each chord in a tonality can be associated with a specific mode that highlights its characteristics.
When playing a C major chord, you can improvise or compose using the C Ionian scale (C D E F G A B C). If the chord changes to D minor (Dm), you can shift to the Dorian scale of D (D E F G A B C D).
When improvising or composing, you can use the modes to navigate chord changes, creating melodic lines that fit the harmonies.
Suppose you are playing a chord progression C - Dm - G - C. Here is how you can apply the modes:
Greek modes are tools to expand your musical vocabulary. Experiment with different modes over chords and progressions to find sounds you like. Tips:
Greek modes are an essential part of music theory, offering a rich palette of sounds for musicians of all levels and styles. Studying and experimenting with these modes can enrich your musical practice, opening new creative possibilities. If you are a music student, explore each mode and discover how they can be integrated into your compositions and performances.