Practice

Mode Comparison Chart

All seven modes come from the same major scale — they only differ by which degrees are raised or lowered. This chart lines them up from brightest to darkest (Lydian to Locrian) so you can see exactly how the notes change as you move through them. Ionian (the major scale) is the reference, and every cell that differs from major is highlighted.

Read the columns left to right and each mode lowers one more scale degree than the one before it: Lydian's #4 drops to 4 (Ionian), then b7, b3, b6, b2, and finally b5 — one note darker at every step.

Compare the modes in any key

Pick a root note to spell every mode from it. Notes are written by scale degree, so the accidentals follow the key (the 3rd of Eb Dorian shows as Gb, never F#).

The seven modes spelled from C

Degree Lydian1 2 3 #4 5 6 7 Ionianmajor · 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mixolydian1 2 3 4 5 6 b7 Dorian1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7 Aeoliannat. minor · 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 Phrygian1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 Locrian1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7
1st C1 C1 C1 C1 C1 C1 C1
2nd D2 D2 D2 D2 D2 Dbb2changed Dbb2changed
3rd E3 E3 E3 Ebb3changed Ebb3changed Ebb3changed Ebb3changed
4th F##4changed F4 F4 F4 F4 F4 F4
5th G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 Gbb5changed
6th A6 A6 A6 A6 Abb6changed Abb6changed Abb6changed
7th B7 B7 Bbb7changed Bbb7changed Bbb7changed Bbb7changed Bbb7changed

Lydian is the only mode brighter than major (it raises the 4th); every mode to the right of Ionian lowers one extra degree until Locrian, the darkest, has five flats and a diminished tonic.

How each mode changes the major scale

Each mode is the major scale with a specific set of degrees lowered (or, for Lydian, raised). The single defining alteration is what gives each mode its character:

  • Lydian — major with a #4. The only mode brighter than major; dreamy and floating.
  • Ionian — the major scale itself, the reference every other mode is measured against.
  • Mixolydian — major with a b7. Bright but bluesy; the sound of dominant-chord rock and folk.
  • Dorian — minor (b3 b7) but with a natural 6th; the soulful jazz-minor sound.
  • Aeolian — the natural minor scale (b3 b6 b7); the default minor tonality.
  • Phrygian — minor with a b2; the dark, Spanish/metal flavour.
  • Locrian — five flats including a b5; the most unstable mode, with a diminished tonic.

Keep exploring