![]() In the last 50-odd years, John Cage's personal favorite work, 4'33" has become something of a running joke and subject of derision in the music world. But over the centuries, hundreds of composers have tested the boundaries of musical expression in strange and unique ways. Lawrence, Lawrence UniversityĬlassical music seems to have a reputation for being straight-laced, stuffy, and obsessed with rules. It’s the basis for much of our music, and as such, it’s seen all the time in all sorts of music.Īlthough, to be fair, since we often change some of the notes of the diatonic scale (unaltered notes), it’s not true Ionian.By Nathan B. It’s based on the first scale degree in a major scale, and the Ionian mode uses the following intervals: The main difference is that in true Ionian, you would never use any altered pitches or accidentals. ![]() Ionian mode is the same as the major scale. “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Songs In Ionian Mode.“Scarborough Fair” by Simon And Garfunkel.“The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)” by Ylvis.“Boulevard Of Broken Dreams” by Green Day.Other songs in Dorian mode (and you’ll recognize a ton of these) include: This is exactly like natural minor or Aeolian mode, but with raised 6th degree.Īn example of a popular song in Dorian mode is: The Dorian mode is based on the following intervals: I think it’s because Dorian is the perfect mix of accessible (being so similar to a natural minor) yet different. Why? Because the Dorian mode is in minor and sort of sounds like “Pirate music.”Īnytime I do or play a song in Dorian with my kids, they eat it up.įor some reason, it touches something in them that the other modes don’t quite do. “Molly Bán” by the Chieftains & Alison Kraussĭorian mode is based on the second scale degree and one that is a favorite of most people.“Uptight (Everything’s Alright)” by Stevie Wonder.Here are more examples of songs in Mixolydian mode to check out: Mixolydian is surprisingly common in all music, even modern popular music.Ĭheck out this example of a popular song in Mixolydian: Then, they raise the 7th scale degree to make it a true leading tone and help the piece feel complete. So they kept Mixolydian intact except at the end of the piece. Or you can think about it as a major scale with a flat 7th tone.įunctionally, it’s very similar to tonic or Ionian.Īs composers wrote in Mixolydian, they found it difficult to really make their pieces sound fully resolved. It’s essentially a major mode without the leading tone. The Mixolydian mode is made up of the following intervals: Mixolydian is based on the 5th scale degree, and it was the mode that inspired the greater use of accidentals or altered pitches in music. 8, Dance of the Mountain King’s Daughter” by Grieg Other examples of songs in Lydian mode include: ![]() If you want more information or to hear what the modes sound like, check out this video: Mode Scale Degree Notes in C Major Ionian 1 CDEFGABC Dorian 2 DEFGABCD Phrygian 3 EFGABCE Lydian 4 FABCDEF Mixolydian 5 GABCDEFG Aeolian 6 ABCDEFGA Locrian 7 BCDEFGAB The sound of this Phrygian scale is completely different, but it uses the same notes as the original.Įach degree 1-7 has its own scale and feeling, and the song examples in the rest of the article will demonstrate this.įor a quick reference, take a look at this chart (all based on the C major scale to help you out). Now, let’s start on the third scale degree (the median). This major scale is also called the Ionian mode. Let’s look at the notes of a C major scale. They rose in popularity as church modes associated with hymns and chants.īasically, if you pick a degree in a major scale and then start a whole new scale on it (but use the same notes as the first major scale), you have a mode. ![]() Learn more about scale degrees and tones in our article on tonic, dominant, and subdominant. Modes are based on scale motion of a major scale or Ionian mode, but tonic is moved to match a different scale degree. Before we get into all of the song examples, it’d be helpful to know what exactly modes in music are and how they work. ![]()
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