The 7 Diatonic Modes
Modes are the major scale started from different notes. What really matters is comparing each mode from the same root (parallel): then each mode's characteristic note jumps out. The table gives every mode from C; press ▶ and listen for the characteristic note.
| Mode | Formula | Characteristic | Typical chord | Character / use | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C Ionian | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 | 7 | Cmaj7 | Bright, resolved; pop and classical melodies | |
| C Dorian | 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7 | 6 | Cm7 | Minor but hopeful; funk, jazz, Santana | |
| C Phrygian | 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 | ♭2 | Cm | Dark, Spanish/Middle-Eastern; metal riffs | |
| C Lydian | 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7 | ♯4 | Cmaj7♯11 | Dreamy, floating; film scores | |
| C Mixolydian | 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7 | ♭7 | C7 | Major but gritty; blues-rock, country | |
| C Aeolian | 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 | ♭6 | Cm7 | Sad natural minor; rock ballads | |
| C Locrian | 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7 | ♭5 | Cm7♭5 | Unstable, tense; over m7♭5, rarely a home key |
How do you make a mode "sound"?
- Keep the root as a steady bass note or drone (e.g. open string 5, A).
- Lean on the characteristic note in your melody: the 6 in Dorian, ♯4 in Lydian, ♭7 in Mixolydian.
- Choose chords to match: for A Dorian use Am7 – D (the IV becomes major!).
A Dorian vamp: Am – D. The major IV chord carries Dorian's natural 6.
Extended Chords
Keep stacking thirds on a triad and you get 7th, 9th, 11th and 13th chords. On guitar the 5th or even the root is often dropped while the colour notes stay.
| Chord | Formula | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| Cmaj7 | 1 3 5 7 | |
| Cm7 | 1 ♭3 5 ♭7 | |
| C7 | 1 3 5 ♭7 | |
| Cm7♭5 | 1 ♭3 ♭5 ♭7 | |
| C9 | 1 3 5 ♭7 9 | |
| Cmaj9 | 1 3 5 7 9 | |
| Cm9 | 1 ♭3 5 ♭7 9 | |
| C11 | 1 (3) 5 ♭7 9 11 | |
| C13 | 1 3 (5) ♭7 9 13 |
9, 11 and 13 are really the 2, 4 and 6 an octave up. The difference: an "add9" chord has no ♭7, a "9" chord does. In 11th chords the major 3rd is usually left out because it clashes with the 11.