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The Dorian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Ionian, Phrygian, Locrian Scales

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The Church Modes: Dorian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Ionian, Phrygian, Locrian Scales

Back in the period between roughly 1150AD and 1400AD there developed scales called “modes”. (Actually deriving from the Greeks some thousand years before.) And since music was centered in the church during that period (I’m sure there was plenty outside the church as well, but we don’t have much in the way of records of that period) they came to be known as “church modes” – Dorian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Ionian, Phrygian, Locrian Scales

These modes haven’t been used very much for about 500 years, but now many contemporary musicians are using them as a basis for their compositions or improvisations. Listen to any “fusion” musician, such as Donald Fagan or Dave Sanborn or Dave Grusin or Russ Freeeman of the Rippingtons, etc, etc., and you’ll hear many of these ancient scales being used.

While these modes can be played in any key, you can get a feel for them by just playing the white keys on your piano at first, noting the relationship of half-steps and whole-steps and listening to the distinctive sound of each mode.

Here are the church modes and their intervals:

  • Dorian: WHWWWHW (like playing the C scale from D to D)
  • Phrygian: HWWWHWW (like playing the C scale from E to E)
  • Lydian: WWWHWWH (like playing the C scale from F to F)
  • Mixolydian: WWHWWHW (like playing the C scale from G to G)
  • Aeolian: WHWWHWW (like playing the C scale from A to A — also known as the A natural minor scale)
  • Locrian: HWWHWWW (like playing the C scale from B to B)
  • Ionian: WWHWWWH (Does that look familiar? It ought to — it’s just a major scale!)
PS Can you find the error in the Phrygian C scale shown above? (It should be G natural, not Gb).
The thing that makes these modes so appealing and distinctive now is that now they are being used in the context of a harmonic setting — in other words, with chords in the background. That wasn’t the case back in the middle ages — only melodies were used, and as those melodies interfaced with one another through the use of counterpoint, harmonies were created, but only incidentally — there was no “tonal center”, as there is when chords are used.So by using these modes to improvise in, along with a chordal background based on more-or-less traditional harmony, these fusion musicians create exciting new sounds by juxtaposing various scale degrees against the backdrop of semi-standard chord progressions.How can the average piano player take advantage of this knowledge?By experimenting with the modes in the right hand melody while playing chords in the left hand.For example, try improvising using the Lydian scale in your right hand. That will mean playing a raised 4th, rather than the usual scale 4th. That will give your improvisation a sound that is certainly different than what we are all used to, but it will also be refreshing!Try it. I think you’ll like it!

Here is information from my “Piano Tips” newsletter on the Modes: https://www.playpiano.com/101-tips/46-modal-scales.htm

Here is the YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IStu2ubAid8

***For lots more good stuff on piano playing come on over to my website at https://www.playpiano.com and sign up for our free piano tips – “Exciting Piano Chords & Sizzling Chord Progressions!”

Here’s a great little book on chords and chord progressions on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Piano-Chords-Chord-Progressions-Exciting-ebook/dp/B0076OUGDE/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1404158669&sr=1-1&keywords=piano+chords+duane+shinn

You’ll learn piano chords galore and how to apply them when you play piano – major chords, minor chords, augmented chords, diminished chords, 6th chords, 7th chords, 9th chords, 11th chords, 13th chords, suspensions, alterations and more. Chords are the “missing link” in most piano lessons and you can learn them all easily. Learn piano playing and music theory at the same time – it will make your progress faster
and you will understand music like you never have before.

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About Duane

Duane Shinn (that would be me) has good news for you if you want to play the piano. He (me) has little fat hands & stubby little fingers - not at all suited for playing the piano - more suited to making mud pies or some such. I am also fairly uncoordinated with just average musical ability - certainly not a great piano player. But I've learned a ton about music over the years and people tell me I'm pretty decent at explaining how music works & how to progress more rapidly on the piano. Over the years I have developed about 150 techniques for conquering the piano. Most professional pianists can do these techniques, but very few can explain them in a way people can understand. I specialize in making complex techniques simple. I invite you to watch a few of my free videos and see some of these for yourself before making any decision about taking any of my courses.

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