{"id":22685,"date":"2026-03-18T16:57:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T20:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/?p=22685"},"modified":"2026-03-18T16:57:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T20:57:51","slug":"music-modes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/music-modes\/","title":{"rendered":"Music modes: What they are and how to use them"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p style=\"font-size:15px\" class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Illustration:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhungle.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Nhung L\u00ea (opens in a new tab)\"><strong>Nhung L\u00ea<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When many of us <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/how-to-make-music\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"make music, (opens in a new tab)\"><strong>make music,<\/strong><\/a> we often think about it as being either &#8216;major&#8217; or &#8216;minor.&#8217;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the reality is that there&#8217;s a whole world of color that exists beyond these two domains\u2014and musical modes are one of the many ways we can access it. In this article, we discuss what modes are in music, the common types and their use cases, and how you can use them to expand your sonic palette.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Feel free to use the table of contents below to easily navigate to a specific topic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What you&#8217;ll learn:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#WhatAreMusicModes\"><strong>Musical modes explained<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#DiatonicModes\"><strong>The seven diatonic modes<\/strong><\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#Ionian\"><strong>Ionian<\/strong><\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#MajorVsIonian\"><strong>The major scale vs. the Ionian mode<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Dorian\"><strong>Dorian<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Phrygian\"><strong>Phrygian<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Mixolydian\"><strong>Mixolydian<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Aeolian\"><strong>Aeolian<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Locrian\"><strong>Locrian<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#MajorVsMinor\"><strong>Major modes vs. minor modes<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#HowToUse\"><strong>How to use modes in your music<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#AdvancedTechniques\"><strong>Advanced techniques<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Conclusion\"><strong>The bigger picture<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Feeling ready? Let&#8217;s dive into our journey towards understanding modes in music!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"WhatAreMusicModes\">What are music modes?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Put simply,<strong> modes in music<\/strong> are rotations of the major or natural minor scales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8230;But what does that mean?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An audio example is usually worth a thousand words. In the video below, we play two scales on the keyboard in succession. The first is the C major scale, something that many of us are likely very familiar with (if you&#8217;re not, <a aria-label=\"check out our introductory guide on melody (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/an-introduction-to-melody\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">check out our introductory guide on melody<\/a> to get acquainted). The second uses all of the same notes in the C major scale, but instead of starting and ending on C, we start and end on a different note\u2014going from D to D instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"An introduction to modes (Music modes)\" width=\"370\" height=\"208\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aEmkqaYARfI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Notice how the character of the scale shifts dramatically, even though we used all of the same notes\u2014sort of similar to what we experience when comparing relative major and minor keys. But, the scale we created is neither D major (which would include an F\u266f and a C\u266f) nor D minor (which would include a B\u266d), but rather <strong>D Dorian,<\/strong> a common modal scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Going back to our initial definition of modes, we can see that the Dorian scale was created by &#8216;rotating&#8217; by one note off of the C major scale (or three notes off of the A minor scale).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, modes are far more than just a series of scales to memorize\u2014they&#8217;re also characterized by contextual melodic and harmonic qualities. We&#8217;ll get to that once we discuss their applications a bit later, but first let&#8217;s break down the seven common <strong>diatonic modes<\/strong> that we get by continuing our rotations off of the major and minor scales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-f5a2734ea82e3ec51d9db4acbad33d87\" style=\"background-color:#62daff\"><a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/plans\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>New subscribers can try all of Splice\u2014including 200 monthly sample download credits, full access to all premium INSTRUMENT presets, and more\u2014for $4.99\/mo.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"DiatonicModes\">The seven different diatonic modes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While they&#8217;re not the only modes out there, the seven diatonic modes\u2014Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, and Locrian\u2014are what musicians are often referring to when they use the term in the context of <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Western music theory. (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/an-introduction-to-music-theory\/\" target=\"_blank\">Western music theory.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&#8217;s begin to deepen our understanding of modes by taking a look at each one in more detail, starting off with the Ionian mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Ionian\">1. Ionian mode<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The collection and sequencing of pitches in <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/music-modes-ionian\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the <strong>Ionian mode<\/strong><\/a> are identical to major. For example, the <strong>C Ionian<\/strong> scale would consist of C, D, E, F, G, A, B, and C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"83\" data-src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/ionian-scale-1024x83.png\" alt=\"Ascending scale for the Ionian mode (From &quot;Music modes: What they are and how to use them&quot; on the Splice blog).\" class=\"wp-image-27825 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/ionian-scale-1024x83.png 1024w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/ionian-scale-400x32.png 400w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/ionian-scale-355x29.png 355w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/ionian-scale-768x62.png 768w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/ionian-scale-1536x124.png 1536w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/ionian-scale-2048x165.png 2048w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/83;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio alignwide\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Ionian.mp3\" preload=\"auto\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">The C Ionian scale<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"MajorVsIonian\"><strong>The major scale vs. the Ionian mode<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This begs the question: What&#8217;s the difference between major scales \/ keys and the Ionian mode?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the surface, the answer seems to be &#8216;there is none&#8217;\u2014and in truth, colloquially they\u2019re often used interchangeably. But, if we wanted to be precise, there <em>is<\/em> a distinction, which lies in their application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most notably, saying that something is in a major key also implies harmonic function that revolves around the tonic and dominant\u2014in other words, you&#8217;ll see an emphasis on progressions like V &#8211; I, IV &#8211; V &#8211; I, and ii &#8211; V &#8211; I. Meanwhile, the Ionian mode may not follow these harmonic patterns as closely, even if it uses the same collection of pitches and focuses on the same <strong>pitch center.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For an example of a piece of music that feels specifically Ionian, take a listen to Toby Fox\u2019s main theme from the beloved <em>UNDERTALE<\/em> soundtrack, which makes use of the mode to convey an understated but swelling feeling of optimism:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/2FZ99j224ohiGLavqjijza?si=7b7cffa56294459f\" width=\"100%\" height=\"80\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allow=\"encrypted-media\"><\/iframe><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Video game music is particularly ripe with modes, probably due to the fact that they&#8217;re really helpful for evoking specific moods. So, we&#8217;ll be drawing examples from <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/top-20-video-game-soundtracks\/\" target=\"_blank\">iconic video game soundtracks<\/a> extensively to help you get acquainted with the sound of different modes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more on the Ionian mode, its history, additional examples where it&#8217;s used, and how to apply it to your own music, check out our comprehensive guide below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-blog-splice wp-block-embed-blog-splice\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"y2EW087Ha7\"><a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/music-modes-ionian\/\">The Ionian mode: A comprehensive guide<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;The Ionian mode: A comprehensive guide&#8221; &#8212; Blog | Splice\" src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/music-modes-ionian\/embed\/#?secret=jVHsxkNg8J#?secret=y2EW087Ha7\" data-secret=\"y2EW087Ha7\" width=\"370\" height=\"209\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Dorian\">2. Dorian mode<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As highlighted in our previous section, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/music-modes-dorian\/\" target=\"_blank\">the <strong>Dorian mode<\/strong><\/a> is a lot like natural minor, but with the sixth raised (\u266f\u02c66). If we started on D, then its ascending scale would consist of D, E, F, G, A, B, C, and D.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"90\" data-src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Screen-Shot-2023-04-14-at-6.13.41-PM-1024x90.png\" alt=\"Ascending scale for the Dorian mode (From &quot;Music modes: What they are and how to use them&quot; on the Splice blog).\" class=\"wp-image-25979 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Screen-Shot-2023-04-14-at-6.13.41-PM-1024x90.png 1024w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Screen-Shot-2023-04-14-at-6.13.41-PM-400x35.png 400w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Screen-Shot-2023-04-14-at-6.13.41-PM-355x31.png 355w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Screen-Shot-2023-04-14-at-6.13.41-PM-768x67.png 768w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Screen-Shot-2023-04-14-at-6.13.41-PM-1536x135.png 1536w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Screen-Shot-2023-04-14-at-6.13.41-PM-2048x179.png 2048w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/90;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio alignwide\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Dorian.mp3\" preload=\"auto\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">The D Dorian scale<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An example of a piece of music that heavily leans into the Dorian sound is the &#8220;Song of Storms&#8221; from <em>The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time<\/em>, one of the most beloved video games ever created:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/3qazo1nDoHIWHg8KHVmujW?si=ed836f45be5146e7\" width=\"100%\" height=\"80\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allow=\"encrypted-media\"><\/iframe><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For more on the Dorian mode, its history, additional examples where it&#8217;s used, and how to apply it to your own music, check out our comprehensive guide below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-blog-splice wp-block-embed-blog-splice\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"Iy6jpkfHRL\"><a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/music-modes-dorian\/\">The Dorian mode: A comprehensive guide<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;The Dorian mode: A comprehensive guide&#8221; &#8212; Blog | Splice\" src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/music-modes-dorian\/embed\/#?secret=fRM507v7CV#?secret=Iy6jpkfHRL\" data-secret=\"Iy6jpkfHRL\" width=\"370\" height=\"209\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Phrygian\">3. Phrygian mode<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/music-modes-phrygian\/\" target=\"_blank\">The <strong>Phrygian mode<\/strong><\/a> is also a lot like natural minor, but with the second flattened (\u266d\u02c62). If we started on E, then its ascending scale would consist of E, F, G, A, B, C, D, and E.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"89\" data-src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Screen-Shot-2023-04-24-at-12.22.32-PM-1024x89.png\" alt=\"The E Phrygian scale\" class=\"wp-image-26140 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Screen-Shot-2023-04-24-at-12.22.32-PM-1024x89.png 1024w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Screen-Shot-2023-04-24-at-12.22.32-PM-400x35.png 400w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Screen-Shot-2023-04-24-at-12.22.32-PM-355x31.png 355w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Screen-Shot-2023-04-24-at-12.22.32-PM-768x66.png 768w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Screen-Shot-2023-04-24-at-12.22.32-PM-1536x133.png 1536w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Screen-Shot-2023-04-24-at-12.22.32-PM-2048x177.png 2048w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/89;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio alignwide\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Phrygian-2.mp3\" preload=\"auto\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">The E Phrygian scale<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The iconic trainer battle theme from <em>Pok\u00e9mon Red <\/em>and <em>Blue<\/em> makes extensive use of the Phrygian mode\u2019s distinctive flattened second:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/1iM0VDtxxaeU8y5lj7kxkN?si=d3d84bc4b8994748\" width=\"100%\" height=\"80\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allow=\"encrypted-media\"><\/iframe><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For more on the Phrygian mode, its history, additional examples where it&#8217;s used, and how to apply it to your own music, check out our comprehensive guide below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-blog-splice wp-block-embed-blog-splice\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"SH72bX4qJq\"><a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/music-modes-phrygian\/\">The Phrygian mode: A comprehensive guide<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;The Phrygian mode: A comprehensive guide&#8221; &#8212; Blog | Splice\" src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/music-modes-phrygian\/embed\/#?secret=8aKkgf6t5Y#?secret=SH72bX4qJq\" data-secret=\"SH72bX4qJq\" width=\"370\" height=\"209\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Lydian\">4. Lydian mode<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/music-modes-lydian\/\" target=\"_blank\">The <strong>Lydian mode<\/strong><\/a> is a lot like major, but with the fourth raised (\u266f\u02c64). If we started on F, then its ascending scale would consist of F, G, A, B, C, D, E, and F.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"101\" data-src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Screen-Shot-2023-04-06-at-9.46.59-PM-1024x101.png\" alt=\"The F Lydian scale\" class=\"wp-image-25799 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Screen-Shot-2023-04-06-at-9.46.59-PM-1024x101.png 1024w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Screen-Shot-2023-04-06-at-9.46.59-PM-400x39.png 400w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Screen-Shot-2023-04-06-at-9.46.59-PM-355x35.png 355w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Screen-Shot-2023-04-06-at-9.46.59-PM-768x76.png 768w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Screen-Shot-2023-04-06-at-9.46.59-PM-1536x152.png 1536w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Screen-Shot-2023-04-06-at-9.46.59-PM-2048x202.png 2048w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/101;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio alignwide\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Lydian-2.mp3\" preload=\"auto\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">The F Lydian scale<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hear the main melody accompanied by a lush Lydian bed in the &#8220;Good Egg Planet&#8221; theme from <em>Super Mario Galaxy<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/0LVL5exylsbIl7vSbgZvnS?si=726b2f21745a42e6\" width=\"100%\" height=\"80\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allow=\"encrypted-media\"><\/iframe><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For more on the Lydian mode, its history, additional examples where it&#8217;s used, and how to apply it to your own music, check out our comprehensive guide below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-blog-splice wp-block-embed-blog-splice\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"KrflpnpP8c\"><a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/music-modes-lydian\/\">The Lydian mode: A comprehensive guide<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;The Lydian mode: A comprehensive guide&#8221; &#8212; Blog | Splice\" src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/music-modes-lydian\/embed\/#?secret=5qQ2fo7vzv#?secret=KrflpnpP8c\" data-secret=\"KrflpnpP8c\" width=\"370\" height=\"209\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Mixolydian\">5. Mixolydian mode<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/music-modes-mixolydian\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The <strong>Mixolydian mode<\/strong><\/a> is a lot like major, but with the fifth flattened (\u266d\u02c65). If we started on G, then its ascending scale would consist of G, A, B, C, D, E, F, and G.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"93\" data-src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/mixolydian-1024x93.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-26780 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/mixolydian-1024x93.png 1024w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/mixolydian-400x36.png 400w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/mixolydian-355x32.png 355w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/mixolydian-768x69.png 768w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/mixolydian-1536x139.png 1536w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/mixolydian-2048x185.png 2048w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/93;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio alignwide\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Mixolydian.mp3\" preload=\"auto\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">The G Mixolydian scale<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Pok\u00e9mon music features this color everywhere (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/pokemon-most-important-chord-progression\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Pok\u00e9mon <\/em>music features this color everywhere<\/a>\u2014look no further than its original title theme:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/4LROGGTfZfOElW7UenMxxh?si=fee1d38ac1804d88\" width=\"100%\" height=\"80\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allow=\"encrypted-media\"><\/iframe><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For more on the Mixolydian mode, its history, additional examples where it&#8217;s used, and how to apply it to your own music, check out our comprehensive guide below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-blog-splice wp-block-embed-blog-splice\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"P4ceNqD9xW\"><a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/music-modes-mixolydian\/\">The Mixolydian mode: A comprehensive guide<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;The Mixolydian mode: A comprehensive guide&#8221; &#8212; Blog | Splice\" src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/music-modes-mixolydian\/embed\/#?secret=V8wMWVWkDY#?secret=P4ceNqD9xW\" data-secret=\"P4ceNqD9xW\" width=\"370\" height=\"209\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Aeolian\">6. Aeolian mode<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In a similar vein to Ionian, the collection and sequencing of pitches in <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/music-modes-aeolian\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the <strong>Aeolian mode<\/strong><\/a> are identical to natural minor. For example, the <strong>A Aeolian<\/strong> scale would consist of A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and A.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"92\" data-src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/aeolian-mode-1024x92.png\" alt=\"Ascending scale for the Aeolian mode\" class=\"wp-image-27654 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/aeolian-mode-1024x92.png 1024w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/aeolian-mode-400x36.png 400w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/aeolian-mode-355x32.png 355w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/aeolian-mode-768x69.png 768w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/aeolian-mode-1536x139.png 1536w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/aeolian-mode-2048x185.png 2048w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/92;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio alignwide\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Aeolian.mp3\" preload=\"auto\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">The A Aeolian scale<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The same distinction we identified for the difference between the Ionian mode and major scales \/ keys also applies for Aeolian and natural minor scales \/ keys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another example from <em>UNDERTALE<\/em>, Toby Fox&#8217;s &#8220;Heartache&#8221; makes use of the Aeolian mode to achieve an earnest emotional intensity:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/2bvbLvGD7YnS4Nhf9E4hUl?si=924a94eef7644898\" width=\"100%\" height=\"80\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allow=\"encrypted-media\"><\/iframe><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For more on the Aeolian mode, its history, additional examples where it&#8217;s used, and how to apply it to your own music, check out our comprehensive guide below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-blog-splice wp-block-embed-blog-splice\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"LVOsXui5rW\"><a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/music-modes-aeolian\/\">The Aeolian mode: A comprehensive guide<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;The Aeolian mode: A comprehensive guide&#8221; &#8212; Blog | Splice\" src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/music-modes-aeolian\/embed\/#?secret=HExa27YmML#?secret=LVOsXui5rW\" data-secret=\"LVOsXui5rW\" width=\"370\" height=\"209\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Locrian\">7. Locrian mode<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Last but not least, <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/music-modes-locrian\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the <strong>Locrian mode<\/strong><\/a> is also a lot like natural minor, but with the second <em>and<\/em> fifth flattened (\u266d\u02c62, \u266d\u02c65). If we started on B, then its ascending scale would consist of B, C, D, E, F, G, A, and B.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"91\" data-src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Locrian-mode-scale-1024x91.png\" alt=\"Ascending scale for the Locrian mode\" class=\"wp-image-27151 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Locrian-mode-scale-1024x91.png 1024w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Locrian-mode-scale-400x36.png 400w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Locrian-mode-scale-355x32.png 355w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Locrian-mode-scale-768x69.png 768w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Locrian-mode-scale-1536x137.png 1536w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Locrian-mode-scale-2048x183.png 2048w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/91;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio alignwide\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Locrian.mp3\" preload=\"auto\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">The B Locrian scale<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Doom<\/em>&#8216;s &#8220;At Doom&#8217;s Gate&#8221; gives a feel for the tense sound that the Locrian mode is most known for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/2UKgx2oba7CltHLACr3xdT?si=5505fac5e8b54242\" width=\"100%\" height=\"80\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allow=\"encrypted-media\"><\/iframe><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>And finally, for more on the Locrian mode, its history, additional examples where it&#8217;s used, and how to apply it to your own music, check out our comprehensive guide below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-blog-splice wp-block-embed-blog-splice\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"hybeVIOKmQ\"><a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/music-modes-locrian\/\">The Locrian mode: A comprehensive guide<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;The Locrian mode: A comprehensive guide&#8221; &#8212; Blog | Splice\" src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/music-modes-locrian\/embed\/#?secret=0aTTB33NuE#?secret=hybeVIOKmQ\" data-secret=\"hybeVIOKmQ\" width=\"370\" height=\"209\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"MajorVsMinor\">Major modes vs. minor modes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One other small detail worth noting is that Ionian, Lydian, and Mixolydian are sometimes referred to as <strong>major modes,<\/strong> while Aeolian, Dorian, Phrygian, and Locrian can be referred to as <strong>minor modes.<\/strong> These groupings are simply determined by whether the third scale degree in the mode is major or minor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"HowToUse\">How to use modes in your music<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>What makes a piece of music feel like it&#8217;s in a mode is its gravitation around the mode&#8217;s pitch center. Even if it lacks your traditional cadences, a piece of music in F Lydian will still make F feel like its home ground, while the B\u266e will give you the distinct feeling that separates it from F major.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, there&#8217;s no rule that says you <em>have<\/em> to write entire pieces or sections in a mode. While that&#8217;s certainly one way to use them, you can also just borrow their colors for individual chords or passages to achieve certain emotional effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, a &#8216;Lydian chord&#8217; could be thought of as any chord that includes a \u266f4 (or \u266f11). A piece like the aforementioned &#8220;Good Egg Planet&#8221; theme <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"uses this to great effect to achieve that distinctive feeling of wonder. (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/yS83fcFhG0E?t=152\" target=\"_blank\">uses this to great effect to achieve that distinctive feeling of wonder.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What&#8217;s most important is that you familiarize yourself with the unique colors of each mode via firsthand listening and experimentation. There are certainly some general patterns, like Dorian being used to create a sense of mystery, or Locrian being used for tension. However, these are ultimately oversimplifications, equivalent to saying that major is &#8216;happy&#8217; and minor is &#8216;sad,&#8217; when in reality there are so many more nuances you can achieve with both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a aria-label=\"8-bit Music Theory (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/8bitMusicTheory\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">8-bit Music Theory<\/a> does an incredible job at exploring this idea in more depth in the video below, where he showcases how the Locrian mode can do a lot more than just achieve the spooky sound that it&#8217;s most commonly associated with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"LOCRIAN doesn&#039;t have to be S p O o K y\" width=\"370\" height=\"208\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/tbRdHktBv58?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"AdvancedTechniques\">Advanced techniques for using modes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;d like to take things even further, you can try creating new non-diatonic modes by combining different chunks of the modes we explored above. For example, the <strong>Lydian-Mixolydian<\/strong> <strong>mode<\/strong> is made of the lower pentachord of Lydian, combined with the upper tetrachord of Mixolydian. With the starting note of C, the ascending scale would be C, D, E, F\u266f, G, A, B\u266d, and C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio alignwide\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Overtone-scale.mp3\" preload=\"auto\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-jazz-music\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jazz musicians<\/a> might also call this mode the <strong>Lydian-dominant<\/strong> or <strong>overtone scale.<\/strong> While it&#8217;s perhaps the most popular non-diatonic mode, you can also try combining any two modes yourself to access unique sound palettes\u2014the world is your oyster!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion: Music modes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>All too often, musical modes are taught in piano lessons and music theory classes as nothing more than a handful of scales. While the scales (which we&#8217;ve also referenced extensively above) are a great starting point to help you understand their structure, modes truly shine when their colors are borrowed in chord progressions and melodies to achieve unique moods that might not be accessible when solely sticking to the confines of major and natural minor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What&#8217;s more, modes are just one of countless ways to explore this frontier beyond major and natural minor\u2014atonality, microtonality, <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-blues-music\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">blues<\/a> scales, stacked intervals, non-Western scales, and more can help you begin to access the full spectrum of melody and harmony, if your music calls for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Regardless of what avenue you&#8217;re exploring, the most important thing you can do is listen to these ideas in the context of application, and develop your own unique emotional connections with them. Hopefully the musical examples for modes we provided above mark a first step in this process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you have any questions about modes in music? What music theory topics would you like to see us cover next? Start a conversation with us and an ever-growing community of other music creators on <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/features\/community\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the Splice Discord.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Explore royalty-free melodies, chord progressions, and grooves by key, BPM, genre, and more:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button aligncenter\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/sounds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Join Splice today<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn about what musical modes are, the seven common diatonic modes, and how you can use them to achieve new colors in your music.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":22731,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1699,1696],"tags":[165,1633,1807,1626],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What Are Modes in Music &amp; 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