Niveau 2 · Cours 10

Modes of the major scale

Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian — seven colors, one scale.

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Pause Culture · Modes

Miles Davis (1926–1991)

In 1959, Miles Davis recorded Kind of Blue — the best-selling jazz album of all time. Instead of chaining complex chords, he built each piece on a single mode. So What is entirely …

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À retenir : A mode is not a scale with one different note — it is a harmonic color, a way of hearing the world.

The 7 modes of the major scale

A mode is simply the major scale played from a different degree. In C major (C D E F G A B), if we start on D and play the same notes up to D, we get the Dorian mode. Each starting degree creates a unique harmonic color.

Fundamental principle: all modes share the same notes — it is the starting note (the tonic) that changes everything. By shifting the tonic, we change the intervals and therefore the emotional color.

Click on a mode to hear it and see its details.

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I

Ionien— from C

Lumineux, stable, affirmé

C D E F G A B C

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II

Dorien— from D

Mineur mais lumineux, mystérieux, modal

D E F G A B C D

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III

Phrygien— from E

Sombre, intense, dramatique

E F G A B C D E

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IV

Lydien— from F

Lumineux, onirique, éthéré

F G A B C D E F

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V

Mixolydien— from G

Majeur mais non résolu, énergique, bluesy

G A B C D E F G

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VI

Éolien— from A

Mélancolique, introspectif, naturel

A B C D E F G A

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VII

Locrien— from B

Très sombre, instable, dissonant

B C D E F G A B

Summary

Degree	Mode	Color	Alteration vs major	Emotional color
I	Ionien ☀️	Major	—	Lumineux, stable, affirmé
II	Dorien 🌊	Minor	♭3, ♭7, ♮6	Mineur mais lumineux, mystérieux, modal
III	Phrygien 🔥	Minor	♭2, ♭3, ♭6, ♭7	Sombre, intense, dramatique
IV	Lydien ✨	Major	#4	Lumineux, onirique, éthéré
V	Mixolydien 🎸	Major	♭7	Majeur mais non résolu, énergique, bluesy
VI	Éolien 🌙	Minor	♭3, ♭6, ♭7	Mélancolique, introspectif, naturel
VII	Locrien 💀	Dim.	♭2, ♭3, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7	Très sombre, instable, dissonant