Hi I have just started learning about modes and just wanted to check something… Does the major mode ionian always start on C like if we started a G major scale mode would mode 1 ionian always start on c then dorian start on d no matter what the major scale was.
I just wanted to check i was getting this right before i carried on hope i explained myself well enough thanks.
No. The Ionian is the 1st mode, and corresponds to the major scale. So if you have a G major scale, the ionian mode is the scale itself. I.e., modes are relative to the scale you’re playing.
Take a look at www.fretful.io for some mode explorations
Modes are one of the areas in music theory that some just can not grasp and get confused by so if you are new learning music theory I would say to put it on your to-do list for later.
Whatever you do, do not let it frustrate you to the point that that your practicing suffers.
To answer your question however, if I understood it properly -
The Ionian scale in any particular key is always named after the root/tonic of the scale, in other words, the terms C Major and C Ionian are just different names for the same thing, and both start on the root/tonic notes.
So both the C Major and C Ionian scales start on C and the G Major and G Ionian scales start on G.
I haven’t seen this lesson but Mark is probably explaining these in terms of something like a keyboard? Not sure why but what is listed as “mode 1” there is actually Mode 4 of the G Major scale, Lydian. Specifically the intervals described there are Lydian.
@Celticstar it not frustrating its just like a puzzle im trying to solve… If i really dont get ill just shelve it till later and hope with more info it might fit into place… Thanks for your answer.
So, if A is your major, then B is Dorian, C is Phrygian, etc…
If B is your Major, then C is your Dorian, and D is your Phrygian etc…
If C is your major, then D is your dorian, and E is your Phrygian etc…
The thing about C is it is the center Key of a piano, so all the modes are based off of C, plus C major is all natural, no sharps or flats, and when each mode is referenced from C, they are all Natural, meaning no sharps or flats.
But for any Major Key, the Modes are in that order, starting with the root of the scale. Once the Key is anything but C Major, there will be sharps and flats in the modes.
C Minor has a different order. based on your list above, Mode 6 becomes mode 1 and mode 7 becomes mode 2, and mode 1 becomes mode 3, and down the line.
Yes there is ALOT of information, and you don’t need to know it all now, but if you can grasp it, it will help you for sure.
I am assuming Mark is explaining this in terms of something else because I don’t understand the order those are listed like that or why, if we are discussing G Major. But what is listed as “Mode 5” there is G Ionian (by its intervals). Are you sure he is describing the modes of G Major here? There are modes of other scales as well.
@locket
He is explaining HOW the modes were created, and they are created off of C major.
Each note can have a different mode based on its scale degree.
Scale degree is not an interval, it is the NUMBER that note falls in the scale
The degree that note is in the scale will be the mode that is played.
When E is the root, it gets Mode 1, F gets mode 2, G gets mode 3, etc…
E is the first degree
F is the 2nd degree
G is the 3rd degree
@howard ye it confused me im not sure why hes written it like that… I put the whole lesson in because I thought i might be missing something in my explanation
Thanks Joreg, I was rushing, but when I started counting sharps and flats, I decided to leave the notes without sharps and flats, as to not further confuse the situation.
But yes, C is not actually in A major, because that mode has C#
As others have elaborated on, the G major scale must start on a G. If you take the notes of the G major scale and start on the C, then this is called C lydian (with the characteristic #4). And so on…
Either we don’t know the entire context of what Mark was trying to say, or it is simply a mistake.
Yeah I am pretty sure it is a mistake or Mark is explaining something in a way we’re not getting here. It’s starting on Mode 4 (Lydian) but it is labeled as Mode 1.