Jazz Modes

Modes were originally the precursors to scales in ancient greek music. In Jazz Theory, they pretty much follow along the same lines. If you think of a major scale and the steps which make up the major sound, imagine altering those steps to get different types of scales. These would be jazz modes. From the major scale, we can derive 7 jazz modes. These will be referred to as Major Jazz Modes, since other types of modes also exist. We’ll be using the C major scale as a point of reference.

The first mode we’ll consider is called Lydian.

This is the same as playing only they white keys on a piano from F to F. This only differs from the C major scale by having a #4.

The next mode is called Ionian.

This is the same as playing only the white keys on a piano from C to C, which makes it identical to the C major scale.

The next mode is called Mixolydian.

This is the same as playing only the white keys on a piano from G to G. This differs from the C major scale by having a b7.

The next mode is called Dorian.

This is the same as playing only the white keys on a piano from D to D. This differs from the C major scale by having a b7, and b3.

The next mode is called Aeolian.

This is the same as playing only the white keys on a piano from A to A. This differs from the C major scale by having a b7, b3, and b6. This is also the same as a natural minor scale.

The next mode is called Phrygian.

This is the same as playing only the white keys on a piano from E to E. This differs from the C major scale by having a b7, b3, b6, and b2.

The last mode is called Locrian.

This is the same as playing only the white keys on a piano from B to B. This differs from the C major scale by having a b7, b3, b6, b2, and b5.

This order of presenting modes shows how the modes go from:

1 # (Lydian)
0 # (Ionian)
1 b (Mixolydian)
2 b (Dorian)
3 b (Aeolian)
4 b (Phrygian)
5 b (Locrian)

Where # - sharp, b - flat

But, what does this all mean?

Basically, if you can play the modes in all 12 keys (these here were only represented in the key of C major), you will expand your ability to improvise because as long as you’re playing in a given key (for example C major), you can cycle through different modes and still be playing in the foundation of the key you’re in. You can play a variety of modes while in the same key. It’s like multiplying the amount of passages you can play.