Musical mode Facts for Kids

Modern Dorian mode on C

In music, modes are like different kinds of scales. Think of them as special musical "flavors" that give songs different feelings.

Long ago, the Ancient Greeks used several modes in their music. Later, musicians in the Middle Ages borrowed these names for the scales they used. Today, most Western music uses two main scales: the major scale and the minor scale. These are actually two of the ancient modes, called Ionian and Aeolian. Just like any other scale, a mode can start on any musical note.

How Modes Sound Different
The Seven Main Modes
Modes in History and Today
Images for kids
See also

How Modes Sound Different

Each mode has its own unique pattern of "tones" and "semitones" (also called "half tones"). A tone is like moving from C to D on a piano, and a semitone is like moving from E to F (or B to C).

The Western major scale (like C D E F G A B C) follows this pattern of steps between notes: tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone, semitone.
The Western natural minor scale (like A B C D E F G A) has a different pattern: tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone.

The Seven Main Modes

The easiest way to see the modes is by playing only the white notes on a piano keyboard. Each mode starts on a different white note but uses only white notes.

Ionian (C D E F G A B C): This is the same as the regular major scale. It often sounds bright and happy.
Dorian (D E F G A B C D): This mode sounds like a minor scale, but it has a slightly different "feel" because of one raised note. It's often used in jazz and folk music.
Phrygian (E F G A B C D E): This mode sounds like a minor scale but has a lowered second note. It can sound a bit mysterious or Spanish.
Lydian (F G A B C D E F): This mode sounds like a major scale but has a raised fourth note. It can sound dreamy or magical.
Mixolydian (G A B C D E F G): This mode sounds like a major scale but has a lowered seventh note. It's often heard in blues and rock music.
Aeolian (A B C D E F G A): This is the same as the regular natural minor scale. It often sounds sad or serious.
Locrian (B C D E F G A B): This mode sounds quite unusual and was rarely used in older music. It has a lowered second and a "diminished" fifth, which makes it sound unstable.

Modes in History and Today

The names of the modes come from cities in Ancient Greece.

During the Middle Ages, these modes were very common in church music. Many old hymns and chants use these different modal sounds.

Even today, some composers enjoy using these ancient modes in their music. You might also hear modes in folksongs. For example, the well-known tune "Greensleeves" is a great example of a song that uses a mode.