Another Perspective
The modes can be grouped into two categories: major and minor. Thinking of them this way can also make it easier to use them.
Minor Modes
Looking at the minor modes as a group can be very useful. There are four minor modes: Dorian, Aeolian, Phrygian, and Locrian. Each one gets progressively darker.
| Dark | Dorian |
| Darker | Aeolian |
| Even darker | Phrygian |
| Darkest | Locrian |
Here’s another way of thinking about the minor modes. As the minor modes become progressively darker, a flatted note is added to create that sound.
♭=flatted
Major Modes
Ther e are three major modes: Mixolydian, Ionian, and Lydian. They follow a similar pattern as the minor ones: they get progressively brighter and looking at them as a group can be very helpful.
You can think of them this way:
| Bright | Mixolydian |
| Brighter | Ionian |
| Brightest | Lydian |
The major modes do not follow as neat a formula as the minor modes. But this chart does show how they are different.
♭=flatted, ♯=sharp
