The Modes Ranked by Brightness

Comparing scales and tonalities by their relative brightness can be a far more objective and useful way to conceptualise music. The seven modes of the major scale offer a fantastic range of brightnesses to choose from. In today's video I'll be working my way through the modal sprectrum and demonstrating some classic examples of modal writing as I go, including 'Uptown Funk', 'Mad World', 'Yoda's Theme', 'The Force Theme', 'Wherever I May Roam' and plenty more.
And an extra special thanks goes to Daniel Long & Paul Peijzel, the channel’s Patreon saints! 😇
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My analysis of the Locrian mode in 'Dust to Dust': • Does Locrian Create Au...
Why is major "Happy"? by Adam Neely: • Why is major "happy?"
Leonard Bernstein on Modes: • Video

[@jakubciecwierz9380]

*Locrian mode* : is unusable because it's too dark *Black metal bands* : this must be it!

[@akumayoxiruma]

Björk loves it, and so do I. It is so fun.

[@LautloseLebwerwurst3000]

One could guess, yes. But a lot of extreme metal (if not atonal) actually uses phrygian or phrygian dominant rather than locrian. SOAD however has a couple of songs in super locrian on their first album (I know they're not black metal but at least somewhat metalish)

[@LautloseLebwerwurst3000]

I guess the reason is what David has already mentioned, namely that tendency of the phrygian scale to make downward melodies sound so natural and at the same time dark and tense. Which I suppose might be the case because phrygian still has the perfect fifth over it's tonic which the locrian mode doesn't have, therefore there's no interval between the locrian model's tonic and any other scale degree that makes you think "wow this must be the tonic, it just sounds so natural to end there". The superlocrian however is basically the 7th mode of the melodic minor scale, even if you end on it's second degree, it still doesn't sound majorish as it does with the regular locrian. So if you end on the melodic minor tonic and move a semi tone down, this shift into a darker side of the scale doesn't feel as forced as it does with locrian. At least that's what I think, though there's definitely ways to make the locrian work, but the super locrian is easier to handle if you're not am experienced composer in my opinion (even though it doesn't have the perfect fifth either)

[@jakubciecwierz9380]

@@LautloseLebwerwurst3000 Thanks for your remark. I am currently trying to create kind of dark/sad melody but I haven't figured how to apply it into my song yet and I am searching for advices in music theory and it is a bit complicated. Thanks for comment anyway :)

[@LautloseLebwerwurst3000]

@@jakubciecwierz9380 Do you have a chord progression and/or lyrics to that melody? If so, why don't you send it and I will try to give you some ideas on how to write a melody over that progression? I think if you're new to music theory a little input from others can be helpful to get a better overview of the options one has when composing

[@danielmanicolo6794]

Locrian mode only useful for song about the joys of grave digging...

[@aaronmedeiros848]

Its execution is difficult, Pink Floyd has of Locrain and extreme dissonance in the song the controls for the heart of the sun.

[@clemensmoeller4549]

The only places I've heard it sounding normal is in some metal songs. The shortest straw by metallica seems to be in locrian for large parts.

[@danielamdurer1779]

@@aaronmedeiros848 Isn't that actually Phrygian?

[@joesmee997]

Clemens Moeller even then the tonic is played with a 5th so it’s not pure locrian

[@clemensmoeller4549]

@@joesmee997 Yeah that's true, sorry I forgot about that. The song just came to mind because they use a lot of b1 and b5 notes. Powerchords (fifths) on electric guitar are often just used to make single notes sound "bigger". Guess that's why I didn't immediately notice it to be the fifth of the tonic, instead of a note that makes E sound stronger. But you're right, thanks for clarifying.

[@andrewdevine3920]

Binary Sunset is actually in the Midichlorian mode.

[@Graham_M]

LMAO

[@matteframe]

Oh boy.. Star Wars music theory humor 😆😇

[@monkeybusiness673]

Hahahahaha!

[@sschmidtevalue]

Hahaha! 😄

[@ieuanphillips4963]

Lol

[@bonecanoe86]

The modes as weather: Lydian: A very sunny day, almost too sunny Major: A pleasantly sunny day Mixolydian: A mostly sunny day with a few clouds Dorian: A mostly cloudy way with a few breaks for the sun to peak through Minor: Completely overcast, light rain Phrygian: Heavy, cold rain is falling Locrian: The rain is how hail.

[@jackthesmoltangerine]

Aka, the seven types of weather in Michigan

[@namibia584]

Super Locrian: A flooding

[@ferudunatakan]

@@namibia584Lydian augmented: Toooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo sunny day

[@chaoticlife3670]

Lydian augmented: oh we're.. on the sun

[@MrPromethium0157]

@@chaoticlife3670 Aka Mild LA summer day

[@nickmendens76]

As a non musician I find your Star Wars references to be pivotal to understanding

[@chad2687]

hahaha mood, even as a musician it helps ;)

[@hailstunes]

mandalocrian

[@robbiehorn7690]

ItzBroccoli I appreciate you and your pun more than I appreciate my loved ones

[@misguided_ghost]

@@hailstunes hahaha! that’s genius

[@bonbonpony]

Now I wonder where's Sith music on this scale :J

[@rohanm8526]

No need to apologise for doing "technical" videos - lots of us are interested and can follow. They're the only ones I watch, so thanks for this.

[@Ignasimp]

Yes more technical videos please!

[@lonewaer]

I didn't find this too technical or hard to follow. Obviously I'm gonna forget everything, notably which intervals to alter in order to get which mode, which is the whole point, but this spectrum and explanation look like very useful, short, resources for untrained composers -also obviously it's better to be trained. Also now there's kind of a challenge, too…

[@ryanlea750]

Yeah technical videos, i play harmonica and have been playing long enough that this makes sense. And need to understand more of it. You will not find videos that are like this for the instrument, though people are doing it.

[@danno9299]

me: i need to do this essay also me: mode tier list

[@Alberto-ny7kf]

@@checkYVELLUAP sorry but phrygian and mixolydian is B minimum

[@MrUtah1]

​@@Alberto-ny7kfexactly. As dark as they may sound, they still go hard

[@anrylstudios]

Me: looks at C Major Also me: let us brighten it by only sharpening c *ACCIDENTALLY CREATES C# SUPER LOCRIAN*

[@thegreatestshenfan6484]

*_S H I T_*

[@daddywhetz]

I laughed so hard at this. It also made me felt nerdy af hahahaha

[@ItsMeVolatility]

I love this comment. Gave me a good laugh

[@lewisbean4250]

Hey sharpen the first note of Mixolydian and tell me how it goes!

[@tiles2048]

Accidentally creates D melodic minor

[@figgsboson]

Thought the thumbnail said "moral spectrum" at first and I was like yea I guess bruno mars is an okay guy

[@yuhgetintoit3190]

does Bruno Mars is moral?

[@airconditioningunit9777]

@@yuhgetintoit3190 what

[@b.luong2]

@@airconditioningunit9777 *does Bruno Mars is moral?*

[@airconditioningunit9777]

@@b.luong2 *what?*

[@zynel413]

@@airconditioningunit9777 *DOES BRUNO MARS IS MORAL?*

[@ChrisKennedyChris]

Here's a couple fun things: The scale degrees that are altered to get brighter and darker aren't arbitrary - they are based on the circle of fifths. With C as the center, the notes you flatten as you get darker: Mixolydian - Bb Dorian - Eb Aeolian - Ab Phrygian - Db Locrian - Gb Ok.. so let's keep going around the circle. We just flattened G to Gb. What is a 5th down from G? C Hmmm, ok, so let's flat the root, I guess?? This will be next level darkness! Cb Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb Let's respell that enharmonically... B C# D# E# F# G# A# Also known as... B lydian!! Ergo... The difference between lydian and locrian is one note: the root note! I guess you could call it the Circle of Modes or the Lydian-Locrian Singularity. 🤯 Now try following the circle of 5ths to "brighten" lydian and see what you get.

[@txcy8941]

What I've noticed while messing with this is we can do the same trick with flattening the root for any of the modes: If you start with C Super Locrian, flattening the root creates B major. If you start with C Locrian, flattening the root creates B Lydian as you mentioned. If you start with C Phrygian, flattening the root creates B Super-Lydian aka B Lydian augmented. If you start with C Aeolian (C Minor), flattening the root creates a scale with the intervals 3H-H-W-W-H-W-H. I don't know what this is called and I couldn't find anything about it online, so maybe someone here can help me figure out what to call it. It is similar to the B altered/super-locrian scale, but the 5th and 6th degree are raised a half-step. It sounds mysterious, but not as dark and creepy as B altered. Following the pattern as we have gone form major to Lydian to Super-Lydian, would this be B Super-Super-Lydian? B Hyper-Lydian? Let's keep going. If you start with C Dorian, flattening the root creates a scale with the intervals 3H-H-W-W-W-H-H. B Triple-Super-Lydian? It sounds pretty similar to the previous one. Next, C Mixolydian. Flatten the C and we get the intervals 3H-W-H-W-W-H-H. We're 4 modes above Lydian now, and this one sounds really interesting and different from Triple-Super-Lydian, because we changed the third degree. It sounds really bright now and the first 4 notes make a really cool pattern. Finally, C major. I suppose the pattern stops here because we already have a B in the scale, so lowering the C to a B no longer creates 7 intervals. In other words, starting with B major, if we try to sharpen everything, we can't because sharpening the 7th just gives us the root.

[@ThePredatorYT-kl9dr]

Chris Kennedy Actually... C mixolydian: F Major C Dorian: Bb Major C minor: Eb Major C Phrygian: Ab Major C locrian: Db Major C Lydian: G Major

[@Wind-nj5xz]

@@txcy8941 Similarly, you can also use that same logic to go darker, since the only difference between lydian and locrian is the root and so is the only difference between super locrian and major, you can go darker by flattening the 7th in super locrian just like mixolydian flattens the 7th in major, that would give you a scale called ultra locrian, if you flatten the third just like dorian does compared to mixolydian, you get ultra locrian bb3, and if you flatten the 6th just like aeolian does compared to dorian you get ultra locrian bb2 bb6, and that's as dark as you can go really because if you kept going you'd have a bb2 wich would just give you the root

[@anthonyspare]

wowzers, you have opened a new gate for me.

[@lolwhatever7307]

Damn, this comment just completed my modes puzzle

[@verchojanskij]

What I really like about this way of puting the modes on a darker-brighter scale, is that dorian is perfectly in the middle. So you can say that Dorian is Gray ? It also happens to be my name, that's why I like to point this out.

[@nuncanadie331]

😄

[@LFiles48]

@@nuncanadie331 "Dorian can also create a sense of bittersweet sadnes". Touché, David (it's my first name too)

[@richardrichard5409]

Birds Of A Feather....

[@pablojlascano8322]

another peculiarity of dorian mode: a palindrome, exact same structure from top to bottom, bottom to top...

[@abbesatty9498]

@@pablojlascano8322 Yeah, every single one of the 7 modes mirrors another mode except the Dorian, it's like, "Nah, I'm fine, I will just go and mirror myself".

[@olonowak663]

Expert: Locrian is unusable, it's too dark and unsettling Me: *cries in metal*

[@EllisThings]

I sharpened all the notes so Db major is the brightest scale. No wait...

[@clipsmasterproductions7479]

EllisThings lol 😂

[@otemachi4317]

Make it efficient, make it halftone up.

[@rabbitguy337]

EllisThings E makor

[@uilium]

Hey, that's not righ... No wait....

[@filipilif]

Db has 5 flats, if you sharpen all the notes you get C# major - obviously it sounds the same but the technicality itself is funny :)

[@MemeSnack]

"Mad World is in the key of F" *Oh yeah, it's all coming together.*

[@rainofficial1924]

😅😅

[@jpizzleforizzle]

Nice Kronk reference.

[@nhatanhnguyenang3638]

fuqinazhole stonks

[@commentfreely5443]

except the F is Fm

[@clownworldhereticmyron1018]

H o l y s h i t

[@leemurray9330]

Ukulele player here and OH MY GOODNESS this is the actual best explanation of the way modes work I've ever seen. I finally understand it.

[@notsilvi]

basic people: minor is sad!!! major is happy! me: *laughs in Polish traditional music*

[@rize12dz37]

oooh hi silvi

[@notsilvi]

@@rize12dz37 hiii

[@zaczus]

oj, tak!

[@jorgek92]

Cumbia is mostly in minor and it is danceable and happy

[@hergergy]

what a surprise to see you here!

[@gregoryhenry8464]

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for adding examples when you talk about the scales.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

You’re welcome!

[@lividphysics1237]

Watching Bernstein sing The Kinks really threw me off.

[@zebratangozebra]

Kinks had some great stuff

[@matteframe]

Watching a bunch of 10 year olds getting excited about it made me sad for children today who don't even learn music theory in an average school.

[@fearitselfpinball8912]

I know. It’s funny how Bernstein plays a few bars and is like - see nothing mysterious here - just good old Mixolydian mode! (Sounds absolutely appalling and nothing like the kinks)... This is where theory, in reducing a problem down to it’s most fundamental components fails miserably. (Which I find fascinating). It’s like trying to understand why humans fall in love by starting with an X-Ray Machine. Science is on his side and Bernstein’s got the bare bones of the problem but in reality, most of it has escaped him.

[@AndrusPr8]

Locrian is fantastic to use of you want to compose battle music since its so tenseful! The only problem I find myself is constantly going home since my ear tries to leave to another scale instinctively

[@bigbirdmusic8199]

From my understanding a diminished triad can resolve to I think 3 or 4 different keys depending on whether or not its a dim7 so that makes sense

[@rageprod]

You forgot the best use of dorian: epic and inspiring sounding fantasy music. Rohan and Gondor's themes (LOTR) are some good examples.

[@fennglordd6365]

Dorian has a nice antiquated flavor and it is a palindrome. The bottom half of a Dorian is a mirror of the top half

[@gknipe]

Some of the LOTR score is in Lothlorian mode.

[@catherinereason5374]

@@gknipe ok funny guy

[@jojoyear]

Ugh. 🤮

[@c3nturin896]

just the end of "exist" from avenged sevenfold made me really consider this mode more because of how great it sounded.

[@stefan1024]

Bernstein freakin' out to the Kinks made my day! :D

[@Brillemeister]

You've inspired me to attempt writing a song in Super Locrian. Nice going. God bless

[@Masdylon]

It's just the altered scale. You can use it over any dominant chord in any song and it will work. Jazz players have been doing it for decades.

[@jonadabtheunsightly]

Bonus points if you can pull off a convincing parade march in super locrian.

[@johnbobbypringle]

I have been playing piano for 20 years and only found out about modes last night when my friend doing a bachelor's in music told me about them. He didn't understand it very well and was seeking my help but after he showed me a small bit, I was able to help him understand it by applying my knowledge of the major and minor modes to them. I feel like I wrote a hundred new songs today. I'm watching this video now and it's just overwhelming. How have I missed this? Has it been a secret?

[@kubaj8397]

Lydian: Dreamy, Wonderful Major: Happy, Uplifting Mixolydian: Nostalgic Dorian: Melancholic Minor: Sad Phrygian: Evil Locrian: Dark

[@RohannvanRensburg]

Interesting how different people interpret that. Could just as easily be: Lydian: Mysterious, whimsical Major: Safe, happy Mixolydian: Adventurous Dorian: Regal, sombre, proud Minor: Melancholic Phrygian: Exotic, otherworldly Locrian: Tense, foreboding

[@legato29]

@@RohannvanRensburg This is exactly how I interpret them too (especially mixolydian=adventure).

[@piadas804]

Locrian is evil because of diminished tonic

[@ninj-as7710]

What about the blues scale?

[@RohannvanRensburg]

@@ninj-as7710 Just sounds like blues to me 😂

[@victorhugotoledocofre1366]

Mr. Bernstein's final speech left me hanging on a cliff and wanting for more

[@DavidBennettPiano]

go watch the whole lecture! It's linked in the description.

[@leocomerford]

Here you go: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4jXhnZ3jrtmqdE . (While we're at it, here's the whole of "What is a Mode?" together in a playlist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3i3hZKMgJeejLs .)

[@scriabinismydog2439]

Ah, the Bernstein lectures are the greatest I've ever watched.

[@StratMatt777]

@@leocomerford Thanks, Leo!

[@felipemeirelles1816]

It was a Locrian end, urges for resolution

[@Zurbagan001]

It is the best explanation of scales I have ever seen.

[@Th3Cr0ss1ng]

You should also check out Signals Music Studio, Jake Lizzio does a really good job too

[@sskuk1095]

Locrian music: *exists* Metal musicians: Why do I hear boss music?

[@OneRadicalDreamer]

I'm a musical newbie and I've been slowly learning my scales, but lordy you are a fantastic teacher! Being able to visually, metaphorically and audibly present it all so concisely is a real treat!

[@hiiambarney4489]

The audacity to play binary sunset TWICE without it's melodic resolution... I had to unsub twice... Which means I'm subbed now... GOD DAMN YOU!

[@littlelamb2112]

😂

[@eliasmg9144]

Melodic resolution's overrated

[@Loreleeh]

😂🤣🤣🤣

[@laurenzpelster2499]

This Dorian "i-IV" might be my favorite combination of two chords. Also found in Earth Song by Michael Jackson or Breath by Pink Floyd.

[@deliusmyth5063]

Do you like the theme from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly?

[@DavidBennettPiano]

It's 'the dorian vamp'... basically the whole dorian scale summed up in two chords!

[@deliusmyth5063]

David Bennett Piano I always think of Dorian in terms of the chords: Heard It Through The Grapevine, She's Not There, Walk On By etc ( and disco, of course!).

[@kkzj72]

Good Times

[@AlexKnauth]

And I really like how that Dorian "i-IV" is used in the Rohan theme from LotR, and Rey's theme from Star Wars

[@SillyWillyFan47]

Your brightness / darkness image perfectly encapsulates how we feel about the different modes. Love your Synesthesia-like use of *light* to illustrate *sound*

[@jukes4499]

Thank you so much for this. Other videos just talk about how a mode is constructed. Knowing what their actual uses are is truly empowering as a musician. Now I know *why* a song would use notes "outside" the key it's in.

[@objectivitycave11]

As some one who Doesn’t understand theory at all.. thank you. This made Sense

[@robinchesterfield42]

Now I'm sitting here trying to figure out how many songs I've known forever are actually in modes with names I've never heard of until now, and WHICH ones they're in... I mean, my dumb un-musically educated brain is just like "Duh, song had half-step instead of full step! Song must be minor!" a lot of the time. :P

[@objectivitycave11]

@@robinchesterfield42 when johnny comes marching home is dark. check out the locrian scale.. it is one of my favorite melodies for living in this satanic kingdom of lies, rape and murder

[@jonnybuijze1770]

This reads like slam poetry

[@Xplayer007]

But what about super-ultra-hyper-mega-meta-lydian? :P

[@DavidBennettPiano]

I was actually thinking about this when I was writing the script! If I made the spectrum long enough for that scale though it wouldn't fit into the dimensions of a youtube video!

[@rarebeeph1783]

tfw so bright you have sharpened octaves

[@toodsf1]

Pretty difficult to compare when S-U-H-M-M-Lydian doesn’t repeat at the octave, basically a 48-note scale 😂. Can’t belong to any key either. I think it’s mostly a harmonic tool, nothing to stop ya using it like a scale tho I guess ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@MaladyKayjo]

Xplayer007 that would be sickening

[@littlefishbigmountain]

Jayjay McFly I believe Jacob Collier coined the term

[@SimplyNotReally]

Youve got a great channel man. Ive been binging the time signature and modal videos all day because you have such a great way of explaining these topics. Cheers!

[@alberto23]

This video is superb... Even brighter than a Lydyan augmented mode scale. Amazing good examples of the modes also. Thanks!

[@fabiangutierrez339]

Hello, I'm some non-musician who thinks only in terms of closed-minded "happy" and "sad." Here are my conclusions: Lydian Augmented - Oh my God I'm drunk... Lydian - Actual Happiness Ionian - Empty Happiness Mixolydian - Kinky Dorian - Sentimental Minor - Kinda Sad Phrygian - Completely Depressed Locrian - Psychotic Super Locrian - I feel like killing somebody...

[@KickenItOldSchool]

I think you nailed it except for Phrygian is actually more brooding, but it does depend how the song is using it

[@kylieisaloser144]

kinky lmfao

[@matteframe]

Lol nice

[@blazicgd]

“Hmmm kinky!”

[@redhotlizard2636]

I guess that would make Super Locrian bb7's description "Full Blown Psychopath."

[@ClipofTheDayy]

All the way on the right is the : Whole tone scale.

[@babykano69]

Major pentatonic is the brightest, prove me wrong

[@chrisjfox8715]

Conan Obrien

[@yarlodek5842]

The whole tone scale could either be absolutely horrific like a slow decent into hell, or like that music that plays before a character has a flashback. It just depends on if you play it ascending or descending.

[@SpartanLaserCanon]

Melodic Minor always created mysterious and wonder kind of vibes no matter when it has been played lol.

[@loyalegan9501]

Honestly I just love how you make all of this so clear and then illustrate how it works in practice, its effects, etc. Love it!

[@Dack105]

Your flattening/sharping of presumably random notes in the scale to get each new scale is not a great way of explaining it. If you sharpen the second note of a major you don't get a brighter sound. The way you're ordering the modes is by their construction. Each of the seven modes is built on a series of 5ths. Lydian is a series of 5ths ascending from the tonic ( [C] G D A E B F# ) Ionian (Major) is 5 ascending, and 1 descending (F [C] G D A E B) Aolian (Minor) is 2 ascending, and 4 descending (Ab Eb Bb F [C] G D)

[@wickedmonroe]

True

[@amj.composer]

Well said

[@austinmoser5056]

Just like if you were to sharpen the 7th degree in minor, your would get harmonic minor which is way darker than minor

[@faustobrusamolino6345]

The other way of finding a scale brightness in relation to another one is to play all the major scale modes, until completely internalizing them, and then create your own darkest to brightest sequence simply by using your ears.

[@beatrixwickson8477]

Except they aren't random, the notes being altered is the circle or fifths. Starting from C Lydian, lower F#, then B, then E, then A, then D then G to get Locrian. The question I have is how do you compare two scales with the same brightness? Dorian, Double harmonic and Neapolitan Major all have the same brightness but sound very different. So is there a subtler distinction in brightness or another continuum upon which to arrange them?

[@ClassicalGuitarcia]

What’s amazing about this is that the brightness scale directly correlates to the whole/half step patterns of the scales. the scales with retrograde step patterns are exactly the same distance away from the center (Dorian) as their inverse scale eg. locrian/Lydian, Phrygian/Ionian, mixolydian/aeolian. Dorian having no inverse being the neutral scale

[@jonadabtheunsightly]

Dorian does have an inverse. It's dorian.

[@positivegradient]

Ah, so dorian is a palindrome and hence the 'central' mode

[@emoakland5339]

I thoroughly enjoyed your videos on modes. You’ve presented modes in a practical way that is easy to understand. Thank you very much.

[@janesmith9628]

I loved this. Not only a great visual explanation showing the spectrum, but fantastic to hear the examples. Thanks !!

[@dougsteeleguitar]

You rock. Trent Reznor uses a lot of Mixolydian for vocal lines, and I like to think of dorian as 'cool blues'. It's so nice that you gave a shoutout to another KZbinr. You're all class!! Subbed.

[@charlesreynolds2694]

The Locrian mode or its chord the “minor 7 flat 5” is used all the time in Jazz just not necessarily in pop and rock. It’s normally used in a 7-3-6 progression and you can also use the “Locrian natural 2” scale over the 7 as well for a “brighter Locrian sound” lol!

[@moses9647]

I often consider the minor 7 flat 5 as a negative harmony chord sub for the V7. Or perhaps a Locrian modal interchange. In either sense I think it'd be rare to find a song rooted firmly in Locrian mode, even a jazz song. But I'm slowly transitioning from classical to jazz so there's still lots for me to learn

[@bsharpmajorscale]

Never did I think I'd hear Leonard Bernstein sing "You Really Got Me." Also, is part of the opening of JJBA Part 4 (Great Days) in Dorian?

[@SamuelPeckman]

You have thrown light on this subject. Thank you.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Pun intended?

[@elietheprof5678]

You can also look at it on the circle of fifths: Lydian: root note + the next 6 fifths upward of the root Ionian: root note + 5 fifths upward, 1 fifth below Mixolydian: root + 4 fifths upward, 2 fifths below Dorian: root + 3 upward, 3 below (symmetrical) Aeolian: root + 2 upward, 4 below Phrygian: root + 1 upward, 5 below Locrian: root + 6 below Super Locrian: pattern is broken

[@NagoyaHouseHead]

Wow, so the Dorian really is the the most balanced mode !

[@thisisnotmyname4700]

Can someone please explain this to me?

[@thisisnotmyname4700]

Nevermind, got it. 😊

[@smaradav_]

@@thisisnotmyname4700 actually I'm still not getting it hah so if you could explain that would be fantastic!

[@thisisnotmyname4700]

@@smaradav_ Haha I had to revisit as I was confused again. Ok so they are saying that the 'scale' you use for each mode is as above. Pick any key then count. Say C. Lydian will have C, G, D, A, E, B, and F#. Just following the fifths around the circle. Does that make sense? That is the same as saying C, D, E, F#, G, A, B. Or saying Lydian is raised fourth.

[@kenhymes4900]

When I teach modes for pop composition and part writing, i call Ionian Bright Major, Dorian Bright Minor, Mixolydian Dark Major, and Aeolian Dark Minor. Aside from the increased use of harmonic minor since the 90s, these four modes and interchange between them cover the vast majority of progressions. Great channel, so much theory writing and presentation is just impractical and... theoretical. You are consistently on target about what's going on in an applicable fashion.

[@thomasbrindle7308]

Thank YOU SOO MUCH DAVID!! This makes things SO much easier to understand, after ive been learning the wrong way for ages!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

I’m glad it was helpful Thomas!

[@Ihatemyusernamemore]

Here's how I categorize the modes, according to the kind of impression I believe that mode is best for conveying generally in compositions, obviously there's exceptions to all of them Ionian- Euphoric Dorian- Chill Phrygian- Intense Lydian- Transcendent Mixolydian- Dreamy Aeolian- Epic Locrian-Murky I also visualize major modes as men, minor modes as women, and locrian as something that's half human half beast, this is more arbitrary but it helped me visualize them when I was learning the modes years back

[@aaronclift]

I would love to see a followup video in which you discuss the brightness/darkness of the melodic minor modes such as Dorian b2 and Lydian Dominant. P.S. That Leonard Bernstein demonstration of Myxolydian mode made me smile.

[@benjiantoniomarcano4956]

Incredible video, as a musician who missed out on a lot on music theory during school, this video really helped me learn a basic knowledge of modes that I've been missing for a long time. Thank you so much, keep making these videos!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

You're very welcome! At my school, modes were taught in a very dry manner... 100% theory, 0% application or examples!

[@guitarob]

This is brilliant. For years I've been trying to visualise what all these scales mean and you have done it in one video. Thanks so much for this and for all your other fascinating videos too.

[@isaachester8475]

This is the clearest amd most intuitive explanation of modes I’ve ever seen :) Thank you for this service!

[@luisd.alfaro9362]

Magnificent explanation. First time I see the relationship between the modes and their practical uses.

[@bsul03420]

An excellent perspective on the modes - many thanks, David.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Brian Sulway thanks 🙏

[@EROKOJR]

This is BY FAR the best explanation of the modes I've ever heard. Thanks so much 🙂

[@jamesh4521]

Your explanations digging into the why of things, like with the 7th degree of Mixolydian (or even this video as a whole) make you the best source for understanding theory that I've ever found. Thank you for all the great videos!

[@ianisaacs2340]

The most helpful resource I have ever found on modes! Thank you

[@darinahing4450]

Great video David, this approach to the modes is really helpful in thinking about how to express musical moods in actual notes.

[@stevenewsome7294]

The way you approach music is tremendous and inspiring. It helps unlock other avenues of expression. I apply these concepts to guitar. Thank you for sharing your gift

[@megaFIKUS]

This is a great explanation of modes, actually helped me finally starting to understand them and their uses, examples helped a lot as well, well done!

[@belguitars7102]

Fantastic video outlining a framework I was not aware of, this really helps me to conceptualise all the modal interaction, brilliant, keep up the great work!!!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Bill Pot you’re welcome 😊

[@jlbenj01]

Just subscribed. I loved the way you broke it down and how sharps and flats affect the moods of the modes. Up to now I’ve used the white note hack and transpose it back to the root. But this I can remember and will surely use.

[@boomieboo]

I LOVED this lesson. It was so clearly explained and illustrative. Thanks so much for doing it!

[@Petrvsco]

Have been struggling to understand modes in a practical way. This video was like a key to parts of my own brain. Just brilliant dude. It took me many repeats and pauses while I tried things on my own but it was the best hour of music theory I had this year.

[@awsinger1]

I get shivers down my spine when you explain these things!

[@alogentforbin7190]

very excited to find out what super locrian is

[@oneeyemonster3262]

it's just the 7th mode of the melodic min scale...loc b4... the ion #4,#5 is just the 3rd mode of the melodic min scale. YOu can go like this...Push UP from A min towards A MAJOR. b3, b6, b7 b3, b6 Harmonic min G# b3 Melodic min F#, G# b3 #4 Melodic min #4 D# F# G# b6 Harmonic MAJOR C# b3, b5 b6 Harmonic min b5 Eb, G# b2, b3 b6 Harmonic min b2 Bb, G# b3, #4, b6 Harmonic min #4 D#, G# b2, b3 Melodic min b2 Bb, F#, G# b3, b5 Melodic min b5 Eb, F#, G# Ion #6 That's the A # note. A MAJOR C#, F#, G# You can also reverse the process...Push DOWN from C MAJOR towards min Use the 5 BLACKs on the keyboard to guide you. b6 = Harmonic MAJOR b3 = Melodic min b3, b6 = Harmonic min b3, b6, b7 = Natural min b3, #4 b3, b5 b2, b3 b2, b3, b6 b3, b5, b6 b3, #4 b6 it'll give 70-ea different MODES ( INTERVALS) 7 notes scales...variations. They had to term them something....I wasnt alive or greek at the time. I personally dont care what you term it..as long you know what the intervals are....Think of me as an eskimo..that dosnt speak, greek, english, german. french. chinese, spanish, french, italian...ect

It's just the altered scale. You can think of it as all tones of the major scale flatted, except for 1. There you go.

[@oneeyemonster3262]

@ you could go like this too. Aeo Maj7 = harmonic min dor maj7 = Melodic min phry maj7 = harmonic min b2 mix maj7 = ionian loc Maj7 = Mix #2 The only different between dorian and aeo is maj6 or b6 dor b2 maj7 dor #4 maj7 dor b5 Maj7 aeo b2 maj7 aeo #4 Maj7 aeo b5 Maj7 if you play Harmonic min b5 and Melodic min b5 ( b6 and maj6) it's the Full diminished WHOLE/Half it;s 4th mode is Lydian dominant b2 or dorian b2, #4 ( Both) b3 and Maj3 Which is FULL DIMINISHED HALF/WHOLE. Becuase it's SYMMETRICALS. or inverted 4th/5th Play the BOTH over the SAME ROOT. lol or if you start with the full dim whole/half.. You could play the lydian dominant b2 ...with b3 and maj3 over the 2. 4, b6, 7 chord degree or if you start the with full dim HALF/WHOLE you could play the harmonic min b5/ with maj6 b2, 3, 5, b7 or 3, 5, b7, b9....note/chord degree...lol The N6 harmonic min b2 or melodic min b2 will make more sense.. from A min.....i could play A lydian b3 ( possible dimished) A min....C dim in C# min/E MAJOR once in C# min....play D7 E7 into A min again.lmao That's applying the (N6) or D maj7 E7 F# min/A Major A harmonic MAJOR = D min/dim E7 A Harmonic min = Dmin/dim E7 Or you could had played... A min B dim C# dim into D min ( melodic min) But what if I DID NOT TELL you that... and simply played into the D min chord.... or even do this, Amin, Bb maj7, B dim CMaj C# aug D min, Eb MAj E dim F Maj F# dim G Maj. G# dim into A min ????? lol G7 ( mix #4) A7 ( mix b6) into D min if you play Mix b6 with maj7 its just A HARMONIC MAJOR :-P or after you play the D min chord..You could had just play the Eb Maj7 chord to C MINOR G7 into C MAJOR or C min...works. but it's going to make all the sense in the world how you can basically play whatever chords over all 12 note degree and still be in C MAJOR/Amin.lol All 12 notes WORK.

[@GodFirstnl]

Haha had the same

[@oneeyemonster3262]

@@GodFirstnl it's just the loc b4... all that means is jazz head playing it 1, b4, b7...omitng the b5. Then stacking the b9 on top... or 1, b4, b6 ( augmented) You could just play the phry b4...if you wanna play the 5th..fukkk it just play both ( modulate) so you'll have the tritone as a passing/option note. or you could just play the Mix #2, #4...alter them bicthes like this 1, 3, 5, b7 or 1, #2, 5, b7....or 1, #2, #4 or 1, #2. #4, 6 or 1, #2, #4, b7 You also get this loc b4, bb6, bb7 :-P This way the C# MAJOR (VII) will make sense to ya when you play A7 into D min..Then C # Maj , Bb min, G min C7 into F MAJOR...in What a wonderful world by Louis Armstrong. You could play the G min as G7 it'll just be the IV ( mix #4) of D melodic min ..Play G7 into C7 into F MAJOR..( II, IV, I) The II chord had been alter to a dominant or Major. The beatles did it all the time.. It donst have to be jazz Just in a different KEYs When you play STAIRWAY to HEAVEN..the second chord in the song. The G# AUGMENTED is borrow from A melodic min...or notes from the G# loc b4..The b3 is stack on top

[@10freekie2]

So cool to finally understand mad world! It always intrigued me and now i get why. Stay technical David 😊 we love it

[@wavelength3856]

Superb video; I absolutely love the way you play relevant music to the point you're trying to make and painstakingly note which notes are used and where so that laymen like myself can understand what's really making a note or chord "pop' in a certain way. Thanks!!

[@martynkentfrancis]

Really useful quick reference and easy to understand guide. Best explanation of modes I’ve heard 🙏

[@sc6155]

"So hello and goodbye to the Locrian mode." lmao 😂

[@hi_im_ALLYSE]

This might be the most useful breakdown of the modes I’ve ever seen. Thank you!

[@cosmosinspiredproduction6850]

This was great! I had really no conception about any of these modes and now I understand that they are modes that are outside of the classic major and minor scales. Even better, I now understand how they fit into a spectrum that is super easy to understand. Thank you!

[@yvanspijk]

Great video once again! I love the way you explain things. Looking forward to your next video!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks!

[@chrishb7074]

Excellent, thank you.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

you're welcome!

[@cmenacez8748]

This video’s answered a question I’ve been asking myself for a long time. Thanks!!!

[@erikjohnson2976]

Absolutely fantastic overview of modes; in face, the best I've ever come across. Many thanks, sir.

[@xboxTVgames]

You are the most professional musician KZbinr out there. Subscribed because of your professionalism and your teaching method, thank you for making music easier to understand! Cheers x

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thank you! That means a lot 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@EugenePanfilov]

Oh, now it all makes sense and seems like I'm starting to understand (or even remember) most of those modes. Thank you SO much!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Eugene Panfilov 🙂🙂🙂🙂

[@scottall71]

Love your technical music videos! You have laid out all of these music concepts in a great way using practical examples (excellent Star Wars references!) As a guitarist of over 20 years, never was able to understand how these modes & scales are used. I mean, playing straight pentatonic major your entire life can give some enjoyment, but you are really showing the incredible world of sound in your presentations.

[@andirichards7149]

Well done! Thank you for the examples with the different scales!

[@tomostinato2918]

Modes simplified. Brilliant!

[@RievenRast]

Very educational video! Thank you!

[@alexwalli]

Man thank you so much for this! Looking at modes like this is incredibly useful and so easy to use at the same time as you just wander around the circle of fifths while staying on the tonic. I never could wrap my head around modes. All this altering the starting point on the scale nonsense... Finally something that makes sense! Beautiful!

[@MarcoZehe]

Thank you so much for this! These videos you create are so educational, yet so easy to understand and follow, that it is a real joy.

[@on_certainty]

this explains why a song i'm writing sounds too saccharine when i go from phrygian to major suddenly, but i now realize that it will work as an ending release!

[@BenedictGS]

this is my personal memo from my understanding circle of fifth and mode and scale C lydian ~ G major G mixolydian ~ C major Flydian ~ Cmajor A minor~C major This feels like magic

[@goobiusthetrafficcone1438]

I think about them the same way but I have something to add e phrygian - c major

[@sneekinaboutom9450]

What a superb video! Thank you very much indeed! I'd say this is the best video on modes I have come across on KZbin...

[@neilblack6265]

Clearest description I have ever heard of the modes and relations to Major / Minor. Thank you

[@baronmorris]

Brilliantly explained. Thank you so much. ♥️

[@billjohnson6300]

Great lesson! Thank you David.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Bill Johnson 🙏🙏

[@ClueFinderDirtDigger]

This has never made more sense to me than it does right now. Thank you so much for your detailed explanation. 😍

[@stephencolemusic]

One of the best videos on modes that I’ve ever seen!

[@emilianocarlucci2428]

Great video! Real life exemples let us understand better the sound of modes. Thanks again

[@rjmarlow8229]

This video was so interesting and helpful. Thank you!

[@musikheller3452]

I think for a long time I havent seen such a good and proficient (as well as didactically as technical) video about music theory and modes in specific! Bravooooo!!! And thanks mate!

[@redlab3488]

You nailed the subject. You explain the why as well as the how whereas others are just descriptive. Brilliant!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

🙏 thank you!