Music theory games > Lessons > Pitch of sounds > Modes > Modern Western modes

Modern Western modes

Names of modern Western modes comes from ancient Greek music theory but it is the only similarity between them.

Abbreviations used in this article:


W = Whole step
H = Half step


T = Tone
S = Semitone

Ionian mode

Interval sequence :
W-W-H-W-W-W-H
T-T-S-T-T-T-S

Note: All major scales are in fact transpositions of the Ionian mode.

Dorian mode

Interval sequence :
W-H-W-W-W-H-W
T-S-T-T-T-S-T

Phrygian mode

Interval sequence :
H-W-W-W-H-W-W
S-T-T-T-S-T-T

Lydian mode

Interval sequence :
W-W-W-H-W-W-H
T-T-T-S-T-T-S

Mixolydian mode

Interval sequence :
W-W-S-W-W-S-W
T-T-S-T-T-S-T

Aeolian mode

Interval sequence :
W-H-W-W-H-W-W
T-S-T-T-S-T-T

Note: All minor natural scales are in fact transpositions of the Aeolian mode.

Locrian mode

Interval sequence :
H-W-W-H-W-W-W
S-T-T-S-T-T-T

Transpositions off modern Western modes

Transposed Dorian mode

Interval sequence :
W-H-W-W-W-H-W
T-S-T-T-T-S-T

Transposed Phrygian mode

Interval sequence :
H-W-W-W-H-W-W
S-T-T-T-S-T-T

Transposed Lydian mode

Interval sequence :
W-W-W-H-W-W-H
T-T-T-S-T-T-S

Transposed Mixolydian mode

Interval sequence :
W-W-H-W-W-H-W
T-T-S-T-T-S-T

Transposed Aeolian mode

Interval sequence :
W-H-W-W-H-W-W
T-S-T-T-S-T-T

Transposed Locrian mode

Interval sequence :
H-W-W-H-W-W-W
S-T-T-S-T-T-T

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External links :

1 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mode_(music)
2 - https://ledgernote.com/columns/music-theory/musical-modes-explained/
3 - https://www.dolmetsch.com/musictheory31.htm#modes

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