Music theory basics: how to understand musical modes and use them in your songwriting

Music theory basics: how to understand musical modes and use them in your songwriting

Learning Objectives

At the end of the lesson you will understand the concept of musical modes and how they are derived from the major scale.
At the end of the lesson you will be able to identify and construct the seven modes of the major scale.
At the end of the lesson you will recognize the characteristic sounds of different modes and their emotional impacts.
At the end of the lesson you will learn how to apply modes to your songwriting and music production.

What do you already know about musical modes and their relationship to the major scale?

Introduction to musical modes

Comparison to arpeggiator patterns

Understanding mode formation

Derivation from the major scale

The interval pattern of the major scale

Ionian mode: T-T-S-T-T-T-S

Characteristics and construction of Dorian mode

Dorian mode: T-S-T-T-T-S-T

Characteristics and construction of Phrygian mode

Phrygian mode: Spanish feel, flattened 2nd degree

Characteristics and construction of remaining modes

Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian

Practical applications of modes

In songwriting and music production

Examples of modes in popular music

Mixolydian in 'Royals' by Lorde

Pro tips for considering modes

As individual scales and understanding relative major relationships

Key Definitions

Mode, Ionian mode, Dorian mode, Phrygian mode, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian, Tone (T), Semitone (S), Relative major

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.