Ionian
1st mode · = Major Scale
W—W—H—W—W—W—H
The natural major scale — bright, resolved, and familiar. The reference point from which the other modes are measured.
Characteristic notenone — the parent
Piano Modes
The seven modes of the major scale, each with a unique character and color. Click any mode to explore all 18 keys with diagrams, audio, and theory.
Find by feel
Bright-to-dark spectrum
The seven modes ordered from brightest to darkest. Each step down removes one sharp (or adds one flat) from the previous. Click any mode to jump to its card.
☀ Brightest · ♯4NeutralDarkest · ♭2 ♭5 ☾
Click any mode to play it rooted on C. Use the ⋯ menu on a card to pick a different root just for that mode.
Dorian
2nd mode of Major
W—H—W—W—W—H—W
Minor with a raised 6th — warm, jazzy, and soulful. The minor that doesn’t quite commit to being sad.
Characteristic notenatural 6over a minor third
Phrygian
3rd mode of Major
H—W—W—W—H—W—W
Minor with a flatted 2nd — dark, exotic, and tense. The half-step just above the root is what gives it that flamenco bite.
Characteristic note♭2the defining tension
Lydian
4th mode of Major
W—W—W—H—W—W—H
Major with a raised 4th — bright, floating, and dreamlike. The brightest of all modes; the ♯4 removes tonal gravity.
Characteristic note♯4creates the float
Mixolydian
5th mode of Major
W—W—H—W—W—H—W
Major with a flatted 7th — bluesy, driving, and earthy. The dominant-scale sound at the heart of rock and blues.
Characteristic note♭7on a major third
Aeolian
6th mode · = Natural Minor
W—H—W—W—H—W—W
The natural minor scale — melancholic and expressive. Minor with no extra adjustments; the default for “sad” in Western music.
Characteristic notenone — the parent
Locrian
7th mode of Major
H—W—W—H—W—W—W
Diminished tonic — unstable and unresolved. The darkest mode; the ♭5 means the tonic chord itself is a diminished triad, so it can’t rest.
Characteristic note♭5no tonic stability
Why the colors? The palette for each mode is inspired by music-color synesthesia — a neurological phenomenon where people perceive colors when hearing music. Bright major sounds tend to evoke warm golds and yellows; minor modes lean toward cooler blues and greens; darker or more dissonant modes often map to deep reds, purples, and grays. These colors are a creative interpretation, designed to make each mode's character immediately visible.
What are modes?
Modes are scales derived from the major scale by starting on each of its seven degrees. Each mode uses the same seven notes as its parent major scale but treats a different note as the tonal center, producing a distinct musical character.
For example, the C major scale contains C–D–E–F–G–A–B. If you play those same notes but start and resolve on D, you get D Dorian. Start on E and you get E Phrygian. Each starting point creates a mode with its own unique flavor — from the bright stability of Ionian (the major scale) to the dark instability of Locrian.
Modes are fundamental to jazz, rock, classical, and world music. Understanding them opens up a vast palette of melodic and harmonic possibilities beyond the basic major and minor scales.
Mode formula reference
| Mode | Degree | Step pattern | Quality | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ionian | 1 | W—W—H—W—W—W—H | Major | Bright, resolved |
| Dorian | 2 | W—H—W—W—W—H—W | Minor | Warm, jazzy |
| Phrygian | 3 | H—W—W—W—H—W—W | Minor | Dark, exotic |
| Lydian | 4 | W—W—W—H—W—W—H | Major | Floating, dreamlike |
| Mixolydian | 5 | W—W—H—W—W—H—W | Major | Bluesy, driving |
| Aeolian | 6 | W—H—W—W—H—W—W | Minor | Melancholic, expressive |
| Locrian | 7 | H—W—W—H—W—W—W | Diminished | Unstable, tense |