Modes
Mode Comparison Chart
| Roman Numerals as Triads
|
| | | Alterations | I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII
|
| Lydian | bright | raised 4 | I | II | IIImin | #IVdim | V | VImin | VIImin
|
| Ionian | neutral | no alterations | I | IImin | IIImin | IV | V | VImin | VIIdim
|
| Mixolydian | less bright | lowered 7 | I | IImin | IIIdim | IV | Vmin | VImin | bVII
|
| Dorian | dark | lowered 3, 7 | Imin | IImin | bIII | IV | Vmin | VIdim | bVII
|
| Aeolian | darker | lowered 3, 6, 7 | Imin | IIdim | bIII | IVmin | Vmin | bVI | bVII
|
| Phrygian | darkest | lowered 2, 3, 6, 7 | Imin | bII | bIII | bIVmin | Vdim | bVI | bVIImin
|
| Locrian | unusable | lowered 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 | Idim | bII | bIIImin | bIVmin | bV | bVI | bVII
|
| Roman Numerals with 7ths
|
| | | Alterations | I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII
|
| Lydian | bright | raised 4 | IMAJ7 | II7 | IIImin7 | #IVmin7b5 | VMAJ7 | VImin7 | VIImin7
|
| Ionian | neutral | no alterations | IMAJ7 | IImin7 | IIImin7b5 | IVMAJ7 | V7 | VImin7 | VIImin7b5
|
| Mixolydian | less bright | lowered 7 | I7 | IImin7 | IImin7b5 | IVMAJ7 | Vmin7 | VImin7 | bVIIMAJ7
|
| Dorian | dark | lowered 3, 7 | Imin7 | IImin7 | bIIIMAJ7 | IV7 | Vmin7 | VImin7b5 | bVIIMAJ7
|
| Aeolian | darker | lowered 3, 6, 7 | Imin7 | IImin7b5 | bIII7 | IVmin7 | Vmin7 | bVIMAJ7 | bVII7
|
| Phrygian | darkest | lowered 2, 3, 6, 7 | Imin7 | bIIMAJ7 | bIII7 | bIVmin7 | Vmin7b5 | bVIMAJ7 | bVIImin7
|
| Locrian | unusable | lowered 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 | Imin7b5 | bIIMAJ7 | bIIImin7 | bIVmin7 | bVMAJ7 | bVI7 | bVIImin7
|
Notes
- The Ionian mode is more commonly called "the major scale" (and is the most commonly used major scale)
- The Aeolian mode is commonly called "the natural minor scale" (and is the most commonly used minor scale)
- Lydian, Ionian, & Mixolydian are considered major modes because their "I chord" is major.
- Dorian, Aeolian, & Phrygian are considered minor modes because their "I chord" is minor.
- The Locrian mode is so dissonant that it is usually unusable.
