# Modal harmony

*Module 13 · Lesson 5: Modes · BazzLow*

> Recognise music written in a mode and the chords that define it.

Before this lesson: [13.4 Modes and chords](https://bazzlow.com/en/modes/modes-and-chords/) · [8.2 Roman numerals](https://bazzlow.com/en/harmony-in-a-key/roman-numerals/)

A piece is modal when its home and its chords come from a mode instead of plain major or minor. Each mode has its own chords and its own favourite chord move.

## Chord families of the modes

A piece is **modal** when its home note and harmony come from a mode other than plain major or minor. Each mode has its own family of diatonic chords. Built from the C tonic:

*The diatonic chords of each mode on the tonic C.*

| Mode | Numerals | Chords on C |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ionian | I ii iii IV V vi vii° | C Dm Em F G Am B° |
| Dorian | i ii ♭III IV v vi° ♭VII | Cm Dm E♭ F Gm A° B♭ |
| Phrygian | i ♭II ♭III iv v° ♭VI ♭vii | Cm D♭ E♭ Fm G° A♭ B♭m |
| Lydian | I II iii ♯iv° V vi vii | C D Em F♯° G Am Bm |
| Mixolydian | I ii iii° IV v vi ♭VII | C Dm E° F Gm Am B♭ |
| Aeolian | i ii° ♭III iv v ♭VI ♭VII | Cm D° E♭ Fm Gm A♭ B♭ |
| Locrian | i° ♭II ♭iii iv ♭V ♭VI ♭vii | C° D♭ E♭m Fm G♭ A♭ B♭m |

## The defining move

The defining move uses the chord that contains the mode’s characteristic note. Dorian’s IV (in D Dorian, G major) contains the major 6th (B). Mixolydian’s ♭VII (in G Mixolydian, F major) contains the ♭7.

*The chord move that defines each mode (Ionian: V → I; Locrian is rarely used as a key).*

| Mode | Defining move |
| --- | --- |
| Dorian | i → **IV** (major IV) |
| Phrygian | i → **♭II** |
| Lydian | I → **II** (major II) |
| Mixolydian | I → **♭VII** |
| Aeolian | i → ♭VI → ♭VII |

Modal pieces often avoid the strong V7 → I cadence of major and minor keys, which would pull them back to ordinary tonality. Instead they repeat one or two chords, a **modal vamp**, or sit on a **drone**.

> **Diagram:** A D Dorian vamp, Dm – G (i–IV), with a bass line of root, 5th, 6th, 5th on each chord. The B (the 6th over Dm) is the Dorian note.

> **Diagram:** A G Mixolydian vamp, G – F (I–♭VII), with a line of root, 5th, ♭7, 5th over G. The F (the ♭7) is the Mixolydian note.

## For the bass

- Keep the **modal tonic** clearly in the bass, because it defines the mode (lesson 13.1);
- use the characteristic note in lines.

Modes came back into popular music through folk song collections, modal jazz from the late 1950s, and rock.

## Try it

Play the roots of Dm – G for 8 bars, adding B (the 6) in your line. Then G – F for 8 bars, adding F (the ♭7). Name the mode of each.

## New terms

- modal music
- modal vamp
- drone

Page: https://bazzlow.com/en/modes/modal-harmony/