Practicing The Modes

 

Depiction of the Modes

We recommend the following mnemonic: "I Don't Play Loud Music About Love"

I = Ionian (major) R1,W2,W3,H4,W5,W6,W7,H8
D = Dorian (one of the minors) starts on the 2nd interval
P = Phrygian starts on the 3rd
L = Lydian starts on the 4th
M = Mixolydian starts on the 5th
A = Aeolian (natural minor) starts on the 6th
L = Locrian starts on the 7th

In the key of C:
C Dorian = D,E,F,G,A,B,C,D
C Phrygian = E,F,G,A,B,C,D,E
C Lydian = F,G,A,B,C,D,E,F
C Mixolydian = G,A,B,C,D,E,F,G
C Aeolian = A,B,C,D,E,F,G,A
C Locrian = B,C,D,E,F,G,A,B

We require that our students practice 1 different scale around the circle of 5ths each day, with all of the modes.

The First Week:

• Monday C
• Tuesday G
• Wednesday D
• Thursday A
• Friday E
• Saturday B
• Sunday F#

The Second Week:

• Monday C (repeat)
• Tuesday F
• Wednesday Bflat
• Thursday Eflat.
• Friday Aflat
• Saturday Dflat
• Sunday Gflat.

Back to C

We don't recommend studying C# or Cflat for obvious reasons.