Understanding Musical Modes in Pop and Jazz

Introduction
The modes come up a lot in pop music and jazz as ways to capture moods and melodies. Check out the attached PDF for some song examples.

Musical Modes and Their Examples

Ionian Mode

• Description: Anything in a major scale.
• Example: Somewhere Over the Rainbow is a really good example of a tune in the Ionian mode.

Dorian Mode

• Description: A lovely, folky sound.
• Example:
  • Scarborough Fair has a lovely kind of folky Dorian sound.
  • The Drunken Sailor is also a good example of a tune that uses the Dorian mode within jazz.
  • Jazz Artists: Miles Davis ? So What, John Coltrane ? Impressions.

Phrygian Mode

• Description: Conjures a kind of Iberian Spanish sound.
• Example:
  • Master pianist Chick Corea composed lots of tunes.
  • La Fiesta is a really good example of a tune in the Phrygian mode.

Lydian Mode

• Description: A classic quirky melody.
• Example: I think I played in the Simpsons Theme, which is based on a Lydian mode.

Mixolydian Mode

• Description: Commonly used in blues.
• Example:
  • Check out Miles Davis ? All Blues: It's a really good example of a Mixolydian melody.
  • Also note the chords used in a 12-bar blues a la Robert Johnson and Bessie Smith.

Aeolian Mode

• Description: Features in jazz repertoire.
• Example: Kenny Dorham's tune Blue Bossa is a staple of the jazz repertoire.

Locrian Mode

• Description: Hard to find melodies for; used as a transitional scale.
• Example:
  • Army of Me by BjTripletrk has a Locrian feel to the bass line.
  • However, melodically, I'm afraid I'm slightly stumped to think of jazz melodies that use the Locrian mode.

Conclusion
Have a look for yourself and check out the PDF with these examples. It's by no means an exhaustive list. See if you can start to hear these melodies in songs around!