Characteristic notes

Each mode has a note within the scale that makes it different from the other modes in its category (major or minor)  This is called the characteristic note.  You are going to compare the major modes to the major scale, and the minor modes to the natural minor scale.

 

Major Mode Characteristic notes 

When comparing the Lydian mode to the major scale, it is the #4 that make it unique. When comparing Mixolydian to the major scale, it is the b7 that make it unique. Often if you are using the Ionian mode, you are really working with a major key. But if you were dealing with Ionian in a strict modal context, the characteristic note is 4. The difference between something being in a major key and being in the Ionian mode can be a little fuzzy. This will be looked at in more detail in another lesson. But for now it is really the Lydian and Mixolydian that you want to concern yourself with.

 

Minor Mode Characteristic notes

When comparing Dorian to the Aeolian mode (natural minor), it the natural 6 that makes it unique. The Phrygian mode has b2 that makes it unique. The characteristic note of the Aeolian mode is b6. Often when you are writing a song in a minor key, you are using a combination of the notes and chords from 2 different scales, the natural minor, and the harmonic minor. Therefore what makes the Aeolian mode different from a song that might be written in a minor key is that it will only use the notes and chords build from the mode. It will not borrow from the harmonic minor scale. This will be looked at in more detail in another lesson.