The way it's usually explained:
Pick a
chord progression with roots in 1 major key.
Now, play the notes of that major key starting
*with note X.
Finally, use the following table to find which mode
*corresponds with the X you used.
Another way to look at it is:
The above can be accomplished by keeping X constant
*no matter which mode you want.
In order to do it,
*if in key C major:
* C D E F G A B C (ionian, major)
* F G A B C D E F (F lydian, but does not 'start' on C)
The intervalic relationships going from C to C
*would need to equal those going from F to F.
These relationships before any adjustment are:
*
* 1 *1 *.5 1 *1 *1 *.5
*C *D *E *F *G *A *B *C
* * *1 *1 *1 .5 *1 *1 *.5
*F *G *A *B *C *D *E *F *
By adjusting the C..C sequence the intervalic relationships of F..F sequence can be satisfied.
An incorrect move would be: increase E to F thereby
making 1 1 1 in the 1st four notes; but this increase
makes the relationship between D and E 1.5 and
1 1 1.5 is not 1 1 1. The correct adjustment is to
augment F, which gives:
*1 *1 *1 * .5 1 *1 *.5
C *D *E *F# *G *A *B *C
*1 *1 *1 * .5 1 *1 *.5
F *G *A *B * C *D *E *F
A perfect match. The formula for operation on any
ionian: 1 2 3 #4 5 6 7
Another example, * mixolydian * *
1 *1 *.5 *1 *1 *1 *.5
C *D *E *F *G *A *B *C
*1 *1 *.5 *1 *1 .5 *1
G *A *B *C *D *E *F *G
By diminshing B of C..C sequence a half step,
1 1 .5 1 1 .5 1 can be formed. That adjustment
yields:
mixolydian 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7 1
The others are developed the same way, Locrian
ranking the most adjustments (5). *
In finale, this table
would be:
ionian * * 1 * *2 * *3 * *4 * *5 * *6 * *7
dorian * * 1 * *2 * b3 * *4 * *5 * *6 * b7
phrygian * 1 * b2 * b3 * *4 * *5 * b6 * b7
lydian * * 1 * *2 * *3 * #4 * *5 * *6 * *7
mixolydian 1 * *2 * *3 * *4 * *5 * *6 * b7
aeolian * *1 * *2 * b3 * *4 * *5 * b6 * b7
locrian * *1 * b2 * b3 * *4 * b5 * b6 * b7
A mixed mode would be a combination of mode halves.
e.g.:
phrygian/mixolydian: 1 b2 b3 4 5 6 b7
References:
1/1 *
W.A. Mathieu, "Harmonic Experience"
(post edited to include reference)
(Edited by 1 1 Dragon 2 2 2 at 12:06 am on Sep. 3, 2001)
