Musical Modes: The Easy Way

Undestanding Modes
When trying to figure out what scale you should play when some asks you "play G Phrygian" all you have to do is play a major scale that starts on the Interval Inversion. For example:

Phrygian

Phrygian III has the melodic interval of three, that is, it starts on the Major 3rd note in the scale. If we invert it, it becomes the Major Sixth. So G Phrygian III would be an Eb Major Scale that starts on G.

Eb Major Scale:

Eb F G  Ab Bb C  D  Eb

1 2  3  4  5  6  7  8

G Phrygian III Scale:

G Ab Bb C  D  Eb F  G

1 2b 3b 4  5  6b 7b 8

Mixolydian

The same goes for other Modes. Let's take Mixolydian V. Since it starts on the 5th of the Major Scale, when we invert it, we get the 4th. The fourth of G is C. G Mixolydian is a C Major Scale starts on G:

C Major Scale:

C D  E  F  G  A  B  C

1 2  3  4  5  6  7  8

G Mixolydian V:

G A  B  C  D  E  F  G

1 2  3  4  5  6  7b 8

Lydian

The Lydian scale is the IV Mode. That is, it is just a Major scale that starts on the 4th instead of the Root. In order to know what notes are in G Lydian, invert the Interval. 4th inverted is the 5th, which is a D in the G Major Scale. When we start on D and form a Major Scale, then play that scale starting on the G, then we have G Lydian. Simple, eh?

D Major Scale:

D E  F# G  A  B  C# D

1 2  3  4  5  6  7  8

G Lydian IV Scale:

G A  B  C# D  E  F# G 1  2  3  4# 5  6  7  8

Dorian

Dorian II can be fun too. For our example G Dorian II is an F Major Scale starting on G. Remember, to invert the scale first. A II would be lowered by 2 half steps, resulting in F Major:

F Major Scale:

F G  A  Bb C  D  E  F

1 2  3  4  5  6  7  8

Rearranged as G Dorian looks like this:

G Dorian II:

G A  Bb C  D  E  F  G

1 2  3b 4  5  6  7b 8