I had a bit of a look through old threads, but it wasn't particularly clear, and all the websites i've looked at mention 'hypo' modes, which i havent heard of at all Is this right...?

(starting notes are so they are relative to C major)

Ionian = major = C
Locrian = B
Aoelian = natural minor = A
Mixolydian = G
Lydian = F
Phrygian = E
Dorian = D

Yarrrp there all right

Thanks

Yep - I would also agree with them

Rather than resorting to unverified sources such as old threads, or websites which could have errors, why not look up technical information such as this in a good old fashioned reference book!!

I actually find it easier to think of them in numbers (the number referring to the degree of the scale you're starting the mode on):

1. Ionian
2. Dorian
3. Phrygian
4. Lydian
5. Mixolydian
6. Aeolian
7. Locrian

I find that it helps me think of modes in different keys. I remember at college and uni there were people in my classes who couldn't understand that an Aeolian mode isn't always A-A. That's what they'd been taught for GCSE and it had never been corrected.

Lucid

This is the big danger of learning them as 'the scales on the white notes'.

In order to really understand them and get into their characters, you have to know the patterns of tones/semitones and the major/minor characteristics of each one. Then you can transpose them into any starting position.

Bagpuss (winning the Billy-Billy-Swot-Swot award) can sing and play any given mode in canon, starting on any note on the piano...

...whilst twirling a baton with my left foot and writing the Greek alphabet with my free hand....

Willard can sing any tune in the Locrian mode - not necessarily intentionally (no offence, Wills!)

All in all - MODES ARE COOL!

Baglian Mode xx

Bag, you DO make me larf !

Baglian Mode, indeed...

But I agree with the Modes Are Cool sentiment!

I'd like to point out that there is no connection whatever between Willard's locrian skills and the Billy-Billy-Swot-Swot award.

I can recite the Greek alphabet whilst you play if you like Bag (in fact my cats are named after the first two letters).

Slight more on topic, I too made the mistake once of searching Wikipedia for modal information and this can be very confusing. You have the Greek originals and various changes made in the medieval period; but the ones most of us seem to use now are the ones people have listed which settled (as I understand it) just before the introduction of equal temperament after which you could play most things tunefully in major and minor keys and they became dominant (at least in mainstream Western classical music until the 20th century).

(However I'm sure a modal expert could pick holes in my summary.)

PS why no cat emoticon - there's a penguin...

Since when have the first two letters of the Greek alphabet been Alfie and Bertie??

Sorry, off-topic.......

Baglian x

Willard is now famed for his Locrian agility and regularly wins the Billy-Billy-Swot-Swot award for it...and Baglian, haven't you ever learned your AlfieBert? I seem to remember teaching it to you when you were four...