Recognising Modes (Ear Training)
Listen to the modal scales and recognise the mode by its tonal ‘colour’.
Train your ear to pick up on the unique characteristics of each mode.
Listening tips
- Ionian: A cheerful and steady sound (major)
- Dorian: Smaller but sweeter and more jazzy
- Phrygian: Dark and mysterious (note the opening semitone)
- Lydian: Ethereal and dreamy (No. 4 makes it ‘magical’)
- Mixolydian: Blues and rock (major with ♭7)
- Aeolian: Sad and melancholic (natural minor)
- Locrian: Unstable and tense (note the ♭5)