In your journey to fully internalize the diatonic modes, here’s a simple yet effective way to connect deeply with each mode’s distinct flavor. This approach involves using a single, familiar melody as a vehicle to explore each mode, helping you build a solid foundation in ear training and mode recognition. This method is featured in my recent video, where I sing the classic tune “White Coral Bells” in each mode, both with lyrics and in solfège. Here’s how you can try it yourself and why it works so well.
Step-by-Step Approach
Choose a Familiar Melody
The key to this exercise is selecting a melody you know inside and out. When you know a melody well, you’re sensitive to any changes in the notes, making it easier to feel the unique character of each mode as you sing it.
Sing Through Each Mode
Start with the Ionian mode (major scale), then work through each of the diatonic modes. Move from Ionian to Lydian, Mixolydian, Dorian, Aeolian (natural minor), Phrygian, and finally Locrian. Each time you switch modes, one or more notes will change, bringing out new emotional and tonal colors. If you’re new to this, singing them with lyrics may help you stay grounded in the melody as you explore each mode.
Add Solfège for Depth
After singing each mode with lyrics, take it a step further and sing in solfège. Solfège syllables, such as “do,” “re,” “mi,” and so forth, offer a consistent structure that helps your ear lock onto each mode’s unique intervals. Each mode has specific notes that differ from the major scale; focusing on these will help you hear the variations.
Pay Attention to the Feeling of Each Mode
Each diatonic mode has a distinct quality, evoking different moods. Lydian feels bright and uplifting with its raised fourth (FI instead of fa), while Mixolydian has a grounded yet open quality due to its lowered seventh (te instead of ti). Dorian feels both minor and hopeful with a natural sixth (la), while Aeolian, the natural minor scale, has a melancholy but balanced character. Phrygian’s lowered second (RA instead of re) gives it a tense, exotic sound, and Locrian’s diminished fifth (SE) makes it feel unresolved or unstable. Let yourself notice these unique colors as you sing.
Embrace Discomfort as Growth
Switching modes may feel awkward at first, especially with the unfamiliar intervals in Phrygian or Locrian. This discomfort is a good sign! It’s your brain actively adapting and forming new neural connections as you encounter these fresh tonal landscapes. Embracing this feeling means you’re on the path to deep, lasting ear training.
Solfège Guide for Each Mode
Here’s a quick guide to the solfège for each mode to help as you sing:
Ionian (Major): do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti- Lydian: do, re, mi, FI, so, la, ti
- Mixolydian: do, re, mi, fa, so, la, te
- Dorian: do, re, ME, fa, so, la, te
- Aeolian (Natural Minor): do, re, me, fa, so, LE, te
- Phrygian: do, RA, me, fa, so, le, te
- Locrian: do, ra, me, fa, SE, le, te
Why This Method Works
When you sing a familiar melody in each mode, your brain not only learns to identify the different interval structures but also gets attuned to the emotional qualities that make each mode unique. With each round, you’re reinforcing the distinctive “mood” of each mode, making it a part of your musical intuition. This exercise trains your ear to recognize modes as complete entities, giving you the ability to identify and work with them fluidly in various musical contexts.
Whether you’re just starting with modes or looking to deepen your understanding, this approach will give you a solid foundation. Give it a try, and let the modes become part of your musical language!
In your journey to fully internalize the diatonic modes, here’s a simple yet effective way to connect deeply with each mode’s distinct flavor. This approach involves using a single, familiar melody as a vehicle to explore each mode, helping you build a solid foundation in ear training and mode recognition. This method is featured in my recent video, where I sing the classic tune “White Coral Bells” in each mode, both with lyrics and in solfège. Here’s how you can try it yourself and why it works so well.
Step-by-Step Approach
Choose a Familiar Melody
The key to this exercise is selecting a melody you know inside and out. When you know a melody well, you’re sensitive to any changes in the notes, making it easier to feel the unique character of each mode as you sing it.Sing Through Each Mode
Start with the Ionian mode (major scale), then work through each of the diatonic modes. Move from Ionian to Lydian, Mixolydian, Dorian, Aeolian (natural minor), Phrygian, and finally Locrian. Each time you switch modes, one or more notes will change, bringing out new emotional and tonal colors. If you’re new to this, singing them with lyrics may help you stay grounded in the melody as you explore each mode.Add Solfège for Depth
After singing each mode with lyrics, take it a step further and sing in solfège. Solfège syllables, such as “do,” “re,” “mi,” and so forth, offer a consistent structure that helps your ear lock onto each mode’s unique intervals. Each mode has specific notes that differ from the major scale; focusing on these will help you hear the variations.Pay Attention to the Feeling of Each Mode
Each diatonic mode has a distinct quality, evoking different moods. Lydian feels bright and uplifting with its raised fourth (FI instead of fa), while Mixolydian has a grounded yet open quality due to its lowered seventh (te instead of ti). Dorian feels both minor and hopeful with a natural sixth (la), while Aeolian, the natural minor scale, has a melancholy but balanced character. Phrygian’s lowered second (RA instead of re) gives it a tense, exotic sound, and Locrian’s diminished fifth (SE) makes it feel unresolved or unstable. Let yourself notice these unique colors as you sing.Embrace Discomfort as Growth
Switching modes may feel awkward at first, especially with the unfamiliar intervals in Phrygian or Locrian. This discomfort is a good sign! It’s your brain actively adapting and forming new neural connections as you encounter these fresh tonal landscapes. Embracing this feeling means you’re on the path to deep, lasting ear training.
Solfège Guide for Each Mode
Here’s a quick guide to the solfège for each mode to help as you sing:
Ionian (Major): do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti- Lydian: do, re, mi, FI, so, la, ti
- Mixolydian: do, re, mi, fa, so, la, te
- Dorian: do, re, ME, fa, so, la, te
- Aeolian (Natural Minor): do, re, me, fa, so, LE, te
- Phrygian: do, RA, me, fa, so, le, te
- Locrian: do, ra, me, fa, SE, le, te
Why This Method Works
When you sing a familiar melody in each mode, your brain not only learns to identify the different interval structures but also gets attuned to the emotional qualities that make each mode unique. With each round, you’re reinforcing the distinctive “mood” of each mode, making it a part of your musical intuition. This exercise trains your ear to recognize modes as complete entities, giving you the ability to identify and work with them fluidly in various musical contexts.
Whether you’re just starting with modes or looking to deepen your understanding, this approach will give you a solid foundation. Give it a try, and let the modes become part of your musical language!
