Musical Greek Modes

Musical Modes are the possible scales that can be made using only the "normal notes" or white keys on the piano.

It is intesting to realize the effect that changing the keys can have, since different intervals will appear and disappear. For example, there is no perfect fifth interval in the Locrain mode, which gives the music made from it a distictive sound.

Mode	Description
Ionic	This is the common major scale.
Dorian or Melodic minor ascending	This magical serene mode brings a sense of exaltation. It is commonly used in Gregorian chants and in various hit songs like Eleanore Rigby and Norwegian Wood by the Beatles.
Phrygian or Natural Minor	This mode is dramatic and passoinate, expressing sadness and sensitivity. It is commonly used in flamingo music from Spain.
Lydian or Major	This mode is considered strange, because it contains two augmented fourths, or tri-tones, and is thought to be Asian in origin. In The Republic (572 BC) Plato banned the Lydian mode because he felt it was too feminine.
Mixolydian	This mode is often used in religious chants, and is extroverted and happy. It is said to have been invented by Sappho of Lesbos.
Aeolian or The natural minor scale	This melancholy yet quiet, dreamy mode seems to bring a sense of intimacy and poetry to simple sweet melodies.
Locrain	This scale is considered unsettling, and is not in common useage. A possible explanation is that this mode lacks the comfortable harmony of a perfect fifth interval. It is interesting to note, however, that it contains two tri-tone intervals.