Scale Tone Chords
As well as modes being created from the seven notes of the major scale, it is also possible to create a chord from each note of the scale. By taking the first, third and fifth notes of each mode, there are triads (3 note chords) which can be derived from the major scale. Listed below are the seven modes and the triad created from each mode.
Because each mode contains three notes from its corresponding triad, the modes work particularly well when played against these chords. Using modes to play over chords means it is possible to create melodies which are very specific to certain chords. It is possible to use the C major scale freely over any chord in the key of C major, but the C Ionian mode is very specific to the C major triad. If you had a chord progression containing the chords C, F and G you could simply play the C major scale (C Ionian) or you could use the F Lydian mode over the F chord and the G Mixolydian mode over the G chord. Here are some examples.
Here is a melody using the C major scale (Ionian mode) over the chords C, F and G in the key of C.
The melody derived from the C major scale in the previous example sounds reasonably good but it doesn’t fit the chord progression perfectly. Using modes to play over chord progressions means finding the best group of notes to play over each particular chord. Here is the same progression with the C Ionian, F Lydian and G Mixolydian modes played over it. Listen to how well each mode fits its particular chord.
Now try this melody created from the modes in the previous example. Listen to how much better this melody fits the chords than the one in example 53.0 on the previous page.
