Anyone else had trouble remembering modes?
They are (for a C major scale):-
- Ionian/Major Scale: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C
- Dorian: D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D
- Phrygian: E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E
- Lydian: F, G, A, B, C, D, E, F
- Mixolydian: G, A, B, C, D, E, F, G
- Aeolian (natural minor scale): A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A
- Locrian: B, C, D, E, F, G, A, B
Some mnemonics to remember these are:-
“I Don’t Particularly Like My Arm Licked”
or “I Don’t Phrygian Like Modes A Lot” (sounds like you’re saying a naughty word, but it works so well 😉 )
One response to “Mnemonics for Modes”
One day in college, I sat down for band rehearsal and this was written on the board:
I Drink Pork Like My Aunt Linda
It took me part of rehearsal to figure out that was a mnumonic for the modes.