What are the chords and there functions for
each of the modes?

Lydian:
Ima7 II7 IIImi7 #IVmi7b5 Vma7 VImi7 VIImi7

Ionian:
Ima7 IImi7 IIImi7 IVma7 V7 VImi7 VIImi7b5

Mixolydian:
I7 IImi7 IIImi7b5 IVma7 Vmi7 bVImi7 VIIma7

Dorian:
Imi7 IImi7 bIIIma7 IV7 Vmi7 VImi7b5 bVIIma7

Aeolian (minor):
Imi7 IImi7b5 bIIIma7 IVmi7 Vmi7 bVIma7 bVII7

Phrygian:
Imi7 bIIma7 bIII7 IVmi7 Vmi7b5 bVIma7 bVIImi7

Locrian:
Imi7b5 bIIma7 IIImi7 IVmi7 bVma7 bVI7 bVIImi7
Be careful in treating more “rich” sounding
chords because our ears are so used to resolving
certain tensions in ways that could lead to
hearing the wrong “I”(one or root) (other than
the one intended).

As always, let your ear be the final guide.

How to use this? Use it when analyzing chord
progressions to derive scales to use for solos.
It is quite common to borrow chords from another
mode. This type of thinking is useful in making
your music more rich.

Use these also when “inventing”, songwriting,
etc.

The smart student will figure out a way to
memorize all this, to make it second nature.

Try inventing modal chord progressions for your
songs. For example, here’s a common Aeolian
progression we all know and love:

Imi bVI bVII Imi (give 2 beats each)
Here, I have used triad (no 7th in each chord).
But the seventh chord thinking gives you more
available harmonic content, and a more complete
way of thinking. But, keep in mind that not all
chords are seventh chords.

In A Aeolian, this would be:

Ami F G Ami

*—————–HOT TIP——————*
A great exercise, write all the chords
above on paper and cut them out. Put them
all in a hat, or box, and draw them to
make a chord progression. Choose a tonic,
or “I”(one, or root) note. Now play the
chords from what you drew from the hat!
*—————–HOT TIP——————*

Have fun! Question, Comments?
chris@doubleplanet.com

This is a lot of information. Just take a
little at a time, and memorize this.

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