The Modes Ranked by Brightness

Comparing scales and tonalities by their relative brightness can be a far more objective and useful way to conceptualise music. The seven modes of the major scale offer a fantastic range of brightnesses to choose from. In today's video I'll be working my way through the modal sprectrum and demonstrating some classic examples of modal writing as I go, including 'Uptown Funk', 'Mad World', 'Yoda's Theme', 'The Force Theme', 'Wherever I May Roam' and plenty more.

And an extra special thanks goes to Daniel Long & Paul Peijzel, the channel’s Patreon saints! 😇

[bonecanoe]

The modes as weather:

Lydian: A very sunny day, almost too sunny
Major: A pleasantly sunny day
Mixolydian: A mostly sunny day with a few clouds
Dorian: A mostly cloudy way with a few breaks for the sun to peak through
Minor: Completely overcast, light rain
Phrygian: Heavy, cold rain is falling
Locrian: The rain is how hail.

[nickmendens]

As a non musician I find your Star Wars references to be pivotal to understanding

[rohanm]

No need to apologise for doing "technical" videos - lots of us are interested and can follow. They're the only ones I watch, so thanks for this.

[leemurray]

Ukulele player here and OH MY GOODNESS this is the actual best explanation of the way modes work I've ever seen. I finally understand it.

[notsilvi]

basic people:
minor is sad!!! major is happy!
me: *laughs in Polish traditional music*

[jakubciecwierz]

*Locrian mode* : is unusable because it's too dark
*Black metal bands* : this must be it!

[danielmanicolo]

Locrian mode only useful for song about the joys of grave digging...

[andrewdevine]

Binary Sunset is actually in the Midichlorian mode.

[anrylstudios]

Me: looks at C Major
Also me: let us brighten it by only sharpening c
*ACCIDENTALLY CREATES C# SUPER LOCRIAN*

[verchojanskij]

What I really like about this way of puting the modes on a darker-brighter scale, is that dorian is perfectly in the middle. So you can say that Dorian is Gray ?
It also happens to be my name, that's why I like to point this out.

[ChrisKennedyChris]

Here's a couple fun things:
The scale degrees that are altered to get brighter and darker aren't arbitrary - they are based on the circle of fifths. With C as the center, the notes you flatten as you get darker:
Mixolydian - Bb
Dorian - Eb
Aeolian - Ab
Phrygian - Db
Locrian - Gb

Ok.. so let's keep going around the circle. We just flattened G to Gb. What is a 5th down from G?

C

Hmmm, ok, so let's flat the root, I guess?? This will be next level darkness!

Cb Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb

Let's respell that enharmonically...

B C# D# E# F# G# A#

Also known as...

B lydian!!

Ergo...
The difference between lydian and locrian is one note: the root note! I guess you could call it the Circle of Modes or the Lydian-Locrian Singularity.
🤯

Now try following the circle of 5ths to "brighten" lydian and see what you get.

[gregoryhenry]

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for adding examples when you talk about the scales.

[figgsboson]

Thought the thumbnail said "moral spectrum" at first and I was like yea I guess bruno mars is an okay guy

[olonowak]

Expert: Locrian is unusable, it's too dark and unsettling
Me: *cries in metal*

[danno]

me: i need to do this essay
also me: mode tier list

[EllisThings]

I sharpened all the notes so Db major is the brightest scale. No wait...

[MemeSnack]

"Mad World is in the key of F"
*Oh yeah, it's all coming together.*

[Brillemeister]

You've inspired me to attempt writing a song in Super Locrian. Nice going. God bless

[johnbobbypringle]

I have been playing piano for 20 years and only found out about modes last night when my friend doing a bachelor's in music told me about them. He didn't understand it very well and was seeking my help but after he showed me a small bit, I was able to help him understand it by applying my knowledge of the major and minor modes to them. I feel like I wrote a hundred new songs today. I'm watching this video now and it's just overwhelming. How have I missed this? Has it been a secret?

[OneRadicalDreamer]

I'm a musical newbie and I've been slowly learning my scales, but lordy you are a fantastic teacher! Being able to visually, metaphorically and audibly present it all so concisely is a real treat!