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I will try and explain the whole theory behind modes in this lesson.
1)What are Modes?

Modes are much like scales. Modes are of all kinds like are scales. But for now i will only explain Major Modes. Now from a scale i can get 7 different modes. For example, the C scale - C D E F G A B C, now i can have 7 modes from these notes of C scale, starting at different root notes. They are named as:
Ionian
Dorian
Phrygian
Lydian
Mixolydian
Aeolian
Locrian

A good way to see how this works, is to look at the diagram of modes below. Each mode is derieved from the C Major scale.

C ionian:        C D E F G A B C
D dorian:        D E F G A B C D
E phrygian:    E F G A B C D E
F lydian:         F G A B C D E F
G mixolydian: G A B C D E F G
A aeolian:        A B C D E F G A
B locrian:        B C D E F G A B

2)Modal Feelings

Each mode of the major scale can create it’s own, individual sound. However, you can only accomplish this sound by learning the theory behind modes. So what do I mean, “individual sounds”? Well, Each one of those 7 modes can, if used properly, sound distinctive. Guitarists use modes in to suit the feeling of the song they are trying to write. If they are trying to write a happy song, they’ll use a certain mode, if they try to give the song a sad sound, they’ll use another mode. And so on.

3) Constructing Modal Formulae

In this part i will teach you how to construct formulaes for all the modes. After this you will get to know what notes to use in which mode. Just sit tight and slowly everything will become clear. To make it simple, i will use C scale as my reference(you can use any scale)

1  2  3 4 5  6 7  1 - Major scale intervals
C D E F G A B C - C Major scale

Now as stated earlier this is the Ionian mode as well, and this is true for every Key, your first mode represents the Major scale(ie Ionian mode=Major scale)

3.1)Dorian Mode
Now as i told you before that if we are in Key of C, the dorian mode is the 2nd one and is
D E F G A B C D

Now to get the Dorian formulae, compare these notes with D major scale:
1  2 3     4 5 6  7    1 - Major scale intervals
D E F# G A B C# D - D Major Scale
D E F   G A B C    D - D Dorian Mode

So we can see that the 3rd and the 7th position have different notes as compared to the major scale.
So if i apply this formulae– 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7 1 to my major scale i will get my dorian mode.
This way you can apply this formulae to any major scale and you will get its respective Dorian mode.

3.2)Phrygian Mode
Now lets take another example, lets take a G scale–G A B C D E F# G
Now the phrigian mode for this will be the third note ie B
B Phrygian
B C D E F# G A B

Now to derive the Phrigian mode formulae, what i will do is compare it with B major scale–B C# D# E F# G# A# B

B major scale–B C# D# E F# G# A# B
B Phrygian       B C    D    E F# G   A    B

So comparing them i can see that the 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th note are different, and all i have to do is flatten these notes from the major scale to get the Phrigian mode.
ie– 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1

Continue this way and you can find out all the intervals. To sum up all the intervals:
Ionian Mode         1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1
Dorian Mode         1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7 1
Phrygian Mode     1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1
Lydian Mode         1 2 3 #4 5 6 7 1
Mixolydian Mode 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7 1
Aeolian Mode        1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1
Locrian Mode        1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7 1

More to modes theory will be added at constant intervals. Keep checking the lessons section to keep yourself updated. Also if you have any questions or comments feel free to state them.

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