Mode Comparison · Guitar Theory
The foundation of modal understanding — major vs the jazz minor
Both use the same notes as F Major, but Ionian starts on F (sounds happy and resolved) while Dorian starts on G (sounds minor but warm and hopeful). The raised 6th in Dorian is the only difference from natural minor.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7
Both Ionian and Dorian are diatonic modes — they share the same 7 notes as the major scale but start on different scale degrees. Understanding the relationship between all 7 modes is the foundation of the Dead Sea Scales system.
Once you understand how Ionian and Dorian relate to each other, the next step is the 5 Missing Notes™ system — 5 chromatic notes that generate 35 additional scale variations, giving you 42 total modes to work with.
Switch between Ionian and Dorian instantly · All 12 keys · Audio playback · All 42 exotic variations
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