Harmonic Analysis - Modes Harmonized Chord Charts

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LessonSERIES : Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection Series Home

Introduction Basic Concepts Six Harmonic Principles Full Diatonic Partial Diatonic Internal Modulation Unresolved Chromatic Cycles Scale Selection Chord Substitution Common Progressions Common Harmonic Sequences Major and Minor Sale Charts Mode Charts Worksheets Conclusion

Ionian Songs

With the Ionian mode so closely associated with the Major scale and our Tonic/Dominant harmony, it's hard to not be perceived as tonal vs. modal.

• Free Fallin' – Tom Petty
• I Wanna Be Sedated – Ramones
• Statesboro Blues – Blind Willie McTell
• Sugaree – Jerry Garcia, Grateful Dead
• I Need You – The Beatles
• I've Just Seen A Face – The Beatles

Checkout for more than you need to know about the Ionian mode

Dorian Songs

• And I Love Her – The Beatles
• Apache –
• Billie Jean – Micheal Jackson (verse; F# Dorian, then briefly to B Dorian)
• Boulevard of Broken Dreams – Green Day
• Chameleon – Herbie Hancock
• Drunken Sailor –
• Eleanor Rigby (Melody Dorian, Chords: Aeolian) – The Beatles
• Evil Ways – Santana
• I Wish –
• Horse With No Name – America
• Light My Fire – The Doors
• Maiden Voyage – Herbie Hancock
• Milestones – Miles Davis
• Moondance – Miles Davis
• Money – Pink Floyd (B Dorian)
• The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia • (1973) by Vicki Lawrence
• Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) – The Beatles (chorus; E Dorian)
• No Quarter –
• Oye Como Va – Tito Puente, popularized by Santana
• Scarborough Fair –
• So What – Miles Davis (A sections D Dorian, B sections E♭ Dorian)
• Stairway To Heaven – by Led Zeppelin (chorus; A Dorian)
• Thriller – Micheal Jackson
• Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd

Checkout for more than you need to know about the Dorian mode

Phrygian Songs

Few rock songs use modes such as the Phrygian, Lydian, or Locrian actually maintaining a harmony rigorously fixed on them. What typically happens is that the scale is harmonized with chords with perfect fifths (power five chords) and are riff based songs.

• After the Rain – (1963) John Coltrane
• Infant Eyes – (1960) Wayne Shorter
• Remember Tomorrow – Iron Maiden
• Sails of Charon – The Scorpians
• Solea – Gil Evand from Miles Davis's Sketches of Spain
• The Things We Said Today – The Beatles
• Things We Said Today – The Beatles
• War – Joe Satriani
• Wherever I May Roam – The Metallica
• Unholy Confessions – Avenged Sevenfold

for more than you need to know about the Phrygian mode

Lydian Songs

• Dreams – Fleetwood Mac
• The Simpsons Theme Song
• Freewill – Rush
• Act Naturally – Johnny Russell, covered by The Beatles (G Ionian and D Lydian)
• Man on the Moon – R.E.M.
• Billy Goat Hill – (1961) The Kingston Trio
• Peregrine – (1968) Donovan
• Blue Jay Way – The Beatles
• Flying in a Blue Dream – (1989) Joe Satriani (Satch)

Checkout for more than you need to know about the Lydian mode

Mixolydian Songs

• Old Joe Clark
• You Really Got Me – The Kinks
• Cinnamon Girl – Neil Young
• On Broadway – by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil in collaboration with the team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. I love George Benson's version on Weekend In LA.
• Born This Way – Lady Gaga
• Clocks – Coldplay
• L.A. Woman – The Doors
• Royals – Lorde
• All Blues – Miles Davis (a Mixolydian Blues in 6/8)
• Dark Star – Grateful Dead
• Express Yourself – Madonna
• If I Needed Someone – The Beatles
• Norweigan Wood – The Beatles
• Seven Bridges Road – The Eagles
• Southern Cross – CSNY
• Summer Song — Joe Satriani
• Sweet Child of Mine — Guns n Roses
• Sweet Home Alabama — Lynard Skynyrd
• Tequila – The Champs, written by Danial Flores, credited to Chuck Rio. Covered by numerous rock and jazz artists. For jazz guitar fans be sure to checkout Wes Montgomery's version.

Checkout for more than you need to know about the Mixolydian mode

Aeolian Songs

• All Along the Watchtower – Bob Dylan
• Beat It – Michael Jackson
• Brothers in Arms – Dire Straits
• Californication – Red Hot Chili Peppers
• God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen" – Traditional Christmas Song
• I See Fire – Ed Sheeran
• Isn't It Midnight – Fleetwood Mac
• Losing My Religion – R.E.M.
• Part Of Me – Katy Perry
• My Favorite Things – Rodgers and Hammerstein for The Sound of Music
• Shine on You Crazy Diamond – Pink Floyd
• Take Five – by Paul Desmond and performed by The Dave Brubeck Quartet on their 1959 album Time Out
• Street Spirit – Radiohead

Checkout for more than you need to know about the Aeolian mode

Locrian Songs

You won't find many, if any songs written using the Locrian mode. Various metal artists such as Metallica and Slayer have used the Locrian scale's diminished second and fifth intervals in chromatic riffs.

• Army of Me – Björk', verse is written in the Locrian mode
• Juicebox – The Strokes, the bassline is in Locrian

Checkout for more than you need to know about the Locrian mode