Welcome to the Zelda Modes Series!

If you've never learned about modes before, congratulations!

You're about to learn some seriously cool stuff.

The Zelda Modes series is designed to give you an aural reference for each
major mode using popular and beautiful themes from Zelda Ocarina of Time.

On a sonic level, a mode is a mood. (I didn't make that one up)

Each mode has a distinct vibe and atmosphere and can bring out
a lot of different emotions. I want to help you use those emotions by
helping you identify which mode creates which sound.

On a music theory level, the major modes are derived from the major scale.

You just take a scale, let's use C Major for example, and use it to form
a bunch of other scales. Basically each mode in a key has the same notes
but in a different order.

Each mode is named after a Greek island... I think...

Here are the major modes derived from the C major scale:
1 - CDEFGABC - Ionian - which is the same as the major scale
2 - DEFGABCD - Dorian
3 - EFGABCDE - Phrygian
4 - FGABCDEF - Lydian
5 - GABCDEFG - Mixolydian
6 - ABCDEFGA - Aeolian - which is the same as the natural minor scale
7 - BCDEFGAB - Locrian

On the next page I have the modes notated and tabbed out. Try playing
each one and improvising with the notes. Try to focus your improv on
the first note of each mode so that the first note sounds like home base.
This will help you start to get the mode in your ears.
 Major Modes Manual for the Zelda Modes Series
by Fake Dr. Levin

& 44
1 - C Ionian - Also Known as Major

Guitar

T 4 5
Guitar A 3 5 7
B 3 5 7

2 - D Dorian

Gtr. &

Gtr. 5 7
5 7 9
5 7 8

3 - E Phrygian

5

Gtr. &

Gtr. 7 9
7 9 10
7 8 10

7 4 - F Lydian
Gtr. &

Gtr. 9 10
9 10 12
8 10 12
 Major Modes Manual for the Zelda Modes Series 3
5 - G Mixolydian


9

Gtr. &

Gtr. 10 12
10 12 14
10 12 14

6 - A Aeolian - Also Known as A Natural Minor
&
11

Gtr.

Gtr. 12 14
12 14 15
12 14 15

&
13 7 - B - Locrian
Gtr.

Gtr. 14 16
14 15 17
14 15 17

All the previous modes stayed within the key of C major. Let's see what
happens if we take those same scale shapes, but keep C as the bottom
note. In other words, rather than going through each mode relative to C,
we will try going parallel to C.

C Ionian - AKA C Major

15

Gtr. &

Gtr. 4 5
3 5 7
3 5 7
 4 Major Modes Manual for the Zelda Modes Series
C Dorian - 2nd mode in the key of Bb
b
17

& b

Gtr.

Gtr. 3 5
3 5 7
3 5 6

C Phrygian - 3rd mode in the key of Ab
b b
19

& b b

Gtr.

Gtr. 3 5
3 5 6
3 4 6

C Lydian - 4th mode in the key of G

21

Gtr. & #

Gtr. 4 5
4 5 7
3 5 7

C Mixolydian - 5th mode in the key of F
b
23

&

Gtr.

Gtr. 3 5
3 5 7
3 5 7

C Aeolian - AKA C natural minor - 6th mode of Eb

b b
25

Gtr. & b

Gtr. 3 5
3 5 6
3 5 6
 Major Modes Manual for the Zelda Modes Series 5
C Locrian - 7th mode of Db

b b
27

& b b b

Gtr.

Gtr. 3 5
3 4 6
3 4 6

Here are some important questions to ask yourself in order to make sure you
get the concept:

1. What is each mode called?

2. Dorian is the second mode, if you are playing G Dorian, the first mode would
be called ____Ionian (fill in the blank)

3. What key is F Mixolydian in?

Think about it for a bit, see if you can get it on your own using the stuff I just
presented. This is a lot of information and it might be confusing, so if you're
still stumped after a few minutes, go to the next page to read the answers.
Then, see if you can connect the dots using these answers.
 6 Major Modes Manual for the Zelda Modes Series

1. What is each mode called?

Ionian Dorian Phrygian Lydian Mixolydian Aeolian Locrian

2. Dorian is the second mode, if you are playing G Dorian, the first mode would
be called ____Ionian (fill in the blank)

F Ionian is the answer because if G is Dorian, G is the 2nd note in the key.
You would then count down from 2nd (G) to 1st (F) to find your Ionian.

Ionian, being the first mode, is also the key you're in.

If F is Ionian, then you are in F major, and the modes are like this:

F Ionian, G Dorian, A Phrygian, Bb Lydian, C Mixolydian, D Aeolian, E Locrian

3. What key is F Mixolydian in?

Bb Major. Mixolydian is the 5th mode, so you count down the major scale from
from 5th (F) to 1st(Bb) to find the answer.

F G A Bb C D Eb F = F Mixolydian
Bb C D Eb F G A Bb = Bb Major = Bb Ionian.

If these answers cause more confusion, send me an email at

BenLevinMusic@gmail.com and I'll try to create a FAQ for this series. It's a lot
of info but you can do it! Good luck and enjoy the Zelda melodies!