Here is a list of the names and description of the sound of the seven modes.

IONIAN - very sweet, happy, bright. Perfect for happy songs, love songs, etc. Used for almost all childrens music

DORIAN - perfect middle ground. Not too bright, not to dark. Good for country, rock, blues.

PHRYGIAN - dark, classical metal sound. A Randy Rhoads favorite.

LYDIAN - very bright, upbeat. Good for anything very bright and upbeat such as pop, kids music, etc

MIXOLYDIAN - middle of the road bright scale. Good for light rock, pop, country, etc

AEOLIAN - gritty, bluesy, warm sounding rock scale. Good rock and blues scale.

LOCRIAN - very dark, dissident, brooding. Good for heavy metal, dark classical, etc

Root position mode scales tabbed out:

1st mode LONIAN
e-------------------------------------------------------7--9--10---
B-------------------------------------------7--9--10---------------
G-----------------------------4--6--7--9---------------------------
D-------------------4--6--7----------------------------------------
A---------4--5--7--------------------------------------------------
E--5--7------------------------------------------------------------

2nd mode DORIAN
e---------------------------------------------------------7--8--10---
B--------------------------------------------7--8--10----------------
G-----------------------------4--5--7--9-----------------------------
D-------------------4--5--7------------------------------------------
A---------3--5--7----------------------------------------------------
E--5--7--------------------------------------------------------------

3rd mode PHRYGIAN
e----------------------------------------------------6--8--10-----
B----------------------------------------6--8--10-----------------
G------------------------------3--5--7----------------------------
D--------------------3--5--7--------------------------------------
A---------3--5--7-------------------------------------------------
E--5--6-----------------------------------------------------------

4th mode LYDIAN
e---------------------------------------------------------7--9--11-
B--------------------------------------------7--9--10--------------
G-----------------------------4--6--8--9---------------------------
D-------------------4--6--7----------------------------------------
A---------4--6--7--------------------------------------------------
E--5--7------------------------------------------------------------

5th mode MIXOLYDIAN
e-----------------------------------------------------------7--9--10--
B---------------------------------------------7--8--10----------------
G------------------------------4--6--7--9-----------------------------
D--------------------4--5--7------------------------------------------
A---------4--5--7-----------------------------------------------------
E--5--7---------------------------------------------------------------

6th mode AEOLIAN
e----------------------------------------------------------7--8--10--
B---------------------------------------------6--8--10---------------
G------------------------------4--5--7--9----------------------------
D--------------------3--5--7-----------------------------------------
A---------3--5--7----------------------------------------------------
E--5--7--------------------------------------------------------------

7th mode LOCRIAN
e----------------------------------------------------------6--8--10--
B---------------------------------------------6--8--10---------------
G-------------------------------3--5--7--8---------------------------
D--------------------3--5--7-----------------------------------------
A---------3--5--6----------------------------------------------------
E--5--6--------------------------------------------------------------

Submitted by: Tyler Knight