All Modes - Hands-Free Ear Training 19

The 7 Modes of the Major Scale are used in a wide variety of music, from Gregorian Chant to Jazz to Video Game Music. These exercises will help you tell them apart. The full playlist is available on my Patreon for 1$ with audio downloads, but will gradually be made available on this channel for free. See below for links and a listener's guide.
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Let me stress again to imagine these Modes as variations of the Major and Minor scales, rather than thinking "These are all the major scale, just starting in different places." That might help you understand them, but not really hear or use them.
Ionian Mode - This is identical to the Major Scale. I've heard it argued that the Ionian Mode historically functions slightly differently than a modern Major Scale, but this is a little too hair-splitting for a practical teacher like me.
Dorian Mode - Identical to the Natural Minor Scale, but it does not have a flat 6. Jazz musicians like this mode because it gives them a minor 6 chord as the tonic chord to solo over. It has a bit more brightness than a natural minor scale. When you harmonize the scale, the big feature you get of the Dorian Mode is the Major IV chord.
Phrygian Mode - Identical to the Natural Minor Scale other than the flat 2nd scale degree. It is pretty unusual to have a flat 2 in the scale. The only other scale here that starts with a half step is the Locrian Mode, but that one should sound a little more unusual since it also has the flat 5.
Lydian Mode - This is my favorite mode, thanks for asking. It sounds exactly like a major scale with a sharp scale degree 4. The thing I like about this scale is that both the tonic (1) and dominant (5) scale degrees essentially have their own leading tones. Scale degree 7 is only a half step below one, and scale degree 4 is now only a half step below 5 as well.
Mixolydian Mode - This mode rocks. A lot of classic rock guitar riffs use the natural minor scale because they really love the heaviness of the flat 7th scale degree (subtonic). The Mixolydian Mode is just a major scale with a subtonic instead of a leading tone for scale degree 7, giving it both brightness and heaviness. "Cult of Personality" is a classic example of a guitar riff that uses the Mixolydian Mode.
Aeolian - Same as the Natural Minor Scale. Anyone who tells you it isn't is listening to too much Gregorian Chant.
Locrian Mode - I break my rule here by not imagining modes as "the Major Scale but starting on a different note". Because the Locrian Mode emphasizes the 7th scale degree of the Major scale, which has such a strong urge to resolve up to 1, I can't help but hear this mode as "the major scale, but ending on a wrong note." It will very much feel like it wants to resolve to a note other than the one that it's SUPPOSED to resolve to. It's for this reason that people simply don't use the mode very often.
In these examples, narrow it down between Major, Minor, and Diminished, and then narrow it down further based on which scale degrees are altered.
Thanks to @BrandonWalid, Martin Shaw, Tóth Ákos, Austin Kwan, and Rafael Belor for proof-watching this video.
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[@KeleuHerdley]

If it helps anyone, I usually listen for the third first so I can distinguish Major/Minor modes. Flat 2s will stick out immediately, but most of the minor modes have natural 2s. On the listen back, I try to find out which interval is different from 4-7.

[@joeluegersmusicacademy]

Great advice. I used to listen for an overall “mood” for particular scales, and I found it difficult. Now I’ve realized that if you fine tune your ear to hear half steps and whole steps, it’s kind of easy once you really know the scale formula.

[@vaultboy3100]

80% for me. I got confused between Locrian and Phrygian.

[@joeluegersmusicacademy]

Locrian sounds a little more like an unresolved major scale than Phrygian. Also listen specifically for where the half steps are. Locrian has one between 4 and 5.

[@vaultboy3100]

@@joeluegersmusicacademy Thanks. I was trying to listen out for the semi tones I can always get the first one but struggle at the end. I just need to practice them on the piano a bit more.