# Modes, major and minor

The seven white keys can give seven different modes, depending on which note feels like home. Starting and ending on C gives the major mode (Ionian), on D the Dorian mode, on A the minor mode (Aeolian), and so on. The notes are the same, but the character changes. Medieval and Renaissance music used all of them. From the 1600s Western music relied mainly on major and minor, which give a strong ending through the leading tone, the note just below home. Folk music, jazz and film music kept using the others.

Connects to:
- [Pentatonic and diatonic](https://mapideas.org/i/mu_scales)
- [Chords and voice leading](https://mapideas.org/i/mu_chords)

Sources:
- [Wikipedia: Mode (music)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mode_(music))
- [What is music? Module 6, same notes, a different home](https://sofiagallego.com/what-is-music/)

Source: https://mapideas.org/i/mu_modes · open on the map: https://mapideas.org/#mu_modes