Ionian mode

theoryeye-OH-nee-unfrom Greek

The first mode of the major scale, identical to the major scale itself‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌

In Depth

The Ionian mode is the major scale by another name: its interval pattern is W-W-H-W-W-W-H.‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌ In the medieval modal system, Ionian was not officially recognised until the 16th century, when theorist Heinrich Glarean added it and the Aeolian mode to the original eight church modes. Despite being the most familiar Western scale, calling it Ionian rather than major serves a purpose: it places it within the modal system alongside its six siblings, emphasising that major and minor are modes among equals.

Did you know?

Glarean's addition of the Ionian and Aeolian modes in 1547 effectively created the modern major-minor system, though it took another century to fully displace the older modal thinking.

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The second-highest voice type, or an instrument pitched between soprano and tenor.

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The measure of a sound wave's intensity, perceived as loudness or volume.

anacrusis

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