Using the Modes in Healing Music

The modes create interesting textures. They also provide melodic motifs that can be interspersed over a progression. Remember the chakra sequences we did? Using the 12 tones of the chakras we can easily see that the notes of the modes in a key can be used to bring the vibrational focus to any of them. Staying in the key of C and using the Phrygian Mode we see that the F# High Heart is included. If the intent is to invigorate that chakra while establishing balance for the rest, then this is a way to include it musically. It can be an instrumental or a vocal phrase. And one can move in and out of the modes at specific points in a composition, regularly or not.

An even more powerful use would be to create a Root/Fifth Drone (sustained tones) over which you would experiment with the modes using solo instrument or voice. The moods would be interesting and the chakras could all get stimulated/cleansed.

You have all you need in this lesson to begin an exploration of the nuances and impact of altered scales and modes. Varying the time of each note allows you to emphasize specifics in the composition to meet the unique needs of the client or the intended audience/theme.

Using another key as your drone and applying the modes shifts the focus. Though all notes are still available, the drone itself is saturating the intended primary chakra with frequency vibration.

More on drones and chord structures in an upcoming lesson.