When you’re trying to learn the Modes, one of the most important things is to have examples of real music that use them so that you can get their sound into your head. Having these examples will really help you recognise the unique sound quality and distinctive “attitude” of each Mode.
So, without further ado, here are over 75 examples of the Modes in action in famous Rock, Blues and Metal songs, taken from my new book Modes For Rock Guitar Players. These examples will give you a bunch of real life ‘reference points’ for each Mode, in a Rock context, so that you can hear their sound and get inspired.
Ionian Mode Song Examples
Eric Johnson – Cliffs of Dover (G Ionian)
Joe Satriani – Always With Me, Always With You (B Ionian)
Tom Petty – Free Fallin’ (F Ionian)
Creed – Higher (D Ionian), One Last Breath (D Ionian)
Ozzy Osborne – Crazy Train (1st half of chorus) (A Ionian)
Aerosmith – Crazy (A Ionian)
Steve Vai – Liberty (E Ionian)
The Beatles – Let It Be (C Ionian)
Allman Brothers Band – Ramblin’ Man (Ab Ionian)
Dorian Mode Song Examples
Soundgarden – Loud Love (E Dorian)
Simon & Garfunkel – Scarborough Fair (E Dorian)
Chris Isaac – Wicked Game (B Dorian)
Jimi Hendrix – Purple Haze (E Dorian)
Santana – Evil Ways (G Dorian)
ACDC – Back in Black (E Dorian)
ACDC – Hells Bells (A Dorian)
Steve Vai – Bad Horsie (C Dorian / C Blues)
Pink Floyd – Another Brick in the Wall (D Dorian)
America – Horse With No Name (E Dorian)
Black Sabbath – Planet Caravan (E Dorian)
Bryan Adams – Run To You (F# Dorian)
Cream – Crossroads (A Dorian)
Nirvana – Heart Shaped Box (Ab Dorian)
Phrygian Mode Song Examples
Metallica – Wherever I may Roam (E Phrygian)
Metallica – Creeping Death (E Phrygian)
Megadeth – Symphony of Destruction (main riff/verse) (E Phrygian)
Deep Purple – Perfect Strangers (verse part 2 and bridge) (A Phrygian)
Deep Purple – Smoke On The Water (chorus) (G Phrygian)
Scorpions – Sails of Charon (B Phrygian)
Pink Floyd – Set Controls For The Heart Of The Sun (E Phrygian)
Jefferson Airplane – White Rabbit (F# Phrygian – first half)
Slayer – Seasons In The Abyss (Eb Phrygian / Eb Locrian)
Rammstein – Wollt Ihr Das Bett In Flammen Sehen (D Phrygian)
Alice in Chains – Would (verse) (F Phrygian)
The Prodigy – Girls (G# Phrygian)
Dream Theater – As I Am (C Phrygian / Locrian)
Lydian Mode Song Examples
Joe Satriani – Flying In A Blue Dream (C Lydian)
The Simpsons Theme (C, then B, then E Lydian)
Fleetwood Mac – Dreams (F Lydian)
Pearl Jam – Oceans (C Lydian)
Passionflower – Jon Gomm (Eb Lydian)
Dimmu Borgir – Arcane Lifeforce Mysteria (first 2 minutes) (E Lydian)
Mixolydian Mode Song Examples
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Sweet Home Alabama (D Mixolydian)
Guns n Roses – Sweet Child O Mine (verse) (Db Mixolydian)
Steve Morse – Highland Wedding (D Ionian, A Mixolydian)
John Petrucci – Glasgow Kiss (E Mixolydian)
Joe Satriani – Summer Song ( A Mixoyldian
The Rolling Stones – Satisfaction (E Mixolydian)
ACDC – Thunderstruck (E Mixolydian)
Led Zeppelin – Thank You (D Mixolydian, B Dorian)
Massive Attack – Teardrop (A Mixolydian; A Dorian on the darker phrases)
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Fortunate Son (G Mixolydian)
Neil Young – Cinnamon Girl (D Mixolydian)
Steve Earle – Copperhead Road (D Mixolydian)
Extreme – Decadence Dance (Ab Mixolydian/Dorian)
Iron Maiden – The Number of The Beast (D Mixolydian
Free – Alright Now (A Mixolydian)
ACDC – Thunderstruck (B Mixolydian – Intro lead)
Aeolian Mode Song Examples
Jimi Hendrix – All Along The Watchtower (C Aeolian)
Scorpions – Rock You Like A Hurricane (E Aeolian), No One Like You (A Aeolian)
R.E.M. – Losing My Religion (A Aeolian)
Guns n Roses – Nightrain (Ab Aeolian), November Rain (end solo) (B Aeolian)
Guns n Roses – Sweet Child O Mine (2nd half to end solo) (Eb Aeolian)
Iron Maiden – The Trooper (E Aeolian)
Dio – Holy Diver (C Aeolian)
Gary Moore – Over The Hills And Far Away (E Aeolian, then F# Aeolian)
Led Zeppelin – Stairway To Heaven (end section and solo) (A Aeolian)
Judas Priest – Breaking The Law (A Aeolian)
Black Sabbath – Children of The Grave (C# Aeolian)
Ozzy Osbourne – Crazy Train (intro and verse) (F# Aeolian)
The Rolling Stones – Gimme Shelter (C# Aeolian)
Thin Lizzy – Emerald (Ab Aeolian)
Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit (F Aeolian)
Kiss – I was made for loving you (E Aeolian)
Locrian Mode Song Examples
Rush – YYZ (intro) (C Locrian)
Slipknot – Left Behind (main riff notes) (B Locrian)
Metallica – Sad But True (Intro) (G Locrian)
Metallica – Enter Sandman (main riff is Blues/Locrian) (E)
Judas Priest – Painkiller (main riff notes) (E)
Saxon – Attila The Hun (main riff notes) (Bb Locrian)