A Ionian

Happy, bright, resolved — built from A major

PARENT FAMILY · A MAJ

All 7 modes share the same parent scale (A major). A Ionian is the I mode.

#	Mode	Diatonic chords	Mood
I	A Ionian	Amaj7 – Bm7 – C♯m7 – Dmaj7 – E7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7♭5	Happy, bright, resolved
II	B Dorian	Bm7 – C♯m7 – Dmaj7 – E7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7♭5 – Amaj7	Soulful, minor but with hope
III	C♯ Phrygian	C♯m7 – Dmaj7 – E7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7♭5 – Amaj7 – Bm7	Dark, tense, Spanish/flamenco
IV	D Lydian	Dmaj7 – E7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7♭5 – Amaj7 – Bm7 – C♯m7	Dreamy, floating, ethereal
V	E Mixolydian	E7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7♭5 – Amaj7 – Bm7 – C♯m7 – Dmaj7	Bluesy, dominant, rock
VI	F♯ Aeolian	F♯m7 – G♯m7♭5 – Amaj7 – Bm7 – C♯m7 – Dmaj7 – E7	Melancholic, natural minor
VII	G♯ Locrian	G♯m7♭5 – Amaj7 – Bm7 – C♯m7 – Dmaj7 – E7 – F♯m7	Unstable, tense, dissonant

SCALE · 7 NOTES · 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

A B C♯ D E F♯ G♯

Formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

The Ionian scale on A contains the notes A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G♯. The pentatonic subset is A, B, C♯, E, F♯.

Characteristic note: the major 7th gives it a bright, resolved sound.

DIATONIC 7ths · CHORD PAD

I

Amaj7

II

Bm7

III

C♯m7

IV

Dmaj7

V

E7

VI

F♯m7

VII

G♯m7♭5

▸ Play A Ionian over Amaj7 and E7 progressions.

FRETBOARD · STANDARD TUNING · 15F● LIVE

CHARACTER · HAPPY, BRIGHT, RESOLVED

HAPPY, BRIGHT, RESOLVED

A Ionian is a major mode with a happy, bright, resolved character. It is the I mode of A major — it uses the same 7 notes as A Ionian but is rooted on A, which shifts the harmonic focus and creates a completely different sound. The tonic chord is Amaj7.

Where to use A Ionian

Major key melodies, pop, folk, classical.

Famous examples

Happy Birthday
Let It Be
most pop songs

What makes it distinctive: the major 7th gives it a bright, resolved sound.

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