CH·01 / B IONIAN
I
B Ionian
Happy, bright, resolved — built from B major
PARENT FAMILY · B MAJ
All 7 modes share the same parent scale (B major). B Ionian is the I mode.
| # | Mode | Diatonic chords | Mood |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | B Ionian | Bmaj7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7 – Emaj7 – F♯7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7♭5 | Happy, bright, resolved |
| II | C♯ Dorian | C♯m7 – D♯m7 – Emaj7 – F♯7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7♭5 – Bmaj7 | Soulful, minor but with hope |
| III | D♯ Phrygian | D♯m7 – Emaj7 – F♯7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7♭5 – Bmaj7 – C♯m7 | Dark, tense, Spanish/flamenco |
| IV | E Lydian | Emaj7 – F♯7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7♭5 – Bmaj7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7 | Dreamy, floating, ethereal |
| V | F♯ Mixolydian | F♯7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7♭5 – Bmaj7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7 – Emaj7 | Bluesy, dominant, rock |
| VI | G♯ Aeolian | G♯m7 – A♯m7♭5 – Bmaj7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7 – Emaj7 – F♯7 | Melancholic, natural minor |
| VII | A♯ Locrian | A♯m7♭5 – Bmaj7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7 – Emaj7 – F♯7 – G♯m7 | Unstable, tense, dissonant |
SCALE · 7 NOTES · 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
B
C♯
D♯
E
F♯
G♯
A♯
Formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
The Ionian scale on B contains the notes B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A♯. The pentatonic subset is B, C♯, D♯, F♯, G♯.
Characteristic note: the major 7th gives it a bright, resolved sound.
DIATONIC 7ths · CHORD PAD
I
Bmaj7
II
C♯m7
III
D♯m7
IV
Emaj7
V
F♯7
VI
G♯m7
VII
A♯m7♭5
▸ Play B Ionian over Bmaj7 and F♯7 progressions.
FRETBOARD · STANDARD TUNING · 15F● LIVE
CHARACTER · HAPPY, BRIGHT, RESOLVED
HAPPY, BRIGHT, RESOLVED
B Ionian is a major mode with a happy, bright, resolved character. It is the I mode of B major — it uses the same 7 notes as B Ionian but is rooted on B, which shifts the harmonic focus and creates a completely different sound. The tonic chord is Bmaj7.
Where to use B 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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