E Ionian

Happy, bright, resolved — built from E major

PARENT FAMILY · E MAJ

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

#	Mode	Diatonic chords	Mood
I	E Ionian	Emaj7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7 – Amaj7 – B7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7♭5	Happy, bright, resolved
II	F♯ Dorian	F♯m7 – G♯m7 – Amaj7 – B7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7♭5 – Emaj7	Soulful, minor but with hope
III	G♯ Phrygian	G♯m7 – Amaj7 – B7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7♭5 – Emaj7 – F♯m7	Dark, tense, Spanish/flamenco
IV	A Lydian	Amaj7 – B7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7♭5 – Emaj7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7	Dreamy, floating, ethereal
V	B Mixolydian	B7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7♭5 – Emaj7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7 – Amaj7	Bluesy, dominant, rock
VI	C♯ Aeolian	C♯m7 – D♯m7♭5 – Emaj7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7 – Amaj7 – B7	Melancholic, natural minor
VII	D♯ Locrian	D♯m7♭5 – Emaj7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7 – Amaj7 – B7 – C♯m7	Unstable, tense, dissonant

SCALE · 7 NOTES · 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯

Formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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

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

DIATONIC 7ths · CHORD PAD

I

Emaj7

II

F♯m7

III

G♯m7

IV

Amaj7

V

B7

VI

C♯m7

VII

D♯m7♭5

▸ Play E Ionian over Emaj7 and B7 progressions.

FRETBOARD · STANDARD TUNING · 15F● LIVE

CHARACTER · HAPPY, BRIGHT, RESOLVED

HAPPY, BRIGHT, RESOLVED

E Ionian is a major mode with a happy, bright, resolved character. It is the I mode of E major — it uses the same 7 notes as E Ionian but is rooted on E, which shifts the harmonic focus and creates a completely different sound. The tonic chord is Emaj7.

Where to use E 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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