mode
Plural
modes
1
a particular method or way in which something is done or occurs
- The system has a manual mode for advanced users.
- Meditation is her preferred mode of relaxation.
- The virus spreads through a new mode of transmission.
- We need to switch to a more sustainable mode of production.
- His mode of thinking is analytical and precise.
2
the value that appears most frequently in a data set
Synonyms:
3
a specific arrangement of tones and semitones that create a distinctive scale pattern
A mode is a type of scale that provides a specific set of musical notes and their order, creating different moods or characteristics. Modes are based on the same set of notes as a major or minor scale but start from different points within that scale. For example, the Ionian mode is the same as the major scale, while the Dorian mode starts from the second note of the major scale and has a distinct sound. Modes help to define the tonal color and emotional quality of a piece of music.
- The composer utilized the Dorian mode to evoke a sense of melancholy in the piece.
- Modal interchange involves borrowing chords from different modes to create harmonic interest.
- The Phrygian mode imparts a distinctive Spanish flavor to flamenco music.
- Jazz musicians often experiment with the Mixolydian mode to create tension and release in improvisation.
- Gregorian chants are often based on the Ionian mode, also known as the major scale.
Synonyms:
4
a classification of propositions on the basis of whether they claim necessity or possibility or impossibility
Synonyms:
6
a particular functioning condition or arrangement