Guitar Psychology: Emotions conveyed by the Natural Modes

By Aditya Shukla, psychologist and guitarist

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Aeolian

Simple forms of excitement, familiarity, and energy. It's popular, so it doesn't create surprise.

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Locrian

Complex levels of high intensity and seriousness. Feelings of being unresolved, unstable, anxiety, and chaotic.

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Ionian

Conveys familiarity and social bonding + simple forms of happiness and joy. Easy to process. Shows stability and brightness.

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Dorian

Conveys mild violation of expectations and creates hope. Feelings associated with stability, simple creativity, and optimism, but realistic optimism.

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Phrygian

Conveys mystery and tension, in a positive and negative way. It's familiar because of common use but still conveys a sense of uncertainty.

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LYDIAN

Combines properties of the major and minor in a fluid sound. Feels complete, uplifting, dominating, and confident.

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MIXOLYDIAN

Conveys warmth and simplicity with a touch of heaviness, and a positive form of tension. If it were a type of stone, it's a big boulder getting baked in the sun.

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