What is a Modal Harmony?

Modal harmony is a harmonic system based on musical modes rather than the traditional major and minor scales used in tonal harmony. Instead of relying on functional chord relationships like tonic, dominant, and subdominant, modal harmony centers around the characteristic sound of a particular mode.

A musical mode is a type of scale with its own pattern of intervals and distinctive tonal color. Examples include Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, and Mixolydian. When music uses modal harmony, the chords and melodies are built from the notes of the chosen mode rather than following the typical harmonic progressions of major or minor keys.

Modal harmony is commonly found in folk music, jazz, rock, and film music, as well as in many non-Western musical traditions. It often creates a more open and atmospheric sound because the harmony may remain centered around a single tonal area rather than moving through strong tension-and-resolution patterns.