Magic Modes Wheel by Colin Fleming

How to use it

If you love modes but hate the mental acrobatics, this is for you.

You know that moment when someone shouts: “Let’s jam in D# Mixolydian!” and your brain suddenly has to do 12 calculations, convert it to a parent scale, figure out the chords, then decide what to play — all before the drummer counts in?

With this wheel, you just dial it in.

1. Choose the key (like D#/Eb) and choose the mode (like Mixolydian).
2. The wheel shows you the chords that belong to that mode — so you can write progressions or jam without guessing.
3. Now look at where the black segment is pointing. That tells you the “relative major” scale to use (the parent major scale), but you simply start and resolve on the mode’s root note instead of the major root. For example, If you dial in B Lydian, the black segment is pointing to F#, so play the F# major scale, just using B as the root note to resolve to. Easy hey?

Same pool of notes, different home base. Different home base = totally different feel.

Mode feel guide

• Ionian (Major)
  Feel: bright, stable, “home”.
  Styles: pop, folk, rock, worship, anything resolved.
  Examples: “Let It Be” (The Beatles). Meatloaf, Do Rae Me, the familiar favorates.
• Dorian
  Feel: minor with hope — the “cool” minor (raised 6 gives it lift).
  Styles: funk, soul, classic rock grooves, latin, modal jazz, jam sections.
  Examples: “So What” (Miles Davis), “Oye Como Va” (Santana) "The Wall" (Pink Floyed).
• Phrygian
  Feel: dark, exotic, tense — the b2 is the sting.
  Styles: metal, Spanish/Flamenco colours, film tension, heavy riffs.
  Examples: “Doo Wop (That Thing)” (Lauryn Hill) often gets discussed for Phrygian flavour. Metallica type stuff.
• Lydian
  Feel: major but lifted and dreamy — the #4 makes it float.
  Styles: cinematic, prog, post-rock, ambient, cosmic slow stuff.
  Examples: “Flying in a Blue Dream” (Joe Satriani). "The Simpsons theme" is almost Lydian. Often used in movie score.
• Mixolydian
  Feel: major with swagger — the b7 makes it bluesy/rocky and open.
  Styles: rock, blues-rock, funk, folk, Celtic vibes, jam-band grooves.
  Examples: “Wild Thing” (The Troggs), “Sweet Home Alabama” (Lynyrd Skynyrd).
• Aeolian (Natural Minor)
  Feel: the familiar minor sound — emotive, moody, dramatic.
  Styles: rock, pop ballads, indie, cinematic, metal (natural minor vibe).
  Examples: “Losing My Religion” (R.E.M.).
• Locrian
  Feel: unstable, tense, “nothing wants to land”. Think of what 5 spoons of coffee and 12 spoons of sugar will sound like : )
  Styles: rare as a full key; useful as a colour in riffs and film tension.
  Examples: Think of it like hot sauce — tiny doses go a long way.

About & Guitar Lessons

I’m Colin Fleming, a guitarist, songwriter, and teacher based in Randburg, South Africa. I teach guitar with a strong focus on musical understanding, creativity, and practical tools — like this Magic Modes Wheel — that help players actually use theory instead of getting stuck in it.

I offer in-person lessons in Randburg as well as remote lessons worldwide. Whether you’re a beginner trying to break through confusion, or an experienced player wanting to unlock modes, improvisation, and songwriting, I tailor lessons to how you learn.

If you’d like to hear my music — and if you’re feeling generous — you can listen to and support my work here:

https://www.reverbnation.com/colinfleming

Buying an album (even once… or a few times 😄) genuinely helps keep tools like this free and supports independent music and teaching.