Theory

ACHILLES

Phrygian/
Aeolian

Major 4th
mm

AION

Dorian

/Aeolian 

Major 5th

mm

APOLLO

Lydian

Major 2nd

MM

ARES 

Ionian

/Mixolydian  Major 2nd  

Mm

ASTRAEUS 

Phrygian 

Minor 7th  

m m

ATLAS  

Mixolydian 

Major 3rd 

Mdim

COEUS

Aeolian

/Phrygian

Minor 6th

mM

CRIUS

Lydian

/Mixolydian

/Ionian

Major 6th

Mm

CRONUS

Ionian

/Mixoldyian

Major 4th

MM

DIONYSIUS

Aeolian

Major 2nd

m → dim

EDURUS

Locrian

Major Fourth

dim → m

EPIMETHEUS

Mixolydian

Minor 7th

MM

EROS

Lydian
/Ionian

Major Fifth

M → M

HADES

Locrian

Minor 2nd

dim → M

HECTOR

Dorian

Major Fourth

mM

HELIOS

Lydian

Major Seventh

Mm

HERMES

Phrygian

Minor Second

mM

HYPERION

Locrian

Minor Sixth

dim M

HERCULES

Dorian/

Phrygian/

Aeolian

Minor Third

mM

HEPHAESTUS

Locrian

Minor Third

dim → m

LELANTOS

Locrian

Minor Seventh

dim → m

OCEANUS

Dorian

/Aeolian

Minor Seventh

mM

PHANES

Phrygian

Major Fifth

mdim

POLYPHEMUS

Lydian

Minor Fifth

Mdim

PONTUS

Mixolydian

Major Fifth

Mm

POSEIDON

Lydian

/Ionian

Major 3rd

Mm

TARTARUS

Locrian

Minor Fifth

dim → M

THANATOS

Ionian

Major Seventh

Mdim

URANUS

Dorian

Major Sixth

mdim

ZEUS

Dorian

Major Second

mm

Enter the gods! Pending a lengthier explanation, here is a placeholder one that details the theory alluded to above. What theory, Alex? I just see a bunch of really well-drawn cartoon gods! Well, so begins a conversation about major modal songwriting! If you take the 7 modes of the major scale, and analyse what chords each they produce, and how they are relative to each other considering modes – you can notice that some chords occur across more than one mode! In some instances, however, there is only one available mode in inference in a chord change. For example, a major second interval transgressing from a major chord to a major chord is always Lydian. The fourth major mode, is attributed the colour green, as with the ascending-from-red colours of the rainbow. So, can you spot Apollo? He’s third from the top left, carrying the harp. Green as anything! He’s also “stoic”, “stepping”, “strong” and “predictable” – qualities which will be explained later. To be continued!