Splaining modes ....

[Jayster]

I recently tried to be a music guy, and splain something.... Stop laughing, how to tell why E phrgian is different than C major. Except for the lowered 2cd, it's only where you start ~ but maybe there is a better way to splain it??

[VitaminG]

how to tell why E phrgian is different than C major.

if you play them unaccompanied, there is no difference. You'll only notice the difference when you start playing them over a chord or progression. What gives each mode its flavour is its relationship to the underlying chords or harmonies.

Play the E phrygian over a C chord and it will sound just like a C major scale, no matter what note you start on - because it is. Same notes.

Play it over an Em, and suddenly the flavour of the scale changes - it becomes "phrygian"

Put together a simple Em backing track and play your C major scale over it. You'll hear the phrygian-ness of the scale now.

Do the same thing with a C progression and hear how those same notes take on a different character.