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Lesson 3 of 6
  • Year 7

Modes and sea shanties

I can explain what a mode is and have performed a modal sea shanty melody.

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View unit
Lesson 3 of 6
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New
  • Year 7

Modes and sea shanties

I can explain what a mode is and have performed a modal sea shanty melody.

Download all

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A mode is a type of scale, of which there are seven different types.
  2. The dorian mode is commonly used in folk music, and it sounds similar to a minor scale.
  3. A sea shanty is a type of folk song that was traditionally sung by sailors to coordinate their movements.
  4. What Shall We Do With A Drunken Sailor? is a famous example which uses the D dorian mode and a strophic structure.

Keywords

  • Mode - a type of scale, of which there are seven main types

  • Dorian mode - a mode that sounds similar to a minor scale; the D dorian mode uses the white notes starting on D

  • Strophic - a structure based on repeating verses, with variation in the lyrics

  • Sea shanty - a folk song traditionally sung by sailors to help them coordinate their movements

Common misconception

The dorian mode is the same as a minor scale.

There is a slight difference, with one different note. All of the modes are closely linked to major and minor scales, but have slightly different notes that help to create different moods.


To help you plan your year 7 music lesson on: Modes and sea shanties, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Sea shanties are traditioanlly sung, so to build on the learning from this lesson consider doing some singing warm-ups or activities with the class based on singing sea shanties. Drunken Sailor is an easy and fun song for pupils to learn.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Keyboard instrument

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
A phrase is a short section of a melody, normally 1, 2 or _____ bars long.

Correct Answer: 4, four

Q2.
A scale that includes five notes is called a __________ scale.

Correct Answer: pentatonic

Q3.
A conjunct melody moves by __________ steps.

Correct answer: small
large
random
no

Q4.
Order the five notes of the G major pentatonic scale.

1 - G
2 - A
3 - B
4 - D
5 - E

Q5.
Which of these is NOT a common characteristic of folk music?

simple melodies
repetition
storytelling
Correct answer: complex harmonies

Q6.
A pair of quavers (eighth notes) is worth how many beats?

1 beat each (2 total)
Correct answer: ½ beat each (1 total)
2 beats each (4 total)
¼ beat each (½ total)

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which statement is true about a mode?

it has no notes
it is a type of rhythm
Correct answer: it is a type of scale with a distinct sound
it is another name for a chord

Q2.
Which of these is the name of a mode?

harmonic
Correct answer: dorian
rhythmic
melodic

Q3.
The dorian mode sounds similar to what scale?

Correct answer: minor
major
pentatonic
chromatic

Q4.
A __________ is a type of folk song that was traditionally sung by sailors to coordinate their movements.

ballard
Correct answer: sea shanty
carol
lullaby

Q5.
A __________ structure repeats the same verse with different lyrics.

binary
rondo
Correct answer: strophic
ternary

Q6.
Which of these shows the D dorian mode?

D–E♭–F–G–A–B♭–C–D
D–E–F♯–G–A–B–C♯–D
Correct answer: D–E–F–G–A–B–C–D
D–E–F–G–A–B♭–C–D