While the scales (which we’ve also referenced extensively above) are a great starting point to help you understand their structure, modes truly shine when their colors are borrowed in chord progressions and melodies to achieve unique moods that might not be accessible when solely sticking to the confines of major and natural minor.
Each chord is also called a triad and consists of the root note, the 3rd above and the 5th above (in the scale). If we use this idea for every note of the scale, we get all 7 chords in the key of C major. Here are the chords in C major: I – C major- C, E, G. ii – D minor- D, F, A. iii – E minor, E, G, B. IV – F major- F, A, C. Minor keys, along with major keys, are a common choice for popular music. The three most important chords, built off the 1st, 4th and 5th scale degrees are all minor chords (G minor, C minor, and D minor). For chord progressions, statistics, and tendencies, view this key in Hooktheory Trends BtqA9.