I just noticed something about the modes I use...

[queenofshred]

I always use a mode that contains a note that is a perfect 5th above the tonic. Every time I've tried using a mode that doesn't contain this note (eg locrian and oriental minor), I just add it in as an extra.

Why do I find it so impossible to write music that doesn't contain this note in the scale? Is this something that defines my sound so that it just has to be there?

[alex]

Yep.

[alex]

Because that is the foundation of Classical Music, without it, tonality nearly falls apart, you can say bye bye to traditional modulations and cadences because there can be no dominant chord.

[queenofshred]

And no traditional tonic chord, either!