The ionian mode is the other prominent major mode. It differs from the mixolydian by its placement of the second half step of the scale as shown below:

Two common ionian tunings have the melody and middle strings at the same pitch, a fifth or octave above the bass string. Other tunings include the melody and bass strings an octave apart with the middle string a fifth above the bass or the strings tuned to create either a major or minor chord. A common ionian tuning is DAA.

Aolian is a minor mode. Again, it is the placement of the ½ steps in the scale that make it different.

To tune your mountain dulcimer to aolian from mixolydian, you can use two methods. The first method is probably the simplest-leave the bass and middle strings the same and tune the paired melody strings down one full step. An alternate method would be to raise the bass and middle strings up one full step. Each method is completely acceptable and has its own merits. The most common aolian tuning is DAC.

The last mode we'll look at is dorian. As with the other modes, it is the placement of the ½ steps that make it different. Dorian is sometimes called "mountain minor" due to its unusual scale.

From mixolydian, a dorian tuning can be achieved by raising the bass string one full step. A common dorian tuning is EAD.