We calculate and compare the temporal growth rate and the number of e-folding growths for the following wave modes due to a low-cone-driven cyclotron maser: fundamental x, o, and z modes and second harmonic x and o modes. The dominant mode of the maser should be the fastest growing mode for a saturated maser and should be the mode with the greatest number of e-folding growths for an unsaturated maser; this mode is the fundamental x mode for &ohgr;p/&OHgr;e0.3) is produced directly by maser emission. We suggest (1) that an o mode component in AKR might be due to partial reflection of x mode radiation incident onto sharp overdense plasma intrusions of the kind observed in the auroral cavity and (2) that a second harmonic component can be produced by coalescence of two z mode waves.