Meet the Modes!
Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 3:47 pm
Once a student asked me if she started a D scale from any other note, would it still be a "D" scale. Well, yes and no. The key signature would be related to D, but the whole steps and half steps would be different and therefore create a new scale, called a mode.
We already know 2 modes:
Ionian Mode= Major Scale
Aeolian Mode= Natural Minor Scale
Here are the other modes:
(W= Whole step and H=Half step)
Dorian:
W-W-H-W-W-W-H
Phrygian:
W-H-W-W-W-H-W
Lydian:
W-W-W-H-W-W-H
Mixolydian:
W-W-H-W-W-H-W
Locrian:
H-W-W-H-W-W-W
All these scales are usedat some point when improvising or composing. Dorian is often used in folk and ethnic melodies. Mixolydian is used when playing over a dominant 7th chord. Lydian, Locrian and mixolydian are all used to create melodies of the complex, extended jazz chords. All of this is way beyond this discussion, but Neil will get to this soon!
If you are curious about Modes and their use check out this interactive theory book http://www.home.earthlink.net/~codybird/index.htm
for more information.
We already know 2 modes:
Ionian Mode= Major Scale
Aeolian Mode= Natural Minor Scale
Here are the other modes:
(W= Whole step and H=Half step)
Dorian:
W-W-H-W-W-W-H
Phrygian:
W-H-W-W-W-H-W
Lydian:
W-W-W-H-W-W-H
Mixolydian:
W-W-H-W-W-H-W
Locrian:
H-W-W-H-W-W-W
All these scales are usedat some point when improvising or composing. Dorian is often used in folk and ethnic melodies. Mixolydian is used when playing over a dominant 7th chord. Lydian, Locrian and mixolydian are all used to create melodies of the complex, extended jazz chords. All of this is way beyond this discussion, but Neil will get to this soon!
If you are curious about Modes and their use check out this interactive theory book http://www.home.earthlink.net/~codybird/index.htm
for more information.