If a scale is a combination of 8 successive nots (with that 8th note an octave above the first), do any 8th notes make a scale?
Not necessarily.
Some 8-note combinations are called modes.
Modes date back to the medieval church and Gregorian chant and were first called church modes.
The name of each mode is based on the final note of the mode, in Latin.
There are 7l different modes:
- each of which can be thought of as a starting on a different degree of the major scale
- you stay within the relative major scale
- you just start on different notes
- for eg. the Dorian mode: like starting on the 2nd degree of a major scale
- the Phrygian mode — start on the 3rd degree of a major scale
- the Lydian — the 4th
- the Mixolydian: the 5th
- Aeloian — 6th, same as the natural minor scale
- Locrian — 7th
Not all modes are common in popular and jazz music.
The most used modes are:
Dorian, Mixolydian, and Locrian
The Ionian and Aeolian are also popular, but that’s because they are identical to the major, and natural minor scales respectively, so there is nothing new to learn.
Dorian Mode
Dorian mode can be thought of as starting on the 2nd degree of a major scale.
It sounds like a natural mionr scale but with a raised 6th.
eg Scarborough Fair — composed entirely in Dorian mode.
The intervals between the ntes in the Dorian mode:
W H WWWHW
1 2 b 4 5 6 b7
The dorian mode is apprpriate to play with mnor 7th chords.
Mixolydian Mode
the mixolydian mode can be thought of as starting on the 5th degree of the related major scale.
It’s essentially a major scale with a lowered 7th, b7.
Cuz it fits so well with dominant 7th chords, the mixolydian mode is sometimes called the dominant scale.
Intervals are:
W W H W W W H W
In relation to the major scale: the scale degrees go:
1 2 3 4 5 6 b7
C D E F G A Bb C
Cuz of the b7, the mixolydian mode is very approprite to play againt a dominant 7th chords.
Locrian Mode
Starts on the 7th degree of the related major scale.
It’s probably the weirdest sounding of all the modes cuz all the leading notes are in all the wrong places.
It is often used in jazz improvisation.
Intervals between th notes in the Locrian mode go like this:
H W W H W W W
In realtionship to a major scale, the scale degrees go:
1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7
The locrian mode is appropriate to play with half-diminished 7th chords (a minor 7th chords with b5)
Tags: modes