Modes of the Major Scale

A Mode is a type of scale created by establishing a new tonic within a preexisting scale.

Example:

• The C Major scale has these notes: C, D, E, F, G, A, B ,C.
• The Tonic in the C Major scale is C.
• If we establish a new tonic on one of the notes other than C, for instance D, we now have a Mode.
• The new mode on D has these notes: D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D.
• This is the Dorian mode.
• New modes may be created the same way on the other notes of the Major scale.

The Modes of the C Major scale:

• Ionian/Major Scale: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C
• Dorian: D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D
• Phrygian: E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E
• Lydian: F, G, A, B, C, D, E, F
• Mixolydian: G, A, B, C, D, E, F, G
• Aeolian/Natural minor scale: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A
• Locrian: B, C, D, E, F, G, A, B

Notice that the Ionian mode is the same as the Major scale. The Aeolian mode is also the same as the Natural minor scale. The Locrian mode is used less often because it has a diminished fifth instead of a perfect fifth for its fifth scale degree and therefore has a less stable sound.

Each mode has its own unique sound even though they all have the same notes as their "parent" scale, the Major scale.

Minor Scales

(You may want to read an introduction to scales first.)

There are three types of Minor Scales: Natural Minor, Harmonic Minor and Melodic Minor.

Natural Minor

The Natural Minor scale has the following pattern of half-steps (H) and whole-steps (W):

W-H-W-W-H-W-W

Here is a Natural Minor scale starting on F:

Harmonic Minor

The Harmonic Minor scale has the following pattern of half-steps, whole-steps and one augmented second (A2):

W-H-W-W-H-A2-H

Here is a Harmonic Minor scale starting on F:

Melodic Minor

The Melodic Minor scale is different because when we go up the scale we use one pattern and when we go down the scale we use another.

The ascending pattern is: W-H-W-W-W-W-H

The descending pattern is the Natural Minor Scale: W-H-W-W-H-W-W

Here are the ascending and descending patterns for the Melodic Minor scale starting on F:

Learn about more Scales