|
|
Modes
A mode, in music, is a variation of a scale starting on a note other than the tonic note. Modes are fairly prevalent
in Jazz because of their versatility, and it adds another dimension to your musical possibilities. In order the modes
of the major scale are:
Ionian
Dorian
Phrygian
Lydian
Mixolydian
Aeolian
Locrian
The names for mode are pretty weird, but they originate from ancient Greece. Go figure. However, despite their odd
names they are useful musical devices. Each mode changes scale in a different way.
Ionian mode is identical to the major scale. It uses the pattern
1, 1, 1/2, 1, 1, 1, 1/2 just like a major scale, and
the tonic remains the same.
Dorian mode is similar to the natural minor scale, but contains a major sixth. Thus the pattern for dorian mode is
1, 1/2, 1, 1, 1, 1/2, 1.
Phrygian mode is also similar to the natural minor, but it has a minor second. The pattern is
1/2, 1, 1, 1, 1/2, 1, 1.
Lydian mode is similar to the major scale, but it has an augmented 4th. The pattern would be
1, 1, 1, 1/2, 1, 1, 1/2 .
Mixolydian mode is a major scale with a minor seventh. The intervals would be
1, 1, 1/2, 1, 1, 1/2, 1 .
Aeolian mode is identical to the natural minor scale. It’s intervals are (obviously) the same as a minor scale
1, 1/2, 1, 1, 1/2, 1, 1 .
Locrian mode, the seventh and final mode, is similar to the natural minor but has both a minor second and a diminished
fifth. The intervals are
1/2, 1, 1, 1/2, 1, 1, 1
The modes can add a lot to a composition (improv or pre-composed) and should be memorized.
Learned this material? Take the quiz and finalize it!.
Continue to Part 3
|
|