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Home , Aeolian mode, Dorian mode, Ionian mode, Locrian mode

CHAPTER 26

SCALES LA MODE Musical innovation is full of danger to the State, for when modes of music change, the laws of the State always change with them. PLATO

WHAT IS A MODE? A mode is a type of scale. Modes are used in music like salsa, jazz, country, rock, fusion, speed metal, and more. The reason the Chapter image is of musicians jamming is that modes are important to understanding (and using) jazz theory, and helpful if you’re trying to understand improvisation. Certain modes go with certain chords. For more information about modes and their specific uses in jazz, read James Levine’s excellent book, Jazz Theory. On the Web at http://is.gd/iqufof These are also called “church modes” because they were first used in the Catholic Church back in Medieval times (remember good old Guido ’ Arezzo?). The names of the modes were taken from the Greek modes, but other than the names, they have no relation to the Greek modes. The two modes that have been used the most, and the only two most people know, are now called the Major and natural minor scales. Their original names were the (Major), and the (natural minor). The other modes are: dorian, phrygian, lydian, mixolydian, and locrian. Modes are easy to understand. We’ll map out each mode’s series of whole and half steps and use the key of so there aren’t any sharps or flats to bother with. THE MODES IONIAN Ionian is used in nearly all Western music, from Acid Rock to Zydeco. You already learned it. The Ionian mode is the same as the scale. Use the half/whole pattern you get from the white keys on the piano from C to C: wwhwwwh

DORIAN We’re still using only the white keys, remember. The begins on D. The pattern of whole and half steps from D to D on the white keys of the piano is whwwwhw. Do you see where the shift occurred? There are 12 Dorian scales, each starting on a different note, just like all other scales, corresponding to the 12 key signatures. The Dorian mode is -sounding scale used in rock, jazz, blues, and fusion. PHRYGIAN You’ve probably caught on to the pattern by now. Phrygian begins on the third degree of the and in the key of C is to E on the white keys of the piano. The whole-half step pattern is hwwwhww. This mode has a Spanish flavor and is used in jazz, music, fusion, and speed metal. Twelve of these, too. In fact, there are 12 of each type of mode because there are 12 different key signatures, and 12 different pitches in an .

LYDIAN Lydian begins on the 4th degree of the Major scale and in the key of C is from to F on the white keys of the piano. Whole-half step pattern is wwwhwwh. You might see this mode in jazz, fusion, rock, or country music. It’s like a major scale with a raised 4th which gives this scale a floating, open quality.

MIXOLYDIAN Mixolydian begins on the fifth degree of the Major scale, and in the key of C is to G on the white keys. Whole-half step pattern is wwhwwhw. This mode shows up in jazz, rockabilly, country, blues, and rock. AEOLIAN Also known as the natural , the Aeolian mode begins on the sixth degree of the Major scale. In the key of C it’s from A to A on the white keys. whwwhww. Aeolian appears in all kinds of music: jazz, pop, country, Rock, blues, heavy metal, classical, and on and on....

LOCRIAN The has a very exotic and other-worldly sound. All because of the placement of those half steps, in this case, hwwhwww. You’ll find Locrian in fusion and in jazz. The Locrian mode begins on the seventh degree of the Major scale, and is to B in the key of C. FINDING MODES IN OTHER KEYS There are two ways to find a mode in another key. You can find a mode within a certain , or find a mode starting on a specific note. MODES IN THE KEY OF X To find a mode in a certain key is easiest; there are just a couple steps. 1. Play the Major scale in the key you’ll be using. For an example, let’s say you wanted to find the Dorian mode that uses the key of AB. First step is to play the AB Major scale. 2. Depending on what mode you want, start on the appropriate note in the Major scale, and play an octave in the key of the Major scale. For our example, you want the Dorian mode, which begins on the second degree of the Major scale. So you’d play from BB to BB using the key of AB. MODES FROM A SPECIFIC NOTE To find a mode beginning on a specific note, the process is a little different but still pretty simple. You have a few options, but here’s the best. It’s the best method, because there is only one step, and finding the mode this way relates closely to the chord that goes with it, something you’ll learn in the next section of the book: For this method to be effective, you have to know what degrees of the major scale are lowered to achieve the mode. Let’s try a different mode, perhaps the most common one, the Mixolydian. 1. Compared to the Major scale, the has a lowered seventh. So, if you wanted to play B Mixolydian, you’d use the B Major scale with a lowered seventh. That’s it, one step only. 2. But, let’s take the next most common mode, Dorian. Compared to the Major scale, the Dorian mode has a lowered third and seventh. Lower those two degrees in the Major scale and you’ve turned it into a Dorian mode. Easy peasy. MODES USING OTHER SCALES The word mode is a general term. There are modes built from other scales, too, like the ascending melodic minor scale (a scale we haven’t covered). Taking a scale and going through its modes will give you interesting and exotic-sounding patterns of notes to play with. To the right is the “parent” scale (ascending melodic minor) and its third mode, Lydian Augmented. Both scales are used with more advanced harmonic progressions, that are covered elsewhere, but this will help illustrate the concept of modes. There is always something more to practice!

MOVING ON Again, modes aren’t particularly necessary to understand in general, but they’re crucial to gain a deeper understanding of jazz theory and especially improvisation. Next we’ll move on to blues scales and many others that sound cool and are fun to play. CHAPTER 26 STUDY GUIDE 1. What are the names of the modes? Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian 2. What mode is the same as the major scale? Ionian 3. Which mode is the same as the natural minor scale? Aeolian 4. Compared to the Major scale, which notes are lowered for the Dorian mode? Mixolydian? Dorian: 3rd, 7th; Mixolydian: 7th

5. What key signature would be used for the Dorian mode beginning on an A? key of G Major one sharp (F#) 6. What key signature would be used for the Mixolydian mode beginning on F? key of Bb Major, two flats (Bb, Eb)

PRACTICAL USE EXERCISES 1. Write out all of the modes in the key of F. Learn them on your instrument/voice. Know where the half steps are in each. Then learn all modes in the key of G, then BB, then D, etc. Another way is to learn one mode at a time in every key, for example: D Dorian, EB Dorian, E Dorian, F Dorian, etc.