The 24 Essential Mode/Chord Structures
Modes & Symbols of the Major Scale
MAJOR SCALE MODE FORMULA I: MAJOR SCALE MODE SYMBOL I: 1-1(1) – IONIAN ma13
EXAMPLES:
In the Key of C: C-C(C) With C as the Root: C-C(C)
MAJOR SCALE FORMULA II: MAJOR SCALE MODE SYMBOL II: 2-2(1) – DORIAN mi13
EXAMPLES:
In the Key of C: D-D(C) With C as the Root: C-C(Bb)
MAJOR SCALE FORMULA III: MAJOR SCALE MODE SYMBOL III: 3-3(1) – PHRYGIAN mi11(b9,b13)
EXAMPLES:
In the Key of C: E-E(C) With C as the Root: C-C(Ab)
MAJOR SCALE FORMULA IV: MAJOR SCALE MODE SYMBOL IV: 4-4(1) – LYDIAN ma13(#11)
EXAMPLES:
In the Key of C: F-F(C) With C as the Root: C-C(G)
MAJOR SCALE FORMULA V: MAJOR SCALE MODE SYMBOL V: 5-5(1) – MIXOLYDIAN 13
EXAMPLES:
In the Key of C: G-G(C) With C as the Root: C-C(F)
MAJOR SCALE FORMULA VI: MAJOR SCALE MODE SYMBOL VI: 6-6(1) – AEOLIAN mi11(b13)
EXAMPLES:
In the Key of C: A-A(C) With C as the Root: C-C(Eb)
MAJOR SCALE FORMULA VII: MAJOR SCALE MODE SYMBOL VII: 7-7(1) – LOCRIAN mi11(b5,b9,b13)
EXAMPLES:
In the Key of C: B-B(C) With C as the Root: C-C(Db)
Modes & Symbols of the Melodic Minor Scale
MELODIC MINOR FORMULA I: MELODIC MINOR SCALE MODE SYMBOL I: 1-1(1mm) – MELODIC MINOR mi(ma13)
EXAMPLES:
In the Key of Cmm: C-C(Cmm) With C as the Root: C-C(Cmm)
MELODIC MINOR FORMULA II: MELODIC MINOR SCALE MODE SYMBOL II: 2-2(1mm) – DORIAN b2 Mi13(b9)
EXAMPLES:
In the Key of Cmm: D-D(Cmm) With C as the Root: C-C(Bbmm)
MELODIC MINOR FORMULA III: MELODIC MINOR SCALE MODE SYMBOL III: 3-3(1mm) – LYDIAN AUGMENTED +ma13(#11)
EXAMPLES:
In the Key of Cmm: Eb-Eb(Cmm) With C as the Root: C-C(Amm)
MELODIC MINOR FORMULA IV: MELODIC MINOR SCALE MODE SYMBOL IV: 4-4(1mm) – LYDIAN DOMINANT (b7) 13(#11)
EXAMPLES:
In the Key of Cmm: F-F(Cmm) With C as the Root: C-C(Gmm)
MELODIC MINOR FORMULA V: MELODIC MINOR SCALE MODE SYMBOL V: 5-5(1mm) – MIXOLYDIAN b6 11(b13)
EXAMPLES:
In the Key of Cmm: G-G(Cmm) With C as the Root: C-C(Fmm)
MELODIC MINOR FORMULA VI: MELODIC MINOR SCALE MODE SYMBOL VI: 6-6(1mm) – LOCRIAN #2 mi11(b5,b13)
EXAMPLES:
In the Key of Cmm: A-A(Cmm) With C as the Root: C-C(Ebmm)
MELODIC MINOR FORMULA VII: MELODIC MINOR SCALE MODE SYMBOL VII: 7-7(1mm) – ALTERED SCALE (SUPER-LOCRIAN) alt7 or 7(b9,#9,#11,b13)
EXAMPLES:
In the Key of Cmm: B-B(Cmm) With C as the Root: C-C(Dbmm)
Modes & Symbols of the Harmonic Minor Scale
HARMONIC MINOR FORMULA I: HARMONIC MINOR SCALE MODE SYMBOL I: 1-1(1hm) – AEOLIAN (#7) mi(ma11,b13)
EXAMPLES:
In the Key of Chm: C-C(Chm) With C as the Root: C-C(Chm)
HARMONIC MINOR FORMULA II: HARMONIC MINOR SCALE MODE SYMBOL II: 2-2(1hm) – LOCRIAN (#6) mi13(b5,b9)
EXAMPLES:
In the Key of Chm: D-D(Chm) With C as the Root: C-C(Bbhm)
HARMONIC MINOR FORMULA III: HARMONIC MINOR SCALE MODE SYMBOL III: 3-3(1hm) – IONIAN (#5) +ma13
EXAMPLES:
In the Key of Chm: Eb-Eb(Chm) With C as the Root: C-C(Ahm)
HARMONIC MINOR FORMULA IV: HARMONIC MINOR SCALE MODE SYMBOL IV: 4-4(1hm) – DORIAN (#4) mi13(#11)
EXAMPLES:
In the Key of Chm: F-F(Chm) With C as the Root: C-C(Ghm)
HARMONIC MINOR FORMULA V: HARMONIC MINOR SCALE MODE SYMBOL V: 5-5(1hm) – PHRYGIAN (#3) 11(b9,b13)
EXAMPLES:
In the Key of Chm: G-G(Chm) With C as the Root: C-C(Fhm)
HARMONIC MINOR FORMULA VI: HARMONIC MINOR SCALE MODE SYMBOL VI: 6-6(1hm) – LYDIAN (#2) ma13(#9,#11)
EXAMPLES:
In the Key of Chm: Ab-Ab(Chm) With C as the Root: C-C(Ehm)
HARMONIC MINOR FORMULA VII: HARMONIC MINOR SCALE MODE SYMBOL VII: 7-7(1hm) – MIXOLYDIAN (#1) mi/o7 [POLYCHORD]
EXAMPLES:
In the Key of Chm: B-B(Chm) With C as the Root: C-C(Dbhm)
Modes & Symbols Symmetrical Scales
1/2 - WHOLE DIMINISHED FORMULA: ½ – w
1/2 – WHOLE DIMINISHED SYMBOL: 13(b9, #9, #11)
WHOLE – 1/2 DIMINISHED FORMULA: w – ½
WHOLE – 1/2 DIMINISHED SYMBOL: 07
WHOLE TONE FORMULA: w
WHOLE TONE SYMBOL: +9(#11)