Modal Scales
The Locrian and Lydian modes are not illustrated below but you should get a good idea of their construction after studying the others and watching the videos. The videos also cover the chords (often used in Jazz and Popular music) that derive from the scales.
Our familiar Major scale derives from the Ionian mode which was the original Greek form of the scale.
In major scales the semi-tones fall between the 3rd and 4th degrees and the 7th and 8th (marked on the illustration with brackets.
C major has no sharps or flats in the key signature as does its 'relative' A minor - The minor scale is actually derived from the Aeolian and Dorian forms (below)
Listen
to the Dorian mode on 'D' by rolling your mouse
over the little picture below. Modes are another old form from the dawn of civilization, well at least as far back as ancient Greece. The 'Church' or 'Ecclesiastical' modes dominated music in Europe from about 400 a.d. to around 1500. The Greek names are still used and the 'Dorian' mode here is based on the 'white' notes on a piano keyboard from 'D' to 'D'. We can think of this scale based on C major but beginning and ending on the 2nd degree.
Notice the semitones fall between 2-3 and 6-7. It sounds similar
to the minor scale especially at the beginning.
Listen to the Dorian mode on 'D'
The Phrygian mode begins on the 3rd degree of a Major scale, so in the case of the Phrygian on 'E' the 'source scale is C major.
Still using C major as the 'source' we introduce the 'Phrygian' mode which begins on 'E' (Dorian (D) Aeolian (A) Phrygian (E) (for Electrolux (fridge? )
Notice where the
semitones fall.Try singing these scalesHold
the mouse long enough to hear the first 2 notes - the interval
of a semitone. Try to distinguish this smaller interval from
those of a (whole) tone. This scale can be identified by
recognizing this opening interval, and then confirmed by the
other semitone 5-6. (In fact all scales are identified this way
by ear and also by the melodic qualities)
The Mixolydian mode begins on the 5th degree of a Major scale, so the mixolydian on 'G' has C major as its 'source scale along with our other examples.
Don't forget to write this scale out from any chromatic starting position.
Notice where the semitones fall.
Listen to the Mixolydian mode on 'G'. Notice how the arrival of
the 7th note destroys the effect of what would have been G
major. (with an F#)This mode is very popular with contemporary jazz and rock improvisers.
Listen
to the Aeolian mode on 'A' by rolling your
mouse over the little picture below. The Aeolian is also called the 'natural' minor because it does not require accidentals (it is 'as the key signature')The Aeolian sounds like a minor scale but differs from the harmonic version in that interval 6-7 is 'smoothed' out by becoming a 'tone' (whole-step) and the final interval is also a tone (so the 'finished' effect is removed) So it sounds like a normal minor until the final stages. Remember how the 2nd half of the melodic minor suddenly sounds like a major scale (ascending)
Listen to the Aeolian mode on 'A' Try singing the scales
The Pentatonic Scale
The
pentatonic scale is one of the oldest scales and has
been used in much traditional and folk music around the world
from Scotland to China. It also appears in rock, blues and
gospel music.The
scale here (left) is The Pentatonic on 'C' and is comprised of
the notes - C-D-E-G-A-(C)If you play the black keys on the piano F#, G#, A#, C# and D#, (right) then you have played a Pentatonic scale. (take away the sharps# and you have the major pentatonic scale of 'F')
The
pentatonic scale has 5 notes but we will include the upper
octave when writing it out in exams
Listen to C Pentatonic (roll mouse over image)
Listen to G Pentonic (roll mouse over image)
Listen to F Pentonic (roll mouse over image)