Scales & Modes
The
musical scale consists of a series of notes arranged in pitch order and
forming the basis for a musical part. Usually, a scale is a series of 8
consecutive notes that uses a pattern of half and whole steps.
This is the Major scale (begins on C and therefore
called C Major):
The basic scales
There are different kinds of scales and modes:
All played from the note C.
The Red
ones are the major modes and the Blue
ones are the minors.
Major
(Ionian mode) - played on the white keys from c' to c''
The
pattern of half and whole steps:
W W H W W W H
Aeolian
mode (Natural minor) - played from c' to c'' with Eb Ab and Bb
Harmonic
minor - like Natural minor but with a leading tone (only Eb and Ab)
Melodic
minor - like Natural minor but with 6th and 7th degrees raised (only Eb).
On descending played Natural minor
Improve your ability to recognize scales
The Modes
Modes are ancient scales that were common in Western
music till the end of the Middle Agesþ and in many musical cultures all
over the world, until today. Jazz musicians also use them extensively.
The most used modes are:
Dorian
mode - like Natural minor with the 6th degree raised.
Phrygian
mode - like Natural minor with the 2th degree lowered.
Lydian
mode - like Major with the 4th degree raised.
Mixo-Lydian
mode - like Major with the 7th degree lowered.
Locrian
mode - like Natural minor with the 2 and 5th degrees lowered.
In the Educational Music Lab you will
be able to listen to a melody played in different modes
You may use the online Virtual Piano
to study the scales and modes from any key
MusixCool© By Nadav
Dafni
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