Modes Of The Major Scale printable pdf download

Modes Of The Major Scale

By Stefon Pizzuto

As I scoured my hard drive several weeks ago perusing my collection of old

Webzine articles and soup recipes, I realized that I somehow skipped a very

important and practical theory application many bass students often inquire

about…the modes of the major scale.

Those of you who have worked through my previous articles have probably gone

through the modes of harmonic minor and the modes of jazz minor. Today, we

will be backtracking a bit to the original set of modes – the modes of the major

scale. This particular set of modes is the most common of the three, and is of

course the most widely used.

First let’s review the concept of modality. The term mode is just another word

meaning scale; thus, the two can be used interchangeably. Modality, as it

pertains to this exercise, can best be described as playing through a scale by

starting on each one of the consecutive intervals of the scale and continuing until

reaching the starting note’s octave.

Since the major scale contains seven notes (R-M2-M3-P4-P5-M6-M7), it will

produce seven modes. Be aware, we did not include the octave because it is the

same pitch as the root and, therefore, marks the spot where the modes begin all

over again.

Taking a look at the chart below, you will see that all seven modes have been

written out individually for you. We are using the key of C major for our example,

due to the fact that it contains no accidentals. Keep in mind, however, that these

modes appear in every major key and always have the same construction,

regardless of the key signature.

The first mode, Ionian, begins on the root and continues to the octave. Ionian is

simply another name for the major scale. The C major scale, therefore, can also

be called C Ionian.

Dorian, the second mode, starts on the second degree, or major 2nd, of a major

scale and continues until reaching the major 2nd above the octave. In the key of

C major, the Dorian mode begins on the note D.

The third mode, Phrygian, starts on the third degree, or major 3rd, of a major

scale and continues until reaching the major 3rd above the octave. In the key of

C major, the Phrygian mode begins on the note E.

Lydian, the fourth mode, starts on the fourth degree, or perfect 4th, of a major

scale and continues until reaching the perfect 4th above the octave. In the key of

C major, the Lydian mode begins on the note F.

Modes Of The Major Scale