Lesson
14: Modes
Modes are basically scales that are derived from the major scale. The
only difference is that they have some flatted or sharped notes. For example:
the interval pattern for the major scale was R (root)-2-3-4-5-6-7-O (octave)
and the steps went W-W-H-W-W-W-H... The Dorian Mode has an interval pattern
of R-2-b3 (b=flat) -4-5-6-b7-O so its steps went W-H-W-W-W-H-W...
So guess what... All of the modes listed below use the same patterns!!
The only other difference is where the root note is... You just follow
the same pattern but use a different root note... pretty neat huh.
Notes (Degrees --> Roman Numerals) of the Major Scales.
| Scale |
I |
II / IX |
III |
IV / XI |
V |
VI / XIII |
VII |
I (octave) |
| A |
A |
B |
C# |
D |
E |
F# |
G# |
A |
| A#/Bb |
A# |
C |
D |
D# |
F |
G |
A |
A# |
| B |
B |
C# |
D# |
E |
F# |
G# |
A# |
B |
| C |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
A |
B |
C |
| C#/Db |
C# |
D# |
F |
F# |
G# |
A# |
C |
C# |
| D |
D |
E |
F# |
G |
A |
B |
C# |
D |
| D#/Eb |
D# |
F |
G |
G# |
A# |
C |
D |
D# |
| E |
E |
F# |
G# |
A |
B |
C# |
D# |
E |
| F |
F |
G |
A |
A# |
C |
D |
E |
F |
| F#/Gb |
F# |
G# |
A# |
B |
C# |
D# |
F |
F# |
| G |
G |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F# |
G |
| G#/Ab |
G# |
A# |
C |
C# |
D# |
F |
G |
G# |
Modes
So you can be using one pattern and it is really several different modes
in the same key the key is determined by the major scale. For example:
The E major scale follows the same pattern as the F# Dorian mode. The only
difference --> Where the Root note lies.
Now, use the links to the left and look at the section called chords.
(do that now). Notice the chords for the dorian mode are Minor, Minor Sevenths,
and Minor Ninths. Also notice that the chords for the major scale are Major,
Major Sevenths, Major Ninths, and Elevenths. In other words you can use
E major, major 7th, etc. chord with the E major scale, and you can use
F# minor, minor 7th, and minor 9th chords with the F# Dorian Mode. But
remember the E major scale is also the F# Dorian Mode (Just a different
root note)... So you can use all of those chords with the F# Dorian Mode
and the E major scale that's 7 different chords that you can use. But don't
forget that there are several other modes to get chords from for a grand
total of... 20 different chords that can be played with one pattern!! |
