Scales and Modes
The modes of the major scale, the six modes of the harmonic and melodic minor that get used, and five scales with fewer or more than seven notes, all from C: notation, intervals, diatonic chords and sound, as in the catalog of Dromoi. The theory is in lessons 4.05, 4.06 and 4.07.
Pick a mode or scale
Ionian
Other names: Major, Matzore
Relation to other scales: The 1st mode of the major scale: the major scale itself. The same as the Matzore Dromos.
Dorian
Other names: some players, more rarely, refer to this one as Kiourdi
Relation to other scales: The 2nd mode of the major scale: natural minor with a raised 6th.
Phrygian
Other names: Ousak
Relation to other scales: The 3rd mode of the major scale: natural minor with a lowered 2nd. The same as the Ousak Dromos.
Lydian
Relation to other scales: The 4th mode of the major scale: major with a raised 4th.
Mixolydian
Other names: Rast (descending form)
Relation to other scales: The 5th mode of the major scale: major with a lowered 7th. The same as the Rast Dromos as played descending.
Aeolian
Other names: Natural minor
Relation to other scales: The 6th mode of the major scale: the natural minor itself. The same as the Natural minor Dromos.
Locrian
Relation to other scales: The 7th mode of the major scale: natural minor with a lowered 2nd and a diminished 5th.
Phrygian dominant
Other names: Hijaz
Relation to other scales: The 5th mode of the harmonic minor: Phrygian with a major 3rd. The same as the Hijaz Dromos.
Dorian ♯4
Other names: Nikriz
Relation to other scales: The 4th mode of the harmonic minor: Dorian with a raised 4th. The same as the Nikriz Dromos in its basic form.
Lydian dominant
Relation to other scales: The 4th mode of the melodic minor: Mixolydian with a raised 4th.
Mixolydian ♭6
Relation to other scales: The 5th mode of the melodic minor: Mixolydian with a lowered 6th.
Locrian ♮2
Relation to other scales: The 6th mode of the melodic minor: Locrian with a natural 2nd.
Altered
Other names: Super Locrian
Relation to other scales: The 7th mode of the melodic minor: every degree except the tonic is altered.
Major pentatonic
Relation to other scales: The major scale without its 4th and 7th degrees: five notes, no semitones, which is why it sits on almost anything.
Minor pentatonic
Relation to other scales: The natural minor without its 2nd and 6th degrees. The same notes as the major pentatonic of the relative key (C minor = E♭ major).
Blues
Other names: Minor blues
Relation to other scales: The minor pentatonic with one extra note, the diminished 5th (F♯), between the 4th and the 5th.
Whole tone
Relation to other scales: Six notes, all a tone apart. It has neither a tonic chord nor a leading note, which is why it sounds suspended.
Chromatic
Relation to other scales: All twelve notes, all a semitone apart. Not the scale of a piece, but the material every other scale is cut from.
Want to work on this together? Lessons