Mode Names

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 23 Nov 2005 7:15 pm

I suddenly realized that reason I couldn't remember all of those mode names is that there are 7 of them, and I only actually ever play in 4 of them. Can someone tell me the names of these 4 scale modes?

C D E F G A B C

C D E F G A Bb C

C D Eb F G A Bb C

C D Eb F G Ab Bb C

I know there are 3 more, but a really don't want to hear about them right now. I just want to memorize the names of these 4 modes.

Too much information confuses me.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b2005.gif" width="78 height="78">Bobby Lee (a.k.a. b0b) - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
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Brendan Dunn · Post by **Brendan Dunn** » 23 Nov 2005 7:47 pm

I think the first three would be:

Ionian
Mixolydian
Dorian

I'm not sure of the 4th one.

Dyke Corson · Post by **Dyke Corson** » 23 Nov 2005 8:02 pm

the 4th one is Aeolian

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 24 Nov 2005 3:26 am

So, you DON'T want to play in Phrygian* mode? How are you going to play your King Crimson and Ozzy Osborne licks? Look out Nashville:

*(C Db Eb F G Ab Bb C)

The Double Harmonic Minor (or "Byzantine") scale has a lot of potential too, along with it's assorted modes. It's traditionally used for charming cobras, but it might work on those little desert rattlers you have in California.

(C Db E F G Ab B C)[This message was edited by David Mason on 24 November 2005 at 03:40 AM.]

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 24 Nov 2005 6:24 am

Ah yes the Byzantine scale.. Love it

We actually have a short section
of lead guitar and bass octaves
in a new song using this scale.

Go figure.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 24 Nov 2005 7:10 am

Bobby, you might try fooling around with the phrygian mode too.

C Db Eb F G An Bb. This works well when descending.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 24 Nov 2005 7:10 am

Jennings Ward, you want to chime in on this one?

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 24 Nov 2005 9:49 am

Don't confuse me with other scales! I just want to memorize the names of those 4. Here's what I think you said:

Ionian - the regular major scale (I)
Mixolydian - major with flat 7 (V)
Dorian - minor with flat 7 (ii)
Aolian - minor with flat 6 & flat 7 (vi)

I'm not a King Crimson/Ozzy Osborne fan, I don't charm snakes, and I have no use for knowing the names of scale modes other than these 4.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b2005.gif" width="78 height="78">Bobby Lee (a.k.a. b0b) - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Williams D-12 E9, C6add9, Sierra Olympic S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop S-8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster D-8 (E13, C6 or A6) My Blog

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 24 Nov 2005 9:58 am

Flash! I just realized that Dorian and Aolian start with the name of the of the first note of their natural key. A memory aide! Look:

Dorian - D E F G A B C D

Aolian - A B C D E F G A

Now we're getting somewhere! Also, Ionian is the scale of the I chord.

All I need is a trick to remember that Mixolydian is the flat 7th scale and I've got it made.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 24 Nov 2005 10:01 am

Yeah, as long as you only play in the key of C.

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 24 Nov 2005 12:38 pm

I Don't Play Loud Music Any Longer

Ionian - The Major Scale - Bright sounding.

Dorian - minor sounding, has a b3 and b7 - Scarborough Fair

Phrygian- b2, b3, b6, b7 - minor Middle Eastern Sounding - Al DiMeola

Lydian- #4 - Jazzy Sounding - Jeff Berlin

Mixolydian - b7th - Bluesy Major sounding, also Country

Aeolian - b3, b6, b7 - exactly the same as a Natural Minor Scale

Locrian - b2, b3, b5, b6, b7 - very strange sounding- Steve Vai.

As long as you don't plan on charming snakes, b0b, you've got it covered, except for the Lydian.
Think of it as a major scale with a suspended fourth.
Useful if you want to hint that you know Jazz.
I find it easy to remember it's name, since it's below a similar named mode.
<IMG SRC="http://joeyace.com/img/vol.jpg"</A>

Cody Campbell · Post by **Cody Campbell** » 24 Nov 2005 12:57 pm

I know Bobby said he wouldn't be doing any snake-charming...

but David mentioned the Byzantine scale. That caught my interest, cause I never heard it called that. I've only seen it called gypsy minor or hungarian minor.

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 25 Nov 2005 1:56 am

I have always though of the Hungarian Minor scale as being the 4th mode of the Byzantine scale - C D Eb F# G Ab B C

(on a six-string, you can use the Byzantine scale in E using the low open E string, alternating with the Hungarian Minor scale in A using the open A string - the notes are the same - E F G# A B C D# E;
A B C D# E F G# A - but you change the emphasis by banging away on alternating open root strings. You can knock the socks offa them thar snakes with those kind of licks, Bubba.)[This message was edited by David Mason on 25 November 2005 at 02:03 AM.]

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 25 Nov 2005 6:13 pm

Useless!

Matt Dawson · Post by **Matt Dawson** » 26 Nov 2005 1:26 am

Good topic!
Our band does a cover of 'Jeremy' by Pearl Jam.
A lo-fi version is at:
http://www.dawson.lu/jeremy.wma
I do the ebow/steel intro using the scale
1 2b 3 4 5 6b 7b
Is there a name for this slightly eastern sounding scale?
Cheers
Matt[This message was edited by Matt Dawson on 26 November 2005 at 01:36 AM.]

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 26 Nov 2005 11:08 am

The seven modes are all the same scale, but with a different starting point. Scales that don't follow that pattern aren't modes.

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 26 Nov 2005 12:42 pm

I'm not sure if it's technically correct or not, but it's common to use the term "mode" to refer to a scale that starts on a different note of any other scale, whether it's the traditional do-re-mi or not. For example, I have a source listing the above (1 2b 3 4 5 6b 7b) as being the 5th mode of the Harmonic Minor scale, known variously as the Phrygian Dominant, Major Phrygian, Balkan, Jewish, Spanish Gypsy, or Ahovah Rabboh scale. Used in this way, "modes" are a way of organizing a lot of altered scales into families which helps simplify harmony somewhat.[This message was edited by David Mason on 26 November 2005 at 12:51 PM.]

richard burton · Post by **richard burton** » 26 Nov 2005 1:14 pm

But can you guys actually play?

Jennings Ward · Post by **Jennings Ward** » 26 Nov 2005 1:30 pm

SORRY BARRY, I ONLY READ SHAPE NOTES AND TIME SIGNATURES....CAN'T HELP YOU.......
JENNINGS.......U PK;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

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EMMONS D10 10-10 profex 2 deltafex ne1000 pv1000, pv 31 bd eq, +

Matt Dawson · Post by **Matt Dawson** » 26 Nov 2005 11:13 pm

Many thanks David for finding that info. Interesting that it should be regognisable in such diverse cultures. I have some Bosnian folk music thats based on this scale too.
Thanks
Matt

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 26 Nov 2005 11:40 pm

But can you guys actually play?

LOL!!!

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 27 Nov 2005 6:01 am

Here's the juice, organized for use: [URL=http://www.olga.net/dynamic/
browse.php?printer=0&local=resources/chord_docs/exotic_scales2.txt] [This message was edited by David Mason on 28 November 2005 at 05:20 AM.]

George Redmon · Post by **George Redmon** » 27 Nov 2005 9:57 am

my dog has fleas.......doe a deer a female deer...ray a drop of golden sun...me a name i call myself.............

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 27 Nov 2005 1:03 pm

Suppose you had all the scales and modes memorized. What the heck would you do with that knowledge?

John Steele (deceased) · Post by **John Steele (deceased)** » 27 Nov 2005 2:24 pm

David, play tunes with more than three chords in 'em.

Let me ask a couple of questions of you guys that are so terrified of theory that it leads you to make insinuations that people who study it can't play...

What's the second chord of "Take the A Train", and what would you play over it ?
In another thread they are discussing the old tune "At Last". What's the chord in the 3rd bar of the bridge, and what do you play over it ?

It would be OK to say "I Don't Know", because that's what the majority of steel players would have to answer if they were honest.
Chicken Pickin' over jazz changes doesn't cut it. Calling someone a "jazz snob" because they point out correctly that someone hasn't paid their dues enough to know what they're doing doesn't cut it either.

-John
p.s. Richard, I think I can play, but I'll leave that up to others to make the call.
[This message was edited by John Steele on 27 November 2005 at 02:24 PM.]