What Are Scale Modes For Piano?   by Tony Dunne

in Entertainment / Music    (submitted 2012-01-27)

If you have been trying to learn about scales and chords for playing the piano, you may have come across the word 'modes' and noticed the strange terms associated with them, such as Ionian, Mixolydian and Aeolian. You can be forgiven for thinking, 'What on earth do they all mean and what are they used for?' This article attempts to lift the lid on scale modes and explain a bit more about them.

Basically, modes are scales that are built on the different scale degrees of the Major key signatures. The names originate from Ancient Greece, before the invention of the piano keyboard, and relate to classes, or groups, of musical tones. They used to be important in the days of early piano keyboards, then fell out of favour when Major and Minor scales came along, with which you will, no doubt, be rather more familiar.

However, today modes are widely used in jazz and blues and other less formal styles of music that feature improvisation. But, we're getting ahead of ourselves. Improvisation is a topic for another day.
In the meantime, here is a basic introduction to modes.

There are seven modes in total and each one is different, depending on the key signature being played. So, taking the ubiquitous C Major as our starting point, here is a list of modes relating to that key:

• C is the Ionian mode and is played from C to the C note an octave higher. (In other words, it's played exactly as you would play the C Major scale),
• D is the Dorian mode and is played from D to the D note an octave higher. (Note that you are still in C Major, as you are in the remainder of these illustrations, so all the notes played are natural, or white, notes),
• E is the Phrygian mode and played E to E an octave higher,
• F is the Lydian mode (played F to F),
• G is the Mixolydian mode (played G to G),
• A is the Aeolian mode (played A to A),
• B is the Locrian mode (played B to B).

Each mode is determined by the scale degree in each key. These break down as follows:

• Ionian mode: first scale degree (or note) of the key signature being played,
• Dorian mode: second scale degree of the key signature,
• Phrygian mode: third,
• Lydian mode: fourth,
• Mixolydian mode: fifth,
• Aeolian mode: sixth,
• Locrian: seventh.

All this should be self-evident in C Major, but it needs to be illustrated in a different key just to be clear about how the modes operate from one key signature to another.

Thus, in A Major the scale modes are as follows:

• A - (first scale degree) is the Ionian mode (played from is A to A),
• B - (second) is the Dorian mode (played from B to B),
• C - (third) is the Phrygian mode (played from C# to C#),
• D - (fourth) is the Lydian mode (played from D to D),
• E - (fifth) is the Mixolydian mode (played from E to E),
• F - (sixth) is the Aeolian mode (played from F# to F#),
• G - (seventh) is the Locrian mode (played from G# toG#).

So, in each different key signature, modes are designated according to each successive degree in the scale. The same sharps or flats are played as would be normal for that particular key signature.

What this all means when it comes to playing in different key signatures and different modes is a question for another time. For now, however, it's probably enough that you try to digest the information in this article and try to transpose each mode into different keys.

Remember, modes all follow the same pattern when it comes to playing different scale degrees. So, to take another key signature, in G Major, the Ionian mode is G because it is the first scale degree in that key. All the other modes are designated according to where they are in relation to that note.

Anyway, good luck with that!

About the Author

Tony Dunne is an internet marketer with a passion for pianos and all things connected to them. Although not a talented musician, he is dedicated to helping others learn to play the piano, whatever their musical tastes or ambitions.

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