The 7 Modes Of The Major ScaleĮvery major scale has 7 modes, the modes are called Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aolian & Locrian. Furthermore, the 7 modes play a fundamental role in jazz improvisation. Well in fact, we get a new scale by starting and ending on each of the 7 notes of the major scales.Įach of these different starting points creates a ‘mode’ of the major scale and each has its own unique sound. We have learnt previously that every major scale has a relative minor scale which contains the exact same notes, but starts and ends on the 6th note of the major scale.

What Is A Mode?Ī mode is essentially a scale with an exotic name. These modes of the major scale can be used for improvisation over the chords in the major 251 progression and the modes of the melodic and harmonic minor scales can be used to improvise over the chords in the minor 251 progression.

We will work through each mode individually and talk about the specific character and sound of that mode so that we can then use this information in our soloing and improvisation. There are 12 major scales on the piano, and we can derive 7 modes from each major scales. In this lesson we explore the modes of the major scale, explaining what they are and where they come from.

A flat major scale piano