Diatonic modes: types of scales

Musical scales that that we hear and love include the pentatonic and diatonic.  I mentioned that two of the diatonic scales we use most frequently are the major and the minor.  There is, however, a whole expressive world of diatonic scales in different modes. 

I first became acquainted with these wonderful scales when I heard a lecture on TV by Leonard Bernstein back in 1966 called "What Is a Mode?"  I was so intrigued by the expressive qualities of these scales that I couldn't wait to get to the piano to try them out.  Since there were no home video recordings at this time, I stayed impatiently at the TV, watching the program in anticipation, then jumped up to get to the piano. 

The seven diatonic modes, each with its own character and personality, are:

• Ionian, also known as Major, found by playing C to C on white keys

• Dorian, found by playing D to D on white keys

• Phrygian, found by playing E to E on white keys

• Lydian, found by playing F to F on white keys

• Mixolydian, found by playing G to G on white keys

• Aeolian, also known as natural minor, found by playing A to A on white keys

• Locrian, found by playing B to B on white keys

Or from darkest (most notes lowered from Major) to brightest: Locrian, Phrygian, Minor, Dorian, Mixolydian, Major, Lydian. 

Leonard Bernstein's wonderful lecture on modes, complete with orchestral examples played by the New York Philharmonic before a live audience, is here.  Listen with headset or good speakers!

For a more detailed description of the history of modes, see here. 

My book, Music Theory for Choral Singers, introduces these seven modes in Chapter 5.  Readers can learn to sing in each of these beautiful, expressive scales.  

Next post: Songs in the different modes