Basic Music Theory: How to Read, Write, and Understand Written Music

25: Scales a la Mode

You want to find the Dorian mode which begins on F. So you’d find out

which Major scale has F as its second note. The answer is Eb.

2 Then use the key signature you found in step 1 for the Dorian mode. In

our example, you’d play F to F using the key of Eb.

Moving On

Again, modes aren’t particularly necessary to understand music theory,

but can be useful. Now we get to move on to the blues scales, which are

fun and sound cool.

Chapter 25 Review

1. What are the names of the modes?


2. Which mode is the same as the major scale?


3. Which mode is the same as the natural minor
   scale?


4. What is the starting note for the Dorian mode which
   uses the key of D Major?


5. What key signature would be used for the Dorian
   mode beginning on an A?
   
   
   1. Ionian, Dorian,
      Phrygian, Lydian,
      Mixolydian,
      Aeolian, Locrian
   
   
   2. Ionian
   
   
   3. Aeolian
   
   
   4. E
   
   
   5. Key of G. One
      sharp
   
   
   
   

Practical Use

1. Write out all of the modes in the key of C. Learn them on your instrument/voice.
   Know where the half steps are in each. Then learn all of the modes in the key of F, then
   G, etc. Keep adding a sharp or flat each time. Another option is to learn only one mode at
   a time in every key, for example, the D Ionian, D Dorian, D Phrygian, etc.