L 11

Modes and Non-Western

Scales
 Modes
Ionian Major Scale
Dorian 2nd of Major Scale
Phrygian 3rd of Major Scale
Lydian 4th of Major Scale
Mixolydian 5th of Major Scale
Aolian 6th of Major Scale (Minor)
Locrian 7th of Major Scale
 Ionian
Major

CDEFGABC

Click to listen to Ionian Mode

 Dorian
Starts on the 2nd of the Major Scale

DEFGABCD

Click to listen to Dorian Mode

 Dorian
Eleanor Rigby, by the Beatles

Also common in Jazz Tunes and Solos

 Phrygian
Starts on the 3rd of the Major Scale

EFGABCDE

Click to listen to Phrygian Mode

 Phrygian
Flamenco Music
 Lydian
Starts on the 4th of the Major Scale

FGABCDEF

Click to listen to Lydian Mode

 Lydian
Simpsons Theme song

Very common in Jazz Solos

 Mixolydian
Starts on the 5th of the Major Scale

GABCDEFG

Click to listen to Mixolydian Mode

 Mixolydian
Norwegian Wood, by the Beatles

Common in Jazz
 Aolian
Starts on the 6th of the Major Scale

ABCDEFGA

Click to listen to Aolian Mode

 Aolian
Typically called minor scale
Three forms
Natural Minor Aolian
Harmonic Minor
Raised 7th A B C D E F G# A
Melodic Minor
Raised 6th and 7th Ascending A B C D E F# G# A
Natural Minor Descending A G F E D C B A
 Locrian
Starts on the 7th of the Major Scale

BCDEFGAB

Click to listen to Locrian Mode

 Dorian Mode Example
Freddie Hubbards Little
Sunflower
Blue Grass Mixolydian and Aeolean
Modes Example
Ryan and Elliot project
Mixolydian Mode

Instruments

An exception to
the Rule
Presented By:

Ryan & Elliot

 MIXOLYDIAN MODE
All bluegrass music with few exceptions is
played in the Mixolydian mode

The Mixolydian Mode originally ascended

from G to G'
The "G" Mixolydian Mode

NOTE G A B C D E F G

Whole Whole Half Whole Whole Half Whole

FORMULA Tonic
Step Step Step Step Step Step Step
 MIXOLYDIAN MODE
The Mixolydian mode can be played in any
note following its interval structure

For example, lets construct the D

Mixolydian Mode Using this pattern

State the Tonic

Go up two whole steps
Go up a half step
Go up two more whole steps
Go up one more half step
Go up one more whole step

The D" Mixolydian Mode

NOTE D E F# G A B C D

Whole Whole Half Whole Whole Half Whole

FORMULA Tonic
Step Step Step Step Step Step Step
 INSTRUMENTS
Acoustic Bass

Tuned to E-A-D-G
Fretless
Played by Plucking or with bow

Acoustic Guitar

Tuned to E-A-D-G-B-E
Played in Flat Picking
or Finger Style
 INSTRUMENTS
Mandolin

Tuned to E-A-D-G
Eight strings set in pairs
F and A style

Dobro Resonator Guitar

Tuned to G-B-D-G-B-D
(Open G)
Played with slide and
finger Picks
Steel resonator
 INSTRUMENTS
Fiddle

Tuned to E-A-D-G
Played with a bow
Fretless

Tuned to D-B-G-D-C (open G)

Finger picking Banjo
Fifth string mounted
halfway down neck
Resonating Chamber Similar
to Drum Head
AN EXEPTION TO THE RULE

Dusty Miller (1966)

Uses Mixolydian & Aeolian Modes
First Part in Aeolian Mode in A scale
Second Part in Mixolydian Mode in G scale

This recording is from The Bluegrass

Mandolin Extravaganza album
Featuring some the best mandolin
players of all time
Including:
Ricky Skaggs, Ronnie McCoury, David
Grisman, Buck White, Jesse McReynolds,
Bobby Osborne and Frank Wakefield
 SOURCES

Northwest Bluegrass Mag Online

http://www.nwbn.freeserve.co.uk

BanjoLin.com
http://www.banjolin.supanet.com

Upon Request Productions

http://urp.home.cyberverse.com/mixolydian.htm

MUSIC BY : Don Reno- Cincinnati Rag

BME- Dusty Miller
 Certain scales (in some cases
modes) are linked with particular
chords.
Would you expect a dominant 7th
chord or a major 7th chord to be
associated with the Mixolydian
mode?
A) major 7th
B) dominant 7th
Non-Western Scales
 True or false:
The Jewish scale is a subset of the
diatonic scale.
A) T
B) F
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=MNtYYuWILNE&feature=related
 True or false:
The Arabian scale is a subset of the
chromatic scale.
A) T
B) F