What are the Musical Modes?
Well, until today we’ve been speaking about scales. Each scale has a certain sequence of tone and half tones (sometimes more) within the range of an Octave. C major scale for example, is built out of the white keys of the piano starting from C and stepping in the sequence of 1-1-1/2, 1-1-1-1/2. In this scale we’ve learned the 7th note is the leading note leading to the root note. We’ve also discussed the other forces running through this scale. But happens if we choose to play this scale from a different key? Let’s say we start from D? Play Audio If you’ll play and listen to the mode we’ve create here you’ll discover that the impression and mood it creates is completely different then the major scale. To begin with, this scale has a minor third. So it sounds mellow unlike the major scale. The seventh note of the scale is a whole tone beneath the root note. Therefore it can’t function as a leading tone any longer. The 6th note of the scale (B) is raised in relation with the minor scale.
