Music Theory // Melody

SCALES &
MODES

If chords are the landscape, scales are the path you walk. A scale is a specific sequence of intervals (Whole and Half steps) that defines the "pool" of notes available for a melody.

The Golden Formula

Every Major scale follows the same physical pattern of distances between notes. Memorize this, and you can play in any key.

W
Whole
W
Whole
H
Half
W
Whole
W
Whole
W
Whole
H
Half

The Pentatonic Scale

If you remove the "tense" intervals (4th and 7th) from the Major scale, you get the 5-note Pentatonic. It is nearly impossible to play a bad note in this scale.

Mode Spectrum

Bright
Dark
LydianIonianMixoDorianAeolianPhrygLocrian

Dorian

Soulful, Jazzy

Interval Formula
1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7

What is a Mode?

A mode is just a Major scale starting on a different note. If you play the C Major scale (all white keys) but start and end on D, you are playing D Dorian.

The notes are the same, but the center of gravity shifts, changing the interval pattern and the emotion.