Modes

The numbers above represent the notes of a major scale, following the familiar WWHWWWH pattern that Lawrence has been talking about throughout the Fundamentals of Harmony Unit. Once that structure is in place, musicians can orient their playing in different ways, creating different modes. 

For example, if you make the orientation around the second note, the melodies and chord progressions you write will sound very different. Your order of half steps and whole steps would now be WHWWWHW and it would look like this on the number line:

The most widely-used mode of the Major Scale is built off the sixth note and it is commonly referred to as the minor scale. It follows a WHWWHWW pattern.

Every minor scale is just a major scale in disguise! 

Knowledge of modes is essential for styles of music that lean heavily on harmony like jazz and classical music. But, it’s good for all musicians to know that a major scale is a window into a kaleidoscope of harmony!