THE MAJOR SCALE - Formula

Distance…

W

1

W

1

H

½

W

1

W

1

W

1

H

½

Degree I II III IV V VI VII VIII

Triads Maj Min Min Maj Maj Min Dim Maj

Tetrads Maj7 Min7 Min7 Maj7 7 Min7 Min7(b5) Maj7

Modes Ionian Dorian Phrygian Lydian Mixolyd. Aeolian Locrian Ionian

(I understand scales as if they were math equations, the equation or formula is always the

same, the only thing that changes are the numbers, in this case, the notes. Be careful with

the 3rd and 7th degree (½ step to the next) and with E and B wherever you place them, so

you don’t forget to add the right sharps and flats. We are used to “think in C Major”, so it’s

common to assume that after E comes F and after B comes C, but that is not always the

case, because they are not always 3rd and 7th degrees).

THE MAJOR SCALE – All 12 Keys!

Key I II III IV V VI VII

C CMa7 Dm7 Em7 FMa7 G7 Am7 Bm7(b5)

F FMa7 Gm7 Am7 BbMa7 C7 Dm7 Em7(b5)

Bb BbMa7 Cm7 Dm7 EbMa7 F7 Gm7 Am7(b5)

Eb EbMa7 Fm7 Gm7 AbMa7 Bb7 Cm7 Dm7(b5)

Ab AbMa7 Bbm7 Cm7 DbMa7 Eb7 Fm7 Gm7(b5)

Db DbMa7 Ebm7 Fm7 GbMa7 Ab7 Bbm7 Cm7(b5)

Gb GbMa7 Abm7 Bbm7 CbMa7 Db7 Ebm7 Fm7(b5)

B BMa7 C#m7 D#m7 EMa7 F#7 G#m7 A#m7(b5)

E EMa7 F#m7 G#m7 AMa7 B7 C#m7 D#m7(b5)

A AMa7 Bm7 C#m7 DMa7 E7 F#m7 G#m7(b5)

D DMa7 Em7 F#m7 GMa7 A7 Bm7 C#m7(b5)

G GMa7 Am7 Bm7 CMa7 D7 Em7 F#m7(b5)

I Degree Next Octave

Relative Minor

(Learn this line, relate it to any hypothetical situation and I bet you’ll always remember the

name of the modes and their sequence!)

If Dora Plays Like Me All’s Lost!

I II III IV V VI VII

If Dora Plays Like Me All’s Lost!

O O H Y I E O

N R R D X O C

I I Y I O L R

A A G A L I I

A N I N Y A A

A D N N

N I

A

N

MODES NO MORE MYSTERY – Frank Gambale

Key Mode Chords (I IV V) Sounds…

C C Ionian l C l C l F/C l G/C l Happy C Ionian (I Degree of C)

Bb C Dorian l Eb/C l F/C l Rocky C Dorian (II Degree of Bb)

Ab C Phrygian l Db/C l Eb/C l Haunting C Phrygian (III Degree of Ab)

G C Lydian l C l D/C l Triumphant C Lydian (IV Degree of G)

F C Mixolydian l Bb/C l C l Bluesy C Mixolydian (V Degree of F)

Eb C Aeolian l Ab/C l Bb/C l Loving C Aeolian (VI Degree of Eb)

Db C Locrian l Gb/C l Ab/C l Dark C Locrian (VII Degree of Db)

1. Choose a Key and use its IV and V degree.

2. Pick a mode and find the right note for it in that Key.

3. Make the bass note be the same of the mode you’ve chosen!

(In the example, all bass notes are C, but notice they are a different degree in each Key.

Look at the Bb example… If you wanted to use Phrygian instead of Dorian, it would be D

Phrygian and the chords would be Eb/D and F/D. Mystery solved?!)