Major Modes

Relative & Parallel

In Western music theory, when musicians talk about modes, they usually mean the seven modes based on the major scale. Knowledge of modes is useful for learning to improvise over chord changes.  

We will look at modes in two ways, relative and parallel

Relative

The simplest way to understand relative modes is to start with the major scale of C, but instead of beginning and ending on the note C, begin on each degree of the scale in turn to create a different mode. Aeolian mode is “Relative minor” starting from the 6^th degree and ending on its octave:

Parallel

Although all of the “Relative” notes above are based on the C Major scale of no sharps and flats, they each function as a different key in their own right and the starting note of the mode, not the “relative” major scale, is the root note.  The Dorian mode starting on D, (the number two note of the C Major scale), is a D Dorian, not a C Dorian.  Think of the “Relative” minor keys as they start from the number six note of the major scale format.

Parallel modes are the formats of each.  Your job is to learn the actual sequence of intervals that make up each mode.

 

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