Clean up some confusion on musical modes?

Position:Home>Performing Arts> Clean up some confusion on musical modes?

Question:

i am starting to understand musical modes but i am not completely sure how to construct them!. i have the formula but i don't know where to start

the formula for a lydian mode is WWWHWWH!. if i am playing a C major scale and want its lydian mode do i start on C and just follow the formula!?
C maj scale=c d e f g a b c
C lydian= c d e F# g a b c

i think i have it right but i'm not sure!. someone tried to explain it to me and said this is the easy way of doing it but that the correct way is starting from the major scale and starting from different notes of the major scale and depending on which major scale you choose and which note of the scale you choose and keep following that formula you have a mode in that key!. someone please explain that to me and let me me know if i at least have the "easy way" correct!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

"the formula for a lydian mode is WWWHWWH!. if i am playing a C major scale and want its lydian mode do i start on C and just follow the formula!?
C maj scale=c d e f g a b c
C lydian= c d e F# g a b c"

This is correct!. You can think of the Lydian mode as the major scale with a sharped 4th degree!.

However, if you look, you'll see that C Lydian mode has the same notes (pitches) as G major!.

G major: G A B C D E F# G!.
C Lydian: C D E F# G A B C

So there is a relationship between G major and C Lydian, in that they both use the same notes, just starting on different notes!.

In any key, the Lydian mode is the one that starts on the 4th degree of the related major scale!.

So, C major: C D E F G A B C
Then the Lydian mode related to that would be F Lydian:
F G A B C D E F

The Dorian mode is the one that starts on the 2nd degree of the related major scale, so if you start with C major, the related Dorian mode would be D Dorian: D E F G A B C D

The Phrygian mode starts on the 3rd degree of the related major scale, so if you start with C major the related Phrygian mode is E Phrygian: E F G A B C D E

Then comes the Lydian mode based on the 4th degree of the related major scale as we said before!.

The Mixolydian mode starts on the 5th degree of the related major scale, so for C major the related Mixolydian mode is G Mix: G A B C D E F G

The Aeolian mode starts on the 6th degree of the related major scale, so for C major is A Aeolian: A B C D E F G A

And finally the Locrian mode starts on the 7th degree of the related major scale, so for C major that's B Locrian: B C D E F G A B

Personally I find it easier to remember the names of the modes and the scale degrees they start on, rather than remembering the patterns of whole and half steps!.

To me, its easier, when someone says "this tune is in A Dorian mode", to think "Dorian = 2nd scale degree, so if A is the 2nd note of the relative major scale, the relative major is G, so A Dorian is A B C D E F# G A" -- rather than try to remember "WHWWWHW" or whatever!. But whatever works for you is fine!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

if you play the Lydian sequence (W-W-W-H-W-W-H) starting on C, you get the C Lydian scale: C, D, E, F#, G, A, B, and C!.

C to C: W-W-H-W-W-W-H Ionian mode (Major scale)
D to D: W-H-W-W-W-H-W Dorian mode
E to E: H-W-W-W-H-W-W Phrygian mode
F to F: W-W-W-H-W-W-H Lydian mode
G to G: W-W-H-W-W-H-W Mixolydian mode
A to A: W-H-W-W-H-W-W Aeolian mode (Natural minor scale)
B to B: H-W-W-H-W-W-W Locrian mode

on the regular major scale it's wwhwwwh!.!. doe to ray is a whole note!.!. ray to me is a whole note, me to fa is a half note!. you can hear the difference!.!.!. try to picture a keyboard in your head!. that's the only way i could hearnWww@QuestionHome@Com