880 / 18210 · Module 18 — Scales and Modes for Improvisation: What to Use, When, and Why← prev⊞ allnext →
18.59Your practical mode cheat sheet
For now:
| Sound | Formula | Character note |
|---|---|---|
| Major/Ionian | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 | natural 3 & 7 |
| Dorian | 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7 | 6 |
| Natural minor/Aeolian | 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 | ♭6 |
| Mixolydian | 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7 | ♭7 |
| Lydian | 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7 | ♯4 |
If you understand those five, you already have most of the modal vocabulary we need.