Mode Parent Scale Concept

Books on Modes

 

This is a simple table of the parallel modes of A Major. The parallel modes 'visit' other scales.

A Major Ionian - Is the same as A Major regardless if parallel or relative / Derivative

A Major Dorian - Finds the scale where the A note is the 2nd tone of the scale. This would be G Major.

A Major Phrygian - Finds the scale where the A note is the 3rd note of the scale. This would be F Major.

A Major Lydian - Finds the scale where the A note is the 4th tone of the scale. This would be E Major.

A Major Mixolydian - Finds the scale where the A note is the 5th tone of the scale. This would be D Major.

A Major Aeolian - Finds the scale where the A note is the 6th tone of the scale. This would be C Major.

A Major Locrian - Finds the scale where the A note is the 7th tone of the scale. This would be B flat Major.


The parallel modes visits other scales outside of the A Major scale. This is the opposite of the relative or derivative modes that only use the notes of a single Major scale.

Stacks Image 69
 
This diagram is a simple representation of the parent scale concept with the C Major scale. All of the modes that are derived from the C Major scale have first and last names that are unique in combination.

C Ionian
D Dorian
E Phrygian
F Lydian
G Mixolydian
A Aeolian
B Locrian

All God's children have names. All modal children have names. C Major is the parent scale because when you are playing D Dorian, you are playing the very same notes as C Major. When you are playing E Phrygian, you are playing the very same notes as C Major. When you are playing F Lydian, you are playing the very same notes as C Major. And so it will continue to be as you step through all of the other children of the parent C Major Scale. All of these child modes owe their existence to the hard working C Major scale. D Dorian would not exist without the C Major scale and so forth.

Stacks Image 50
Of course, the question is, "Why, if I'm playing the same notes do the modes sound different?"
The answer is the whole step / half step pattern changes when you start on a different note within the scale. Please review the diagram below for a visual representation.

Playing relative modes…

All the notes of C Ionian are found within the parent scale of C Major. <—That should be a given.
All the notes of D Dorian are found within the parent scale of C Major.
All the notes of E Phrygian are found within the parent scale of C Major.
All the notes of F Lydian are found within the parent scale of C Major.
All the notes of G Mixolydian are found within the parent scale of C Major.
All the notes of A Aeolian are found within the parent scale of C Major.
All the notes of B Locrian are found within the parent scale of C Major.
All the notes of C Ionian are found within the parent scale of C Major.

There is a meaning somewhere here.

An example or three:
G Mixolydian is NOT found within the G Major scale.
D Dorian is NOT found within the D Major scale.
A Aeolian is NOT found within the A Major scale.

The three examples immediately above are found within the C Major scale. Review and review until this is clear.
The overall tonality of the scale changes when you change the step pattern by beginning on a different tone within the scale.
 

Whole and Half Step Pattern Changes Within the Modes

Stacks Image 62