People often ask, “How do you learn to hear the unique characteristics among different ways of organizing musical sounds?”  This post is going to suggest an introductory way to begin that process.

First a few general comments:

1.  The piano keyboard is organized into white notes and black notes.  Notice that the black notes are grouped in sets of twos and threes.  The white key immediately to the left (or below) any group of two black keys is a “C” – the pitches of the white keys then follow in sequence to the right (going up) – “D” – “E” – “F” – “G” – “A” – “B” – “C” – immediately to the left (or below) the next group of two black keys.  “Middle C” is the “C” in the middle of the keyboard.

2.  Scales – and modes – are organized into different groupings of “half steps” and “whole steps” – it is one half step from any note to the note closest to it – up or down.  Using “C” as a point of reference – from “C” down to “B” is one half step (both notes are white) – from “C” up to “C-sharp” is also one half step – “C-sharp” is the black key immediately to the right (or above) “C”.  Two consecutive half steps equal one whole step – “C” up to “D” or “C” down to “B-flat” (the black key immediately to the left (or below) “B”.

For this listening exercise you will only use the white keys.

First play the consecutive white notes to the right (going up) from “C” to the next “C” then play back down.  This is the “major scale” and is also known as the Ionian mode.

Next play the consecutive white notes to the right (going up) from “A” to the next “A” then play back down.  This is the “natural minor scale” and is also known as the Aeolian mode.  A lot of music in minor tonality is actually composed in “harmonic minor” which has a raised 7th note – so it includes “G-sharp” rather than “G”.

Much of our Western music is organized by using the “major” tonality or Ionian mode or “minor” tonality or Aeolian mode.

However, there are five other modes each with their own distinct sound.  These include (again using only the white notes)

Dorian mode – from “D” to “D”

Phrygian mode – from “E” to “E”

Lydian mode – from “F” to “F”

Myxolydian mode – from “G” to “G”

Locrian mode – from “B” to “B”

Each of the seven modes have a unique and distinct character that results from the arrangement of half steps and whole steps.  Play each mode several times and listen for the differences of character that each produces.

In the next post I will begin a discussion of harmony and follow with one about rhythm.  In the meantime you might want to compose some simple melodies in one of the modes listed above – I suggest that you start and end your melody on the first note of the mode or scale.

And just for fun – note that the tune for Greensleeves is in the Dorian mode.