Musical Modes for the Piano!
Modes are just like scales, in fact they are scales.
The only thing is that some of the modes will sound bit strange since musical modes were used over a thousand years ago.
Their origin was in Greece and their original Greek names are still used to refer to modes. You may still be able to hear some church tunes based on some of these modes.
Most of this learning is for theoretical purposes, since you would mostly be talking about scales rather than modes while learning the piano. At the same time, it is important to know about the background.
The Various Musical Modes
Let's have a look at the different modes.
This is same as the C major scale. You begin with the note C and then play just the white keys up to the next C.
The most widely used mode! You begin with the note D and then play just the white keys up to the next D.
This mode begins with a half-step and has a sad feel to it. You begin with the note E and then play just the white key up to the next E.
You begin with the note F and then play just the white keys up to the next F.
You begin with the note G and then play just the white keys up to the next G. This mode is used in jazz music because it has a 7th tone (G to F is a seventh).
You begin with the note A and then play just the white keys up to the next A. If you know about minor scales, you will realize that this is the natural minor scale.
You begin with the note B and then play just the white keys up to the next B. This is one of the stranger sounding modes.
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