My teacher's having me learn the scale modes, and as I get them in my fingers, they're starting to sound like music, and I understand why I'm learning them. The thing I can't find out, though, is what the modes come from. I read that they are also called Gregorian modes. That makes me think that maybe the monks who created/discoverd the modes may have had instruments that were limited; that only had 8 tones, so to change the feel/tone of a scale, they could only change the starting tone of the scale, thus creating modes. Is my idea far from the truth?

The other question is where did the names come from? I assume Latin, as they were Gregorian monks. But what does the word phrygian, or mixolidian, or Locrian mean? I wonder if there's something in the root meaning that will help me remember the tone of that mode, or the number of relative sharps and flats...

Thanks,
David

David,

Are you learning the modes based on scale degrees of the parent diatonic major scale or separate from the parent scale via tab?

Well, I had to read THAT question 2 or 3 times... But I guess I'm working in scale degrees, since I'm memorizing Dorian, 3-flat 7-flat, Phrigean, 2-flat 3-flat 6-flat 7-flat and so on. I tabbed it out myself to learn and play them, but my tabs didn't fit my fingers well after a couple of degrees. So now for a C mixolidian, I play a regular G-scale, trying to remember to flat the 7, lydian is an F scale with sharp 4's. It's a real exercise for the fingers and mind in tandem!

David,

Email me and I'll send you what I use to work on modes.