E major pentatonic
Open, sunny, hard to play a wrong note.Degrees R 2 3 5 6·Steps W W W+H W W+H
- Cut from E Ionian (leaves out its 4th (A) and 7th (D♯))
- Same notes as D♭ minor pentatonic, F♯ suspended pentatonic, A♭ Man gong, B Ritusen
Scale
Labels
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bpm
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Colour key and how to read the cards
R234p567Each colour is a scale degree, counted from the key. A ♭ or ♯ note keeps its degree's colour: ♭3 is still amber.
The two five-note scales most solos start from: the major scale without its 4th and 7th, and natural minor without its 2nd and 6th. They share their five notes, a minor 3rd apart: C major pentatonic is A minor pentatonic.
E minor pentatonic
Bluesy, gritty: the rock-solo sound.Degrees R b3 4 5 b7·Steps W+H W W W+H W
- Cut from E Aeolian (leaves out its 2nd (F♯) and 6th (C))
- Same notes as G major pentatonic, A suspended pentatonic, B Man gong, D Ritusen
The seven modes of the major scale share one set of notes. Read down the cards and you can see the same seven notes starting on each of them.
E Ionian (Major)
Bright, resolved, stable.Degrees R 2 3 4 5 6 7
Key signature 4♯ (F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯)as E major / C♯ minor
- Ionian is the major scale.
- Relative minor: D♭ natural minor (starts on the 6th degree of E major)
- Versus E natural minor: ♯3 G → G♯, ♯6 C → C♯, ♯7 D → D♯
E Dorian
Minor but warm and hopeful: soul, funk, jazz-rock.Degrees R 2 b3 4 5 6 b7
Key signature 2♯ (F♯ C♯)as D major / B minor
- Relative major: D major (this mode starts on its 2nd degree)
- Relative minor: B natural minor (starts on the 6th degree of D major)
- Versus E major: ♭3 G♯ → G, ♭7 D♯ → D
- Versus E natural minor: ♯6 C → C♯
E Phrygian
Dark, tense, Spanish and flamenco flavored.Degrees R b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
Key signature no ♯ ♭as C major / A minor
- Relative major: C major (this mode starts on its 3rd degree)
- Relative minor: A natural minor (starts on the 6th degree of C major)
- Versus E major: ♭2 F♯ → F, ♭3 G♯ → G, ♭6 C♯ → C, ♭7 D♯ → D
- Versus E natural minor: ♭2 F♯ → F
E Lydian
Bright, floating, dreamy: film-score wonder.Degrees R 2 3 #4 5 6 7
Key signature 5♯ (F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯ A♯)as B major / G♯ minor
- Relative major: B major (this mode starts on its 4th degree)
- Relative minor: A♭ natural minor (starts on the 6th degree of B major)
- Versus E major: ♯4 A → A♯
- Versus E natural minor: ♯3 G → G♯, ♯4 A → A♯, ♯6 C → C♯, ♯7 D → D♯
E Mixolydian
Bluesy-bright, rock and folk swagger.Degrees R 2 3 4 5 6 b7
Key signature 3♯ (F♯ C♯ G♯)as A major / F♯ minor
- Relative major: A major (this mode starts on its 5th degree)
- Relative minor: F♯ natural minor (starts on the 6th degree of A major)
- Versus E major: ♭7 D♯ → D
- Versus E natural minor: ♯3 G → G♯, ♯6 C → C♯
E Aeolian (Minor)
Sad, serious: standard rock and pop minor.Degrees R 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
Key signature 1♯ (F♯)as G major / E minor
- Aeolian is the natural minor scale.
- Relative major: G major (this mode starts on its 6th degree)
- Versus E major: ♭3 G♯ → G, ♭6 C♯ → C, ♭7 D♯ → D
E Locrian
Dissonant; rarely used as a home key.Degrees R b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7
Key signature 1♭ (B♭)as F major / D minor
- Relative major: F major (this mode starts on its 7th degree)
- Relative minor: D natural minor (starts on the 6th degree of F major)
- Versus E major: ♭2 F♯ → F, ♭3 G♯ → G, ♭5 B → B♭, ♭6 C♯ → C, ♭7 D♯ → D
- Versus E natural minor: ♭2 F♯ → F, ♭5 B → B♭
Natural minor with a raised 7th. Its modes share their seven notes with each other, not with the major scale, and carry the exotic augmented 2nd.
E Harmonic minor
Classical drama with a Middle-Eastern tinge.Degrees R 2 b3 4 5 b6 7
Key signature 1♯ (F♯)as G major / E minor, plus D♯ written in
- Not a rotation of the major scale, so it has no relative major or minor. It shares its notes with the other harmonic minor modes.
- Versus E major: ♭3 G♯ → G, ♭6 C♯ → C
- Versus E natural minor: ♯7 D → D♯
E Locrian ♮6
Dark, but less unstable than plain Locrian.Degrees R b2 b3 4 b5 6 b7
Key signature 1♭ (B♭)as F major / D minor, plus C♯ written in
- Parent scale: D harmonic minor (starts on its 2nd degree)
- Not a rotation of the major scale, so it has no relative major or minor. It shares its notes with the other harmonic minor modes.
- Versus E major: ♭2 F♯ → F, ♭3 G♯ → G, ♭5 B → B♭, ♭7 D♯ → D
- Versus E natural minor: ♭2 F♯ → F, ♭5 B → B♭, ♯6 C → C♯
E Ionian ♯5
Bright with an unsettled lift.Degrees R 2 3 4 #5 6 7
Key signature 4♯ (F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯)as E major / C♯ minor, plus B♯ written in
- Parent scale: D♭ harmonic minor (starts on its 3rd degree)
- Not a rotation of the major scale, so it has no relative major or minor. It shares its notes with the other harmonic minor modes.
- Versus E major: ♯5 B → B♯
- Versus E natural minor: ♯3 G → G♯, ♯5 B → B♯, ♯6 C → C♯, ♯7 D → D♯
E Dorian ♯4
Gypsy / Romanian minor.Degrees R 2 b3 #4 5 6 b7
Key signature 2♯ (F♯ C♯)as D major / B minor, plus A♯ written in
- Parent scale: B harmonic minor (starts on its 4th degree)
- Not a rotation of the major scale, so it has no relative major or minor. It shares its notes with the other harmonic minor modes.
- Versus E major: ♭3 G♯ → G, ♯4 A → A♯, ♭7 D♯ → D
- Versus E natural minor: ♯4 A → A♯, ♯6 C → C♯
E Phrygian dominant
Spanish, flamenco, Middle-Eastern.Degrees R b2 3 4 5 b6 b7
Key signature no ♯ ♭as C major / A minor, plus G♯ written in
- Parent scale: A harmonic minor (starts on its 5th degree)
- Not a rotation of the major scale, so it has no relative major or minor. It shares its notes with the other harmonic minor modes.
- Versus E major: ♭2 F♯ → F, ♭6 C♯ → C, ♭7 D♯ → D
- Versus E natural minor: ♭2 F♯ → F, ♯3 G → G♯
E Lydian ♯2
Exotic and shimmering.Degrees R #2 3 #4 5 6 7
Key signature 5♯ (F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯ A♯)as B major / G♯ minor, plus F♯♯ written in
- Parent scale: A♭ harmonic minor (starts on its 6th degree)
- Not a rotation of the major scale, so it has no relative major or minor. It shares its notes with the other harmonic minor modes.
- Versus E major: ♯2 F♯ → F♯♯, ♯4 A → A♯
- Versus E natural minor: ♯2 F♯ → F♯♯, ♯3 G → G♯, ♯4 A → A♯, ♯6 C → C♯, ♯7 D → D♯
E Ultralocrian
Maximum tension.Degrees R b2 b3 b4 b5 b6 bb7
Key signature 4♭ (B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭)as A♭ major / F minor, plus E♮ written in
- Parent scale: F harmonic minor (starts on its 7th degree)
- Not a rotation of the major scale, so it has no relative major or minor. It shares its notes with the other harmonic minor modes.
- Versus E major: ♭2 F♯ → F, ♭3 G♯ → G, ♭4 A → A♭, ♭5 B → B♭, ♭6 C♯ → C, ♭♭7 D♯ → D♭
- Versus E natural minor: ♭2 F♯ → F, ♭4 A → A♭, ♭5 B → B♭, ♭7 D → D♭
The major scale with a lowered 3rd. Its modes are the jazz sounds: Lydian dominant over a 7♯11, Altered over a dominant that resolves.
E Melodic minor
Smooth, jazzy minor.Degrees R 2 b3 4 5 6 7
Key signature 1♯ (F♯)as G major / E minor, plus C♯ D♯ written in
- Not a rotation of the major scale, so it has no relative major or minor. It shares its notes with the other melodic minor modes.
- Versus E major: ♭3 G♯ → G
- Versus E natural minor: ♯6 C → C♯, ♯7 D → D♯
E Dorian ♭2
Dark yet smooth.Degrees R b2 b3 4 5 6 b7
Key signature 1♭ (B♭)as F major / D minor, plus B♮ C♯ written in
- Parent scale: D melodic minor (starts on its 2nd degree)
- Not a rotation of the major scale, so it has no relative major or minor. It shares its notes with the other melodic minor modes.
- Versus E major: ♭2 F♯ → F, ♭3 G♯ → G, ♭7 D♯ → D
- Versus E natural minor: ♭2 F♯ → F, ♯6 C → C♯
E Lydian augmented
Floating, ethereal.Degrees R 2 3 #4 #5 6 7
Key signature 4♯ (F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯)as E major / C♯ minor, plus A♯ B♯ written in
- Parent scale: D♭ melodic minor (starts on its 3rd degree)
- Not a rotation of the major scale, so it has no relative major or minor. It shares its notes with the other melodic minor modes.
- Versus E major: ♯4 A → A♯, ♯5 B → B♯
- Versus E natural minor: ♯3 G → G♯, ♯4 A → A♯, ♯5 B → B♯, ♯6 C → C♯, ♯7 D → D♯
E Lydian dominant
Bright dominant sound.Degrees R 2 3 #4 5 6 b7
Key signature 2♯ (F♯ C♯)as D major / B minor, plus G♯ A♯ written in
- Parent scale: B melodic minor (starts on its 4th degree)
- Not a rotation of the major scale, so it has no relative major or minor. It shares its notes with the other melodic minor modes.
- Versus E major: ♯4 A → A♯, ♭7 D♯ → D
- Versus E natural minor: ♯3 G → G♯, ♯4 A → A♯, ♯6 C → C♯
E Mixolydian ♭6
Major but sombre.Degrees R 2 3 4 5 b6 b7
Key signature no ♯ ♭as C major / A minor, plus F♯ G♯ written in
- Parent scale: A melodic minor (starts on its 5th degree)
- Not a rotation of the major scale, so it has no relative major or minor. It shares its notes with the other melodic minor modes.
- Versus E major: ♭6 C♯ → C, ♭7 D♯ → D
- Versus E natural minor: ♯3 G → G♯
E Locrian ♮2
A smoother half-diminished.Degrees R 2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7
Key signature 2♭ (B♭ E♭)as B♭ major / G minor, plus E♮ F♯ written in
- Parent scale: G melodic minor (starts on its 6th degree)
- Not a rotation of the major scale, so it has no relative major or minor. It shares its notes with the other melodic minor modes.
- Versus E major: ♭3 G♯ → G, ♭5 B → B♭, ♭6 C♯ → C, ♭7 D♯ → D
- Versus E natural minor: ♭5 B → B♭
E Altered
Maximum dominant tension.Degrees R b2 b3 b4 b5 b6 b7
Key signature 4♭ (B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭)as A♭ major / F minor, plus E♮ D♮ written in
- Parent scale: F melodic minor (starts on its 7th degree)
- Not a rotation of the major scale, so it has no relative major or minor. It shares its notes with the other melodic minor modes.
- Versus E major: ♭2 F♯ → F, ♭3 G♯ → G, ♭4 A → A♭, ♭5 B → B♭, ♭6 C♯ → C, ♭7 D♯ → D
- Versus E natural minor: ♭2 F♯ → F, ♭4 A → A♭, ♭5 B → B♭
Seven-note scales of their own, not modes of the three families above: the Arabic double harmonic, Persian, Hungarian minor, the Neapolitan scales and Verdi's enigmatic scale.
E Double harmonic major
Byzantine, Arabic, snake-charmer exotic.Degrees R b2 3 4 5 b6 7
Key signature 4♯ (F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯)as E major / C♯ minor, plus F♮ C♮ written in
- A scale of its own, not a rotation of another scale, so it has no relative major or minor.
- Versus E major: ♭2 F♯ → F, ♭6 C♯ → C
- Versus E natural minor: ♭2 F♯ → F, ♯3 G → G♯, ♯7 D → D♯
E Persian
Dark, eerie, Middle-Eastern.Degrees R b2 3 4 b5 b6 7
Key signature 4♯ (F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯)as E major / C♯ minor, plus F♮ B♭ C♮ written in
- A scale of its own, not a rotation of another scale, so it has no relative major or minor.
- Versus E major: ♭2 F♯ → F, ♭5 B → B♭, ♭6 C♯ → C
- Versus E natural minor: ♭2 F♯ → F, ♯3 G → G♯, ♭5 B → B♭, ♯7 D → D♯
E Hungarian minor
Gypsy, Eastern European drama.Degrees R 2 b3 #4 5 b6 7
Key signature 1♯ (F♯)as G major / E minor, plus A♯ D♯ written in
- A scale of its own, not a rotation of another scale, so it has no relative major or minor.
- Versus E major: ♭3 G♯ → G, ♯4 A → A♯, ♭6 C♯ → C
- Versus E natural minor: ♯4 A → A♯, ♯7 D → D♯
E Neapolitan minor
Dark, operatic, Phrygian minor.Degrees R b2 b3 4 5 b6 7
Key signature 1♯ (F♯)as G major / E minor, plus F♮ D♯ written in
- A scale of its own, not a rotation of another scale, so it has no relative major or minor.
- Versus E major: ♭2 F♯ → F, ♭3 G♯ → G, ♭6 C♯ → C
- Versus E natural minor: ♭2 F♯ → F, ♯7 D → D♯
E Neapolitan major
Dark but smooth, a little regal.Degrees R b2 b3 4 5 6 7
Key signature 1♯ (F♯)as G major / E minor, plus F♮ C♯ D♯ written in
- A scale of its own, not a rotation of another scale, so it has no relative major or minor.
- Versus E major: ♭2 F♯ → F, ♭3 G♯ → G
- Versus E natural minor: ♭2 F♯ → F, ♯6 C → C♯, ♯7 D → D♯
E Enigmatic
Puzzling and unresolved (Verdi's scala enigmatica).Degrees R b2 3 #4 #5 #6 7
Key signature 4♯ (F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯)as E major / C♯ minor, plus F♮ A♯ B♯ C♯♯ written in
- A scale of its own, not a rotation of another scale, so it has no relative major or minor.
- Versus E major: ♭2 F♯ → F, ♯4 A → A♯, ♯5 B → B♯, ♯6 C♯ → C♯♯
- Versus E natural minor: ♭2 F♯ → F, ♯3 G → G♯, ♯4 A → A♯, ♯5 B → B♯, ♯♯6 C → C♯♯, ♯7 D → D♯
The blues scale (minor pentatonic with a ♯4 blue note), the other three pentatonics with the same five notes as major and minor (suspended, man gong, ritusen), and four Japanese scales with half steps in them. Each is a mode of the major scale with two notes left out.
E minor pentatonic blues (blues scale)
Bluesy, crying, a little dirty.Degrees R b3 4 #4 5 b7·Steps W+H W H H W+H W
- Cut from E Aeolian (leaves out its 2nd (F♯) and 6th (C), and adds the blue note, #4 (A♯))
E suspended pentatonic (Egyptian)
Floating, open, ancient.Degrees R 2 4 5 b7·Steps W W+H W W+H W
- Cut from E Dorian (leaves out its 3rd (G) and 6th (C♯))
- Same notes as D major pentatonic, B minor pentatonic, F♯ Man gong, A Ritusen
E Man gong (blues minor)
Dark, heavy, brooding.Degrees R b3 4 b6 b7·Steps W+H W W+H W W
- Cut from E Phrygian (leaves out its 2nd (F) and 5th (B))
- Same notes as C major pentatonic, A minor pentatonic, D suspended pentatonic, G Ritusen
E Ritusen (blues major)
Bright but suspended, folky.Degrees R 2 4 5 6·Steps W W+H W W W+H
- Cut from E Mixolydian (leaves out its 3rd (G♯) and 7th (D))
- Same notes as A major pentatonic, F♯ minor pentatonic, B suspended pentatonic, D♭ Man gong
E Hirajōshi
Japanese, dark and delicate (a koto tuning).Degrees R 2 b3 5 b6·Steps W H 2W H 2W
E In (Miyako-bushi)
Haunting, melancholy Japanese (the sound of Sakura).Degrees R b2 4 5 b6·Steps H 2W W H 2W
- Cut from E Phrygian (leaves out its 3rd (G) and 7th (D))
- Same notes as A Hirajōshi, B Iwato
E Iwato
Very dark and unsettled.Degrees R b2 4 b5 b7·Steps H 2W H 2W W
- Cut from E Locrian (leaves out its 3rd (G) and 6th (C))
- Same notes as D Hirajōshi, A In
E Kumoi
Gentle, bittersweet.Degrees R 2 b3 5 6·Steps W H 2W W W+H
- Cut from E Dorian (leaves out its 4th (A) and 7th (D))
Group
Every mode whose 1 – 3 – 5 is a major triad. 8 modes.
- Where they come from
- Any mode with a major 3rd and a perfect 5th: Ionian, Lydian and Mixolydian from the major scale, plus modes of harmonic and melodic minor such as Phrygian dominant and Lydian dominant.
- How they sound
- All of them sound major and stable on the tonic chord; the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 7th decide whether that major is sweet, dreamy, bluesy or exotic.
- Listen for
- Keep the major chord ringing and listen to the notes around it: the ♯4 (Lydian), ♭7 (Mixolydian) or ♭2 (Phrygian dominant) is the colour.
- Try this
- Strum one major chord for a minute and improvise with each mode in turn. Name the one note that changes the mood each time.
Core notesERG♯3B5in all 8 modes