Three Native American flute modes A look at three of the different modes, or scales, that can be played on the NAF
	Please support these articles with your purchases DISTANT SPIRITS SACRED DREAMS NEW FIRE ANCIENT LIGHT LOST CANYONS LISTEN NOW! LISTEN NOW! LISTEN NOW! WATCH NOW! LISTEN NOW! Native Amercian Flute Scales and modes Part 2 by Scott August THE MODES In the previous section we looked at how major scales are made up of a sequence of whole and half steps. That every major scale has a half step between notes 3 - 4 and 7 - 8. If you move the root note you need to also move the sequence. That while a major diatonic scale based on the note C has no sharps or flats, if you move the root note to D both the F and C notes have to be sharp for the sequence to be correct. But what would happen if we played the notes from D to D but this time we played just the white keys -the notes that make up the C major scale? This would force the sequence of whole and half steps to change and in doing so would construct a completely different scale. Scales that are made up like this, using the notes of a major diatonic scale but starting on a note other than the root, are called modes. Modes are nothing more than a variation of the sequence of whole and half steps. Let's look at this closer. We're still using the same notes from the C major scale but because this version starts on D the sequence of whole and half steps is altered. The half steps now fall between notes 2 & 3 and the 6 & 7. When the sequence of whole notes and half notes follows this pattern the resulting scale is called the dorian mode. Remember a mode uses the notes of a major diatonic scale but starts on a different note. Here's another example of a dorian scale. Using the notes from the D major diatonic scale but starting and ending on E, a whole step above. In the section on major scales we saw that D major had two sharps: F# and C#. This is also true with the dorian mode that starts on the note E. This is because E is the second note of the D major scale or Ionian mode and as we now know a scale that starts on the second note of a major scale, but using the same pitches is a dorian scale. Once again the half steps fall into place between 2 - 3 and 6 - 7. A SHORTCUT So one of the easiest ways to find a dorian scale is to take a major scale but play it using the secone note (the 2nd) as the new root. OTHER MODES The other modes are found by starting on different notes of the major diatonic scale. If we start on the third note of a major scale that would be called the Phrygian mode. Starting on the 4th would be the Lydian mode; on the 5th would be the Mixolydian mode; on the 6th the Aeolian mode and on the 7th the Locrian mode. In every mode the half steps have moved. For example in the Aeolian, also known as the natural minor scale, the half steps fall between the notes 2 - 3 and 5 - 6 of the scale. This placement of half steps, as in all of the modes, is what gives each it's unique sound. STARTING NOTES We won't get into this here but sometimes you'll hear musicians describe the scale of a piece of music in a way that sounds very odd. Like "D Mixolydian" or "G# Dorian." Simply put the first letter is the note that the scale starts on and the mode name describes the sequence of whole and half steps between each note As we've just seen each mode places it's intervals in a specific order and it is this order that defines the mode and gives it it's name. LET'S REVIEW The major scale has seven modes. These modes are based on the intervals from the root that they start on or are based on and where their half steps lie. Starting interval Is called this mode Half Step between... The root The second The third The fourth The fifth The sixth The seventh = = = = = = = Ionian Dorian Phrygian Lydian Mixolydian Aeolian Locrian 3 - 4, 2 - 3, 1 - 2, 4 - 5, 3 - 4, 2 - 3, 1 - 2, 7 - 8 6 - 7 5 - 6 7 - 8 6 - 7 5 - 6 4 - 5 In the next section we're going to look at the Native American flute and it's scale, the minor pentatonic.   OTHER POSTS IN THIS SERIES How to Buy a NAF, part 1 How to Buy a NAF, part 2 How to care for your NAF Playing your first NAF scale Strengthening your Fingers Playing from the Heart Part-1 Playing from the Heart Part-2 NEW Recording your NAF, basic, easy Home Studio set up NEW Starting your Own Music Label part 1 You can find an index of all the articles including maker and flute profiles HERE DO YOU NEED A FLUTE? Visit the Cedar Mesa Music Store. Members of my E-Mailing list get a 10% discount on all flutes we sell. You can also find a list of makers who's flutes I play on my web site. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE NATIVE AMERICAN FLUTE NAF History and Construction Please support these articles with your purchases DISTANT SPIRITS Nominee Native American Music Award SACRED DREAMS Winner! Native American Music Award NEW FIRE Nominee Native American Music Award Winner! Indian Summer Music Award ANCIENT LIGHT DVD The Music and Images of Scott August LOST CANYONS Echoes Radio "CD of the Month" Dec 2007 LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN WATCH LISTEN NOW! Listen to samples and purchase them online. Members of my E-Mailing list get an extra 10% off all online purchases. © 2008 Cedar Mesa Music. All rights reserved. Top Home | Mailing List
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