Compare each displayed collection from C: its notes, intervals, theoretical degree stacks and sound. The chord shapes below use either bouzouki neck. These calculations explain the collection; practical accompaniment choices depend on the song, tradition and your teacher.
Pick a mode or scale
1 of 18
Ionian
Other names: Major, Matzore
Relation to other scales: The 1st mode of the major scale: the major scale itself. The same as the Matzore Dromos.
C IONIAN
DIATONIC CHORDS
The triads on every degree of the mode, with their quality below.
Dorian
Other names: some players, more rarely, refer to this one as Kiourdi
Relation to other scales: The 2nd mode of the major scale: natural minor with a raised 6th.
C DORIAN
DIATONIC CHORDS
The triads on every degree of the mode, with their quality below.
Phrygian
Other names: Ousak
Relation to other scales: The 3rd mode of the major scale: natural minor with a lowered 2nd. The same as the Ousak Dromos.
C PHRYGIAN
DIATONIC CHORDS
The triads on every degree of the mode, with their quality below.
Lydian
Relation to other scales: The 4th mode of the major scale: major with a raised 4th.
C LYDIAN
DIATONIC CHORDS
The triads on every degree of the mode, with their quality below.
Mixolydian
Other names: Rast (descending form)
Relation to other scales: The 5th mode of the major scale: major with a lowered 7th. The same as the Rast Dromos as played descending.
C MIXOLYDIAN
DIATONIC CHORDS
The triads on every degree of the mode, with their quality below.
Aeolian
Other names: Natural minor
Relation to other scales: The 6th mode of the major scale: the natural minor itself. The same as the Natural minor Dromos.
C AEOLIAN
DIATONIC CHORDS
The triads on every degree of the mode, with their quality below.
Locrian
Relation to other scales: The 7th mode of the major scale: natural minor with a lowered 2nd and a diminished 5th.
C LOCRIAN
DIATONIC CHORDS
The triads on every degree of the mode, with their quality below.
Phrygian dominant
Other names: Hijaz
Relation to other scales: The 5th mode of the harmonic minor: Phrygian with a major 3rd. The same as the Hijaz Dromos.
C PHRYGIAN DOMINANT
DIATONIC CHORDS
The triads on every degree of the mode, with their quality below.
Dorian ♯4
Other names: Nikriz
Relation to other scales: The 4th mode of the harmonic minor: Dorian with a raised 4th. The same as the Nikriz Dromos in its basic form.
C DORIAN ♯4
DIATONIC CHORDS
The triads on every degree of the mode, with their quality below.
Lydian dominant
Relation to other scales: The 4th mode of the melodic minor: Mixolydian with a raised 4th.
C LYDIAN DOMINANT
DIATONIC CHORDS
The triads on every degree of the mode, with their quality below.
Mixolydian ♭6
Relation to other scales: The 5th mode of the melodic minor: Mixolydian with a lowered 6th.
C MIXOLYDIAN ♭6
DIATONIC CHORDS
The triads on every degree of the mode, with their quality below.
Locrian ♮2
Relation to other scales: The 6th mode of the melodic minor: Locrian with a natural 2nd.
C LOCRIAN ♮2
DIATONIC CHORDS
The triads on every degree of the mode, with their quality below.
Altered
Other names: Super Locrian
Relation to other scales: The 7th mode of the melodic minor: every degree except the tonic is altered.
C ALTERED
DIATONIC CHORDS
The triads on every degree of the mode, with their quality below.
Major pentatonic
Relation to other scales: The major scale without its 4th and 7th degrees: five notes, no semitones, which is why it sits on almost anything.
C MAJOR PENTATONIC
Minor pentatonic
Relation to other scales: The natural minor without its 2nd and 6th degrees. The same notes as the major pentatonic of the relative key (C minor = E♭ major).
C MINOR PENTATONIC
Blues
Other names: Minor blues
Relation to other scales: The minor pentatonic with one extra note, the diminished 5th (F♯), between the 4th and the 5th.
C BLUES
Whole tone
Relation to other scales: Six notes, all a tone apart. It has neither a tonic chord nor a leading note, which is why it sounds suspended.
C WHOLE TONE
Chromatic
Relation to other scales: All twelve notes, all a semitone apart. Not the scale of a piece, but the material every other scale is cut from.
C CHROMATIC
Practise What You Have Learned
Practise recognizing scales and modes by ear in Exercises, with this catalog’s own names, difficulty levels and feedback.
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