Major and minor scales are the core of music-making, but modal scales can introduce a wider range of sounds and musical flavours to melodies or improvisations.

You can use the MusicWheels™ gizmo to discover the notes of all the modal scales by simply aligning the particular colour sector with the keynote of the modal scale you require.

We have already discovered two of the modal scales, the major scale is known as the “Ionian” mode and the natural minor scale is known as the “Aeolian” mode.

This section will show you each of the modes for the C major scale. A visual representation of the this is shown in the diagram below. 

Further information and diagrams are available by clicking each of the mode menus at the bottom of the page.