The modes originate from the ancient Greek culture some 200
years ago.
At that time the musical system consisted of only seven notes (A
B C D E F and G) which now represent the white keys on the
modern day piano. Different tonalities were created by
selecting a different note as the focal point ('tonic note') for
a song. With seven notes obviously seven different tones could be
selected as tonic note. This created seven different scales
called 'modes'. Each mode has a unique sound because the two
semitone intervals (between E and F, and between B and C) are at
different points in each mode.
In Jazz the seven modes are
transposed to all 12 keys and used for improvisation over
individual chords. |