SV: modes

[Ola Andersson]

Hi Howard!

Dorian might not be chord but a chord is also a scale too.
If you play each note in a scale you get a scale, but if you play each second note in a scale in two octaves you have a chord. This way a chord and scale is the same thing. Like a Gbmaj13#11 Gb-Bb-Db-F-Ab-C-Eb. A "frygian chord"
.
In a  Gb13 or  Gbmaj13 chord the 11note (Cb) would crasch with the major third (Bb), so you have to choose if you want to use the 11 or major third when you voice the chord. But using a #11 (C) you can use both notes. This is why frygian scale, mode or chord is popular in jazz.

Pythagoros and his band played with pure 5ths. In Young and Vallotti you have a serie of 7 pure 5ths, enough for a scale.
This way you can play a real pythagaron frygian in Young from F# or better call it Gb. This is easy cause you use the thumb on the white keys C and F and the other fingers on the blacks. Easy for kids too. I sometimes use it in musicschool teaching fingering. This scale should be intresting for jazz musicians. Hope this clears it up.

Thanks

Ola Andersson


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Howard S. Rosen <hsrosen@earthlink.net>
To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2001 3:20 AM
Subject: modes


> >In Young you have a pytagoaron scale that is the basic for modal music.
> >You have all pytagaros chords dorian, frygian, mixolydian as they are
> supposed to sound.
> >In F# You can play the Frygian mode forexample
> ________________
> 
> I must respectfully correct you on this Ola. Dorian, Phrygian etc. are not
> chords. They are modal scales (Greek) that are not related to the
> Pythagorean scale whose basis is pure 5ths.  The structure of the Dorian
> mode is that of all the white piano keys from D to D. The structure of the
> Phrygian is from E to E (again all white keys). etc. So, it is not likely
> that the Phrygian mode will be played in the key of F# unless, using its key
> signature, you used the following notes:
> 
> F#3-G natural-A natural-B-C#-D natural-E natural-F#
> 
> With 4 accidentals, what is your point about  playing that scale in the key
> of F# major?
> 
> PS - As a point of interest, note that the 2nd movement of Brahms' 4th
> Symphony is in the Phrygian mode. He used a 4 sharp key signature because he
> modulates to E major, but the opening theme uses the proper accidentals to
> make it a true example of the Phrygian mode.
> 
> 
> Howard S. Rosen, RPT
> 7262 Angel Falls Ct.
> Boynton Beach, FL  33437
> 
> 561-737-2057
> hsrosen@earthlink.net
> 
>