Mode: Difference between revisions

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In the modern western understanding of ~~scales~~, a '''mode''' (or '''rotation''') of a [[periodic scale]] is an ordering of the scale's [[pitch class]]es determined by choosing one of the pitch classes as the starting/ending point. The chosen pitch class is the ''~~'tonal center'~~'' of the ~~mode~~. Together, a ~~tonal center~~ and a mode form a '''key'''.

In the modern western understanding of [[scale]]s, a '''mode''' (or '''rotation''') of a [[periodic scale]] is an ordering of the scale's [[pitch class]]es determined by choosing one of the pitch classes as the starting/ending point. The chosen pitch class is the ''tonic'' of the scale. Together, a tonic and a mode form a '''key'''.

Modes are mostly used in the context of tonal or modal music, i.e. as opposed to atonal music, since their definition implies a ~~tonal center~~.

Modes are mostly used in the context of tonal or modal music, i.e. as opposed to atonal music, since their definition implies a tonic.

Octave-repeating [[harmonic series segment]]s are called ''harmonic modes'' by several musicians, although this implies a slightly definition of ''mode''.

== Examples ==

The [[5L 2s|diatonic]] scale has seven different modes. The following table shows the modes of the diatonic scale built on the white keys (C-D-E-F-G-A-B) and in the key of D. The modes can be sorted according to their ~~tonal center~~ (sort by note names (white keys)) or their position in the [[circle of fifths]] (sort by step pattern)

The [[5L 2s|diatonic]] scale has seven different modes. The following table shows the modes of the diatonic scale built on the white keys (C-D-E-F-G-A-B) and in the key of D. The modes can be sorted according to their tonic (sort by note names (white keys)) or their position in the [[circle of fifths]] (sort by step pattern)

{| class="wikitable sortable"

|+ Modes of the diatonic scale

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A scale has as many modes as the number of tones that it contains within a period. For example:

* the diatonic scale has 7 different modes, because it has 7 tones per period of 1 octave, and 7 possible keys as well;

* the octatonic [[diminished scale]] only has 2 different modes, because it has 2 tones per period of 1/4 octave, but it has 8 possible keys, since any of the 8 pitch classes of the scale can be chosen as the ~~tonal center~~.

* the octatonic [[diminished scale]] only has 2 different modes, because it has 2 tones per period of 1/4 octave, but it has 8 possible keys, since any of the 8 pitch classes of the scale can be chosen as the tonic.

In an [[equal-step tuning]], any mode of any [[support]]ed scale can be built on any tone of the chosen tuning, i.e. it is possible to transpose to any key while keeping the same scale and mode. In unequal tunings, each key can have a different scale pattern, therefore different but somewhat similar-sounding modes, which leads to a phenomenon called ''key coloration''.

~~== Mathematical definition ==~~

~~{{Main|Periodic scale#Rotations}}~~

== See also ==

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+{{Beginner|Periodic scale#Rotations}}
 {{Wikipedia|Mode (music)#Modern modes}}
-In the modern western understanding of scales, a '''mode''' (or '''rotation''') of a [[periodic scale]] is an ordering of the scale's [[pitch class]]es determined by choosing one of the pitch classes as the starting/ending point. The chosen pitch class is the '''tonal center''' of the mode. Together, a tonal center and a mode form a '''key'''.
+In the modern western understanding of [[scale]]s, a '''mode''' (or '''rotation''') of a [[periodic scale]] is an ordering of the scale's [[pitch class]]es determined by choosing one of the pitch classes as the starting/ending point. The chosen pitch class is the ''tonic'' of the scale. Together, a tonic and a mode form a '''key'''.
-Modes are mostly used in the context of tonal or modal music, i.e. as opposed to atonal music, since their definition implies a tonal center.
+Modes are mostly used in the context of tonal or modal music, i.e. as opposed to atonal music, since their definition implies a tonic.
+Octave-repeating [[harmonic series segment]]s are called ''harmonic modes'' by several musicians, although this implies a slightly definition of ''mode''.
 == Examples ==
-The [[5L 2s|diatonic]] scale has seven different modes. The following table shows the modes of the diatonic scale built on the white keys (C-D-E-F-G-A-B) and in the key of D. The modes can be sorted according to their tonal center (sort by note names (white keys)) or their position in the [[circle of fifths]] (sort by step pattern)
+The [[5L 2s|diatonic]] scale has seven different modes. The following table shows the modes of the diatonic scale built on the white keys (C-D-E-F-G-A-B) and in the key of D. The modes can be sorted according to their tonic (sort by note names (white keys)) or their position in the [[circle of fifths]] (sort by step pattern)
 {| class="wikitable sortable"
 |+ Modes of the diatonic scale
@@ Line 29: / Line 32: @@
 A scale has as many modes as the number of tones that it contains within a period. For example:
 * the diatonic scale has 7 different modes, because it has 7 tones per period of 1 octave, and 7 possible keys as well;
-* the octatonic [[diminished scale]] only has 2 different modes, because it has 2 tones per period of 1/4 octave, but it has 8 possible keys, since any of the 8 pitch classes of the scale can be chosen as the tonal center.
+* the octatonic [[diminished scale]] only has 2 different modes, because it has 2 tones per period of 1/4 octave, but it has 8 possible keys, since any of the 8 pitch classes of the scale can be chosen as the tonic.
 {{Wikipedia|Key (music)#Key coloration}}
 In an [[equal-step tuning]], any mode of any [[support]]ed scale can be built on any tone of the chosen tuning, i.e. it is possible to transpose to any key while keeping the same scale and mode. In unequal tunings, each key can have a different scale pattern, therefore different but somewhat similar-sounding modes, which leads to a phenomenon called ''key coloration''.
-== Mathematical definition ==
-{{Main|Periodic scale#Rotations}}
 == See also ==