Comparison of mode notation systems
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Several mode numbering or notation systems have been designed in an attempt to generalize the modes of the diatonic scale. These systems aim to work for given scale, or at least any scale with certain properties such as MOS.
Here are the most common systems used proposed by the xenharmonic community:
Comparison tables
This section compares the different notations enumerated above. As an example, the seven diatonic modes (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, etc) will be used, first using the tempered meantone[7] scale and then using the abstract 5L 2s scale.
| Mode name | Step pattern | Modal UDP notation | Genchain mode numbering | Freivald's method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lydian | LLLsLLs | meantone[7] 6|0 | 1st meantone[7] | meantone[7] mode 4 |
| Ionian | LLsLLLs | meantone[7] 5|1 | 2nd meantone[7] | meantone[7] mode 1 |
| Mixolydian | LLsLLsL | meantone[7] 4|2 | 3rd meantone[7] | meantone[7] mode 5 |
| Dorian | LsLLLsL | meantone[7] 3|3 | 4th meantone[7] | meantone[7] mode 2 |
| Aeolian | LsLLsLL | meantone[7] 2|4 | 5th meantone[7] | meantone[7] mode 6 |
| Phrygian | sLLLsLL | meantone[7] 1|5 | 6th meantone[7] | meantone[7] mode 3 |
| Locrian | sLLsLLL | meantone[7] 0|6 | 7th meantone[7] | meantone[7] mode 7 |
| Mode name | Step pattern | Modal UDP notation | Genchain mode numbering | Freivald's method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lydian | LLLsLLs | 5L 2s 6|0 | 7th 5L 2s | 5L 2s mode 4 |
| Ionian | LLsLLLs | 5L 2s 5|1 | 6th 5L 2s | 5L 2s mode 1 |
| Mixolydian | LLsLLsL | 5L 2s 4|2 | 5th 5L 2s | 5L 2s mode 5 |
| Dorian | LsLLLsL | 5L 2s 3|3 | 4th 5L 2s | 5L 2s mode 2 |
| Aeolian | LsLLsLL | 5L 2s 2|4 | 3rd 5L 2s | 5L 2s mode 6 |
| Phrygian | sLLLsLL | 5L 2s 1|5 | 2nd 5L 2s | 5L 2s mode 3 |
| Locrian | sLLsLLL | 5L 2s 0|6 | 1st 5L 2s | 5L 2s mode 7 |
It should be noted that the MOS pattern 5L 2s is supported by multiple temperaments, and as such, the name "meantone" is not meant to exclusively describe 5L 2s.