Difference between modes and scales?

[Dogbertday]

It was described to me that all the scales such as a WH diminished or a whole tone or a lydian b7 we considered synthetic modes or synthetic scales.

I still hold that using the word mode should and does imply modal music and everything else is either a scale or (when applied over a specific chord) a chord scale.

 

[phillybass101]

I do agree that for a beginner this is all very confusing. I would suggest that for those just beginning to memorize for major scales what notes make up the chords for the scale degrees. Learn and memorize the arpeggios. There is a mode that goes along with each scale degree. If you know what notes make up a particular kind of chord you won't go wrong. Then practice walking bass lines over chord changes. Sooner than later the scale/mode thing will click. If you follow a chordal approach you won't go wrong. If you want to sound like a guitar player playing the bass instead of a bass player playing the bass stick with a scale/modal approach. It's just my philosophy that beginning bass players should be taught to focus on the chords rather a scale or mode. Far too many times I've walked into situaions where guys just give you the chords to a song. I pick up fast because I use a chordal approach as opposed to wondering what key, or scale, or mode I'm playing in.

 

[BassyBill]

I agree that modes are scales. But is every scale a mode? Is a WH diminished scale a mode?

I said scales are modes - but I didn't say ALL scales are modes. Maybe I should have said "can be".

And of course, it also depends how you define your terms, as always. I guess you could say a WH dim scale is the second mode of a HW dim scale if you had a reason to put it in those terms. Can't think of a good one right now, though.

 

[Groove Master]

I think the previous post with the Scott's Bass Lessons link is probably the best practical example for anyone, including beginners. Perfectly explained and illustrated...

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I watched the link and it is ONE way to look at it, but for beginners, I think it is still better to learn the modes at first from the same major scale for a better understanding of their harmonic functions within a tonality. Then it makes sense to do it either separates or from the same root for different purposes.

 

[Groove Master]

I agree that modes are scales. But is every scale a mode? Is a WH diminished scale a mode?

I would summarize this down to 3 scales: Major, minor harmonic and melodic minor are worth studying for their modes.

The thing to know with the WH is the fact it is a symmetrical scale and even if doesn't produce more then 2 different scales or modes, it is still worth to know the plurality between them

 

[kr0n]

Stop complicating it. It's just as simple as it looks.

TTSTTTS 1st (Major)
TSTTTST 2nd
STTTSTT 3rd
TTTSTTS 4th
TTSTTST 5th
TSTTSTT 6th (Natural Minor)
STTSTTT 7th
TTSTTTS 1st

See the pattern? Apply that Major PATTERN to any chromatic scale. Different patterns = different scales and they work the same way.
Modes appear to be a naming scheme for scales with same notes but different root.

 

[AndreyR]

In today's tonal music world, its mostly based on chords. You can think of a C Maj7 chord being based on the C major scale using every other note, C D E F G A B C; or you can think of the C Maj7 scale as a pool of available notes to play while your pianist or guitarist plays the C maj chord.

The Major scale is usually considered the parent scale, and the minor scale is based off its parent major scale (as in A minor is the relative minor of C major, because it has all the same notes). You can also think of it the other way (C major is the relative major of A minor), depending on which key the song is in.

A mode of a scale contains the same notes of that scale. The function of modes in most music is to provide a more interesting sound other than the vanilla "Major" or "Minor". We start out practicing modes to learn where the notes are, and end up practicing modes because of the sound we can get out of them.