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Matthew Goodson - Dorian Scales for Jazz Improvisation

Here are some interesting facts about lessons, scales, complete scales, and modes in music:

Lessons:

  1. Online Music Lessons Boom: With the advent of the internet, online music lessons have become increasingly popular. They offer a convenient way for people to learn to play instruments and receive instruction from skilled musicians and teachers from around the world.

Scales:

  1. Universal Musical Building Blocks: Scales are the fundamental building blocks of Western music. The most common scale is the major scale, but there are many others, each with its unique sound and character.

  2. Pentatonic Scales in Many Cultures: Pentatonic scales, which consist of five notes, are found in various musical cultures worldwide, from traditional Chinese music to blues and rock music. They are often considered more "universal" because of their presence in diverse musical traditions.

Complete Scales:

  1. Chromatic Scale: The chromatic scale consists of all twelve pitches in an octave, including all the white and black keys on a piano. It is often used for creating dissonance and tension in music.

  2. Whole-Tone Scale: The whole-tone scale is composed entirely of whole steps (whole tones) between each note. It is often used in impressionistic music to create dreamy and ethereal atmospheres.

Modes:

  1. Ancient Greek Origins: Modes have their origins in ancient Greek music theory, dating back to the 6th century BC. The Greeks had different modes or scales, each with its own distinct character.

  2. Church Modes: During the medieval period, modes played a significant role in Western sacred music. Gregorian chant, for example, was based on these modes. There were eight church modes, each with a unique pattern of whole and half steps.

  3. Modal Revival: In the 20th and 21st centuries, there has been a revival of interest in modes, particularly in jazz and contemporary music. Musicians have explored modes like the Dorian, Mixolydian, and Phrygian modes to create unique and exotic sounds.

  4. Modal Interchange: Modal interchange, also known as borrowed chords, is a technique that involves borrowing chords from a different mode while staying within the key signature. This can create interesting harmonic colors and unexpected tonal shifts in music.

  5. Indian Ragas: In Indian classical music, ragas are equivalent to modes in Western music. Each raga has its own set of notes and rules governing how those notes are used. Indian ragas are used to convey specific moods and emotions in music.

  6. Modal Jazz: Modal jazz, popularized by musicians like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Herbie Hancock, often features extended passages in a single mode or scale, allowing for more exploration of melodic and harmonic possibilities within that mode.

These facts illustrate the rich and diverse world of music theory, where lessons, scales, complete scales, and modes play essential roles in creating the music we know and love.

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