TW #1 — Modal and Chord Theory (Leviathan)

The very first TraxWeekly article, written because "a lot of the self-taught musicians out there were really only composing by ear" (leviathan).

Key claims#

• A modal chart: the seven notes of all twelve major (Ionian) scales, plus how to derive the other modes by flattening degrees — major modes: Ionian (no change), Lydian ("5b" in the article — the standard definition is a raised 4th, so treat this line as a typo), Mixolydian 7b; minor modes: Dorian 3b 7b, Phrygian 2b 3b 6b 7b, Aeolian 3b 6b 7b; diminished: Locrian 2b 3b 5b 6b 7b. Example: C Dorian = C D D# F G A A#.
• Why modes matter for trackers: if every chord of a progression stays inside one mode, the progression sounds better and lead writing stops being trial-and-error — only use notes from the mode.
• Chord formulas in scale degrees: Major 1 3 5 · Minor 1 3b 5 · Add2 1 2 3 5 · Sus2 1 2 5 · Sus4 1 4 5 · Fifth 1 5 · Minor 7th 1 3b 5 7b · Major 7th 1 3 5 7 · Diminished 1 3b 5b. Example: C minor 7 = C D# G A#.
• "Experiment with the chords and get to know their sound. Each chord has a different tone and feel to it."

Relevance#

The scene's own 1995 statement of scales-and-modes and diatonic-chords; the degree-based chord formulas complement 037-lab's semitone formulas.

Pages touched#

leviathan, kosmic, scales-and-modes, diatonic-chords, traxweekly.