Modes were commonly used by Renaissance composers and are used today in jazz, pop and some 20th century concert music. The major and natural minor scales are derived from the Ionian and Aeolian modes. Jazz Scales Learn the notes of several jazz scales. The notes of these scales are used as raw materials for improvising. The more advanced musician can practice playing scales like Dorian flat 2, Lydian Sharp 5, Mixolydian sharp 4, Mixolydian Flat 6, Minor flat 5, and Locrian flat 4.
Scale Degrees Learn a note's position within a major or minor scale or key.
The different scale degrees have melodic and harmonic tendencies. Knowing the scale degrees will be very useful when studying intervals, melodies, and chords. Intervals Learn to visually identify intervals. An interval is the distance in pitch, measured in half steps, between two notes. Quick visual recognition of intervals is very important in sight reading and transposing.