Understanding Basic Music Theory, 2013a

224 CHAPTER 6. CHALLENGES
Comparison of Scale and Mode
Figure 6.7: Compare the dierences and similarities between the two major scales, and the dierences
and similarities between the two medieval church modes.
Figure 6.7 (Comparison of Scale and Mode) shows two scales and two modes. The two major scales
(Section 4.3) use dierent notes, but the relationship of the notes to each other is very similar. For example,
the pattern of half steps and whole steps (Section 4.2) in each one is the same, and the interval (Section 4.5)
(distance) between the tonic (p. 121) and the dominant (Section 5.5.4: Naming Chords Within a Key) is the
same. Compare this to the two church modes. The pattern of whole steps and half steps within the octave
(Section 4.1) is dierent; this would have a major eect on a chant, which would generally stay within the
one octave range. Also, the interval between the nalis (p. 226) and the dominant (p. 226) is dierent, and
they are in dierent places within the range (Section 2.7) of the mode. The result is that music in one mode
would sound quite dierent than music in the other mode. You can't simply transpose (Section 6.4) music
from one mode to another as you do with scales and keys; modes are too dierent.
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