The diatonic scales are the seven-note scales (heptatonic) built from the white keys on the piano, and they include all the church modes, which are essentially the modes of the major scale.
🎼 The 7 Diatonic Modes (Scales)
Each of these is a mode—a rotation of the major scale, starting from a different degree:
| Mode | Scale Degrees | Solfège | Starting on C (Example) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ionian | 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 | Do – Re – Mi – Fa – So – La – Ti | C – D – E – F – G – A – B |
| Dorian | 1 – 2 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – ♭7 | Do – Re – Me – Fa – So – La – Te | D – E – F – G – A – B – C |
| Phrygian | 1 – ♭2 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – ♭6 – ♭7 | Do – Ra – Me – Fa – So – Le – Te | E – F – G – A – B – C – D |
| Lydian | 1 – 2 – 3 – ♯4 – 5 – 6 – 7 | Do – Re – Mi – Fi – So – La – Ti | F – G – A – B – C – D – E |
| Mixolydian | 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – ♭7 | Do – Re – Mi – Fa – So – La – Te | G – A – B – C – D – E – F |
| Aeolian | 1 – 2 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – ♭6 – ♭7 | Do – Re – Me – Fa – So – Le – Te | A – B – C – D – E – F – G |
| Locrian | 1 – ♭2 – ♭3 – 4 – ♭5 – ♭6 – ♭7 | Do – Ra – Me – Fa – Se – Le – Te | B – C – D – E – F – G – A |
✅ Summary:
- Ionian = Major scale
- Aeolian = Natural minor scale
- Other modes are variations with different moods due to altered scale degrees.