Modal Pentatonic Scales
- Whyt_hat
- new member
- Registered: 2007-01-22
- Posts: 3
How do I construct the Modal Pentatonic Scales relative to the modes of the Major Scale?
I know that the Major (Ioian) pentatonic is arrived at by leaving out the 4th and 7th scale degrees of the Major scale and
the Minor (Aolian) pentatonic is arrived at by leaving out the 2nd and 6th scale degrees of the minor scale, but how are the
Dorian, Phygian, Lydian, Mixolodian, and Locrian pentatonic scales arrived at?
It's would be nice to find out if the fretboard patterns are same like the major and minor pentatonic scales, but I'm afraid that
they are going to be different.
- kufer
- member
- From: Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Registered: 2006-12-21
- Posts: 11
Here are some charts that will help you derive the pentatonic scales for the different modes.
Look at chart 1 & 2. The II degree represents the Dorian mode and that the II degree represents the note D. In other words the first note of the Dorian Mode in the Key of C is the note D. Then, from these charts you can get the pentatonic scales for each mode. You can also change the major scale to what you are working with, then change the modes to match the scale.
Chart 1
C Major Scale
I II III IV V VI VII
C D E F G A B
Chart 2
I Major Ionian (Major Scale)
II Minor Dorian
III Minor Phrygian
IV Major Lydian
V Major Mixolydian
VI Minor Aeolian (Natural Minor Scale)
VII Minor Locrian
Chart 3
D Dorian Mode
I II III IV V VI VII
D E F G A B C
Chart 4
E Phrygian Mode
I II III IV V VI VII
E F G A B C D
Chart 5
F Lydian Mode
I II III IV V VI VII
F G A B C D E
Chart 6
G Mixolydian
I II III IV V VI VII
G A B C D E F
Chart 7
A Aeolian Mode
I II III IV V VI VII
A B C D E F G
Chart 8
B Locrian Mode
I II III IV V VI VII
B C D E F G A
- Whyt_hat
- new member
- Registered: 2007-01-22
- Posts: 3
Thank you for your detailed discription of the modes as derived from the major scale.
My question is still unanswered, however.
I'm looking to find the pentatonic scales for each of the modes.
For example: Leave out the IV and VII gives the C major pentatonic from the C major scale.
C major (Ionian)
I II III IV V VI VII
C D E F G A B
C major pentatonic
I II III (X) V VI (X)
C D E G A
And for the relative minor A Aeolian - Leave out the II and the VI
I II III IV V VI VII
A B C D E F G
A minor pentatonic
I (X) III IV V (X) VII
A C D E G
But how would you do the same formulating the associated pentatonic scales for the others
starting from the C scale as you did?
II Minor Dorian Pentatonic ?
III Minor Phrygian Pentatonic ?
IV Major Lydian Pentatonic ?
V Major Mixolydian Pentaonic ?
VII Minor Locrian Pentatonic ?
Are there not relative petatonic scales for these also?

