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Seven Scale Modes on Piano

Compare all seven diatonic modes on C, with notes, interval patterns and related major collections.

Current scale

C Ionian

Hand
Right hand
Range
C4-C5 · 1 octave
Demo / print tempo
60 BPM

C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C

Direction: Ascending · C4 → C5 · Semitone movement: 2 – 2 – 1 – 2 – 2 – 2 – 1

Major scale

Major scale

Ascending

Notes only
NotesC4D4E4F4G4A4B4C5

Notes only - fingering is not available for this form, hand, direction and one-octave range.

C4D4E4F4G4A4B4C5

Keyboard

C4 to C5
C4C#4Db4D4D#4Eb4E4F4F#4Gb4G4G#4Ab4A4A#4Bb4B4C5

Sources and checking scope

Current collection: seven diatonic modes; all seven parallel C examples. Unknown fingering remains notes-only and is never copied from the previous selection.

Practice task

Check the notes

Select every note used in C Ionian, ascending. This question checks the note set; octave and order do not matter.

Chosen: None

Attempt open · unassisted

Answer reference: C Ionian, ascending - note set

C - D - E - F - G - A - B. Octave and order are not scored in this question.

Answer reference: C Ionian, ascending - right hand

C4 - D4 - E4 - F4 - G4 - A4 - B4 - C5

Single-hand guide

Practice with a pulse

60 BPM

This guide does not listen to your piano. Completion is self-reported. The staff is a pitch reference; the pulse controls timing.

Practice tempo: 60 BPM · 1 octave · Right hand · C4-C5 · 4-beat count-in

PianoGrid

Seven Scale Modes on Piano: C Ionian

View: Right hand · Direction: ascending · Range: one octave

Current scale

C Ionian

Hand
Right hand
Range
C4-C5 · 1 octave
Demo / print tempo
60 BPM

C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C

Direction: Ascending · C4 → C5 · Semitone movement: 2 – 2 – 1 – 2 – 2 – 2 – 1

Ascending

Notes only
NotesC4D4E4F4G4A4B4C5

Notes only - fingering is not available for this form, hand, direction and one-octave range.

C4D4E4F4G4A4B4C5

Keyboard

C4 to C5
C4C#4Db4D4D#4Eb4E4F4F#4Gb4G4G#4Ab4A4A#4Bb4B4C5

Sources and checking scope

Current selected reference. Notes, staff, keyboard and any finger numbers come from this same view. Missing fingering remains notes-only.

Complete supported comparison

This table lists every named example supported on this page. The final repeated note is the octave endpoint.

On a narrow screen, scroll this table horizontally to read every column.

Seven Scale Modes on Piano supported examples
ExampleAscending notesInterval steps
C IonianC – D – E – F – G – A – B – C2 – 2 – 1 – 2 – 2 – 2 – 1
C DorianC – D – E♭ – F – G – A – B♭ – C2 – 1 – 2 – 2 – 2 – 1 – 2
C PhrygianC – D♭ – E♭ – F – G – A♭ – B♭ – C1 – 2 – 2 – 2 – 1 – 2 – 2
C LydianC – D – E – F♯ – G – A – B – C2 – 2 – 2 – 1 – 2 – 2 – 1
C MixolydianC – D – E – F – G – A – B♭ – C2 – 2 – 1 – 2 – 2 – 1 – 2
C AeolianC – D – E♭ – F – G – A♭ – B♭ – C2 – 1 – 2 – 2 – 1 – 2 – 2
C LocrianC – D♭ – E♭ – F – G♭ – A♭ – B♭ – C1 – 2 – 2 – 1 – 2 – 2 – 2

Compare seven modes on C

A mode is more than a new starting label. The seven diatonic modes have different arrangements of whole and half steps. Keeping C as the tonic makes those differences easier to compare: the first and last note stay C while selected notes inside the octave change. The table gives one complete C example for every mode.

Find the changing notes

Compare C Ionian with C Lydian: F becomes F-sharp. Compare Ionian with Mixolydian: B becomes B-flat. Within the minor group, C Dorian uses A-natural where C Aeolian uses A-flat. C Phrygian also lowers D to D-flat; C Locrian lowers G to G-flat as well. Read each note list before playing so the altered notes remain visible.

Same tonic or same collection?

Parallel examples share C as their tonic. Relative examples share a pitch collection but have different tonal centers. For instance, C Dorian and B-flat major use the same pitch classes. That relationship helps identify notes; it does not establish that a passage is in C Dorian simply because those notes appear.

Try one comparison

Play C Ionian, then C Lydian. Pause on F and F-sharp and return to C after each example. Next compare the A-flat in C Aeolian with the A-natural in C Dorian. Keep the comparison short and use the note lists as your check.

Continue with a source-backed reference that matches this task.

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in each mode on C?

The examples keep C as tonic. C Ionian: C–D–E–F–G–A–B–C; C Dorian: C–D–Eb–F–G–A–Bb–C; C Phrygian: C–Db–Eb–F–G–Ab–Bb–C; C Lydian: C–D–E–F#–G–A–B–C; C Mixolydian: C–D–E–F–G–A–Bb–C; C Aeolian: C–D–Eb–F–G–Ab–Bb–C; C Locrian: C–Db–Eb–F–Gb–Ab–Bb–C. The last C repeats the tonic one octave higher.

Which scale degrees change?

Compared with major (Ionian), Dorian lowers 3 and 7; Phrygian lowers 2, 3, 6 and 7; Lydian raises 4; Mixolydian lowers 7; Aeolian lowers 3, 6 and 7; Locrian lowers 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7. These are comparisons to the same tonic, not to each mode’s relative major.

How are parallel modes different from relative modes?

Parallel examples share C as their tonic. Relative examples share a pitch collection but have different tonal centers. For instance, C Dorian and B-flat major use the same pitch classes. That relationship helps identify notes; it does not establish that a passage is in C Dorian simply because those notes appear.

Which example can I compare next?

Play C Ionian, then C Lydian. Pause on F and F-sharp and return to C after each example. Next compare the A-flat in C Aeolian with the A-natural in C Dorian. Keep the comparison short and use the note lists as your check.

Sources and scope

Sources below are limited to the note, theory, fingering, or editorial scope recorded for this page. A source record is not the same as a teacher review.