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Scale and Chord Guides
Here are some of the most commonly used scales, modes and chords, and
their associated ATR-1 settings. All spellings use sharps because the ATR-1
software uses sharps to describe all accidentals (the black notes on the
keyboard).
Scales/Modes reference chart
While the major scale needs no introduction, the others might need some
explanation. For example, the difference between the natural and harmonic
minor is only one note, the seventh scale degree. The natural minor uses a
flat seventh and is typically found in most jazz and pop styles. The harmonic
minor uses the raised seventh, sometimes called the ‘leading tone,’ and is
used in classical music styles. The raised seventh also produces a large
interval between the sixth scale degree and the seventh (an augmented
second or three semitones) — this sound is featured often in Middle Eastern
styles. The dorian mode is used in popular music styles because of the
opportunity to use a major subdominant chord in a minor key (i.e., using an
A Major chord in the key of E Minor). The phrygian mode, which features a
lowered second scale degree as its most distinctive characteristic, is seldom
used in popular music, though found fairly often in world music styles. The
mixolydian mode is basically the major scale with a lowered seventh scale
degree, and is often used in rock music.
Scale and Chord Guides