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Scale and Chord Guides
Here are some of the most commonly used scales, modes and chords,
and their associated ATR-1a settings. All spellings use sharps because the
ATR-1a 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 har-
monic 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.
