Experiencing the Tides: Part II
Here is a video of a piece of music I improvised and named The Shape of the Ocean. When naming this piece I was inspired by the idea that you cannot easily define the shape of something as vast and fluid as the ocean, just as you cannot easily define the shape of the hidden realms of the mind, and yet the tides represent a constant truth. Ocean tides are governed by macro cosmic laws, they are an absolute reality, they will always ebb and flow. And yet despite this macro constancy, the shapes and patterns of individual waves are constantly changing and crashing — paradoxically representing impermanence and permanence at the same time.
This piece felt like part 2 to another piece of music I improvised called A Story in the Waves. A Story in the Waves was about the surface level movement and how it tells a story of what is happening underneath and all around. This piece is about the depths and breadth of the ocean, moving through several modes to navigate the undercurrents, the darkness and light, and the unknown reaches.
Mode Table Showing Note Names, Parent Scales, and Modal Relationships
| Mode Used | Pitch Collection (Note Names) | Parent Scale | Modal Relationship |
|---|---|---|---|
| C Dorian | C — D — E♭ — F — G — A — B♭ | B♭ Major (2 Flats: B♭, E♭) | 2nd Mode of Major |
| G Mixolydian ♭6 | G — A — B — C — D — E♭ — F | C Melodic Minor | 5th Mode of Melodic Minor |
| C Aeolian (Natural Minor) | C — D — E♭ — F — G — A♭ — B♭ | E♭ Major (3 Flats: B♭, E♭, A♭) | 6th Mode of Major |
| A♭ Lydian | A♭ — B♭ — C — D — E♭ — F — G | E♭ Major (3 Flats: B♭, E♭, A♭) | 4th Mode of Major |
| C Dorian ♯4 | C — D — E♭ — F♯ — G — A — B♭ | G Harmonic Minor | 4th Mode of Harmonic Minor |
| D Mixolydian ♭6 | D — E — F♯ — G — A — B♭ — C | G Melodic Minor | 5th Mode of Melodic Minor |
Interval Formulas
- Dorian Mode Formula: 1 – 2 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – ♭7
- (Root, Major 2nd, Minor 3rd, Perfect 4th, Perfect 5th, Major 6th, Minor 7th)
- Mixolydian ♭6 Mode Formula: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – ♭6 – ♭7
- (Root, Major 2nd, Major 3rd, Perfect 4th, Perfect 5th, Minor 6th, Minor 7th)
- Aeolian Mode Formula: 1 – 2 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – ♭6 – ♭7
- (Root, Major 2nd, Minor 3rd, Perfect 4th, Perfect 5th, Minor 6th, Minor 7th)
- Lydian Mode Formula: 1 – 2 – 3 – ♯4 – 5 – 6 – 7
- (Root, Major 2nd, Major 3rd, Augmented 4th, Perfect 5th, Major 6th, Major 7th)
- Dorian ♯4 Mode Formula: 1 – 2 – ♭3 – ♯4 – 5 – 6 – ♭7
- (Root, Major 2nd, Minor 3rd, Augmented 4th, Perfect 5th, Major 6th, Minor 7th)
Learn More About the Modes Used
Dorian Mode Explained: Complete Guide with Note Names in All 12 Keys
Mixolydian ♭6 Mode Explained: Complete Guide with Note Names in All 12 Keys
Aeolian Mode (Natural Minor Scale): Note Names in All 12 Keys, Character, and Examples
Lydian Mode Explained: How to Use it and Note Names in All 12 Keys, With Examples
Dorian ♯4 Mode Explained and How to Work it Out, With Note Names in All 12 Keys
Learn About Modes in General
Complete Guide to Modes of the Major, Melodic Minor, and Harmonic Minor Scales
