Here is a video of a piece of music I improvised on the piano and named The Unreachable Coast. It felt like a continuation of the story started in two previous improvisations of mine — The Unscripted Sea and A Shoreline, A Lifetime Ago. For me, this piece was like looking towards the distant horizon with a sense of longing and nostalgia for a destination that feels tantalisingly tangible but out of reach. It is not clear whether that destination is past, present or future — the sea fog casts a shadow and the turbulence of the waves casts us adrift from that certainty. There is an urgent ache and endless striving as the tides carry us forward, but at times quiet acceptance as the ocean settles and light ripples through to the seabed.
Mode Table Showing Note Names and Parent Scales of Modes Used
| Mode Used | Note Names | Parent Scale | Modal Relationship |
|---|---|---|---|
| C Aeolian (Natural Minor) | C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭ | E♭ Major | 6th mode of E♭ Major |
| C Dorian ♯4 | C, D, E♭, F♯, G, A, B♭ | G Harmonic Minor | 4th mode of G Harmonic Minor |
Interval Formulas
Aeolian Mode Formula:
1 – 2 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – ♭6 – ♭7
Root, Major 2nd, Minor 3rd, Perfect 4th, Perfect 5th, Minor 6th, Minor 7th
Learn more about the Aeolian mode
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 Dorian sharp 4 mode
Further Reading and Listening
Learn more about modes here: Complete Guide to Modes of the Major, Melodic Minor, and Harmonic Minor Scales
How to Improvise on the Piano — A Basic Method
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