Modes

The Medieval approach to scales was to use the scale shown here but to have different versions of it starting and finishing on different notes. The scale to the left starts and finishes on C... buy Medieval musicians also used a version that starts and finishes on D, another on E and so on. This is not the same as our modern "C Major" "D Major" and "E major" scales. The C Major scale is identical, but the D to D mode and E to E mode are not matched by any modern conventional scale. To play them, simply use the exact same notes as the C major scale but play from D to D or E to E.

Here are the same notes as the C scale, but played D to D

In the video below you can hear the C scale, then the D-d mode and the E-e mode. The different modes are marked in the video.

 

 

More about modes.