Flamenco and Music Theory, Part 1b

A look at "Phrygian" mode, and see how it relates to Flamenco music.

We’ll use the Medieval Church Modes definition (and their modern names) as a basis, rather than the even older Ancient Greek Mode definitions. 

Designate a one-half-step interval as “1”, a two-half-step interval as “2”, and a three-half-step interval as “3”.  Using only the white keys on the piano for a C major scale, the pattern is 2212221.  There are 2 half steps between C and D, etc..  You’ve probably heard that as “Root, step, step, and a half, step, step, step, and a half.” 

The Dorian Church mode scale uses only the white keys, and rotates the pattern, starting on D as 2122212.  The Phrygian Church mode scale uses only the white keys, rotates the pattern again, and starting on E one gets the pattern 1222122.   The important part for us is that Dorian always starts the scale with a whole step, followed by a half step. 

Phrygian starts with a half step every time. Quite a few Irish tunes are in Dorian mode. The Swallowtail Jig, and Cooley’s Reel are both in E Dorian.  How does one tell?  The key signature is two sharps or D, but the first and last chords are Eminor.

Next time, in Part 1c, we'll relate these sequences of intervals to both Flamenco  and Klezmer.