THEORY 54: Naming Modes
I have read many books and articles over the years but have never come across the source of the names of the Harmonic and Melodic Minor modes. Back in the day when I was studying the basics and struggling with all the jargon, I found their names confusing.
As per the traditional theory books, the Harmonic & Melodic Minors are variations on the 6th inversion of the Major Scale, known as the Natural Minor Scale. This inversion (or mode) is known as Aeolian. The other six inversions or modes of the seven note Major Scale also have Greek names.
Here they are arranged from Aeolian in the key of C Major = C D E F G A B C as found in most books:
A Aeolian
B Locrian
C Ionian
D Dorian
E Phrygian
F Lydian
G Mixolydian
Now if we raise the seventh note of Aeolian to get the Harmonic Minor variation, here are its modes: (The names in brackets are mine to reveal the actual interval you need to raise)
Harmonic Minor (Aeolian #7)
Locrian #6
Ionian #5
Dorian #4
Phrygian Dominant (Phrygian #3)
Lydian #2
Altered Dominant bb7 (Mixolydian #1)
If we now raise the sixth and the seventh of Aeolian to get the Melodic Minor Scale, here are its modes: (The names in brackets are mine to reveal the actual interval you need to raise)
Melodic Minor (Aeolian #6 #7
Dorian b2 (Locrian #5 #6)
Lydian Augmented (Ionian #4 #5)
Lydian Dominant (Dorian #3 #4)
Mixolydian b6 (Phrygian #2 #3)
Locrian #2 (Lydian #1 #2)
Altered Dominant (Mixolydian #1 #7)
Notice how the names gradually drift away from their sources e.g. Lydian Dominant is actually Dorian with a raised second and third.
Now if you take the mode out of context and just play it, and you have already learned your natural modes, then it will ‘look’ like the Lydian mode to you, but with a b7. Here is an example of A Dorian followed by A Lydian Dominant.
Now spot the intervals R 3 5 b7 (where they were once R b3 5 b7), those of a Dominant 7th chord.
So the colloquial name Lydian Dominant is actually a combination of these two observations, but it disguises the Dorian source to the unwitting newcomer.
As for the source, I asked Google and Chatgpt4 but they know who is responsible. If you know, please let me know.