Scales reference
Ionian Mode
Ionian is the first mode of the major scale. It shares the major scale's interval structure while describing that structure through its role in the modal family.
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C Major Scale
- Theory
- Scale
- Written root
- C
- Instrument
- 6-string Guitar
- Tuning
- E Standard
- Labels
- Notes
- Handedness
- Right handed
| String, low to high | Fret | Current label | Note | Degree | Interval | Root |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 1 | 1 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 1 | 3 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 1 | 5 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 1 | 7 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 1 | 8 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 1 | 10 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 1 | 12 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 1 | 13 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 1 | 15 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 1 | 17 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 1 | 19 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 1 | 20 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 1 | 22 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 1 | 24 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 2 | 0 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 2 | 2 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 2 | 3 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 2 | 5 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 2 | 7 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 2 | 8 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 2 | 10 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 2 | 12 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 2 | 14 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 2 | 15 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 2 | 17 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 2 | 19 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 2 | 20 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 2 | 22 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 2 | 24 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 3 | 0 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 3 | 2 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 3 | 3 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 3 | 5 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 3 | 7 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 3 | 9 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 3 | 10 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 3 | 12 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 3 | 14 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 3 | 15 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 3 | 17 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 3 | 19 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 3 | 21 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 3 | 22 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 3 | 24 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 4 | 0 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 4 | 2 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 4 | 4 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 4 | 5 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 4 | 7 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 4 | 9 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 4 | 10 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 4 | 12 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 4 | 14 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 4 | 16 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 4 | 17 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 4 | 19 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 4 | 21 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 4 | 22 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 4 | 24 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 5 | 0 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 5 | 1 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 5 | 3 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 5 | 5 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 5 | 6 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 5 | 8 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 5 | 10 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 5 | 12 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 5 | 13 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 5 | 15 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 5 | 17 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 5 | 18 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 5 | 20 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 5 | 22 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 5 | 24 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 6 | 0 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 6 | 1 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 6 | 3 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 6 | 5 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 6 | 7 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 6 | 8 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 6 | 10 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 6 | 12 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 6 | 13 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 6 | 15 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 6 | 17 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 6 | 19 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 6 | 20 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 6 | 22 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 6 | 24 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
Overview
Ionian and the major scale contain the same interval pattern. The major-scale reference explains a foundational scale identity; the Ionian reference places that identity beside the other six rotations of the same parent system.
Keeping both concepts makes it possible to discuss equivalence without copying the complete major-scale explanation.
Construction
Ionian begins on the first degree of its parent major scale. Relative-mode comparison keeps the parent pitches fixed, while parallel comparison places several modes on the same tonic to reveal their altered degrees.
Characteristics
Its major third establishes major quality, and its leading tone creates strong motion toward the tonic. The perfect fourth distinguishes Ionian from the raised fourth of Lydian.
Applications
Ionian is useful when comparing modal families, identifying major-centred modal harmony, and distinguishing relative modes that share notes but organise them around different tonics.