The Scale Synonyms tool is opened from the workspace using Tools-Scale Synonyms.

It appears as shown below and allows you to explore scales which are synonyms of each other.  These are also known as the modes of scales.

The number of scale synonyms to be found depends on which scale types are currently activated.  The set of standard scale types normally activated at Beginner level produce only the modes of the Major scale.

Synonym Scales occur where two different scales contain the same set of notes, in a different order, for example the scales C Major (C-D-E-F-G-A-B) and D Dorian (D-E-F-G-A-B-C).

Controls

Original

This list contains all of the active scale types which have synonyms.  You begin your exploration of scale synonyms by selecting one of these.

Synonyms

This list contains all of the active scale types which can produce a synonym for the scale type selected in the Original list.

By default, the first item in the list is selected, but can you can select a different scale type instead.

Original Scale
Synonym Scale

The table at the bottom is for constructing a scale of the Original type and viewing the properties of the resulting synonym scale.  You do this by selecting a root note for the original scale.

The default selection for root note is the roman numeral (I).  This notation is often used in music to represent musical intervals, in this case the interval difference between the Original and Synonym scale.

Let's take our C Major/D Dorian example above.  By selecting Major as the Original scale type and Dorian as the Synonym scale type, we are presented with an original scale of (I) Major and a synonym scale of (II) Dorian.

This tells us that any scale built from the Major scale type have a synonym scake whose root note is a second above the original root note.

The corresponding degrees of the original scale and the synonym scale are shown in the grid between them, so the 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 degrees of the Major scale type correspond to the b7-1-2-b3-4-5-6 degrees of the Dorian scale type, regardless of the root note.

If we select a root note for the original scale, we find synonym scale of C Major/D Dorian, of D Major/E Dorian and so on, and the actual notes made by each of the corresponding degrees are revealed.

Send To Filter

There are two of these, one each for the Original and Synonym scales, which update the filter in the workspace with the scale.

Play Scale

There are two of these, one each for the Original and Synonym scales, which audition the sound of the scales.

Close

Closes the window and returns to the workspace.

Help

Opens ChordWizard Help at this topic.