Piano scales

Scales source and guide for musicians

Ionian Mode

The Ionian Mode is the first of the seven modes. The obvious thing to notice is that the Ionian Mode is exactly the same as the Major Scale. So, C Ionian, for example, can be seen as the modal name for C Major.

Ionian Scales overview
C: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C
C#/Db: C#, D#, E#, F#, G#, A#, B#, C# / Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db
D: D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D
D#/Eb: D#, E#, F##, G#, A#, B#, C##, D# / Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb
E: E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D#, E
F: F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E, F
F#/Gb: F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D#, E#, F# / Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, F, Gb
G: G, A, B, C, D, E, F#, G
G#/Ab: G#, A#, B#, C#, D#, E#, F##, G# / Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab
A: A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#, A
A#/Bb: A#, B#, C##, D#, E#, F##, G##, A# / Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb
B: B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#, B

Intervals: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Semi-notes: 2 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1
Formula: Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half

The ancient heritage

The Ionian Scale emerged in the ancient Greece together with other scales such as Aeolian and Dorian. The names were taken from regions or people – the Ionians was one of the major tribes.

Altered Ionian #5

A relevant scale is the Altered Ionian #5 (sharp five), identical to the Ionian except for the raised fifth.

Ionian b3

This name is sometimes used for the ascending version of the Melodic Minor. It is identical to the Ionian except for the flattened third.