Module 18 mini-test

1. What is D Dorian?

2. How does Dorian differ from natural minor?

3. What is G Mixolydian?

4. How does Mixolydian differ from major?

5. What is C major pentatonic?

6. What is A minor pentatonic?

7. What is the blues-scale formula?

8. What is C Lydian?

9. In a diatonic Dm7-G7-Cmaj7 progression, do you need to think of three unrelated scales?

10. What is more important than choosing the “correct scale”?

Answers

1. D-E-F-G-A-B-C
2. Dorian has a natural 6 instead of ♭6.
3. G-A-B-C-D-E-F
4. Mixolydian has a ♭7.
5. C-D-E-G-A
6. A-C-D-E-G
7. 1-♭3-4-♭5-5-♭7
8. C-D-E-F♯-G-A-B
9. No. All three can be understood through C-major material while targeting the changing chord tones.
10. Hearing the harmony, choosing meaningful targets, phrasing, rhythm, and intentional use of color notes.

The central lesson from Module 18 is:

Scales tell you what notes are available. Harmony tells you which notes matter right now.

In Module 19, we’ll turn toward playing by ear: how to find the tonic, recognize scale degrees, reproduce a melody without sheet music, identify intervals without making interval recognition an academic exercise, and gradually get from “I know how this tune sounds” to “I can find it on the piano quickly.”