The style of folk music and its types

If all the music was really built on two main modes - major and minor, then, probably, it would be the most boring and monotonous kind of art. Today, even the official theory shows us that on the basis of these two scales, many scales are built, which have an excellent sound, which gives each product its own, inimitable shade. These seven-step modes of folk music can become the basis for chords and accompaniment, with the help of their non-standard sounding unique transitions and modulations are created.

History of the appearance of scales

Almost every one of us has ever heard such definitions: Lydian, Dorian, Ionian, and so on. All these terms refer to this topic, but something needs to be clarified. Many, based on the title, believe that every mode of folk music was inherent in one of the ancient peoples. In fact, such "coding" these scales were received already in those times when the theory of music became more or less stable, and when "artificial" tones were already created in Europe. Nevertheless, each of these modes was borrowed from some folk works, but not only ancient ones, which is antiquity. They were hunted in Indian ragas and Russian chastushki, in Arab makamas and Spanish khaleos.

Basic two folk modes

It so happened that some folk modes in music are the exact analogues of the parallel tonalities that are familiar to all - major and minor. In their structure and sound, they are completely identical, so let's look at them briefly. The first is Ionian, that is, major. His scale is constructed as follows: tone, tone, semitone, plus three tones and semitone. This, as we see, is the standard structure of each major scale from any note. The Aeolian mode of folk music is always parallel to the Ionian, hence its structure is completely identical to the natural minor. The composition of this scale includes the following intervals: tone, semitone, two tones, semitone and two tones.

The most common frets in Russian folk songs

If we carefully trace every chastushka, epic or other composition written by our peasant ancestors, then, based on modern knowledge, we can say that most of the works are built on the Dorian scale. This mode of folk music is minor, since the third step in it is lowered. When we hear the Dorian scale, a sense of greatness and courage is created, but at the same time there is a certain gloomy shade in it. This effect is created due to the fact that the sixth step is raised. The Phrygian mode is also a frequent guest in various folk motives. It is based all on the same minor scale, but this time the second stage is subjected to changes - here it is lowered.

What is the basis of Jewish motives?

Have you ever thought that the tunes that are peculiar to the peoples of the Eastern Mediterranean are neither sad nor merry, or, to be more precise, they do not have a pronounced nor major structure, or a minor one? All because they are based on the modes of folk music. Examples of this are numerous songs, melodies and even prayers. If we talk specifically about the scale in which all these compositions are built, then it is worth mentioning Lydia. It is built on the basis of a natural majeure, but due to the fact that the fourth stage of the scale is raised, in the usual sequence for us, another tone is created, which forms such a non-standard sound. Thus, the structure of the Lydian scale is as follows: three tones, a semitone, two tones, a semitone. Starting from this, you can both improvise and create characteristic melodies by recording them.

Gamma with the most interesting chord

The mix of the folk music is what is really very beautiful and interesting. Its structure is simple, and is based on the standard major scale. The difference is that the seventh stage of the scale is lowered, due to what its sound becomes a little mysterious and gloomy. However, the beauty of the harmony is not in sorting out the notes of the scale itself, but in what chord can be built in it. Due to the fact that the seventh step is lowered, it is added to the usual major tonic triad. As a result, we get the extraordinary beauty of the seventh chord, the extreme notes of which form a small seventh. It is often used in jazz and blues compositions.

The most rare natural mode

The term "Locri", alas, often does not occur even in textbooks on the theory of music. He, like everyone else, is the name of another natural scale, which is rare even in folk motifs. He is considered minor, but in fact, the sound is such that it is simply impossible to rend him into one of these two groups (major-minor). The structure of the gamut is as follows: semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone. Particularly beautiful is the seventh chord, which the musicians call semi-reduced. It consists of two small thirds and one large one.

What other kinds of folk music are there?

Pentatonic, diatonic, hemiologic - all these terms are certainly familiar to every musician. What is it and how does it sound? It is believed that, unlike all the above natural modes, it is these sets of sounds that formed in ancient times among ancient peoples. Later they became the basis for various works, as well as for scales, which in our time are considered the most important in the theory and practice of music. Well, let's take a closer look at each of these scales.

Music of our ancestors

Pentatonic, or "Chinese scale" - a set of notes in which there are no halftones. There are today major and minor pentatonic, which are identified by the height of the third stage. In the major the fourth and seventh steps are missed, and in the minor one - the second and the sixth. Diatonic, in turn, is not at all a gamut. These are "musical circles," or the inversion of intervals, which are built on pure quintas and quarters. Well, the hemiologist is, of course, a standard chromatic scale, in which there are only small seconds, that is, a semitone. It is noteworthy that she alone has not changed at all for many years.