DorIonian or melodic minor (ascending) — a clustered heptatonality
Harmonic visuals
Scale and sound samples
You may enjoy a sound sample or tonality loop as sound mantra for contemplation or meditation, for upliftment and focusing, or simply as soothing background sound for relaxation and regeneration.
Characteristics
- Clustered or melodic tonality matrix: The octave includes five whole steps and two half steps (or semitones). Either one single or a group of four consecutive whole steps, one and four alternating, separate the two half steps from each other.
- DorIonian: The name indicates that the lower tetrachord is AeolDorian and the upper IonLydian. DorIonian is also known as melodic minor ascending and as major over minor (Ma/Min).
- Step pattern: Ascending from the fundamental (tonic or do), one whole step leads to a half step followed by four consecutive whole steps. Another half step then leads up to the octave.
- Scale intervals: Major second, minor third, quart, quint, major sixth, and major seventh.
- Tetrachords: The lower tetrachord is AeolDorian and the upper IonLydian.
- Harmonic axes: There are two axes, one horizontal the other tilted, E-W and SE-NW.
- Primary harmonic anchors: The fundamental or North anchor is fully present. The West anchor is incomplete, with its head and left leg only. The East anchor has only its head; and the contrast or South anchor only its left leg.
- Secondary harmonic anchors: Two secondary anchors are present, EN and SW. Both strengthen the fundamental North and the West anchor, as well as the Quint, one more the North the other more the West.
- Minor third and major seventh: Though harmonically least anchored, these two are essential for the distinctive character of this tonality. The minor third emphasizes the lightly regressive, minor character of the lower tetrachord. The major seventh contrasts that with giving the upper tetrachord a clearly progressive, major flavor.
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